Norway takes a step towards a full membership of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

“The Norwegian strategical perspective is that the Baltic Sea Region has become increasingly important for Norway in recent years due to the challenging security situation as a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its use of hybrid measures.” – Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, Norway.

The founding idea behind the transnational strategy is that thematically focused cooperation is the resource-wise way to face joint challenges. With the support of the current Estonian Presidency and the upcoming presidencies, Norway will be invited on a standing basis to the National Coordinators’ Group meetings, ensuring continuity and engagement in the Strategy’s governance. The National Coordinators’ Group is the core decision-making body within the Strategy, acting as its executive board.

“Estonia welcomes Norway’s growing involvement in the Baltic Sea Region and its intention to play a more active role in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. As the current Presidency, we are committed to ensuring that Norway’s deeper integration into the Strategy will be as swift and smooth as possible.“ – Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, Estonia

Expanding practical cooperation to strategic partnership

The initiative and the positive response reflect the broader EU commitment to strengthening cooperation with non-EU partners in macro-regional strategies. This was a point highlighted in recent Council Conclusions regarding the implementation of the macro-regional strategies. Closer cooperation underlines Norway’s role as a like-minded partner in addressing shared regional question such as health-related issues, innovation ecosystems, civil security and resilience, and social cohesion. 

There are already long traditions of joint priority setting and working together. Norway has been active in several Policy Areas within the Strategy since the strategy was created, and both sides have expressed a shared ambition to deepen and expand practical cooperation in the future. Norway is also a full member of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme and has been so since the very beginning of the programme. Further unifying the geographical scope of the two smoothens the way for effective transnational collaboration also in the future. 

During the National Coordinators’ Group meeting held in Sopot on 30 October 2025, alongside the EUSBSR Annual Forum, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally expressed Norway’s wish to deepen cooperation with the aim of becoming a full member of the Strategy. This expression of intent marks a major milestone in the development of the Strategy and in the deepening of regional cooperation.