Registration is now open for the Day of Cities and Regions, organised by Baltic Sea States Subregional Cooperation (BSSSC), which will take place on 11 May 2026 in Tallinn, Estonia. This year’s theme, “Co-Governing Resilience: Shaping Secure, Connected and Thriving Societies”, will explore how cities and regions can strengthen security, resilience and competitiveness in times of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
The programme is now available and registration is open. Participants are invited to register here: https://onlineexpo.com/en/eusbsraf/
The event will bring together mayors, regional leaders, policymakers, young people and programme stakeholders from across the Baltic Sea Region to exchange ideas and experiences on strengthening resilient societies.
Discussions will focus on safeguarding critical infrastructure, including cables, pipelines, ports and supply chains, against hybrid threats, while also reinforcing social cohesion, democratic values and sustainable local development. Keynote contributions will address the economic competitiveness and geopolitical resilience of the Baltic Sea Region, highlighting the strong links between security, demography and long-term prosperity.
A high-level panel of mayors and regional leaders will discuss how local and regional authorities can cooperate with national and international partners to attract and retain talent, support remigration and strengthen border and rural communities.
The programme also includes interactive elements such as a Project Village and a live Policy Wall, enabling participants to exchange practical solutions and share concrete policy proposals.
A central part of the programme will be a Policy Lab organised in a World Café format, co-hosted by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Secretariat. The discussion will explore how the policy areas of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) can contribute to strengthening security, connectedness, economic resilience and competitiveness. The outcomes will feed into discussions on the post-2027 Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme and the future EU Cohesion Policy.
The event will conclude with the endorsement of key policy messages to be submitted to the EUSBSR Annual Forum and shared with EU institutions, national governments and programme authorities. These messages will emphasise the importance of maintaining a strong and decentralised Cohesion Policy and ensuring adequate funding for Interreg programmes beyond 2027.
About BSSSC
The Baltic Sea States Subregional Cooperation (BSSSC) is a political network representing regions, cities, and sub-regional authorities around the Baltic Sea. It strengthens the voice of local and regional authorities in Baltic Sea cooperation and at the European level. Since 2025, the BSSSC has held an annual conference under the format ‘Day of Cities and Regions’, placing cities and regions at the centre of policy debates on resilience, cooperation and sustainable development.
