Baltic Sea Region

German regions involved

Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony (Lueneburg), Schleswig-Holstein

Tradition of cooperation

The Baltic Sea Region is characterised by the sea, its large area and a comparably sparse population. Accordingly, resilience to crises and the way how to manage maritime protection and climate crisis play an important role. Good public services or “blue growth” are just as much issues as the circular economy, the energy transition and smart mobility. The Baltic Sea Region comprises the eight EU member states Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, northern and eastern parts of Germany as well as Norway. The political-strategical networking in the Baltic Sea Region to overcome large structural disparities between the western and the eastern part has a long tradition. Since 2009, it has moreover been the first area with a macroregional EU strategy successfully implemented also under the Baltic Sea Region Programme.

Topics of cooperation

The Baltic Sea Region Programme supports projects concerning the following four priorities:

Innovative societies

• Resilient economies and communities
• Responsive public services

Water-smart societies

• Sustainable waters
• Blue economy

Climate-neutral societies

• Circular Economy
• Energy transition
• Smart green mobility

Cooperation governance

• Project platforms
• Macro-regional governance

Budget and funding

• Baltic Sea Region (2021 – 2027): 313.7 million euros
• among them resources from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): 251 million euros
• EU cofinancing rate for German partners: 80%
• eligible for funding: staff costs, organisation and travel costs, external expertise, equipment, investments (limited)

Types of projects

Core projects:

• Partners: at least three from three Programme countries
• Duration: up to 36 months
• Total budget in general: no limit (appropriate to the activities)
• Develop a solution to a challenge – and bring it to the people of the Baltic Sea Region

Small projects:

• Partners: at least three from three Programme countries
• Duration: up to 24 months
• Total budget 500,000 euros maximum, simplified application and billing
• A test site for Interreg; working across borders with partners from other countries

How to become a project partner

Under the Baltic Sea Region Programme, at least three financing partners from at least three different countries join within a project. A lead partner assumes the overall control of a project.
The Programme addresses public and private stakeholders. Examples of partners eligible for funding under the Baltic Sea Region Programme:

• public authorities (national, regional, local authorities)
• (public) service providers
• research institutes and universities
• chambers, registered societies and associations
• business support organisations
• small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
• non-governmental organisations

Info: EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is an instrument of the European regional policy. Its aim is to exploit chances and to join forces in facing problems resulting from the protection of the Baltic Sea Region, regional integration and increasing prosperity. The Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme is one of the most important funding programmes bringing the Strategy into life. But also other national and EU programmes are used to this end.

Programme website

Interreg Baltic Sea Region

Summary of the cooperation programme

Interreg Baltic Sea Region 2021-2027 Programme document (PDF)

Contact BBSR

National Contact Point