On 13 September 2021 Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Arnoldas Pranckevičius held an online meeting with Deputy Mayor of Kaunas City Mantas Jurgutis, Mayor of Klaipėda City Vytautas Grubliauskas and Secretary-General of the Union of the Baltic Cities Paweł Żaboklicki. The participants focused on the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on the organization of the Annual Forum 2021 of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). 

The Vice-Minister thanked the partners for their decision to participate in the organization of the event that is significant for the whole Baltic Sea Region. The programme of the Annual Forum includes forty high-level and expert level plenary sessions, workshops, discussions and other events. "One of the important results already achieved while working together is stronger involvement of cities and municipalities in the implementation of the EUSBSR. We expect that hundreds of participants will have a possibility to learn more about Kaunas, the European Capital of Culture 2022, and Klaipėda, the European Youth Capital 2021, while the cities themselves will be encouraged to join other EUSBSR projects in the future" – A. Pranckevičius emphasized.

"This partnership brought new elements to the Annual Forum of the EUSBSR – never before it has paid such great attention to the cities that will play a significant role in green transformation. We are also glad we can provide a platform for youth to express their position on the issues of regional importance", - stated A. Pranckevičius. 

The 12th Annual Forum of the EUSBSR will take place from 27 September to 1 October online. Its main topic is green recovery. One of the aims of the Annual Forum is active involvement of youth and local communities and authorities. Thus, the organizers will provide opportunities for cities’ presentations and cooperation while the last day of the event, the 1st October, will be fully dedicated to the youth. The Annual Forum 2021 is being organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kaunas City, Klaipėda City and the Union of the Baltic Cities. Please follow this link for the programme of the Annual Forum, more detailed information and registration - www.eusbsr2021.eu.

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