The Baltic Sea Region Forum brings together people interested in the development of the Baltic Sea area to discuss the events shaping our common future. The event provides a possibility for experts from different sectors to meet and share their knowledge. Centrum Balticum has organised the Baltic Sea Region Forum annually since 2008.
This year’s theme of the Forum Security in Northern Europe and the Arctic will be covered in three panel discussions. The first panel discusses the strategic competition in High North. The second panel will focus on the strategic intelligence and the Region. The third panel will discuss critical natural resources and logistical infrastructure.
Forum programme, more info and registration can be found at the event website.
18th Annual Baltic Sea Region Forum
Monday 4 May 2026 | 11.30–19.10 (EST)
The 17th Baltic Sea Region Forum was organised on Monday 12th of May 2025 with the theme Safe and Secure Baltic Sea.
The Forum theme was covered in three panel discussions. The first panel discussed the security of maritime transport in the Baltic Sea. The second panel focused on the sustainable maritime industry. The third panel discussed nutrient recycling in the Baltic Sea Region.
Forum programme can be found at the event website.
The 16th Baltic Sea Region Forum was organised on Monday 20 May 2024 at the University of Turku with the theme The NATO 2024 and Arctic Europe.
The Forum theme was covered in three panel discussions. The first panel discussed the military challenges in Arctic Europe. The second panel focused on the future of transatlantic cooperation. The third panel discussed the media’s role in contributing to security.
Forum programme can be found at the event website.
The 15th Baltic Sea Region Forum was organised on 15 May 2023 at the University of Turku with the theme Security and Safety in the Baltic Sea Region.
The programme consisted of speeches and three panel discussions: 1. Changing security environment in the Northern Europe, 2. Securing and maintaining critical energy supply and infrastructure in the Baltic Sea Region and 3. Combating cross-border crime.
Forum programme can be found at the event website
The 14th Baltic Sea Forum was held at the Turku School of Economics in June with the theme The European Green Deal and the Baltic Sea Region.
The programme consisted of speeches and three panel discussions: 1. Green Deal and competitiveness, 2. Energy revolution ahead: What does it mean for us? and 3. Natural gas in the Baltic Sea region.
The programme of the 14th Baltic Sea Region Forum can be found here.
Watch a video of the Baltic Sea Region Forum 2022 on Youtube
The 13th Baltic Sea Forum was organised on 27 May 2021 with the theme Turbulent World Order and the Baltic Sea Region. Due to the pandemic, the Forum was held as an online event.
The theme was covered in two panel discussions. The first panel discussed the geopolitical situation in the Region, while the second focused on the internal security of the Region. Among topics reoccurring in the discussions were cyber security, the defence capacities of the Region, climate change, the importance of dialogue, and the role of citizens.
The programme of the 13th Baltic Sea Region Forum can be found here.
The 12th Baltic Sea Forum was organised on 27 May 2021 with the theme Future Challenges of the Baltic Sea Region.
The theme was covered in three panel discussions: 1. Tackling Challenges of the Baltic Sea Region, 2. Labour Mobility in the Baltic Sea Region and 3. Circular Economy Moves Forward.
The programme of the 12th Baltic Sea Region Forum of Finland can be found here.
The 11th Baltic Sea Forum was organised on 14 May 2018 with the theme Baltic Sea Region Cooperation during Challenging Times.
The theme was covered in three panel discussions: 1. Security and hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea Region, 2. Can engineering save the Baltic Sea? and 3. Digitalisation – positive challenge to BSR maritime sector.
The programme of the 11th Baltic Sea Region Forum can be found here.
The 10th Baltic Sea Region Forum was organised at Turku School of Economics on 30 May 2017 with the theme Global storms and the economic development in the Baltic Sea region.
In the Forum the growing global tensions and their ramifications in the Baltic Sea region were discussed. The expert panels addressed the topic from the viewpoints of security, free trade and foresight, for instance.
The programme of the 10th Baltic Sea Region Forum can be found here.
The 9th Baltic Sea Region Forum was organised at the Turku School of Economics on the 20th of May 2016 with the theme Maritime cluster in the Baltic Sea region and beyond. The focus of the Forum was on transport, shipbuilding and marine cluster.
The programme of the 9th Baltic Sea Region Forum can be found here.
The 8th Baltic Sea Region Forum was organised in 4th June 2015 at Turku School of Economics with the theme What does the Cold Peace between the EU and Russia mean for the Baltic Sea region? The theme was discussed from the points of view of security, economics, environment and regional development.
The programme of the 8th Baltic Sea Region Forum can be found here.
The 7th national Baltic Sea Forum took place in Turku on the 2nd of June 2014. The Forum focused on the Baltic Sea, the Arctic and the North West Russian strategies. The aim of the Forum was to promote good dialogue between the neighbouring regions and to strengthen the influence and voice of the regions.
The programme of the 7th Baltic Sea Forum can be found here.
