Council of the Baltic Sea States

28/09/2026

From 21–24 September, Aline Mayr, CBSS Policy Officer for Youth, and members of the Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum (BSRYF) took part in the BSSSC Youth Autumn Event 2026 in Hamar, Norway, to discuss the BSSSC Strategy, which is currently dated until 2030.

During a workshop, young participants identified gaps and developed practical ideas and recommendations for the renewal of the BSSSC Strategy, which they later presented to and discussed with the BSSSC Board.

The CBSS is a partner in the Erasmus+ project supporting the event.


Baltic Sea States Sub-regional Cooperation - BSSSC

24/09/2026

Today, Iceland 🇮🇸 launched its Presidency of the CBSS Civil Protection Network, with Directors General and senior experts from across the Baltic Sea Region meeting to set priorities for the year ahead. The Presidency will focus on whole-of-society resilience, preparedness for natural hazards, early warning, crisis communication, evacuation and recovery.

👉 https://cbss.org/2026/09/24/iceland-launches-its-cbss-presidency-of-the-civil-protection-network/

23/09/2026

📢 A new opportunity at the Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat in Stockholm! We’re looking for a Senior Adviser for the Safe and Secure Region to join our team and help strengthen cooperation across the Baltic Sea Region.

The role focuses on civil security, crisis preparedness, civil protection and resilience, with plenty of opportunities to work with governments, international organisations and partners across the region.

If you have 10+ years of relevant experience, enjoy working across borders and are interested in turning ideas and cooperation into practical results, this could be an interesting opportunity for you.

📅 Starting March 2027
⏰ Apply by 30 October 2026

More information: https://cbss.org/careers/

22/09/2026

The role of volunteers and municipalities, lessons from the Grindavík evacuation, regional civil protection projects and responses to drone alerts: these will be among the topics addressed when the BSR-NOVA network meets on 29 September. Open to all members.

Read more: https://cbss.org/2026/09/22/bsr-nova-members-to-meet-on-civil-protection-cooperation-and-emerging-risks/

-NOVA

18/09/2026

Register now – join us in Reykjavík or online on 8 October 2026 to participate in a CBSS conference on and .

The programme of the "Starting with Trust: Trauma-Informed Pathways to Resilience" conference will specifically address recovery and resilience among children at risk and victims and survivors of human trafficking. It will notably cover trauma-informed practice, labour trafficking investigations, forensic interviewing, refugee children’s recovery and evidence-based parenting support.

8 October 2026 | Reykjavik University + online.

Open to practitioners, policymakers, researchers and international organisations from across the Baltic Sea Region and beyond.

Register and see the programme: https://cbss.org/event/starting-with-trust-trauma-informed-pathways-to-resilience/

18/09/2026

The CBSS Annual Report 2025–2026 is out.

Covering the concluded Polish Presidency, the report documents a year in which the CBSS strengthened its political role and placed security and resilience more firmly at the centre of regional cooperation in response to the changing security environment in the Baltic Sea Region.

Read the report: https://cbss.org/2026/09/18/cbss-annual-report-2025-2026-security-and-resilience-at-the-centre-of-the-concluded-polish-presidency/

16/09/2026

A new joint policy brief from the Council of the Baltic Sea States and the Council of Europe, Artificial Intelligence and Human Trafficking: Threats, Responses, and Ethical Considerations, examines how artificial intelligence is changing human trafficking — both as a tool for criminals and as a resource for those working to prevent trafficking, investigate cases and support victims.

The brief highlights emerging risks, including deepfakes, fraudulent documents, bias and privacy breaches, and calls for a human rights-based approach grounded in accountability, transparency, fairness and human oversight.

