Beskrivning
On 4–5 October this year, Riga organised the 14th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).
As the first of the four Macro-Regional Strategies in Europe, the Baltic Sea Region Strategy has always been a front-runner, be it innovation ecosystems, sustainability-oriented citizens, or energy security goals. Countries from the Baltic Sea Region are working together to develop renewable energy sources and to improve energy efficiency. In addition, much effort is being put into the promotion of regional trade and investment, and improving interconnections between the countries in the region and beyond.
The organisers steered the Forum towards these four main goals:
- exchange of best practices of cooperation,
- stronger integration within the Baltic Sea Region and beyond,
- forming synergies between various priority areas, and
- creating links between the Strategy and the general public.
Keeping in mind the main objectives of the EUSBSR – save the sea, connect the region, and increase prosperity – and the Action Plan 2021, special attention with the aim to encourage debate was paid to the climate affairs and green energy. And since the main agents of change and progress are young people, a strong focus was placed on the importance of youth engagement in decision-making and youth representation.