BSSSC Day of Cities and Regions, Monday, 11 May 2026
Venue: Kultuurikatel
Address: Kursi 3, Tallinn 10415
Securing the Baltic’s lifelines: the role of cities and regions in times of geopolitical uncertainty
Dr Heini Utunen, Regional Mayor of the South Savo Region, Finland
Cultural Pearls and RESCOM, Mr Felix Schartner Giertta, Project Coordinator at CBSS
Panelists:
- Mr Thomas Becker, Director of STRING Cooperation of 16 cities and regions, Germany
- Ms Aud Hove, Member of the Regional Cooperation Board in Eastern Norway County Network, County Councilor in Innlandet, Norway
- Mr Marcin Skwierawski, Deputy Marshal of Pomorskie Voivodeship, Poland
- Ms Tetyana Simchuk, Department for International Cooperation and European Integration at the Rivne State Regional Administration
Energy Islands
This 90-minute session is co-hosted by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Managing Authority / Joint Secretariat and is delivered as a large-scale lab that puts cities and regions at the center of the post-2027 programming conversation.
The ClimaResponse project & RESIST PROJECT
Mrs Inese Suija-Markova, Chairwoman, BSSSC , Vidzeme Planning Region, Latvia
Meet & Greet by the City of Tallinn, Monday, 11 May 2026
Venue: Kultuurikatel, Cauldron Hall
Address: Kursi 3, Tallinn 10415
Welcome drinks & light snacks in the Cauldron Hall at Kultuurikatel as part of the get together and networking event.
Annual Forum Day 1, Tuesday, 12 May 2026
Venue: Kultuurikatel
Address: Kursi 3, Tallinn 10415
Mr Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Estonian politician and former president of Estonia from 2006 until 2016.
This plenary examines how Baltic Sea Region (BSR) states, supported by the EUSBSR and its Action Plan, can strengthen readiness and coordination in the face of sudden shocks, including geopolitical tensions, cyberattacks, large-scale infrastructure disruptions, and crises affecting critical supply chains. The session analyzes existing emergency-management frameworks, identifies gaps in cross-border interoperability, and highlights best practices from recent events that tested national and regional response systems. Discussion focuses on practical mechanisms to accelerate joint situational awareness, improve civil-military cooperation, enhance data-driven decision-making, and support local authorities during sustained emergencies. The session aims to outline a shared roadmap for a more integrated, efficient, and anticipatory crisis-response architecture across the BSR.
Panelists:
- Dr Kristi Raik, Director, International Centre for Defence and Security
- Mr Gustav Lindström, Director General, Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)
- TBA
- Session 1
- Session 2
- Session 3
- Session 4
- Session 5
- Session 6
- Session 7
This plenary addresses the escalating environmental pressures facing the Baltic Sea, including eutrophication, biodiversity loss, marine pollution, and the accelerating effects of climate change. It explores how ecological instability intersects with human security, regional economic development, and long-term sustainability. Speakers assess current progress toward regional climate goals, identify structural barriers to implementing large-scale mitigation and adaptation measures, and present innovative approaches in circular economy, green infrastructure, climate-resilient coastal planning, and nature-based solutions. The session highlights opportunities for joint action, emphasizing how coordinated governance and shared scientific resources can strengthen the region’s overall environmental resilience.
Panelists:
- Mr Rüdiger Strempel, Executive Secretary, Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission
- TBA
- Session 8
- Session 9
- Session 10
- Session 11
- Session 12
- Session 13
Venue: Port of Tallinn Cruise Terminal, address Logi tn 4/2.
Annual Forum, Day 2, Wednesday, 13 May 2026
This plenary focuses on demographic trends – ageing populations, shrinking labor forces, and uneven migration patterns – that strain social systems across the BSR. It considers how demographic shifts impact economic competitiveness, public services, social cohesion, and the long-term vitality of rural and urban communities. Experts discuss strategies to attract and retain talent, support healthy ageing, integrate newcomers, and reduce regional disparities exacerbated by population decline. The session highlights policy tools and collaborative initiatives that can build adaptive, inclusive, and future-oriented societies that remain resilient amid demographic transformation.
Panelists:
- Mr Margus Tsahkna, Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Mr Daniel Sazonov, Mayor of Helsinki, Finland
- TBA
- Session 14
- Session 15
- Session 16
- Session 17
- Session 18
- Session 19
This plenary concentrates on the joint actions required to secure long-term resilience across the Baltic Sea Region. It highlights how coordinated planning, shared resources, and unified governance can strengthen the region’s ability to withstand and adapt to interconnected emergency, environmental, and demographic challenges. Discussions focus on practical avenues for deeper cooperation, including harmonized risk assessments, interoperable digital systems, cross-border preparedness initiatives, and jointly financed innovation and resilience projects. The session aims to identify future-oriented collaborative measures that can reinforce stability, accelerate adaptive capacity, and ensure a coherent regional approach to resilience in the decade ahead.
Panelists:
- Ms Helene Gorny, Senior policy analyst, Austrian Institute for Regional Studies
- Ms Oana-Andreea Dordain, Deputy Head, DG REGIO, European Commission
- Ms Helena Tuuri, Ambassador for Baltic Sea Affairs, Finland
- Mr Jens Grøndahl, Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Organizers
