SEC_2026 Szczecin _Draft Annotated Agenda.pdf

Version 2026-03-14 BALTIC SEA PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE Secretariat Meeting Szczecin Annotated Agenda Szczecin, 24 March 20261.Welcome and Opening The Secretary General (SG) of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) will open the meeting and welcome participants. The meeting is invited to adopt the draft annotated agenda. 2.Approval of the Notes from the Secretariat Meeting Attachment 2.1 – Draft Decision Notes – Secretariat Meeting, Berlin, 12 January 2026 The draft Decision Notes of the BSPC Secretariat meeting in Berlin on 12 January 2026 have been circulated. The meeting is invited to approve the Notes. 3.Draft Notes from the Standing Committee in Brussels Attachment 3.1 – Draft Decision Notes – Standing Committee, Brussels, 2–3 March 2026 The draft Decision Notes of the Standing Committee meeting in Brussels on 2–3 March 2026 have been circulated. The meeting is invited to take note of the Draft Decision Notes and to indicate any proposed amendments. 4.Review of Decisions and Action Points Attachment 4.1 – Standing Committee Decisions – Status Update Attachment 4.2 – Secretariat Decisions – Status Update Consolidated Decision Status Registers for the SC and the Secretariat are provided as reference documents. Relevant items will be briefly called to ensure continuity and transparency. The registers are updated from meeting to meeting. The meeting is invited to note the registers, flag any corrections, and provide comments on open action points. 5.Follow-up to the 34th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference Resolution Governmental follow-up statements to the 34th BSPC Resolution adopted in Mariehamn are due by 15 April 2026. The Secretariat will coordinate the collection of replies and prepare a consolidated overview for the SC meeting in Neustadt in Holstein.As of the date of this meeting, replies have been received from the following: Åland, the German Federal Government, the European Commission, and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Two issues have arisen that warrant discussion. The German Federal Government's reply, prepared by the Federal Foreign Office, has been classified as restricted for internal use only. Finland has indicated that it will not be in a position to meet the 15 April deadline and has further signalled that its government reply may similarly be subject to confidentiality considerations. These cases raise a broader question for the BSPC: the public availability of governmental follow-up replies has hitherto been a central element of the BSPC's political follow-up process and its accountability towards the wider public. The Secretariat invites an exchange on how such cases should be handled and what recommendation to bring to the Standing Committee. Participants are also invited to briefly report on the current state of follow-up in their respective parliaments and organisations. The meeting is invited to exchange views on the state of follow-up to the 34th BSPC Resolution and to provide guidance on how to proceed where replies are classified for internal use only. 6.Preparation of the Resolution for the 35th BSPC Attachment 6.1 – Draft Resolution Structure and Topics Attachment 6.2 – Draft Resolution Register – Mariehamn 2025 This item addresses the preparation of the Resolution to be adopted at the 35th BSPC Annual Conference in Lübeck, in accordance with SC-202511-03 and the decisions taken at the Standing Committee meeting in Brussels (SC-202603-02). At the Brussels SC meeting, members expressed broad support for a more focused and concise resolution built around a limited number of clearly defined political priority areas. The proposed approach aims to align the resolution with the thematic priorities of the Schleswig-Holstein Presidency, to draw systematically on the outputs of BSPC Working Groups, and to ensure that the final text contains a selective set of targeted parliamentary requests with clearly identifiable addressees. The SC further mandated the Secretariat to explore options for a register of recurring commitments and priorities as a complementary instrument to strengthen long-term political follow-up. Two working documents are submitted for discussion. The first is a draft resolution structure prepared by the SG, proposing a preamble and three thematic clusters: Cluster 1 on Youth Participation and Intergenerational Dialogue, reflecting the Presidency's priority of "Youth Sets Sail"; Cluster 2 on Democratic Resilience in the Age of Hybrid Threats and Artificial Intelligence, building on the work of the BSPC Working Group SCIRPD; and Cluster 3 on Shared Challenges in the Baltic Sea Region, providing a flexibleframework for additional political priorities. The operative paragraphs remain to be filled in on the basis of political guidance from the Secretariat and the SC meeting in Neustadt in Holstein. The second document is a draft Resolution Register, which tracks commitments made in the Mariehamn Resolution of 2025 with a view to establishing a systematic overview of recurring BSPC priorities. The register is intended as a living reference document to support the drafting process and to improve the political usability and measurability of future resolutions. The proposed drafting timeline foresees political guidance at the SC meeting in Neustadt in Holstein (17–18 May 2026), the preparation of a first consolidated draft immediately thereafter, a core drafting and consultation phase in June, and stabilisation of the text before the summer recess, with final drafting and adoption at the Annual Conference in Lübeck. The meeting is invited to exchange views on the proposed resolution structure and the draft register, and to provide guidance on the further development of the 35th BSPC Resolution. 