28 February 2022

In cooperation and peace we believe

 

Written by the team of the Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat

‘Peace is not everything but without peace, everything is nothing,’ said Willy Brandt, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and an advocate of cooperation. As we are witnessing military aggression of the Russian President and the Government against Ukraine, we can clearly see what failures in cooperation bring. We stand for peace and cooperation. We stand with Ukraine.   

Our Programme has been funding transnational cooperation projects for almost 25 years. But Interreg Baltic Sea Region is more than money; it is an environment for cooperation of people from all countries around the Baltic Sea. It is a community of people who believe that cooperation beyond borders is the only way forward to shape a peaceful region, a peaceful Europe and a peaceful future for all.

Thanks to working together beyond borders, a lot of good ideas have been brought to life, by partners from the eight EU Members States, Norway, Russia and Belarus. This work on the ground, with citizens and organisations, is something we value and cherish. It creates friendships for years, mutual support and trust. It is about good neighbourhood for the benefit of all people in the region.

At this very moment, all these values have been threatened by military aggression of the Russian government against Ukraine. Our thoughts and actions are with those who suffer most: with the citizens of Ukraine.

Still, we do hope that peace will return. We will be in a different world. We hope this world has sufficient space for cooperation and trust again. We believe in people.

More recent news

107 directions to shine!

107 directions to shine!

In the third call for project applications, the Programme has received as many as 107 applications with a variety of ideas on how to build innovative and climate-neutral societies in the Baltic Sea region. ​

read more
First small projects finalising, first great outcomes!

First small projects finalising, first great outcomes!

As our first 17 small projects are coming to an end, let’s embrace the first results in place and invaluable experiences of people working as if there were no borders. Dive with us into the stories of three of our small projects and discover the nature of small projects as such.

read more
Your Vote, Our Future, Our Region

Your Vote, Our Future, Our Region

Your vote holds the key to a sustainable future for the Baltic Sea and its communities. In the dynamic land of EU initiatives, your participation drives impactful change. Dive with us in the landscape of EU’s achievements and discover what your vote can do for your region.

read more
A resilient future for coastal communities

A resilient future for coastal communities

In coastal regions around the Baltic Sea, the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, posing challenges for local communities, businesses, and authorities alike. The BEACH-SOS project aims to confront these challenges head-on, ensuring the sustainability and vitality of beach recreation and tourism in the face of a changing climate. Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with Rimants Lulis from Saulkrasti Municipality, one of the partners of the project, to discover more about how this project can benefit the municipality and the community in Saulkrasti.

read more