The debate also marked the first parliamentary address by Cornelia Schmachtenberg, newly appointed Minister for European and Baltic Sea Affairs of Schleswig-Holstein. In her maiden speech, she underlined that Baltic Sea cooperation will be a central priority for the state government. She expressed full support for the BSPC Presidency, congratulated the President and the Secretary General, and highlighted the importance of hosting the 2026 BSPC Annual Conference in Lübeck. She confirmed that the government will report on the implementation of the Resolution as mandated by Parliament.
The Parliament congratulated Kristina Herbst, President of the Schleswig-Holstein Parliament and President of the BSPC, for returning the BSPC Annual Conference to Schleswig-Holstein for the first time since 1998. Members also welcomed the appointment of Jan Diedrichsen as Secretary General of the BSPC, tasked with steering the organisation through the Schleswig-Holstein presidency.
Cross-party perspectives
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) – Rasmus Vöge
Rasmus Vöge highlighted Schleswig-Holstein’s long-standing role in Baltic Sea cooperation and the international recognition associated with the BSPC Presidency. He emphasised the importance of hosting the 2026 Annual Conference in Lübeck and the region’s tradition of consensus-driven cooperation.
Alliance 90/The Greens – Eka von Kalben
Eka von Kalben stressed that the Baltic Sea has become one of the EU’s most security- and environmentally sensitive regions. She focused on maritime security, the protection of critical infrastructure, democratic resilience and ecological renewal, emphasising the Resolution’s united stance for international and maritime law.
Social Democratic Party (SPD) – Marc Timmer
Marc Timmer highlighted the importance of cross-border dialogue in times of geopolitical tension. He pointed to strong youth participation at the Mariehamn Conference and underlined the interdependence of security, environmental protection and democracy. He welcomed the launch of the new BSPC Working Group on strengthening cyber and information resilience and emphasised Schleswig-Holstein’s active role.
Free Democratic Party (FDP) – Dr. Heiner Garg
Dr. Heiner Garg stressed the seriousness of the current security environment. He warned against proposals undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and highlighted the need to strengthen maritime security, counter hybrid threats and address the risks posed by the “shadow fleet”. He emphasised the centrality of societal resilience and the protection of minorities.
SSW (Party of the Danish Minority and the North Frisians) – Jette Waldinger-Thiering
Jette Waldinger-Thiering emphasised that youth participation must be a central focus of the upcoming BSPC Annual Conference in Schleswig-Holstein, noting that young people are essential for the future strength of democratic societies. She underlined that the Baltic Sea – long a connecting element between neighbouring states – has increasingly become an area of geopolitical tension, making the united signal from Mariehamn all the more important: solidarity with Ukraine, cohesion among the Baltic Sea states and a shared commitment to regional resilience.
The unanimous vote demonstrates strong political backing for the BSPC’s work in Schleswig-Holstein and marks a clear commitment to strengthening security, democracy and sustainability across the Baltic Sea region.All parliamentary groups and the state government backed the BSPC Resolution in a full plenary debate – a rare unanimous vote that sends a clear message of unity, resolve and shared responsibility across the Baltic Sea region.