At the BSSSC Day of Cities and Regions in Sopot on 28 October 2025, Kristina Herbst, President of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC), underlined the importance of democratic cooperation and resilience for the future of the Baltic Sea Region.
Speaking in the high-level panel “Viewpoints on Baltic Sea Region Security from the Parliamentary, National and EU Level,” President Herbst called for closer links between parliaments, regions, and governments to respond to the growing challenges of security and societal cohesion.
“We can only be resilient if we work together – across borders, across policy fields, and across generations,” she said.
Herbst recalled that the BSPC was founded in 1991 “on hope” — as a platform to connect all Baltic Sea parliaments in dialogue and cooperation. That period of inclusive cooperation ended with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which “turned the Baltic Sea once again into a strategic frontline — between democracy and aggression.”
In response, the BSPC strengthened its work on energy security, resilience, and connectivity, culminating in the final report of the BSPC Working Group on Energy Security and Resilience presented at the 33rd Annual Conference in Mariehamn. The report calls for faster renewable energy development, stronger cross-border interconnections, protection of maritime and digital infrastructure, and tighter controls on Russia’s “shadow fleet.”
“Security is more than defence — it is resilience. And resilience is built through cooperation, trust, and shared democratic values,” Herbst emphasised.
Presenting the priorities of the current BSPC Presidency under the motto “Youth.Set.Sail – For a Thriving Baltic Sea Region,” she stressed that youth engagement and security policy must go hand in hand. “If young people believe in cooperation and democracy, the Baltic Sea Region will remain strong,” she said.
Herbst also highlighted the need for better coordination between regional organisations such as the BSSSC, CBSS, BSPC, and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, noting that parliamentary participation adds democratic legitimacy and long-term political commitment to regional cooperation.