Meeting of Council of the Baltic Sea States foreign ministers and EU High Representative
02.06.2021
“Poland will continue its active involvement in the Council of the Baltic Sea States and other regional Baltic formats. It is only through joint efforts that we can fulfill our vision of the Baltic Sea by 2030, ensuring its growth and the prosperity and security of our societies,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau during today’s videoconference of the Council of the Baltic Sea States foreign ministers and the High Representative of the European Union, which concluded the Lithuanian presidency of the Council.
During the videoconference attended by, among others, the foreign ministers of Poland, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, as well as representatives of Sweden, Germany, Russia, Latvia, Iceland and the European Union, the participants discussed challenges facing the international community and their impact on the Baltic Sea region. The heads of diplomacy and representatives of the Council states adopted the Vilnius II Declaration – A Vision for the Baltic Sea Region by 2030, which reaffirms the willingness to make the region one of the world’s most sustainable, prosperous, innovative and competitive areas.
Speaking about Poland’s engagement in regional Baltic cooperation, Minister Rau stressed the importance of joint work on climate, including the development of wind power, improving the marine environmental situation, enhancing people-to-people contacts across the region, and on civil protection and responding to emergencies. The minister expressed his satisfaction with the growing importance of cooperation with the young generation. Minister Rau also pointed out the deteriorating general security situation in the Baltic, and emphasised that compliance with human rights, the rule of law, democracy and the international law is necessary to enhance the security and prosperity of the Baltic Sea region. In this context, he also referred to Poland’s readiness to act to re-establish cooperation through, for instance, enhancing people-to-people contacts with Russia. Furthermore, he noted the need to look for common solutions to the problem of chemical weapons and ammunition sunk at the bottom of the Baltic Sea.
Established in 1992, the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) is the most important organisation for intergovernmental cooperation in the Baltic Sea region. It played a major role in the institutionalisation of international relations after the Cold War. The CBSS is made up of all countries located by the Baltic Sea (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Poland, Russia, Sweden), as well as Iceland, Norway and the EU. The CBSS sets political goals, action plans, runs thematic expert cooperation groups in many areas, supports the implementation of local multilateral projects, and provides a forum for exchanging good practices.
MFA Press Office
Photo: Tymon Markowski / MFA
