VASAB Declaration

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VASAB Ministerial Tallinn Declaration on

Spatial Resilience

Adopted by the Ministers responsible for spatial planning and development of Finland,

Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, and Estonia during the Estonian Chairmanship of

the VASAB Committee on Spatial Planning and Development of the Baltic Sea Region in a

written procedure 29 June 2025

Responding to the increased natural and man-made hazards and mounting geopolitical

instability in the Baltic Sea Region, the Ministers responsible for spatial planning and

development of Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, and Estonia,

participating in VASAB intergovernmental multilateral co-operation of the Baltic Sea Region,

- recognising that the Baltic Sea Region, an integral part of the European Union and its

neighbourhood, is navigating a time of fundamental transformation marked by

growing geopolitical tensions, intensifying climate and biodiversity crises,

accelerating digital, energy and demographic transitions, and increasing socio-

economic disparities. These developments call for renewed strategic coordination

and deepening cooperation across regions, borders, and sectors in spatial

development and planning,

- noting that as a response to Russia’s continued efforts to dismantle the existing

European security architecture, the Baltic Sea Region is witnessing an ongoing shift in

defence and security policies, including the reconfiguration of critical infrastructure,

which have significant spatial and territorial implications. Spatial planning and

territorial development are essential tools to shape resilient, inclusive and future-

proof regions and communities,

- stressing that VASAB as an intergovernmental cooperation significantly contributes to

the implementation of the Territorial Agenda 2030, the Urban Agenda for the EU,

further emphasised and operationalised in the New Leipzig Charter, and the European

Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, as well as supports the territorial

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implementation of European Union policies including the European Green Deal, Joint

White Paper for the European Defence Readiness 2030, the Competitiveness Compass

for the EU,

- highlighting the importance of the EU Cohesion Policy and underlining the relevance

of territorial and spatial resilience as a strategic dimension to be further embedded in

Cohesion Policy beyond 2027,

- recognising the topicality of the Vihula Declaration, agreed by the Ministers of Foreign

Affairs of the countries of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), highlighting the

need to refocus CBSS to effectively meet the challenge of the new security

environment,

- elaborating on the comprehension of the relevance of spatial and territorial resilience,

gained during German, Finnish and Estonian chairmanships of the VASAB Committee,

- building on the Declaration of the 9th Ministerial Conference of VASAB in Wismar in

2023, which endorsed VASAB Vision for the Territorial Development of the Baltic Sea

Region in 2040 as a strategic-visionary framework for the development of the region,

have adopted the following Declaration.

The Ministers

1. unequivocally condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as the

activities of Russia’s accomplice, Belarus. We fully support Ukraine`s independence,

sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders,

2. re-confirm the VASAB decision from 2022 to suspend Russia and Belarus from the

VASAB Committee on Spatial Planning and Development of the Baltic Sea Region, from

the steering groups of the EUSBSR policy area "Spatial Planning" for land and maritime

spatial planning, and from participation in related activities,

3. commit to closely engaging with Ukraine in spatial planning and regional development

on its way to further European integration, its recovery and reconstruction activities by

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sharing know-how and best practices for harmonious sustainable territorial

development, as well as to utilise Ukraine’s knowledge in spatial preparedness,

4. stress the importance of VASAB as a collaboration of European democratic, like-minded

countries to further spatial and territorial cohesion, as well as democracy and human

rights in the Baltic Sea Region, implementing the VASAB Vision for the Territorial

Development of the Baltic Sea Region in 2040.

The Ministers

5. note the importance of VASAB as the platform of more than 30 years of spatial

collaboration in the Baltic Sea Region to turn challenges into opportunities through

spatial planning and territorial development. In close collaboration with HELCOM,

VASAB has played a key role in coordinating maritime spatial planning activities across

the region to promote synergies and joint approaches to agree on future uses on sea-

areas. Through the decades, VASAB has engaged with planners on all governance levels

to develop best practices and expertise related to territorial development and spatial

planning, supporting the implementation of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic

Sea Region,

6. celebrate 30 years from the endorsement of the first spatial development perspective

and first European macro-regional strategy, “Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea

2010” that has strengthened spatial planning and territorial development in the Baltic

Sea Region and sparked cross-border and macro-regional initiatives. The document,

approved by VASAB Ministerial Tallinn Declaration 1994, developed the spatial

structure of the region consisting of Pearls (network of urban centres), Strings (links

between centres) and Patches (regions supporting the spatial structure) that has

inspired several national spatial visions across the region,

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7. emphasise the value of engaging the next generation of planners through Young

Planners Summer Schools, organised by VASAB and chairing countries, contributing to

continued innovative solutions, sustainable development, and resilient communities,

8. highlight the VASAB Vision for the Territorial Development of the Baltic Sea Region in

2040 endorsed by the Conference of Ministers in 2023 as the backbone for spatial and

territorial development of the Baltic Sea Region.

The Ministers

9. express concern about increased natural and man-made hazards in the Baltic Sea Region

that have spatial and territorial implications,

10. emphasise the significance of spatial and territorial resilience, the ability of territories

and communities to develop spatial preparedness and adapt their functional and

structural integrity, as well as continuous development in the face of disruptions,

11. underline the importance of spatial planning and territorial development in

implementing the all-of-hazards and whole-of-government security approaches

throughout the Pearls, Strings and Patches in the VASAB countries, across all governance

levels. Spatial policies and future-oriented development of territories can help regions

cope with current and future impacts of climate change, contribute to making energy

accessible to everyone, increase food security and sustainable economic development

through balanced and forward-looking land use, advance community and infrastructure

resilience, enhance infrastructure integrity and civilian and defence dual-use, respond

to shifting regional demographies,

12. commit to coordinated efforts for promoting the sustainable development, security,

livelihoods and cohesion based on European values in the external border regions of the

European Union within the framework of European and national programmes,

initiatives and financial instruments, with the objective of enhancing social, economic,

territorial and spatial resilience,

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13. reaffirm their commitment to continuing the green and digital transitions in a mutually

reinforcing and territorially balanced manner, ensuring that both visions support

regional cohesion, environmental protection and inclusive development across the

Baltic Sea Region,

The Ministers

14. thank the German, Finnish and Estonian chairmanships of the VASAB Committee for

approaching territorial and spatial resilience amid increased climate-related risks and

an altered security situation in the region,

15. acknowledge with appreciation the ongoing work of the VASAB Committee, highlighting

its dedication to advancing shared goals and bridging national perspectives with the

broader macro-regional dialogue,

16. express their gratitude to VASAB Secretariat, including all its current and former

members for their continued contribution to achieving VASAB priorities, and recognize

their efforts in fostering regional cooperation, enhancing spatial planning practices, and

supporting sustainable development initiatives across the Baltic Sea Region,

17. ask the forthcoming Polish chairmanship, the VASAB Committee and the Secretariat to

continue to contribute towards strengthening adaptive and exaptive spatial resilience

to crises and integrating the spatial and territorial aspects of the whole-of-society

security approach into VASAB strategic activities and documents.