Ostsee-Forum

Foundation of the Baltic Sea Forum in August 2021, Leading District D 1900

STRUCTURE
Discussion platform for geographically neighboring Intercountry Committees and Contact Points of the Baltic Sea countries with the involvement of experts

Members :

• Chairs of the Country Committees for Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland; Head of the Norway/Sweden Liaison Office; and country experts from socially relevant fields, as well as Rotaract Baltic Sea;
• Chair: PP Birgit Osterwald, RC Gütersloh-Verl, DISC – District International Service Chair 1900

Working method :

• Four annual meetings, held in person and/or via Zoom, to discuss the current state of affairs and information, plus keynote presentations by guest speakers;
• topic- and project-specific meetings in working groups;
• documentation of results and progress through minutes and newsletters;
• rotating venues with country-specific events organised by member states

OBJECTIVES

• Key objective: Revitalising and sustaining cross-border dialogue, as well as initiating and supporting joint projects and exchanges to foster synergistic and impactful international Rotary action
• Communicative goals: Intensification of communication between the ICC sections, transfer of information from the forum work to the districts and clubs, maintenance of a website
• Structural goals: Development of the joint Norway/Sweden Contact Point (CP) into two independent Inter-Country Committees (ICCs), and strengthening of cooperation between the three Baltic states, Establishment of the Baltic Sea Forum as a Rotary community that operates and is recognised internationally
• Content-related and thematic objectives: Focus on projects that promote peace and friendship through mutual understanding – particularly in the context of youth exchange programmes, civil society aid and support initiatives for Ukraine, the promotion of bilateral and multinational club partnerships in the Baltic Sea region, and engagement with current issues affecting the conflict- and problem-ridden Baltic Sea region (security policy, the environment, etc.)

CURRENT PROJECTS in 2026

1. Ongoing collaboration with Rotaract Baltic Sea (particularly on environmental and security policy issues)
2. Summer camp “Miracle of Cognition” in Palanga, Lithuania: June 21–27
3. International youth sailing camp in Masuria, Poland: August 7–15
4. International youth exchange seminar in Krzyżowa/Kreisau, Poland, on the topic “Together for Democracy, Dialogue and Peace in Europe”: August 29–September 4
5. “Rotariade” and Rotary Action Summit in Palanga, Lithuania: September 3–6
6. Roropa trip to Wrocław and Krzyżowa/Kreisau, Poland: September 17–20
7. “Music Connects the World” – German-Lithuanian choir project
   (Gütersloh–Jurbarkas): joint concert performances from September 17–24
8. Ongoing Ukraine aid projects by all forum members
9. Support for current projects in the member countries
10. Initiation of joint activities and projects as needed and according to current developments

Following the Baltic Sea Forum’s visits to Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland, meetings will take place with the respective ICC sections and Rotary officials in Latvia and Denmark.

OPPORTUNITIES

The Baltic Sea Forum offers all interested Rotarians – whether as individuals or as a club – comprehensive exchange of discussions and up-to-date information about the Baltic Sea countries, supports initiatives of transnational meetings and projects in various Rotarian formats to promote international understanding, friendship and peace. 

The merger into a forum working synergistically and dialogically increases the effectiveness of the Rotarian community of values – especially in times of increasing conflict – in its responsibility for humanitarian assistance, solidarity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.