7.Organisational and Legal Framework of the BSPC This item addresses the future organisational and legal framework of the BSPC in accordance with the mandate agreed at the Standing Committee meeting in Helsingør in 2024 and the decision taken at the Standing Committee meeting in Brussels (SC-202603-03). Background and mandate. At its meeting in Helsingør in August 2024, the Standing Committee decided that the ongoing reform process should address the future institutional status of the BSPC, including questions of legal personality, administrative autonomy and financial responsibility. The Schleswig-Holstein State Parliament assumed temporary administrative responsibility for the BSPC Secretariat from 1 January 2025, a transitional arrangement that provides operational stability but raises structural questions regarding the BSPC's institutional independence and legal capacity. The Standing Committee agreed on a 3+2 approach: a solution is to be identified within three years; should this not prove achievable, the mandate of the Secretary General shall automatically be extended by up to two additional years. At the Standing Committee meeting in Brussels, members confirmed the need for a more solid analytical basis and mandated the Secretariat, in cooperation with the Presidency, to prepare a discussion paper on possible next steps for the Standing Committee meeting in Neustadt in Holstein. What is at stake. The immediate practical objective is to enable the Secretary General to act with the operational independence appropriate to the role — to manage finances, enter into contracts, employ staff, and operate without structural dependency on the administrative framework of a member parliament. Achieving this requires legal personality. Closely linked to this is a question of democratic governance that theStanding Committee itself raised at Helsingør: the 2024 decision explicitly called for an open and transparent recruitment process for future selections of the Secretary General and for a future structure ensuring greater organisational independence for the BSPC. Under the current transitional arrangement, the appointment of the Secretary General remains structurally tied to the host parliament and the Presidency. Beyond these operational considerations, there is a broader political question that only the Standing Committee can answer: should the BSPC aim for a status comparable to that of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), the Nordic Council or the Baltic Assembly — that is, full international legal personality established through a multilateral framework — or is such a status not the decisive criterion, and a more pragmatic solution conferring sufficient operational independence is what is needed? This question of political ambition should be at the heart of the Standing Committee's deliberations. Overview of options. The working paper prepared for the Secretary Level meeting in Tallinn (October 2025) provided a first comparative overview of possible models. The legal service of the Schleswig-Holstein State Parliament has since examined the question in greater depth. Together, these analyses identify the following options: A multilateral founding treaty would establish the BSPC as an international organisation under public international law — the most ambitious and durable solution, comparable to the status of the CBSS or the Nordic Council. It provides full legal personality, rights and obligations recognised under international law. It requires, however, that states — not parliaments — act as contracting parties, and involves a complex and potentially lengthy negotiation and ratification process across all member countries. This is a long-term option that presupposes strong governmental engagement and political will at the level of all member states. A host country agreement between the BSPC and a future host state would confer legal capacity and functional privileges within that state's jurisdiction. This model has proven workable for comparable parliamentary assemblies and can be achieved without a full multilateral treaty. It equally requires states as parties to the agreement, though the process may be more manageable than a full founding treaty. A national law of the host country — modelled on the Belgian law of 1974 recognising the NATO Parliamentary Assembly — would grant the BSPC legal and contractual capacity through domestic legislation, based on a political agreement among BSPC member parliaments. This approach does not require a multilateral treaty, can be pursued relatively swiftly, and offers considerable flexibility in terms of scope and content. A private law entity established in the host country's jurisdiction would provide immediate operational independence and legal capacity. It may serve as a useful interim arrangement pending a longer-term decision. Two further instruments — an administrative financing agreement between member parliaments and the establishment of a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation(EGTC) — have also been examined in the context of the analytical work. Both present specific legal and structural features that would need to be carefully assessed in light of the BSPC's particular institutional character as a parliamentary body. Ideas for discussion on next steps. In preparing the discussion paper for Neustadt, the Secretariat will need to take a view on how the process should move forward. The following questions are offered as a basis for internal discussion: Should the Secretariat explore the possibility of commissioning a focused and lean external legal assessment — not a comprehensive comparative study, but a targeted analysis of one or two viable models for a specific host country context, once a candidate has been identified? Is there value in establishing an working group of interested delegations to support the preparatory work between Secretariat meetings, allowing for early