On 30 May 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the final event of the Latvian Presidency of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).
The meeting brought together National Coordinators, policy coordinators and cooperation partners of the Member States to take stock of the achievements of the Latvian Presidency, as well as to discuss and work on further practical steps for the revision of the Strategy’s framework document, the 2021 Action Plan, which is one of the activities initiated and implemented by the Latvian Presidency.
The Acting State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Atis Lots, addressed those present. He expressed gratitude for the successful cooperation, noted the need to continue work on the implementation of the objectives of the strategy in the current geopolitical situation. The Acting State Secretary also called for strengthening of cooperation to address issues important for the Baltic Sea region – improvement of the environmental status of the Baltic Sea, promotion of prosperity and connectivity of the region. Atis Lots underlined that regional cooperation was an essential element in facing the geopolitical challenges together and providing further support to Ukraine.
Background Information
From 1 July 2023 till 30 June 2024, Latvia was presiding over the EUSBSR cooperation format. In 2012, the three overall objectives of the Strategy were defined: Save the Sea; Connect the Region; Increase Prosperity.
The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the first macro-regional strategy in the European Union, is based on an innovative and integrated long-term approach to the implementation of EU policies in the Baltic Sea region. The strategy comprises eight EU Member States in the Baltic Sea Region: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden.
On 1 July 2024, Poland is taking over from Latvia the presidency of National Coordinators thereby assuming the leading role in the strengthening of joint efforts to promote regional cooperation.