VASAB – Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea

Intergovernmental cooperation on spatial planning for a vibrant, resilient, well-connected Baltic Sea Region

About Us

Events

See All

Open call for VASAB Young Planners’ Summer School 2026 featured image

23/08/2026 - 29/08/2026

Gdansk, Poland

Open call for VASAB Young Planners’ Summer School 2026

APPLY BY 7 APRIL 2026 Are you a young professional or student passionate about shaping spatial planning solutions for the Baltic Sea Region’s future development? Do you have ideas on how to strengthen the region’s resilience and adapt to climate change, while balancing the use of land and sea space? Can you think of ways […]

Synthesis Workshop: Nature Conservation and MSP featured image

30/03/2026 - 31/03/2026

Gdansk & online

Synthesis Workshop: Nature Conservation and MSP

Northern European Sea basins project (NESBp) is organising a synthesis workshop focusing on nature conservation and maritime spatial planning. Event will take place on 30-31 March 2026 in Gdansk, Poland. It is primarily expected as an in-person participation. Limited online participation will be available where feasible. Please register by 13 March to secure your […]

Join Workshop on Climate Change Effects & MSP featured image

09/03/2026

Online

Join Workshop on Climate Change Effects & MSP

The online workshop on 9 March 2026 will focus on Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) as a tool for addressing the effects of climate change in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Workshop will provide insights into current experiences and approaches for addressing climate change in MSP across both sea basins and will highlight the latest […]

Expert Workshop on Governance of MARIPARKS featured image

04/03/2026

Brussels

Expert Workshop on Governance of MARIPARKS

On Wednesday 4 March 2026, the Northern European Sea Basins (NESB) project organises an invitation-only workshop in Brussels focusing on the practical implementation of multi-use at sea through the MariPark concept. Organised back-to-back with the European Ocean Days, the workshop will explore key challenges related to the governance and management of MariParks, with a particular […]

02/03/2026 - 06/03/2026

Brussels

European Ocean Days 2026

VASAB Contributes to the EU Strategy for Coastal Communities During European Ocean Days 2026, VASAB will take part in a panel discussion at the session “Towards an EU Strategy for Coastal Communities” on 6 March 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. Organised by the EU DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the session represents an important step towards […]

Launch of Land-based Planners’ Forum featured image

11/02/2026 - 12/02/2026

Tallinn, Estonia

Launch of Land-based Planners’ Forum

Land-based Planners’ Forum project is a starting point for shaping the Forum’s future cooperation model. Together with around 40 invited stakeholders and experts, we will jointly elaborate the next steps – test formats, identify key topics, and agree on future cooperation for continuing the Land-based Planners’ Forum in the Baltic Sea Region. The Land-based Planners’ […]

NESB project partner online meeting featured image

21/11/2025

Online

NESB project partner online meeting

The NESB project partners will gather online on 21 November 2025 for a collaborative meeting dedicated to sharing knowledge, strengthening teamwork, and shaping the project narrative. This meeting also marks one year since the start of the project’s implementation. Together, project partners will work toward building a stronger NESB project partnership, focusing on exchanging knowledge and […]

NESB Project Sessions at the 5th Baltic MSP Forum featured image

12/11/2025

Riga, Latvia

NESB Project Sessions at the 5th Baltic MSP Forum

During the 5th Baltic MSP Forum on 11-12 November 2025 in Riga, Latvia, Northern European Sea Basins project (NESBp) will organise two parallel sessions Advancing Transboundary Governance: Baltic and North Sea Challenges and Prospects and Effective Use of Space for a Sustainable Blue Economy: Baltic Approaches to Multi-Use in Marine and Coastal Areas. Both sessions […]

News

See All

12/03/2026

VASAB Contributes to Discussion on Future EU Strategy for Coastal Communities

European Ocean Days 2026, Brussels, 6 March 2026. During European Ocean Days 2026 in Brussels, VASAB contributed to the panel discussion “Towards an EU Strategy for Coastal Communities”, organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE). The session formed part of the consultation process for the forthcoming EU Strategy for […]

12/03/2026

Summary: NESB Project Expert Workshop on MariPark Governance

While the Ocean Days 2026 were in full swing a parallel expert workshop took place on 4 March 2026 at the ENGIE head office in Brussels to discuss governance challenges for Mariparks and their alignment with the ecosystem-based approach (EBA). The event was organised by Mantis Consulting and IMDC, with support from Blue Cluster, bringing […]

04/03/2026

Open call for VASAB Young Planners’ Summer School 2026

04/03/2026

European Ocean Days 2026

03/03/2026

Procurement launched for report preparation: MSP and related instruments for climate neutrality (Baltic Sea & North Sea context)

Experts/consultants are invited to submit procurement proposals for preparing the report: “How Maritime Spatial Planning and Related Instruments Contribute to Climate Neutrality in the Baltic Sea Region.” The assignment aims to produce a comprehensive and policy-relevant report exploring how maritime spatial planning and related coastal and spatial planning instruments contribute to achieving climate neutrality in […]

16/02/2026

Synthesis Workshop: Nature Conservation and MSP

13/02/2026

Expert Workshop on Governance of MARIPARKS

05/02/2026

Join Workshop on Climate Change Effects & MSP

Shaping the Future with Vision 2040

Our work is guided by VASAB VISION 2040 setting a long-term territorial perspective for a vibrant, resilient, well-connected region with diversity, sustainability, integration and cooperation as key values.

About Vision 2040

Pearls

Vibrant structure of urban networks & settlements

Patches

Sustainable management of ecosystems at sea and land

Strings

Physical and virtual connectivity for goods, people and knowledge

Systems

Cooperative planning systems at sea and land

Current Focus

Enhancing Spatial Resilience

Enhancing resilience is a cross-cutting priority under the Estonian and Polish Chairmanships, building on the VASAB Ministerial Tallinn Declaration on Spatial Resilience (June 2025), which promotes planning approaches addressing climate change, geopolitical tensions and socio-economic shifts across the Baltic Sea Region.

Learn More

Apply for VASAB Young Planners' Summer School!

Application call for the VASAB Young Planners’ Summer School 2026 “Navigate Planning Through Changes” is now open! This international contest and collaborative learning event will be held in Gdańsk, Poland, from 23–29 August 2026. Send your application by 7 April 2026.

Learn More

Strenghtening Spatial Planners' Networks

VASAB facilitates several forums and networks that strengthen spatial planning cooperation across the Baltic Sea Region. Land-based Planners’ Forum is a new and evolving platform that is still being developed to build capacity and resilience among spatial planners at local, regional, and national levels.

Learn More

Ecosystem-Based Approach in Maritime Spatial Planning

The HELCOM-VASAB MSP Working Group ensures cooperation among the Baltic Sea Region countries for coherent, ecosystem-based, and cross-border maritime and coastal planning across the Baltic Sea.

Learn More

Macro-Regional Cooperation under EUSBSR and Project Platforms

VASAB co-coordinates the Policy Area “Spatial Planning” under the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR), facilitating dialogue, project development, and policy alignment.

Learn More

Apply for VASAB Young Planners' Summer School!

Strenghtening Spatial Planners' Networks

Ecosystem-Based Approach in Maritime Spatial Planning

Macro-Regional Cooperation under EUSBSR and Project Platforms