From 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019, Latvia will preside over the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS). Latvia will also be chairing VASAB Committee on Spatial Planning and Development of the Baltic Sea Region (CSPD/BSR) – a steering body of this cooperation.

VASAB and HELCOM as a EUSBSR Horizontal Action “Spatial Planning” coordinators have received a technical assistance grant for the new HASPS 3 project. Starting from September 2018 project will continue the work of the previous HASPS and HASPS-2 projects. Grant is financed by the European Union through the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme 2014-2020.

VASAB has initiated “Baltic Sea Region Young Planners Contest” to collect fresh ideas and enhance perspective of young planning professionals about the Baltic Sea Region`s future. During the competition the best planners from all VASAB countries will come together and via intense summer camp will bring their ideas and spatial solutions to the rising challenges of Baltic Sea Region in 2050. Best idea(s) will be presented in the VASAB Ministerial Conference.

VASAB secretariat has opened a public tender for qualified expertise on assessing the application of Baltic Sea Common Regional Maritime Spatial Planning Framework. Assessment is being done as part of the Pan Baltic Scope project and is designed to directly support HELCOM-VASAB MSP WG in implementing their work plan until 2019.

During the 9th Annual Forum of the EUSBSR in Tallinn on 4 – 5 June 2018 meet HA Spatial Planning in several seminars and visit Baltic MSP Stand to find out more about the MSP activities and projects around the Baltic Sea.