The 14th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR), 4-5 October, 2023, Riga

As the first of the four Macro-Regional Strategies in Europe, the Baltic Sea Region Strategy has always been a front-runner, be it innovation ecosystems, sustainability-oriented citizens, or energy security goals. Countries from the Baltic Sea Region are working together to develop renewable energy sources and to improve energy efficiency. In addition, much effort is being put into the promotion of regional trade and investment, and improving interconnections between the countries in the region and beyond.

The organisers will steer the Forum towards these four main goals:

*exchange of best practices of cooperation,
*stronger integration within the Baltic Sea Region and beyond,
*forming synergies between various priority areas, and
*creating links between the Strategy and the general public.

Keeping in mind the main objectives of the EUSBSR – save the sea, connect the region, and increase prosperity – and the Action Plan 2021, special attention with the aim to encourage debate will be paid to the climate affairs and green energy. And since the main agents of change and progress are young people, we will place a strong focus on the importance of youth engagement in decision making and have a strong youth representation.

Workshops – a call for applications on workshops was launched on 12 April and closed on 19 May.

Workshops are an essential part of the Annual Forums of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. They serve to exchange views on topics relevant for the EUSBSR as well as to develop and disseminate new ideas and initiatives for the region. The organisers of the 14th Annual Forum of the EUSBSR would like to offer 4 October as the date for staging workshops.

Networking village – a call for applications on networking village was launched on 24 April and closed on 19 May.

The 14th Annual Forum of the EUSBSR will offer networking opportunities on a vast scale. This year the Networking Village will be based in the historical building of an Old Riga artisans’ guild with its lavish interior of unique artistic value.

The event is organised jointly by the Riga City Council, Union of the Baltic Cities and VASAB, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and the Baltic Sea Strategy Point.

More info – https://www.eusbsr.eu/annualforum2023