Back500 experts gather in Tallinn to discuss the future of the Baltic Sea Region
Tallinn will host the 17th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region on 11–13 May at Tallinn Creative Hub, bringing together over 500 experts and decision-makers from across the region to discuss security, economy and future in a rapidly changing world. Tallinn is hosting the Annual Forum for the third time, having previously done so in 2010 and 2018.
The Forum takes place at a time when the region faces geopolitical, climate and demographic pressures that demand more strategic cooperation than before. This year’s central theme is resilience.
Tallinn’s Mayor Peeter Raudsepp highlighted the role of cities: “Security, continuity and competitiveness in the Baltic Sea Region are not shaped at national level alone. Cities are no longer the end point of policies. They are where practical solutions and forms of cooperation are born that affect people’s daily lives most directly.”
Forum discussions will focus on three core areas: regional security and the geopolitical situation, the state of the Baltic Sea environment, and economic competitiveness and demographic challenges. The Forum is preceded on 11 May by a Day of Cities and Regions, addressing the role of local and regional authorities in strengthening resilience across the region.
Strengthening resilience is one of Estonia’s key priorities under its ongoing Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated: “Due to changing security and economic environments, increasing resilience in all these areas is now more important than ever. Through the Forum discussions, we aim to contribute to the safety, connectivity and well-being of the Baltic Sea Region.”
The Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat (CBSS), established as the region’s primary intergovernmental forum, takes a broad view of what resilience means in practice.
“Resilience is much more than recovering quickly after a crisis. It is about building trust, cooperation, sharing good practice, and preparedness across borders, sectors, and communities. The EUSBSR and its Annual Forum represent valuable tools for supporting that cooperation and dialogue,” said Director General Gustav Lindström.
The Forum is jointly organised by the City of Tallinn, the Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia and the Baltic Sea Strategy Point, with funding from the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme and the co-organisers.