Held as part of the EUSBSR Annual Forum, the event brought together city mayors, regional leaders, policymakers, youth, and project partners, with a strong presence of Ukrainian representatives. Their experience added to a clear perspective that resilience is not something to plan for later but something to manage in real time. Discussions moved quickly from general statements to practical questions: how to ensure that systems continue to function under pressure, how to maintain services, and how to respond when every minute matters.

Opening the event, Tallinn’s Mayor Peeter Raudsepp emphasised that resilience starts with people. In the context of demographic challenges, cities and regions must not only provide services, but also strengthen communities capable of acting, supporting each other, and adapting when needed.

BSSSC Chair Inese Suija-Markova framed resilience through three interlinked elements – trust, a shared understanding of risks, and action. “Each one makes the next possible. None of them works without the other two,” she noted, adding that resilience cannot be governed from a single level and depends on cooperation across local, regional, national, and European actors.

Inese Suija-Markova emphasized,“We are not lacking ideas or competences in the regions. There are talented people and experience. However, to fully realise this potential, consistent and timely action is needed.”

In her address, Dr. Heini Utunen, Mayor of the South Savo Regional Council in Finland, noted that many regions across the Baltic Sea Region are currently operating alongside ongoing geopolitical tensions, which affect both economic development and patterns of cooperation. This reality requires constant adjustment by identifying new development pathways, strengthening partnerships, and restructuring economies based on available resources.

The programme of the day was built around thematic presentations that, step by step, outlined key challenges and possible responses,from climate resilience and security to social innovation and cooperation. Each initiative carried a clear call for action within its respective field, and together they formed a shared vision by the end of the day. This highlighted the need to better integrate climate resilience into security planning, strengthen cross-border cooperation and place greater focus on practical, well-funded solutions in regions.

“Urban resilience is built by combining long-term planning with the capacity to respond in times of crisis. On the one hand, this means green infrastructure and climate adaptation solutions; on the other — first responders and crisis management. Integrating these approaches makes cities more flexible and better prepared for different scenarios, while also strengthening cooperation across sectors and levels of governance,” said Mariia Andreeva, Union of the Baltic Cities – Sustainable Cities Commission ClimaResponse project.

A clear message resonated throughout the discussions: preparation cannot be postponed until a crisis is already underway. It must be built in advance through everyday work and systems that are able to function even under pressure.

“Resilience starts with people and communities. In times of crisis, communities are often the first point of support, both as ‘first responders’ and in providing what could be called the last mile of support on the ground. In this sense, resilience is not only about institutional preparedness, but also about participation, mutual trust and the ability to act,” emphasised Inese Vaivare, Director of the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation.

Panel discussions also highlighted a gap between the places where resilience challenges are most visible and the level at which decisions are made, particularly in border regions. At the same time, growing societal polarisation and declining trust, further amplified by social media, make coordinated action increasingly difficult.

The role of youth was also underlined. Resilient societies are built where young people feel a sense of belonging and see their future in the region. This requires not only opportunities, but also meaningful involvement in decision-making and cross-border cooperation.

Particular attention was given to islands and remote regions, which are increasingly seen as important actors in the energy transition. In these areas, energy is not only a matter of climate policy, but also of security, connectivity, and economic development. Sulev Alajõe, Managing Director of Estonian Islands Energy Agency, Estonia: “Islands across the Baltic Sea Region are emerging as potential future energy hubs, capable of strengthening regional systems and creating new opportunities.

The Cities and Regions Lab, organised by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme, focused on next steps — identifying where transnational cooperation after 2027 can have the greatest impact.

Towards the end of the day, participants were invited to sign the BSSSC Resolution, a joint statement from BSSSC’s Day of Cities and Regions to the EUSBSR Annual Forum, national, regional and local authorities in the Baltic Sea Region, Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, and the European Union institutions. The resolution emphasises the need for stronger cooperation across all levels of governance, a well-funded and accessible Cohesion Policy, and continued support for cross-border cooperation and INTERREG.

