The Centre for Baltic Sea Region Studies (CEBAST)
The Baltic region is an ambiguous term that refers to slightly different combinations of countries in the general area surrounding the Baltic Sea.
Denotation
Depending on the context the Baltic region might stand for:
- the Baltic Sea countries – countries that have access to the Baltic Sea: Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden.
- the present Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) sometimes in addition to the Russian Kaliningrad exclave.
- East Prussia and the historical lands of Livonia, Courland and Estonia (Swedish Estonia and Russian Estonia)
- Balticum – geographic term used in several languages, including Scandinavian and German, which usually denotes the territory corresponding to modern Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. In some contexts, the term Balticum includes the historically or culturally German-dominated lands, or provinces, of Estonia, Livonia, Courland and Latgale (corresponding to modern Estonia and Latvia), as well as sometimes East Prussia, while Lithuania is sometimes excluded.
- the former Baltic province of Imperial Russia – Baltic states in addition to (parts of) Poland
- the whole eastern side of the Baltic sea, Baltic states and Kaliningrad in addition to Finland
- countries on the (British) trade route through the Baltic Sea, i.e. the lands above in addition to the Scandinavian Peninsula (Sweden and Norway)
- Council of the Baltic Sea States – Baltic Sea countries, in addition to Norway, Iceland and the rest of European Union.
See also
- Baltic
- Northern Dimension
- Baltia (Roman mythology)
External links
The Baltic Sea Information Centre
- The Baltic University Programme
- Baltic Sea Region Spatial Planning Initiative VASAB
- Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013
Member States
The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) is an overall political forum for regional intergovernmental cooperation. It was founded in 1992 to handle a multitude of issues concerning the Baltic Sea region such as economy, civil society development, human rights issues and nuclear and radiation safety.
As of 1998, a permanent Secretariat has been established in Stockholm. The highest institution of CBSS is the conference of foreign ministers, which convenes every two years.
The CBSS has 12 members:
The CBSS has 12 members:
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- Germany
- Iceland (1995)
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Norway
- Poland
- Russia
- Sweden
- European Commission
Seven other countries have the observer status:
See also: Baltic sea countries
