17th meeting of the High-Level Group on EU macro-regional strategies

The High-Level Group (HLG) on macro-regional strategies is an EU-level body, advising the European Commission on the coordination and monitoring of all four macro-regional strategies. It consists of official representatives of all EU Member States and the non-EU countries participating in the macro-regional strategies. The representatives of the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank are also included in the group. The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region was represented by Estonian Deputy National Coordinator, Andreas Sepp, from the Estonian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

For more information on the High-Level Group, go here.

The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region’s stance on the Future of Cohesion Policy

• EUSBSR reiterates the importance of the cohesion policy funds for the implementation of the EUSBSR Action Plan.  

• EUSBSR highlights the importance of maintaining territorial cooperation in the cohesion policy post-2027. 

• EUSBSR National Coordinators endorse the proposed Interreg envelope and ensure it continues to finance EUSBSR governance and Policy Area coordination. The EUSBSR National Coordinators Group calls for securing governance financing for the EUSBSR, as stable governance financial support enables capacity for continuous, effective implementation. 

• It is the wish of the EUSBSR National Coordinators that the macro-region Strategies are recognized as an important tool for the Cohesion Policy also in the future, as the EUSBSR also seeks to implement the Cohesion Policy to the best of its capacity. The EUSBSR has progressed in developing ways to implement the cohesion policy priorities through its Action Plan in the previous update and seeks to develop this capacity in the current update. 

• In the context of the MFF 2028-2034 proposal, macro-regional strategies can contribute to the discussion on how the future National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) could be used in the EU to enhance transnational cooperation and take advantage of the macro-regional strategies expertise in identifying the fields of action. Council conclusions already welcome embedding of macro-regional strategies in cohesion programmes — carry that forward into the new architecture. 

• The EUSBSR National Coordinators advocate for setting up funding dialogues/networks between the managing authorities and the policy area coordinators also for the new cohesion policy funds after 2027, with the possible support from the European Commission (e.g. macro-regional strategies references in the cohesion policy regulations, or better tracking how ERDF/ESF+/EMFAF/EAFRD calls reference the Strategy, where applicable). The Commission’s implementation report on macro-regional strategies 2025 says Interreg alone can’t match the Strategy’s scale—mainstream funds must contribute.  

• The EUSBSR national coordinators group calls upon development of fit-for-purpose indicators for cooperation/policy change (not only infrastructure outputs), and on data systems that won’t penalise transnational work. This will reinforce Managing Authorities interest in cooperating with the macro-regional strategies.  

• Attention and commitment of the political level is important for the involvement of further key stakeholders, such as youth, civil society or the local level which are crucial for the implementation of the macro-regional strategies. We should, however, avoid to duplicate processes. 

The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region’s contribution to a roundtable discussion on the EU Enlargement

• Although currently no EUSBSR participating states are candidates to the EU, the EUSBSR member states support Ukraine in its efforts to prepare to join the EU also through the EUSBSR and via the work on the mutually beneficial topics acrossthe Policy Areas. Some examples of plans to support Ukraine in the Action Plan 2026: 
  • Policy Area Nutri Action “Reduce nutrient emissions from wastewater treatment” foresees knowledge exchange and supporting investments towards wastewater treatment in Ukraine’s Lviv region (and expanding to other regions if opportunities arise). The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive is key for EU accession and relevant for any country aiming to protect water systems.
  • Policy Area Transport Action “Advocate for building resilient and sustainable transport corridors on the North-South transport axis” includes integrating Ukraine into the EU transport networks. Key initiatives include the integration of TEN-T corridors with non-EU countries, notably Ukraine via the Solidarity Lanes, as well as increased national and EU policy alignment to develop resilient North-South transport corridors, including extended linkages to Ukraine and the EU Neighbourhood. 
  • Policy Area Education Action “Fostering inclusive educations to prepare young people for future challenges” foresees working on overcoming high rates of early school leaving and a significant number of young people are not in education, employment or training (NEETs) as well as fostering democratic participation and active citizenship among youth and includes extensive cooperation with Ukrainian platform via already existing cooperation platforms.
  • Policy Area Health Action “Increase the resilience of communities through better physical, mental, emotional, and social resilience of people” emphasises the importance of Ukraine as priority partner what comes to Ukraine’s experience of maintaining healthcare during wartime and providing lessons of direct relevance for the EUSBSR.  

• The EUSBSR backs the revised TEN-T Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 extending four European Transport Corridors into Ukraine and Moldova, and to link these to Baltic ports and logistics chains (e.g., North Sea–Baltic). This complements the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes that keep trade moving via Baltic routes. 

• The EUSBSR supports inviting Ukrainian organisations into Interreg Baltic Sea Region projects (as associated partners with eligible costs under programme rules) and scaling such participation in themes where the Baltic Sea Region has strengths: water governance, circular/blue economy, port & maritime safety, public-sector innovation, civil protection and preparedness.