The European Commission has today, 19 December 2014, adopted the transnational programme for the 8 EU countries and neighbouring countries in the Baltic Sea Region. Focussing on key issues such as the environmental status of the Baltic Sea or maritime safety and security, the programme is worth more than €263 million from EU investments alone. The programme will also exploit shared potentials including research, innovation and business links, as well as common work on sustainable transport.

Corina Crețu, Commissioner for Regional Policy who approved the programme today, said: "The sort of challenges this programme for the Baltic Sea will tackle are those - like environmental threats and maritime safety - that need a joint response from the countries of the Baltic. Importantly, this programme has been designed to support also the successful EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. We have high hopes - for example to see millions more in transnational research and development investment so together we can really harness potential for better jobs to improve the lives of people here."

Earlier this week the Commission has also adopted the Central-Baltic Programme (FI-EE-LV-SE) and even so the crossborder programmes Sweden-Norway, Botnia-Atlantica (SE-FI-NO) and Nord programme (SE-FI-NO) that all are within the EUSBSR area.

Link to the press release from the Commission is to be found here.