On 7-8 December, 1994 VASAB (Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea Region) Ministers responsible for Spatial Planning and Development gathered for the third Conference in Tallinn, Estonia and approved the document ‘Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea 2010’.

At that time, need for enhanced democratic spatial planning was emphasized, promotion of sustainable development of the Region highlighted, and a framework for the spatial development of the Baltic Sea Region was designed.

VASAB 2010 introduced four key conceptual elements to drive its vision:

• The Pearls – An interconnected network of urban centers with international significance;
• The Strings – Sustainable and effective links between cities;
• The Patches – Areas fostering dynamism and quality of life;
• The System – Integrated and comprehensive spatial planning.

These four metaphors not only framed VASAB 2010 but also laid the groundwork for its successor, the VASAB Vision 2040: Vision for the Territorial Development of the Baltic Sea Region, which builds upon a similar structure.

One of the VASAB 2010 document’s standout contributions was its early advocacy for improved railway connectivity across the Region. It identified the need for enhanced long-distance connections between European and Baltic cities, proposing several high-speed rail lines. Notable examples included a proposed route along the eastern Baltic Sea, now being realized as Rail Baltica, and missing links in Scandinavia, such as the Öresund crossing.

Over the years, the first VASAB strategic document has proven its novelty and relevance. The methodological approach – setting goals to achieve a desired vision for the Region, implementing concrete actions to realize that vision, and achieving tangible results has been widely adopted for strategic planning purposes at macro-regional, national, regional, and local levels.