Learn more and read the full policy brief here: https://cbss.org/2026/09/15/ai-and-human-trafficking-new-policy-brief-examines-threats-and-responses/

07/09/2026

This summer, three CBSS-supported in Denmark and Poland brought together students and young professionals from across the Baltic Sea Region and Ukraine. From security and societal resilience to minority rights, climate change and spatial planning, participants explored shared regional challenges, exchanged perspectives and developed ideas for the future:

✔️CBSS Summer University 2026: Youth, Resilience and the Future of the Baltic Sea Region – Gdańsk, Poland, 12–19 July.
✔️CBSS Summer University “Minorities and Societal Resilience around the Baltic” – Knivsberg, Denmark, 2–8 August.
✔️VASAB Young Planners’ Summer School 2026 “Navigate Planning Through Changes” – Gdańsk, Poland, 23–29 August.

Three programmes, diverse perspectives, one shared message: cooperation and the engagement of younger generations are key to building a more resilient .

Read more about the CBSS Summer Universities and what participants took away from them: https://cbss.org/2026/09/03/summer-universities-explore-resilience-and-cooperation-in-the-baltic-sea-region/

04/09/2026

🗳️ Vote for BSR Cultural Pearls in the 2026 Public Choice Award!

We’re proud to see , a CBSS-led project, selected as a finalist in Category 5: A Europe Closer to the Citizens. The project supported smaller cities across the Baltic Sea Region in using culture to build stronger, more resilient and connected communities.

Now, we need your vote! The Public Choice Award is decided entirely by the public — so every vote counts. Please vote and help us bring this recognition to the !

🗓️ Vote by 14 October, midday CET
👉 Cast your vote and support BSR Cultural Pearls:
https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/projects/regio-stars-awards_en -nav-5


Interreg Baltic Sea Region

🗳️The REGIOSTARS 2026 public vote is open!

This is the one award decided not by a jury, but by you. Through the Public Choice Award, anyone across Europe can support the project they believe delivers real, lasting impact. Your vote is your voice.

📍 BSR Cultural Pearls is a finalist in Category 5: A Europe Closer to the Citizens.

What your vote supports: a project that helps smaller cities across the Baltic Sea Region use culture to become stronger, more resilient, and more liveable. It’s community-led work, shaped by the people who live there.

If that’s the kind of work you’d like to see recognised, we’d be grateful for your vote.

Vote before 14 October — link in bio.



Dansk Kulturinstitut Loov Eesti MLLEV SH Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury w Gdańsku Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture Obotnia Varde Kommune Visit Smiltene Kaskisten Kaupunki Peipsiääre Oficjalny profil Miasta Płocka Alytaus rajonas EU in my Region Interreg ARS BALTICA
Interreg Baltic Sea Region

Jakobstad Pietarsaari
Landeshauptstadt Kiel
Valmiera. Valmieras novads
Svendborg Kommune

Helsingborgs stad
Visit Smiltene
Kaskisten Kaupunki
Peipsiääre
Oficjalny profil Miasta Płocka
Alytaus rajonas

Kristinestad - Kristiinankaupunki
Krosno Miasto Szkła
Offizieller Account der Stadtverwaltung Schleswig

04/09/2026

ACTIVATE BSR kicks off in Gdańsk! Partners from across the Baltic Sea Region came together in Gdańsk, Poland, to launch ACTIVATE BSR — a new CBSS-led project, co-financed by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme, aimed at strengthening democratic and digital resilience through youth participation.

Together, youth organisations, municipalities and regional partners will tackle disinformation, hate speech and polarisation, with a particular focus on rural communities. The project will develop practical tools to strengthen digital literacy, foster dialogue and create more opportunities for young people to take part in local decision-making.

A new journey towards a more resilient, inclusive and democratic Baltic Sea Region begins!

Read more: https://cbss.org/2026/09/03/activate-bsr-launches-to-strengthen-democratic-resilience-through-youth-participation/



Landesjugendring Schleswig-Holstein e.V.
Nadbałtyckie Centrum Kultury w Gdańsku
Eesti Noorteühenduste Liit (ENL)
LiJOT