Poland currently holds the one‑year presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. Our country attaches great importance to political and practical cooperation within the Council, which is the only intergovernmental organisation that brings together all countries in the region, except Russia. As part of the presidency, the Polish MFA initiated meetings in the format of political directors of CBSS foreign ministries, the European External Action Service, and the Director General of the CBSS Secretariat, with the hope that this format will be continued by subsequent presidencies. The Polish MFA was represented by Adam Bugajski, Political Director and Director of the Security Policy Department.

During the meeting, we emphasised that the Council should be able to respond more effectively to new regional security challenges. This expectation was included in the Declaration of CBSS Foreign Ministers adopted in Vihula (Estonia) in May 2025. Thursday’s meeting was an important step towards giving fresh impetus to the Council’s activities.

The participants agreed about the need to maintain continued pressure—including sanctions—on Russia, to sustain support for Ukraine in its defence, and to work towards achieving a just and lasting peace that provides strong security guarantees for Kyiv.

The second part of the meeting was devoted to hybrid threats from Russia in the Baltic Sea, including the activities of the “clunker fleet” and attacks on undersea critical infrastructure. Participants discussed possible actions to counter these threats. Poland’s contribution consisted of proposals addressing these challenges from the perspective of international law. Also discussed were preparations for the Council’s ministerial meeting scheduled for spring 2026.

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The Council of the Baltic Sea States was established in 1992 with Poland as one of its founders. The current members include Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the EU. The Council’s focus is on supporting political dialogue and cooperation, setting strategic priorities and guiding regional initiatives in line with the organisation’s long-term priorities: Regional Identity, Sustainable and Prosperous Region, and Safe and Secure Region. At present, the Council of the Baltic Sea States runs four main working groups: the Expert Group on Sustainable Maritime Economy, the Expert Group on Children at Risk, the Task Force Against Trafficking in Human Beings, and the Civil Protection Network.