The Baltic Sea

Parliamentary Conference

The group brings together parliamentarians from eleven countries and regions around the Baltic Sea. Its mandate is to strengthen the region's collective capacity to address cyber threats, disinformation, and the use of digital tools to undermine democratic processes. Over two years, the group will develop political recommendations reflecting the specific security environment of the Baltic Sea region. A first set of recommendations is expected to be adopted at the 35th BSPC Conference in Lübeck in late August 2026. The Szczecin programme opens with a study visit to Autocomp Management, a local cybersecurity company, before the formal session convenes at the Marshal Office of the Westpomeranian Region. Four Polish experts will present on disinformation and foreign information manipulation, cybersecurity policy, Russian hybrid threats, and cyber crisis management — drawing on the region's specific experience and threat landscape. In the afternoon, members turn to the group's political work: advancing recommendations on cyber and information resilience that may inform BSPC policy positions later this year. The Working Group was established at the 34th BSPC Conference in Mariehamn in August 2025 and operates under a two-year mandate.

The Standing Committee of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) convened at the European Parliament in Brussels for its spring session. The meeting was preceded by a breakfast exchange with Members of the European Parliament and a security briefing by Martin Schäfer , Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Political and Security Committee (PSC). The discussion addressed current EU security priorities and their implications for the Baltic Sea Region. The Standing Committee session at the European Parliament was opened by Roberts Zīle , Vice-President of the European Parliament, who underlined the importance of sustained parliamentary engagement in strengthening resilience and cohesion across Europe. The political debate focused on geopolitical developments in the Arctic and Greenland as well as the negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Sabrina Repp , Member of the European Parliament and Member of the BSPC Standing Committee, outlined key elements of the ongoing MFF negotiations and highlighted their relevance for cohesion policy, security investments and regional programmes in the Baltic Sea Region. An exchange of views with Gustav Lindström , Director General of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), focused on the current strategic orientation of the CBSS and opportunities for closer cooperation between governmental and parliamentary frameworks in the region. Further agenda items included youth participation and structured youth dialogue, reports from the BSPC Working Groups and Rapporteurs, financial matters, preparations for the 35th BSPC Annual Conference and the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Youth Forum in Lübeck 2026, as well as continued discussions on the organisational and legal framework of the BSPC. Concluding the meeting, Kristina Herbst , President of the BSPC, stated: “The Baltic Sea Region must remain politically coherent and strategically visible in Europe. Today’s exchanges have demonstrated that parliamentary cooperation strengthens our capacity to act collectively. I look forward to continuing our work at the next meeting of the Standing Committee in May in Neustadt in Holstein.” The meeting reaffirmed the BSPC’s role as a parliamentary platform linking national and regional parliaments of the Baltic Sea Region with European institutions. More Pictures from the meeting.

On Monday, 2 March 2026, the Standing Committee of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference will meet in Brussels, hosted at the European Parliament. With more than 40 participants from member parliaments across the Baltic Sea Region , the meeting underlines the strategic importance of a strong and continuous parliamentary presence at the heart of the European Union. The programme is deliberately centred on political exchange and EU-level networking. It opens with a breakfast discussion with Members of the European Parliament, providing an informal setting for frank exchanges on current European and regional challenges. Further meetings in Brussels, including engagements with key diplomatic actors, frame the Standing Committee discussions and place the work of the BSPC firmly within the broader EU policy context. At a time of heightened geopolitical pressure and a rapidly changing European security environment, the meeting highlights interparliamentary cooperation as a political instrument in its own right. By linking national and regional parliamentary perspectives directly with EU debates, the BSPC reinforces its role as a platform for coordination, dialogue and political signal-setting in the Baltic Sea Region.

The Annual Conference in Mariehamn marked a key moment in the work of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference. Delegations met to discuss shared challenges and priorities for regional cooperation, reflecting the diversity of perspectives across the Baltic Sea Region. The full conference documentation is available here on the BSPC website . It provides a structured overview of the conference, including the main debates, adopted outcomes and key political messages. The documentation also brings together the press releases issued during the conference as well as a curated photo gallery capturing key moments and the atmosphere of the meeting on Åland. Taken together, these materials form a comprehensive record of the conference and invite readers to revisit the discussions and encounters that shaped the meeting in Mariehamn.

