Germany Leads the Baltic Sea Region for a Year
In the coming twelve months, Germany will assume the presidency of the Baltic Council, a regional organisation consisting of 11 member states and the European Union. The focus of Germany's presidency will be on three key areas: regional identity, a secure region, and a sustainable and economically strong region.
One of the main priorities for Germany is the "European Year of Youth". During the presidency, there will be a strong emphasis on strengthening and expanding personal encounters between young people from different countries in the Baltic Sea region. The goal is to give young people a voice in addressing the challenges of the region.
Another priority is the Baltic Sea's climate neutrality by at least 2050. To achieve this, Germany will work towards agreeing with the members of the Baltic Council on the exchange of ambitious offshore goals and initiating concrete cooperation. The Baltic Sea region offers great potential for generating renewable energy, especially through wind turbines at sea, and Foreign Minister Baerbock has emphasized the importance of expanding renewable energy for Europe's security.
Security is another focus area. The Baltic Council will further develop regional cooperation on the issue of munitions debris in the sea. This is particularly important given the recent suspension of Russia's membership due to its attack on Ukraine. Russia announced its withdrawal from the Baltic Council in May.
Foreign Minister Baerbock will invite her foreign minister colleagues to a Baltic Council meeting in Germany in spring 2023. The work program of the German presidency can be found online, detailing the specific initiatives and actions that will be taken during the presidency. A video related to the Baltic Council - German Presidency 2022/23 is also available, but its contents are not detailed in the provided text.
The remaining member states have agreed to continue using the Baltic Council as a forum for promoting cohesion and cooperation in the region. The German presidency aims to foster a strong and secure region that is sustainable and economically strong, with a particular focus on empowering its young people and protecting the environment.
