Council of the Baltic Sea States

Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), inter-governmental regional forum comprising several member nations, and one organization, bordering, or close to, the Baltic Sea, established to enhance and coordinate economic and political cooperation, as well as strengthen democratic development.

The CBSS was established as a result of the Copenhagen Declaration of March 1992. Its 12 members are Denmark, the European Commission (see European Union), Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, and Sweden. Countries with observer status are France, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States. Organizations with the status of special participants are the B7 Baltic Islands Network, the Baltic Sea Commission, the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, the Baltic Sea States’ Sub-Regional Cooperation, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Union of the Baltic Cities.

The level of representation at the CBSS is that of foreign minister of each member nation, and a member of the European Commission. Chairmanship of the council rotates on an annual basis, and it meets once a year. A Secretariat was inaugurated in 1998 and is located in Stockholm, Sweden; it operates under the guidance of the council chairmanship. The Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) consists of high-ranking representatives of the various foreign ministries as well as that of the European Commission. There are three working groups under the auspices of the CSO: democratic institutions; economic cooperation; and nuclear safety and radiation protection. A EuroFaculty, established in March 1993, exists to assist in reforming higher education in law, economics, public administration, and business administration at several universities within member states; its directorate is located in Riga, Latvia. The Baltic Business Advisory Council (BAC), whose secretariat is based in Stockholm, was established in 1996 to speed up the process of privatization and free enterprise in nations undergoing transition.