Baltic PlaNet at European Maritime Day 2026

On 21-22 May 2026, the Baltic PlaNet project platform participated in the European Maritime Day (EMD) 2026 held in Cyprus, joining policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and stakeholders from across Europe to discuss the future of Europe’s seas and coasts. The event provided an important opportunity to connect Baltic Sea Region experiences with wider European maritime priorities and to exchange knowledge on climate resilience, spatial planning, and sustainable coastal development.

Presence at the exhibition area

Baltic PlaNet was represented in the exhibition at the Northern European Sea Basins project stand by project partner VASAB Secretariat. The exhibition served as a space for exchange with EMD participants from across Europe, showcasing how Interreg BSR project platform contribute to practical solutions for climate adaptation and integrated coastal planning. Baltic PlaNet also engaged visitors through an interactive climate resilience quiz, which helped raise awareness of coastal risks and adaptation challenges in the Baltic Sea Region.

Shared priorities: resilience as a unifying theme

One of the strongest takeaways from EMD 2026 was the clear alignment between Baltic PlaNet’s objectives and the overarching EU maritime agenda. Across sessions and discussions, climate change adaptation, coastal resilience, and risk-informed spatial planning emerged as one of central priorities.

For Baltic PlaNet, these themes are at the core of its mission. The project supports coastal municipalities in the Baltic Sea Region in integrating extreme weather risks into spatial planning and decision-making. At EMD, similar issues were addressed from an EU-wide perspective, particularly during the workshops Science and Innovation for Coastal Resilience and Pathways for Resilient Islands & Coastal Areas. The exchanges confirmed that many of the challenges Baltic PlaNet addresses in the Baltic Sea Region, such as sea-level rise, coastal development pressures, and climate-related risks are shared by coastal communities throughout Europe.

This reinforced a shared understanding: although European sea basins differ, the need for adaptive, forward-looking coastal governance is universal.

Key takeaway

EMD 2026 confirmed that, despite different regional contexts, European coastal and maritime regions face similar challenges and share a common direction: strengthening resilience, improving planning systems, and enhancing cooperation across sectors and sea basins.

For Baltic PlaNet, the event provided a valuable opportunity to showcase its work, engage directly with stakeholders, and contribute to the wider European dialogue on sustainable and climate-resilient seas.

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