This regional youth initiative linking policy, participation and digital innovation will bring together young changemakers from across the Baltic Sea Region during preparatory webinars starting in September and leading up to an onsite programme parallel to the BSSSC Annual Conference and EUSBSR Annual Forum in Gdańsk/Sopot, Poland to co-create a forward-looking vision for democracy, security, and cooperation in the digital age.
This initiative builds upon the outcomes of the CBSS Youth Ministerial on Digitalisation, draws from the ideas developed at the #b_hack Hackathon 2025 in Lübeck, and aligns with the thematic priorities of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).
What is Offered?
- Preparatory Webinars | September–October 2025
To create space for youth learning and idea exchange, a series of 5 evening webinars will be held with contributions from experts and policymakers. Each session will explore critical topics for the region’s democratic and digital future. The exact schedule will be published during summer 2025. Current topics are: Culture for Resilience, Our Sea, Civil Security, Democracy at Stake or Beacon for Democracy?, Mobility in the Baltic Sea Region, AI Governance. These open-access webinars will feed directly into a joint Baltic Sea Youth Declaration 2025, reflecting regional youth perspectives on digitalisation, AI, hybrid threats, and democracy. - On-Site Programme | 26–30 October 2025
The main programme will take place across Gdańsk and Sopot, alongside the BSSSC Annual Conference and the EUSBSR Annual Forum. Highlights include: Kick-off of the Baltic Sea Youth Declaration 2025 drafting process, Baltic Sea Quiz Night, panels and youth labs on AI governance, digital ethics, and civil security, mental health workshop and youth declaration drafting, - A Collective Youth Contribution to Regional Policy
The outcomes of the Baltic Youth Waves initiative will be compiled into a Baltic Sea Youth Declaration 2025, offering concrete ideas for all Policy Areas of the EUSBSR and key stakeholders like the BSSSC, CBSS, and Interreg projects. The paper will incorporate results from the [#b_hack] Hackathon 2025, ensuring an inclusive, co-creative process shaped by youth across formats.
Why Participate?
This is more than just a youth event—it’s a space to:
- Influence regional policies on AI, digital transformation, and democratic resilience
- Engage with decision-makers and experts across the Baltic Sea Region
- Collaborate with peers from all BSR countries in shaping shared priorities
- Present your ideas at major regional platforms, including the EUSBSR and BSSSC
MORE INFORMATIONA AND APPLICATION
Deadline 18 August 2025
The programme is organised by the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), Baltic Sea Cultural Center Gdańsk, Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum (BSRYF), in collaboration with the Baltic Sea States Sub-regional Cooperation (BSSSC), EUSBSR Policy Area Coordinators, and Baltic Sea civil society partners.
Text by BSYWD partners
