BSSSC Board Meeting in Lahti: Key Decisions and Future Plans

On March 5-6, 2025, the first BSSSC Board Meeting of the year took place in Lahti, Finland, hosted by the Regional Council of Päijät-Häme. The meeting brought together representatives from various Baltic Sea regions to discuss strategic developments, cooperation initiatives and upcoming events in 2025.

Strengthening Youth Participation

A significant focus of the meeting was youth involvement in Baltic Sea regional decision-making. The BSSSC Youth and Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum (BSRYF) emphasized the need for systematic youth representation in EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) governance. The board supported efforts to establish permanent youth advisory roles and ensure financial backing for youth-led projects.

Annual Conference 2025: A New Format

Plans were discussed for the BSSSC Annual Conference 2025, aiming to merge the event with the Engagement Day at the EUSBSR Annual Forum in Pomerania. The board is actively coordinating with Polish authorities and other stakeholders to enhance regional cooperation and visibility.

Policy and Cooperation Updates

Several key policy discussions took place, including:

• Cohesion Policy: The board reaffirmed its support for a strong territorial cooperation policy in the post-2027 EU budget.

• Offshore Wind Energy: Updates were provided on regional collaboration to advance offshore wind projects in the Baltic Sea.

• Ukraine Cooperation: Plans for 2025 include webinars on Ukrainian regional cooperation, focusing on energy independence, administrative development, and youth engagement.

Upcoming Events and Next Steps

The board confirmed its schedule for 2025, including:

• Spring Youth Event in Brandenburg (April 26-30, 2025)

• Second Board Meeting in Potsdam (June 26-27, 2025)

• Third Board Meeting - online (October 16, 2025)

• Annual Conference & Engagement Day in Pomerania (October 28, 2025)

• EUSBSR Annual Forum in Pomerania (October 29-30, 2025)

• Fourth Board Meeting in Brussels (December 2-3, 2019)

The meeting concluded with a strong commitment to fostering cross-border collaboration, enhancing youth participation, and strengthening regional resilience in the Baltic Sea area.