At present, the Council of the Baltic Sea States runs four main bodies: 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. Poland is keen to continue the cooperation within the CBSS, which is the only high-level forum of dialogue bringing together all countries of the region (including Norway and Iceland, as well as the EU/EEAS; Russia was first suspended from the Council's activities and later withdrew from the organisation in May 2022). We see the relevance of the discussions on putting the CBSS format to a better use, making it address the current geopolitical situation and the strategic challenges in the region. On that note, we are determined to seize the opportunity to enhance political dialogue within the Council on issues such as protecting the Baltic Sea critical infrastructure and countering the shadow fleet, but also on the current security-related topics, such as the war in Ukraine and threats posed by Russia.

Photo: Gabriel Piętka/MFA Poland