Managing Complexity: addressing societal security challenges in the Baltic Sea Region

On the 11th and 12th of June, the Stockholm International Peace and Research Institute (SIPRI) brought together over 150 policymakers, researchers and experts within the field of societal security and civil protection in Stockholm to discuss the societal security challenges that the Baltic Sea States face. The Conference was organised in the context of the Swedish Presidencies of the Barents-Euro Arctic Council, the Council of the Baltic Sea States and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The conference was opened by Ambassador Jan Eliasson, former United Nations Deputy Secretary-General and current Chair of SIPRI. Ambassador Eliasson remarked that ‘security starts at home’ and that the bedrock for national, regional and international security is a well-functioning society.

Monday´s keynote speaker, HE Margot Wallström, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs highlighted the important role regional organisations play as “a platform for dialogue” and that a focus on youth needs to be reinforced. Touching on the theme of the conference, Wallström pointed out the importance of cooperation and working together to help build a common security concept: “If my neighbours feel safe and secure, I will feel safe and secure”.

The keynote address was followed by the opening plenary session on ‘Societal security challenges in the Baltic Sea region: The scope of the problems’ moderated by SIPRI Director Dan Smith. The panel featured our Director General Ambassador Maira Mora, Rainer Saks, Secretary General for the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bengt Sundelius from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and Igor Neverov, Director, Second European Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia). Our Director General Maira Mora began by outlining the range of challenges and threats faced by the Baltic Sea region such as terrorism, cyber attacks and the effects of climate change. She stated that however, it is important to discern the difference between actual threats and the perception of threats. She then preceded to present the work of the CBSS as an arena to convene dialogue and enhance and strengthen people-to-people contacts.

Professor Bengt Sundelius, Strategic Adviser at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and co-coordinator of Policy Area Secure pointed that “no one is home alone”, alluding to the importance of regional cooperation as a means to ensure societal safety. Taking the example of PA Secure and its projects, capacity should be built and seen as a long-term investment. Technology is not the most important part of it but it is vital to bridge mental, professional, sectoral and national gaps as well as provide a platform for professionals and experts to connect. Fellow panellist, Rainer Saks, Secretary-General, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs seconded the success of the current cooperation efforts within the Baltic Sea Region.

Igor Neverov, Director, Second European Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia), rounded out the discussion by outlining Russia’s view on regional security. Neverov noted that Russia does not see any challenges in the region that would require military solutions. From a Russian perspective, tackling organized crime, fighting against the trafficking of human beings, and being prepared for natural and man-made disasters were stated as the most pertinent issues to regional security.

Ambassador Jan Eliasson set the stage for the second day of the conference by introducing the upcoming topics and challenges to be discussed, “subjects that will help shape the backbone of security cooperation within the Baltic Sea Region”.

The keynote speaker for the second day of discussions was the Secretary-General of our Sister Council the Nordic Council of Ministers, Dagfinn Høybråten. He emphasised the necessity of cooperation in the region, without which “we will not be able to give our children and grandchildren the future they deserve”. We are no longer neighbours but instead, we find ourselves “all in the same boat” when it comes to the challenges and threats we face, that transgress borders. To showcase successful cooperation efforts, Høybråten mentioned the current cooperation on countering human trafficking between the regional Baltic Sea organisations.

The first plenary of the day focused on “Climate change adaptation and civil protection: building the synergies”. Only by taking a holistic approach and focusing on prevention, can we successfully take on the threats, which in the end no matter how simple or complex, all need the same level of resilience and cooperation. This was the key message of Cecilie Daae, Director General of The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) who opened the floor for discussion. The necessary holistic approach was also mentioned by Dr Björn-Ola Linnér, Professor at Linköping University who also raised the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation, exploring the connections between different sectors and civil security, all the while keeping the SDGs in mind. Chief of the Regional UNISDR Office for Europe, Paola Albrito continued with presenting the UNISDR Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction which allows the assessment of risks and vulnerabilities whether it be a storm, flood or forest fire. Ms Albrito also praised the efforts of the CBSS in the initiation of the CASCADE project, which will connect climate change experts with disaster risk reduction specialists: “I am very happy that the CBSS embraced the campaign to increase cities resilience!”

The conference continued with two sets of breakout sessions on topics such as climate change adaptation, nuclear security cooperation, strengthening resilience against extremism, gender-based violence, and approaches to reduce urban violence. CBSS representatives participated in these simultaneous breakout sessions such as “Nuclear security cooperation in the Baltic Sea region”. Dr Anita Nilsson, former Director, Office of Nuclear Security, International Atomic Energy Agency moderated the breakout session “Baltic Sea Region: developing regional mechanisms to combat nuclear smuggling”. Lars van Dassen from the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, Ambassador Kęstutis Kudzmanas from Lithuania, Oleg Kravchenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Belarus and Aleksejus Livšic, Nuclear Security Centre of Excellence, Lithuania discussed the national measures against nuclear smuggling and harmonisation of national response plans. Mr Livšic highlighted the importance of human resources development, especially in the field of law enforcement.

Our Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (TF-THB) Project Officer Endrit Mujaj spoke on the topic of gender-based violence (GBV) and human trafficking. The session “Gender-Based Violence: enhancing regional knowledge and local capacity” discussed the trends of GBV in the Baltic Sea Region focusing on examples of existing local responses and current capacity gaps. The panel agreed that the Baltic Sea Region has improved the cooperation against human trafficking but that there are many challenges left. Although there is an increase in the number of victims identified in the region, the number of prosecuted cases of trafficking is decreasing. The cooperation between state authorities must be enhanced, strategically as well as operatively.

Security specialists from Helsinki, Swedish cities of Uppsala and Borlänge, a crime analyst from the New York City Police Department and a professor from Jacobs University, Bremen discussed the existing strategies for reducing urban violence during the session “Making cities safe in the Baltic Sea Region.” A common theme of the session was echoing the words of our Director General, who raised the importance of balancing real risks and the public perception in the opening plenary session. The panellists agreed that the cooperation in reducing urban violence works well in the Nordic format and declared their openness for including all countries in the Baltic Sea Region in it.

The closing plenary session “The way ahead: how to manage complex societal security challenges in the Baltic Sea region” wrapped up the two-day conference with a distinguished panel of High-level Foreign Ministry representatives from our Member States including Denmark, Norway, Poland and Sweden. Audun Halvorsen, State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs highlighted the instruments of cooperation such as the CBSS and the EUSBSR where “some of the broader issues we are facing can be addressed in a wider format”.

Photos from the Conference can be found on our Flickr.

Watch the live stream of the opening session here. All plenary sessions were live streamed and are available here.