The Annual Forum of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) will take place September 28-29th in Lappeenranta. The forum is bringing several hundred international experts and decision-makers to the city, and it will be one of the most international events held in Lappeenranta in the 2000s.
The City of Lappeenranta and the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)
secretariat are cooperating with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of
Finland as the main organisers of the Annual Forum of the European Union
Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. 
The objectives of the EUSBSR are saving the Baltic Sea, connecting the
region, and increasing prosperity. The Annual Fora communicate information on
the strategy. They are important events for information exchange, discussion
and networking. The forum to be held in Lappeenranta will be the 13th Annual
Forum, and its theme is:
”EUSBSR Annual Forum 2022: Putting plans into practice – a
prosperous, connected and green Baltic Sea Region”.
– The theme refers to the practical implementation of the new EUSBSR action
plan and how both the various stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Region and
ordinary residents and young people can participate in the achievement of the
strategy’s objectives, says Development Director Markku Heinonen from
the City of Lappeenranta.
Minister for Foreign
Affairs Pekka Haavisto chose Lappeenranta to host the forum
After the decision was made to hold the forum in Finland, several cities
expressed interest in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ inquiry about
willingness to host the event.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto picked Lappeenranta,
which, as the European Union’s 2021 Green Leaf city, had invited the regions of
Eastern Finland and many European twin cities as partners.
– We believe that together we have plenty of local things to offer as part
of the Baltic Sea-themed dialogue, Heinonen says.
Programme to highlight
Europe’s energy self-sufficiency, resilience and climate issues
The main venue of the forum will be Lappeenranta City Hall. The two-day
programme will consist of discussions, networking events and evening
programmes.
– In view of the situation in Ukraine, the whole Europe is talking about
increasing energy self-sufficiency. In addition, the forum will discuss issues
such as climate change, resilience, and the role of cities and territories in
promoting the common objectives of the Baltic Sea Region, Heinonen says
tentatively about the programme.
The programme and speakers will be confirmed during the spring and
registration for the forum will open later this spring.
The aim is to organise
the event live in Lappeenranta
The Annual Forum is held in a different EUSBSR member state every
year. The 2021 Annual Forum of the EUSBSR in Lithuania was organised in a
virtual format due to the coronavirus pandemic.
– We now hope to be able to have a physical event in Lappeenranta, and that
international guests will find their way to us. We believe many are looking
forward to enjoying the event live and be able to genuinely network with other
participants. This will also allow us to boost the occupancy of our hotels even
after the busy summer season, Markku Heinonen says.
–We are also prepared to produce the event in a virtual format if the
situation so requires.
The programme and other additional information will be updated on the
Lappeenranta forum website: www.annualforum2022.eu
Read more about the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region: https://www.centrumbalticum.org/en/eusbsr
Further information:
Markku Heinonen
Development Director, City of Lappeenranta
tel. +358 40 581 1998
markku.heinonen@lappeenranta.fi
Helena Tuuri
Ambassador for Baltic Sea Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
tel. +358 295 350 321
helena.tuuri@formin.fi