The National Coordinators Group (NCG) is the core decision-making body within the governance structure of the EUSBSR, acting as its executive board. It consists of one National Coordinator from each of the eight contracting states of the Strategy. One or more deputies can also be appointed. 

The National Coordinators have two kinds of tasks: On the one hand, they represent their governments in the NCG, and, on the other hand, they perform their tasks at the national level in their own capacity. On the national and regional political levels, as the Strategy implementation and continuity heavily relies on the political commitment, the NCG promotes the political support in the respective national governments, ensures the overall coordination, guidance and support to the national stakeholders implementing the Strategy.   

The NCG Presidency rotates annually among the member states of the Strategy. The Presidency coordinates the National Coordinators and the Policy Area Coordinators (PACs), supported by the Baltic Sea Strategy Point (BSP) and in cooperation with the European Commission, and strives to facilitate decision-making and cooperation. Read more about the current Presidency here. 

Learn more about the specific tasks of the National Coordinators Group in our Action Plan.

The 14 Policy Areas of the Strategy are managed operationally by one or more Policy Area Coordinators (PACs) coming from a member states’ official authority of the national or regional government, an organisation or an intergovernmental or non-governmental body, which can ensure the operationalisation of the Policy Area. 

The Policy Area Coordinators are the key operational stakeholders of the Strategy. They are supported and guided strategically by their respective Steering Groups (SGs). 

They facilitate and serve as a strong liaison between their Policy Area groups of actors by offering a platform for exchanging and coordinating initiatives, stakeholders, policy processes and information. 

To find and contact Policy Area Coordinator, go here.

Each Policy Area (PA) is steered by a Steering Group (SG). The Group is composed of one or more representatives of the national and regional governments of the member states, often coming from Ministries that are concerned with the topics of the Policy Area.  

The Steering Group members represent their governments and perform their tasks as focal points at the national level. Furthermore, they strategically and thematically advise the Policy Area Coordinators (PACs) on the development of the respective Policy Area. 

The European Commission plays a key role within the Strategy. Via the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), it provides strategic coordination and advice to the National Coordinators’ Group on managing and developing the Strategy. It also gives guidance to the Strategy actors on prioritising strategic frameworks and policies.  

DG REGIO promotes and facilitates the dialogue and involvement of stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Region within the EU, and across all EU macro-regional strategies. It also supports participation of European Commission sectoral Directorates-General in the work of Policy Areas where appropriate.

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 European Investment Bank are also included in the group.  

The HLG assists the European Commission in relation to the implementation of existing Union legislation, programmes and policies, advises on the monitoring of the macro-regional strategies and coordinates exchange of views among the EU Member States on the matter.  

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

The Baltic Sea Strategy Point (BSP) has been established with the 2021 Action Plan update to provide administrative and technical support for the Strategy’s management, development and communication. It is hosted jointly by the Centrum Balticum Foundation and the Senate Chancellery of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. 

The Baltic Sea Strategy Point is guided by and accountable to the National Coordinators Group (NCG), which decides on its terms of reference and its detailed tasks. The day-to-day work of the BSP is conducted in close contact with the NCG Presidency.  

Do you want to learn more about the Strategy or have general questions? Get in touch with the Baltic Sea Strategy Point via info@eusbsr.eu