It highlights the importance of place-based approaches, targeted support for regions facing demographic and border challenges, and meaningful involvement of young people in shaping their communities and Europe’s future. It also underlines the importance of continued cooperation with Ukraine. At its core, the resolution affirms that Europe’s strength is built locally, and that European decisions only truly matter when they improve people’s everyday lives in regions.

The resolution is available here: https://www.bsssc.com/resolutions

*Photo author: Andras Kralla

For more information, please contact the BSSSC Secretariat, led by the Vidzeme Planning Region. E-mail: bsssc@bsssc.com

The post When a crisis hits, Europe’s resilience depends on cities and regions appeared first on Vidzemes plānošanas reģions.

Vidzeme Planning Region (VPR) continues to actively represent the interests of Latvia’s eastern border area at the European Union level, maintaining ongoing dialogue with the European Commission and international partners to ensure that the region’s situation is duly reflected in policy planning and decision-making. The needs of Latvia’s eastern border area are also represented by VPR within the EU interregional initiative Regio-Silience, which brings together external border regions from Poland, the Baltic States, Finland and Norway.

Within this initiative, Vidzeme Planning Region is represented by Santa Vītola, Head of the Vidzeme Open Innovation Hub (VAIC), who this autumn participated in the interregional seminar “Regio-Silience in East Lapland: North-Eastern Europe’s attractiveness” held in Salla, Finland. She provided a professional regional perspective in international discussions and thematic working groups, highlighting both the shared challenges of the EU’s external border regions and the development and security priorities set by Vidzeme Planning Region.

Ms Vītola reminded participants that Vidzeme Planning Region, just like the Latgale Planning Region, is an external border region of the European Union, characterised by specific security, development and mobility challenges.

The seminar discussions also addressed development challenges identified in Vidzeme and the support mechanisms needed in the following areas: development of dual-use mobility infrastructure, promotion of productive investment and entrepreneurship, community vitality, attraction and retention of human capital, as well as regional cooperation in security and crisis preparedness.

Regio-Silience is a cooperation initiative established by the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform, aimed at jointly addressing the security, economic development and territorial resilience challenges that have intensified following Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine.

VPR is one of the active partners of the initiative, ensuring that the needs of Latvia’s eastern border area are clearly articulated in interregional dialogue and reflected in the recommendations submitted to the European Commission.

Thorsten Kohlisch, Lead Manager of the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform emphasises the important contribution of Vidzeme Planning Region to the collaborative process: “Russia’s full-scale war of aggression on Ukraine has reinforced the security and regional development challenges faced by the EU’s Eastern Border Regions. Vidzeme Planning Region in Latvia is no exception. From the beginning, the region has been an active and committed partner in the Regio-Silience initiative, launched to strengthen the collaboration between the most affected local and regional border territories from Poland via the Baltic States and Finland up to Norway. Hands-on local policy measures such as Vidzeme’s Open Innovation Hub serve as an inspiration for the partner regions, and underline Vidzeme’s commitment to addressing the current situation in an agile, pro-active and collaborative way.”

It should be noted that the Regio-Silience partner regions have prepared and submitted a set of recommendations to the European Commission for the planning of the next EU multiannual financial framework. The recommendations are structured into three thematic dimensions: (1) development policies, strategies and investment priorities, (2) dual-use development, and (3) societal dialogue. The proposals are based on joint analysis by border regions and on practical insights gathered during discussions and site visits.

Alongside Vidzeme Planning Region, representatives of Latgale Planning Region also participate in the initiative, ensuring full representation of Latvia’s eastern border interests.

Background information

In 2024, the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform launched the interregional cooperation initiative “Regio-Silience”, bringing together EU eastern external border regions from Poland, the Baltic States, Finland and Norway.

The initiative aims to promote coordinated action in the fields of security, economic development and territorial resilience, particularly in the context of geopolitical disruptions.

Vidzeme Planning Region is one of the active partners of the initiative.

The post Vidzeme Planning Region highlights the needs of Latvia’s Eastern border area at the European level appeared first on Vidzemes plānošanas reģions.

