Annual Forum in Visby

When looking back at this autumn the two main activities in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region has been the Annual Forum held in Visby on 29 to 31 October and the update of the Action Plan.

The Annual forum gathered 600 participants from 24 countries to a three-day programme. The first day a new element of the Annual Fora was introduced with the Engagement Day. Civil society and youth organisations, business and smaller municipalities were invited to present proposals for collaboration in the Baltic Sea Region.

200 proposals

200 proposals were received and close to 300 participants joined this first day of the forum. Participants presented their proposals and received feedback from Policy Area Coordinators. The next day, at the official opening of the forum the Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson and the EU Commissioner, Eliza Ferreira both gave video greetings.

The following two days participants were offered

• three plenary sessions
• 27 workshops
• a networking village with 25 exhibitors
• 14 Policy Areas
• pan-Baltic organisations
• EU programmes.

The programme was concentrated to sustainability, resilience, and security.

Updating the Action Plan

The present Action Plan was endorsed in 2021. This year the process was launched to update the Action Plan, preparing it for the next multiannual financial framework to begin in 2028.

Therefor all 14 Policy Areas has started with stakeholder dialogues on priorities. It is work in progress and a ready Action Plan is supposed to be endorsed early 2026.