Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation discusses EU regional policy

The board of the Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation (BSSSC) met in Hamar to discuss the evolving role of regions in Europe, specifically regarding the influence of regional authorities over future EU funds.

A primary focus of the meeting was the development of the EU’s next long-term budget and regional policy. This includes a new combined fund for regional and agricultural policy, which will require member states to create national and regional partnership plans to determine how funds are allocated. The BSSSC aims to ensure that municipalities and regions are actively involved in these processes.

Reflecting the current security climate in Europe, the meeting also addressed issues of security, preparedness, and resilience. For the first time, Ukrainian regions Rivne and Lviv participated as observers, presenting their priorities for future cooperation within the network.