VASAB Expert’s Conference “Vibrant, Resilient, Well-connected – The Baltic Sea Region in 2040” was hosted in the city of Wismar on the 1^st of June 2023 by Germany – VASAB Chairing country for period 2022-2023. 

The Conference was organised by the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building of Germany jointly with the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development with support of the VASAB Secretariat.

The conference brought together 70 experts and enthusiasts of spatial planning and regional development to celebrate the finalization of the VASAB Vision 2040 – the broad and extensive co-creation of joint views on how the Baltic Sea Region would develop and look like in 2040. Vision 2040 defines a desirable picture of the future that is based on a core set of ideas, values and principles. It sets long-term territorial perspective for a vibrant, resilient, well-connected Baltic Sea Region, comprising the land-based and maritime spatial elements of the Region, respecting its diversities and specificities, and embracing sustainability, integration and cooperation throughout. It proposes potential future actions to be jointly implemented with stakeholders in order to cope with challenges across various levels, sectors and borders.

During the Conference, experts and practitioners shared their views what VASAB Vision 2040 and its metaphors mean to them and what influence Vision can have on the spatial development of the Baltic Sea Region. The pitches of several projects illustrated various examples how the VASAB Vision 2040 can be implemented in very practical way and also additional suggestions for future initiatives or projects addressing the spatial development of the Baltic Sea Region were expressed. Hence the commitments to implement the Vision 2040 were repeatedly and widely expressed.

Spare a few moments and take a closer look at the Conference materials (presentations, photos, video testimonials, as well as the outcomes of the Conference`s discussions) here.

The Experts Conference took place back-to-back with the 9^th VASAB Ministerial Conference on 2^nd June 2023 in which the ministers and invited organisations endorsed the Vision 2040 and expressed their commitment to its implementation.  More on the VASAB Ministerial Conferences read here.

Written by VASAB Secretariat June 2023 / Photo: Perspektive Media – Marie Voget