Abstract

The international cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, especially between Scandinavian countries, has a very long tradition that has impacted significantly on institutionalization of regional international relations. The current European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is the first macro-regional strategy within the EU, based on the earlier regional experience. Its main goal is strengthening cooperation in this region and promoting sustainable development in order to meet common challenges. The Strategy has brought better coordination and effectiveness of the existing cooperation and turned out to be a very efficient and successful tool. Until spring 2014 the Baltic Sea Region was perceived as a model region for successful transformation, close regional cooperation, trade and inclusive security. However, it is now facing new challenges connected with changing political situation (EU-Russia relations, Brexit, migrations, etc.). The rules and forms of the governance in the Baltic Sea Region have appeared to be effective and sufficient in successfully addressing economic, social and political challenges. This is the answer to the question if there is any evidence to acknowledge the rules, forms and ways of cooperation as a model which possibly could be followed elsewhere. As a result, the EU has introduced three more macro-regional strategies.