soundings without requiring formal institutional decisions? Would it be useful to define more precisely the minimum requirements a future host arrangement would need to meet — in terms of the Secretary General's operational independence, financial management, staffing and contractual capacity — as a reference point for any host country discussions? This could help frame the political conversation and avoid abstract debates about institutional models. Should there be proposed a call for interest to member parliaments and their respective governments, inviting expressions of interest in serving as the future host of the BSPC Secretariat? This would shift the process from analytical to political and allow any subsequent legal work to be far more targeted and efficient. It would also signal to member delegations that the process is entering a concrete phase. Finally, the Secretariat invites reflection on the question of timing and sequencing: given the 3+2 framework agreed in Helsingør, what pace of progress is realistic and politically sustainable, and what should the Standing Committee be in a position to decide at Neustadt? The meeting is invited to exchange views on the state of the analytical work and on the political questions outlined above, and to provide guidance to the Secretariat and Presidency on the preparation of a discussion paper for the Standing Committee meeting in Neustadt in Holstein. 8.Working Groups and Rapporteurs The second meeting of the Working Group SCIRPD will take place in Szczecin on 22–24 March 2026, immediately prior to this Secretariat meeting. The Working Group's substantive work feeds directly into the preparation of the 35th BSPC Resolution, in particular Cluster 2 on Democratic Resilience.At the Brussels SC meeting, Andris Kulbergs presented in his capacity as BSPC Rapporteur on Energy Security, Self-sustainability, Resilience and Connectivity. The SC agreed that the Secretariat shall prepare a letter to the governments of BSPC member parliaments requesting information on the follow-up to the recommendations of the previous Working Group (SC-202603-01). With regard to the upcoming Standing Committee meetings, the Secretariat proposes to continue the practice of inviting rapporteurs to provide short oral updates at each meeting. For the SC meeting in Neustadt in Holstein, Luise Amtsberg could be invited to present in her capacity as BSPC Rapporteur on Sea-Dumped Munitions — a topic of direct relevance to Baltic Sea security and environmental protection. For the Special SC meeting in Turku, Jörgen Pettersson, BSPC Rapporteur on Integrated Maritime Policy, has indicated his willingness to present on recent developments in his area of responsibility. The meeting is invited to take note of the updates, to confirm the rapporteur arrangements for Neustadt and Turku, and to provide guidance on the draft letter to governments. 9.Finances Attachment 9.1 – Financial Status Report and Budget Utilisation 2026 Attachment 9.2 – Overview of Membership Contributions Received 2026 The SG will provide a brief overview of the current state of budget utilisation and an update on membership contributions received to date for 2026. The meeting is invited to take note of the information. Questions are welcome. 10.Preparation of the 35th BSPC Annual Conference, Lübeck 2026, and Baltic Sea Parliamentary Youth Forum (BSPYF) This item provides an update on the state of preparations for the 35th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference and the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Youth Forum (BSPYF) in Lübeck. The conference is scheduled to take place from 30 August to 1 September 2026 at the Radisson Blu Senator Hotel in Lübeck. The Baltic Sea Parliamentary Youth Forum is planned to begin two days prior to the Annual Conference. The update will cover the current planning status, the programme structur and the integration of the Youth Forum. The meeting is invited to take note of the information and to raise any questions.11.Preparation of the Standing Committee Meeting, Neustadt in Holstein and the Special Standing Committee Meeting in Turku This item addresses the preparation of the next two Standing Committee meetings: the Special Standing Committee meeting in Turku, Finland (3–5 May 2026), and the Standing Committee meeting in Neustadt in Holstein (17–18 May 2026). For the Special SC meeting in Turku, the Finnish delegation will host the meeting. The meeting is invited to exchange views on the proposed programme structure and thematic focus. Practical and logistical arrangements will also be addressed. For the SC meeting in Neustadt in Holstein, will address the political priorities for the 35th BSPC Resolution and host a youth side event. Practical and logistical arrangements will also be addressed. The meeting is invited to take note of the state of preparations and to provide guidance on the programme and thematic focus of both meetings. 12.Corporate Design of the BSPC Attachment 12.1 - Corporate Design_Handbook The updated BSPC corporate design and logo, provided as attachments, will now be applied to all BSPC documents and communication materials. The meeting is invited to take note of the new design and to raise any questions. 13.Events, Reports and Invitations Attachment 13.1 - Events, Reports and Invitations An overview of recent and upcoming BSPC-related events is provided in the attached document for information. Participants are invited to take note of the overview and to inform the Secretariat of any additions or corrections. 14.BSPC Calendar Attachment 14.1 - BSPC Calendar The updated BSPC calendar is submitted as an attachment for reference.The meeting is invited to take note of the calendar and to communicate any updates or amendments. 15.Any Other Business Participants are invited to raise any additional matters not covered under the preceding agenda items.