Council of the Baltic Sea States

Finland’s Presidency of CBSS in 2023–2024

Finland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. The Presidency rotates among the CBSS Member States. Finland took over the Presidency from Germany. After Finland, the Presidency will be assumed by Estonia. Finland chaired the CBSS previously in 2013–2014.

During its Presidency, Finland will strive to strengthen the CBSS's activities both in terms of the Council’s role as a platform for political debate and in terms of practical cooperation. The cross-cutting themes of Finland's Presidency will be comprehensive security, crisis preparedness and resilience.

The Presidency will highlight the strengths of the CBSS and make efforts to address the impact of serious crises on our region. For this reason, the issues of safety and security will be given particular emphasis. Read more about the Programme for Finland's Presidency (pdf, 580 KB)

Background information on the CBSS

The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) is an intergovernmental forum for cooperation between the states in the Baltic Sea Region. The CBSS was established in 1992 to promote democratic and economic development in the region.  It has three long-term priorities: I) Safe and secure region; II) Sustainable and prosperous region; and III) Regional identity.

Originally, the members of the CBSS consisted of all the Baltic Sea coastal states and Norway. The EC Commission (later the EU) also participated in the cooperation. Iceland acceded to the CBSS in 1995. Observer States included Belarus, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the other Member States and the EU decided to suspend Russia’s participation and Belarus's observer status until international law will be complied with again. Russia itself called off its participation and finally withdrew from the CBSS on 17 May 2022. At the Foreign Ministers' meeting in Kristiansand on 25 May 2022, the remaining Member States and the EU decided to continue the work of the CBSS.

The activities of the CBSS are divided into two levels: it serves as a forum for political debate and a platform for practical cooperation between different experts and authorities. It also participates in the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.

The Prime Ministers of the CBSS Member States and the permanent President of the European Council met every two years to provide political guidelines for cooperation. The meetings were put on hold after Russia invaded Crimea in 2014.

The highest decision-making body is the Foreign Ministers' meeting, which meets annually at the end of each Presidency in May-June. The Foreign Ministers' meetings were also put on hold in 2014 and resumed during the Icelandic Presidency in 2017. Norway hosted the Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Kristiansand on 25 May 2022. During its Presidency, Germany held two Foreign Minister’s meetings, in Berlin on 8 May 2023 and in Wismar on 1–2 June 2023.

In addition to Foreign Ministers, other ministers may also convene for a meeting.

The Council's practical and expert-level work is coordinated by the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO), assisted by a secretariat in Stockholm.  

Expert-level cooperation takes place in CBSS working groups and networks that cover matters such as rescue services, combating human trafficking, vulnerable children and sustainable maritime transport. CBSS expert cooperation is carried out by ministries and other authorities responsible for different sectors. Read more about the CBSS bodies(Link to another website.).

The Council of the Baltic Sea States also has a Project Support Facility (PSF). Through PSF funding, the CBSS supports multinational projects in its sectors of operation that bring added value for the Baltic Sea Region.

Council of the Baltic Sea States

Member States: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and Sweden. The European Commission also takes part in the CBSS cooperation.

Observer States: Belarus, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, the United States and Hungary.

*Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the other members of the CBSS decided to suspend Russia’s membership and Belarus's observer status. As a countermeasure, Russia suspended its participation and finally withdrew from the CBSS on 17 May 2022.

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