EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

Initiated by the European Parliament and the coordinated by the European Commission the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region strives for more intensive cooperation between the Baltic countries and shapes the region into a regional cooperation model for the whole EU. The strategy aims to save the sea, connect the region and increase prosperity. The implementation of the strategy is financed from different EU funds in the area including the Baltic Sea Region Programme.

The Commission officially launched the Strategy and its Action Plan on 10 June 2009. The Strategy was adopted by the European Council on the 26 October 2009. For more information please go to www.balticsea-region-strategy.eu and ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/cooperate/baltic.

The Baltic Sea Region Programme funded projects contribute to the implementation of the Strategy. The table provides more details on projects and priority areas of the Strategy.

Moreover, to support projects in having larger investments outside the Programme funding the Joint Technical Secretariat has started cooperation with the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and European Investment Bank (EIB). For more information click here.

Downloads and links:

• Official website of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
• Priority Area Coordinators, Horizontal Action Leaders and other contacts
• Flagship projects of the EU Strategy supported by the Baltic Sea Programme
• Annual report 2010
• EC Communication concerning the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (10 June 2009)
• Action plan of the Strategy
• European Council Conclusions on the Strategy (27 Oct 2009)
• European Council Presidency Conclusions on the Strategy (29/30 Oct 2009)
• "Panorama" magazine issue on the Strategy
• Macro-regional strategies in the EU
• The European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the role of macro-regions in the future cohesion policy, Draft Report by MEP Wojciech Olejniczak , Committee of Regional Development, European Parliament
• The European Investment Bank in the Baltic Sea Region and the EU Strategy
• Background & analysis: EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region