In 2014, the European Commission adopted ‘A Sustainable Blue Growth Agenda for the Baltic Sea Region’. Aim is to support transnational cooperation to enable sustainable growth of the maritime economy in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) by raising mutual understanding, creating ownership and stimulating the systematic interplay between the various actors throughout the region.
Focus topics are (1):
A recent report presents the results of stakeholder dialogues in the region on how to implement the processes necessary to realise the Baltic Blue Growth Agenda in the region (1). For the funding of related activities, the Interreg Programmes play an important role:
The Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme supports integrated territorial development and cooperation for a more innovative, better accessible and sustainable Baltic Sea region. Within transnational projects, partners from countries around the Baltic Sea can work together. In the funding period 2014-2020, the thematic focus was on “Capacity for Innovation”, “Efficient Management of Natural Resources” and “Sustainable Transport” (2).
The Interreg South Baltic Programme supports the cross-border cooperation between local and regional actors from Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden within projects. The 2014-2020 funding period focussed on Blue and Green Growth. Blue Growth addresses the economic potential of the Baltic Sea for growth and jobs. Green Growth underlines the need to pursue the path of economic growth in balance with the environment, in particular by utilising South Baltic’s rich natural and cultural heritage in a sustainable and preserving manner (3).
The Interreg Central Europe Programme enables central European countries, including Poland and Germany, to cooperate within projects. (4).
The European Neighbourhood Instrument enables cross-border projects between Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus (5).