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

Maritime stakeholders came together in Brest, France at the end of May. More than 1500 people joined the European Maritime Days 2023 (EMD 2023) as well as many attended the launch of European Blue Forum. Sustainable Blue Economy was in spotlight. VASAB took an active role in both events.

Last Friday, on the 2nd of June 2023, the VASAB Ministers responsible for spatial planning and development in the Baltic Sea Region countries met for the 9th time to jointly discuss the complex challenges related to the geopolitical and energy policy changes in the Region and beyond.

With various emerging topics in maritime spatial planning (MSP) and dedicated efforts to implement the European Green Deal and new European policies in fields like renewable energy production and environmental protection, many states around the Baltic Sea are revisiting their maritime spatial plans to both monitor and evaluate as well as to update their maritime spatial plans. Therefore, there is a continuous need to consult, exchange and learn jointly with neighboring countries not only via formal procedures, but also on a more practical hands-on level.

On 28th April 2023 VASAB Committee on Spatial Planning and Development of the Baltic Sea Region (VASAB CSPD/BSR), acting also as the Steering Group for Policy area 'Spatial Planning', met for its 89th meeting online, being the last meeting under VASAB German Chairmanship 2021-2022.

This year the biggest European wide event to bring together maritime community - European Maritime Days will take place on 24-25 May in Brest, France.