The President of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC), Kristina Herbst, took part today in the plenary session of the Benelux Interparliamentary Assembly in Luxembourg. Members of Parliament from Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg gathered to address current European challenges, including the implications of new EU–US customs duties and ongoing efforts to strengthen cross-border cooperation in combating tax fraud and money laundering. In her remarks, Kristina Herbst offered a political reflection from a wider European perspective. She stressed that stable trade relations, secure transport routes and predictable economic conditions remain essential pillars of cooperation and prosperity across Europe. These foundations, she noted, have become even more important in light of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, which continues to affect security, economic stability and public confidence throughout the continent. Herbst emphasised that regular dialogue between parliaments strengthens trust, deepens mutual understanding and supports democratic resilience. The exchange in Luxembourg provided an opportunity to bring perspectives from the Baltic Sea region into the discussion with the Benelux countries and to highlight the value of strong interparliamentary cooperation at a moment of significant strain for Europe. The plenary session in Luxembourg brought together expert insights, political assessments and regional viewpoints, creating a broad platform for addressing shared European concerns. Benelux Parliament The Benelux Interparliamentary Assembly is the parliamentary cooperation body of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Established in 1955, it promotes political dialogue, supports cross-border cooperation and addresses issues of common concern within the Benelux region. Photo: Giedrius Drukteinis, Vice-President of the Baltic Assembly; Kristina Herbst, President of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference; Patricia Creutz, President of the Parliament of the German-speaking Community of Belgium and Vice-President of the Benelux Parliament; and Jānis Vucāns, President of the Baltic Assembly, during a meeting on the margins of the plenary session in the Chambre des Députés in Luxembourg.

Representatives of all national and regional parliaments of the Baltic Sea region, the European Parliament, the Baltic Assembly, and the Nordic Council attended — a clear expression of unity and the continued relevance of interparliamentary cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region. Kristina Herbst opened the meeting by thanking the Åland Islands for hosting the 34th BSPC in Mariehamn, noting that the conference had provided important momentum for the political work now being taken forward. She stressed the central role of parliamentary dialogue in safeguarding democratic resilience, regional stability and cross-border trust: “Cooperation among our parliaments is not a formality — it is a necessity. The Baltic Sea region faces shared challenges, and only together can we find the solutions our citizens expect.” Delegates in Kiel discussed the follow-up to the 34th BSPC, the Presidency’s strategic priorities for 2025–2026, and the ongoing work in the BSPC Working Group and Rapporteurships. They exchanged views on key regional issues, including the future of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) based on the recent Wise Persons Report. The discussions reflected the breadth of the regional agenda and the BSPC’s role as a platform for long-term parliamentary coordination. In light of current developments, the Standing Committee agreed today to issue a joint statement under the title ‘Nothing About Ukraine Without Ukraine. The Statement reaffirms the BSPC’s unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and underlines that any international initiative must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. It stresses that no proposal or negotiation format may be pursued without Ukraine’s consent or at the expense of its security and freedom. Kristina Herbst emphasised: “Our message from Kiel is clear: Ukraine decides its future. As our Statement states, Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity are inviolable. Any path to peace must be anchored in international law — and must strengthen Ukraine rather than reward aggression.” Delegates stressed that Ukraine’s defence remains directly linked to the security and democratic resilience of the entire Baltic Sea region and expressed deep respect for the determination of the Ukrainian people in defending shared democratic values. The Presidency also presented the upcoming 35th BSPC, to be held in Lübeck from 30 August to 1 September 2026 — the first time since 1998 that Schleswig-Holstein will host the annual Conference. Delegates welcomed the choice of venue and the Presidency’s intention to make Lübeck a central forum for political dialogue in the region. In her concluding remarks, Kristina Herbst thanked all delegations for their constructive engagement and emphasised the value of the intensive political exchange during the Kiel meeting. The Standing Committee will reconvene in early March 2026 in Brussels to continue its work under the Schleswig-Holstein Presidency.