Foreign Minister Huitfeldt convened a meeting of the members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) 24-25. May. This is the first CBSS ministerial meeting in nine years. Foreign ministers and high-level representatives of the Nordic and Baltic countries, Germany, Poland and the EU met in Kristiansand, Norway, to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The Council discussed the aftermath of the war, cooperation with Ukraine as a CBSS observer state, Russia’s withdrawal from the Council and future regional cooperation. The agenda also included the need to accelerate the green transition, promote youth cooperation and ensure security and safety for the region’s inhabitants. This year it is 30th the anniversary of the establishment of CBSS.

The CBSS members agreed on a joint declaration, referred to as the Kristiansand Declaration, which, among other things, expresses continued support for Ukraine and recognition of the country’s efforts to defend its independence and freedom and the common values ​​that Europe stands for.

– The discussions here in Kristiansand have culminated in a joint statement from the 11 members. The Baltic Sea Council has served the region well as a forum for both political dialogue and practical cooperation. Circumstances have changed, but the values ​​and goals of the collaboration stand firm. The council has confirmed that its relations with Russia and Belarus will remain cut until cooperation based on the fundamental principles of international law is again possible, Huitfeldt said.