The post Vidzeme Planning Region Actively Engages in Baltic Sea Region Resilience and Crisis Preparedness Discussions in Visby appeared first on Vidzemes plānošanas reģions.

The experts emphasized the importance of a clear roadmap with measurable objectives and concrete tasks to ensure the hub’s successful growth, allowing for strategic investments and long-term regional benefits. Municipalities were recognized as key stakeholders in shaping these objectives. In this context, the possibility of agreeing on a fixed per-capita financial contribution to create a joint fund for VAIC’s core activities was considered, with municipalities acknowledging the feasibility of this approach.

Various funding models were discussed, including securing international project funding, exploring state co-financing opportunities, and fostering partnerships with the private sector to enhance the hub’s financial stability and operational flexibility. Participants agreed that relying solely on external funding could pose risks to the hub’s continuity, making it essential to establish a stable and predictable financial foundation.

Additionally, discussions focused on VAIC’s governance structure, its collaboration with academic and scientific institutions, and its engagement with local businesses. Experts highlighted the role of a robust innovation ecosystem in regional economic development and talent attraction.

Planning was identified as a key element in building a sustainable innovation ecosystem—even when adjustments are made over time, maintaining a clear strategic direction and consistently implementing key steps is crucial. The exchange of best practices was also underscored, as learning from other regions’ experiences can accelerate implementation processes and optimize resource allocation.

Participants were encouraged to think beyond administrative boundaries and promote collaboration both at the regional and international levels. Experts particularly stressed the value of cooperation with similar organizations abroad, as it facilitates the transfer of best practices and enhances innovation capacity.

A significant insight from the discussions was the need for specialization in smaller cities, while also maintaining sectoral diversification to reduce dependence on a single industry and ensure resilience to economic fluctuations. Experts noted that smaller municipalities are often more open to inter-municipal collaboration, whereas larger cities may be more inclined to pursue autonomous growth due to competitiveness concerns. However, this approach could potentially limit innovation and reduce opportunities for attracting and integrating high-value investments into the broader regional economy.

Experts also highlighted VAIC’s potential role in supporting municipalities developing industrial parks, emphasizing the hub’s function as a mechanism for enhancing regional innovation capacity and fostering high-value-added entrepreneurship.

Upon reviewing the recommendations, the Development Board members agreed that VAIC’s mission is to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem, support businesses, and drive sustainable regional growth. International experts commended municipalities for their initiative in actively participating in VAIC’s establishment and development, as well as for leveraging the opportunities provided by the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform Peer Review expert visit.

Additional Information on Vidzeme Open Innovation Hub (VAIC)

Recognizing the need to develop a regional innovation ecosystem—an area where no dedicated national-level policy actions have been implemented to date—the Vidzeme Planning Region and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences formalized an agreement in April 2024 to establish the Vidzeme Open Innovation Hub (VAIC).

As a joint initiative of two institutions, VAIC will serve as a collaboration platform aimed at strengthening the region’s knowledge and innovation ecosystem. The agreement underscores both institutions’ commitment to continuously seeking new ways to engage more organizations and businesses in the innovation ecosystem and enhancing their interaction.

VAIC operates with four core objectives:
Fostering a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders.
Enhancing stakeholder competencies and understanding of innovation and knowledge processes.
Optimizing innovation and knowledge policy to ensure a structured and effective approach.
Strengthening the role of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences in both the regional and international innovation ecosystem, while positioning Vidzeme’s innovation potential on a global scale.

The establishment of VAIC aligns with Vidzeme Planning Region’s strategic goal to drive economic growth and development. A key factor in achieving this goal is creating an effective innovation support environment, where knowledge transfer and information exchange between entrepreneurs, research and education institutions, and municipalities stimulate the creation of new products, services, and technologies, particularly in Vidzeme’s smart specialization areas.

The post Experts Offer Strategic Insights for Vidzeme Open Innovation Hub through Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform Peer Review appeared first on Vidzemes plānošanas reģions.