From achievements to ambitions: shaping the future Interreg Baltic Sea Region

While the current Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme is delivering results across the region, preparations for the next Programme are already gaining momentum. This dual focus was at the heart of the Monitoring Committee meeting held in Berlin on 9–10 June 2026.

Full speed ahead

The Programme is now operating at full capacity. The available funds have been allocated, and the contracting process for 28 small projects and five project platforms is entering its final stage.

Representatives of all Programme countries gathered in Berlin for the 11th Monitoring Committee meeting. The meeting was chaired by Margarita Golovko from the Estonian Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture. The Committee reviewed the progress of ongoing projects and took stock of completed and soon-to-be-finalised projects. Together, these projects demonstrate how Interreg across the Baltic Sea region is building more innovative, water-smart and climate-neutral societies.

Countries also discussed preliminary inputs from the ongoing mid-term evaluation, which examines the Programme’s performance from multiple angles, including funding instruments, implementation tools, governance arrangements, and communication activities.

Into the future

While the future EU legal framework is still underway, the Committee is advancing with the preparations for the next Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme. Karolina Jasinska-Mühleck from the European Commission joined the meeting and provided valuable input to the debate.

One of the topics discussed was the Programme’s core values statement. The Committee reaffirmed the Interreg Baltic Sea Region’s mission as a capacity-building and knowledge-sharing instrument, firmly rooted in the needs of the Baltic Sea region, and committed to delivering practical solutions and long-term impact. The statement will continue to evolve as the overall Programme design process progresses.

Among other things, the Committee also looked into the emerging blocks of needs that will help shape the future Programme. To further refine them and determine where transnational cooperation can bring the greatest added value, members considered additional input gathered through national sub-committees, ensuring that the identified needs are being examined from multiple perspectives and grounded in the realities of the region.

Testing ideas with the region

In fact, spring offered valuable opportunities to discuss these emerging needs with actors beyond the Programme.

At the BSSSC Day of Cities and Regions, representatives of cities, regions, EUSBSR actors, youth and others reflected on the identified needs from a practical perspective. Their feedback confirmed the identified directions and helped translate these broad ideas into more concrete challenges and opportunities in the region.

At the Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, participants further explored the added value of Interreg transnational cooperation, providing examples particularly in areas of building community resilience, crisis preparedness, and maritime safety.

Together with previous work done by the Committee, all these discussions have validated the directions taken and four blocks of needs identified so far:

• Resilience and security
• Liveability of territories
• Clean waters and blue economy
• Resource efficiency and climate

Next steps

After the summer, work will continue on shaping the future Programme. An important next step will be the territorial analysis, which will combine statistical evidence, analytical studies, and strategic documents related to the Baltic Sea region. Together, these sources will provide a solid evidence base to validate and further refine the needs identified so far, and translate them into future thematic framework. Additional insights are expected from the ongoing Programme mid-term evaluation.

Another important part of the process is involving external actors in shaping the Programme. Through a dedicated engagement process, organisations and communities from across the region are invited to help ensure that the future Programme responds to real needs on the ground. Planned exchanges still this year will include, among others, actors involved in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the Union of the Baltic Cities – Sustainable Cities Commission.

The next milestones in developing the future Programme will bring the Monitoring Committee meeting in November. In the meantime, follow the developments and stay tuned for opportunities to contribute and co-create!

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