Council of the Baltic Sea States

The Council of the Baltic Sea States is an intergovernmental forum founded in 1992 to coordinate regional cooperation on security, sustainability, and economic development.

Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat: The Council’s permanent office in Stockholm supports its political leadership, working groups, and projects. The Secretariat provides continuity between chairmanships and supports implementation of agreed priorities.
Baltic Sea States Summit of 1992: The Copenhagen summit at which foreign ministers established the Council of the Baltic Sea States in March 1992. The summit created the forum in response to political change after the Cold War.
Uffe Ellemann-Jensen: A Danish foreign minister who helped initiate the Council of the Baltic Sea States in 1992. His proposal helped bring regional foreign ministers together to establish the Council.
Children's rights in the Baltic Sea region: Regional cooperation to protect children’s rights and improve policy and services across Baltic Sea countries. The Council has coordinated regional initiatives focused on children’s rights.
Helsinki Commission: An intergovernmental commission established by the Helsinki Convention to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea. Its legally grounded environmental mandate is narrower than the Council’s broad political cooperation.
Council of the Baltic Sea States chairmanship: The Council’s chairmanship is held by a member state on a rotating basis. Each chairmanship sets priorities and convenes cooperation during its term.
Cold War: A prolonged geopolitical rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union and their allies, ending around 1991. Its end opened political space for cooperation among formerly divided Baltic states.
Hans-Dietrich Genscher: A German foreign minister who supported regional cooperation after the Cold War. He joined Danish efforts to establish a new intergovernmental forum for the Baltic region.
Trafficking in human beings in the Baltic Sea region: Cross-border trafficking in people and the regional efforts to prevent it and assist victims. The Council has supported cooperation among governments against trafficking.
Nordic Council: A forum for parliamentary cooperation among Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and associated territories. Its Nordic membership and parliamentary character differ from the Council’s wider intergovernmental scope.

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