EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

 

The European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) is the first Macro-regional Strategy in Europe, approved in 2009. The EUSBSR is an agreement between the Member States of the EU and the European Commission to strengthen cooperation between the countries bordering the Baltic Sea to meet the common challenges and to benefit from common opportunities facing the region through three objectives: saving the sea, connecting the region and increasing prosperity. To achieve these objectives, the Strategy’s Action Plan identifies the most important actions for implementation. The actions are thematically divided into 14 Policy Areas (PAs) which are all linked and contribute to achieving these objectives from different angles and in diverse ways.

Learn more about the Strategy here: eusbsr.eu

Policy Area Spatial Planning

The Policy Area Spatial Planning ensures a transnational approach in spatial planning in the Baltic Sea Region and creates a forum and cooperation platform for regional, trans-boundary and cross-sectoral dialogue towards more coherent planning.

Policy Area Spatial Planning focuses on encouraging the use of maritime and land-based spatial planning in all Member States around the Baltic Sea. The overall goal is to achieve territorial cohesion perspective in the Baltic Sea Region by 2030, i.e. the Region shall be well-integrated and coherent and has overcome the socio-economic development divides between its individual parts and has turned the global challenges into assets.

The strategic targets of the Policy Area are:

  • to increase the knowledge on land-based spatial planning in the BSR by organising regular thematic events and other activities;
  • to draw up and apply trans-boundary, ecosystem-based Maritime Spatial Plans throughout the BSR which are coherent across the borders and apply ecosystem-based approach.

Read more about Policy Area Spatial Planning here.

 

Implementation

PA Spatial Planning work is embedded into the VASAB and HELCOM frameworks. PA Spatial Planning has two thematic areas:

  • land-based spatial planning;
  • maritime spatial planning (MSP).

VASAB jointly with HELCOM are Coordinators of the Policy Area Spatial Planning.

Workplan of Policy Area Spatial Planning 2025-2026 is available here.

PA Spatial Planning is co-funded by Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme. Read about PASPS project here.

 

Governance

PA Spatial Planning has a Steering Group that meets in two formations:

Rules of Procedure of the PA Spatial Planning Steering Group are available here.

Steering Group minutes are available here.

 

An interactive brochure about Policy Area Spatial Planning can be seen below or downloaded here.