EU Strategy for the benefit of the region

EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

Macro-regional strategy

The European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) is the first macro-regional strategy in Europe. The Strategy was approved by the European Council in 2009 following a communication from the European Commission. The Strategy is divided into three objectives, which represent the three key challenges of the Strategy: saving the sea, connecting the region and increasing prosperity. Each objective relates to a wide range of policies and has an impact on the other objectives.

To achieve these objectives, the action plan of the EUSBSR identifies most important actions for implementation. The actions are thematically organised in 14 policy areas. The implementation of these actions is financed by different EU funds at regional, national, cross-border and transnational level. Interreg Baltic Sea Region actively supports the implementation of the Strategy and the accompanying action plan.

 

Support for the EUSBSR action plan

Interreg Baltic Sea Region
2021-2027

Interreg Baltic Sea Region 2021-2027 continues supporting the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). The Programme helps build networks, develop solutions and transfer knowledge to advance policy processes of the Strategy. It funds projects that help implement actions in the policy areas of the EUSBSR action plan. More information about the projects and their contribution to the EUSBSR is available in the project library.

Projects across the EUSBSR policy areas

  • > 86 co-funded projects
  • > € 158.8 million of EU funding

Interreg Baltic Sea Region 2021-2027

and the EUSBSR policy areas

The three objectives of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (Save the Sea, Connect the Region and Increase prosperity) and the related policy areas are well reflected in the thematic objectives of the Programme. The coordinators of the EUSBSR policy areas support the development of new projects that help achieve the objectives of the EUSBSR action plan. Project developers are encouraged to establish contacts with the coordinators of the policy areas to discuss their ideas.

Priority 1:
Innovative societies

 

1.1 Resilient economies and communities
EUSBSR policy area: Innovation

1.2 Responsive public services
EUSBSR policy area: Innovation, Health, Spatial Planning

 

» More details about Priority 1

Priority 2:
Water-smart societies

 

2.1 Sustainable waters
EUSBSR policy area: Nutri, Bioeconomy, Hazards, Secure, Health

2.2 Blue economy
EUSBSR policy area: Innovation, Bioeconomy, Nutri, Ship, Safe, Secure, Transport, Spatial Planning, Tourism, Culture

 

» More details about Priority 2

Priority 3:
Climate-neutral societies

 

3.1 Circular economy
EUSBSR policy area: Innovation, Bioeconomy, Health

3.2 Energy transition
EUSBSR policy area: Energy, Bioeconomy, Spatial Planning

3.3 Smart green mobility
EUSBSR policy area: Transport, Spatial Planning, Energy

 

» More details about Priority 3

Support for the EUSBSR governance

Support for the macro-regional governance and coordination

The Programme also  supports governance, coordination and communication activities in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. It provides funding to the EUSBSR policy areas coordinators to coordinate the planning and implementation of the policy areas, facilitate policy discussions, build up networks and help develop new projects and other initiatives. The Programme also provides support to ensure administrative, communication and capacity-building assistance to the national coordinators of the EUSBSR and other stakeholders through the Baltic Sea Strategy point. Further, the Programme supports the organisation of the Strategy Forums to engage politicians, ministries, regional and local authorities, NGOs and civil society to discuss topical issues of the EUSBSR. More information is available on the webpage of the dedicated Programme objective 4.2 “Macro-regional governance” .

 

History 

Implementation of the
EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

Since the adoption of the Strategy and till 2021, Interreg Baltic Sea Region has co-financed more than 120 projects with over EUR 250 million coming from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) that helped implement the EUSBSR action plan. The Programme continues mobilising stakeholders in the financial period of 2021-2027 and funds projects that help implement actions of the EUSBSR action plan. You can find more information in the project library.