Welcome to the website of the Baltic Sea NGO Network!

Welcome to Everybody’s Baltic Sea cooperation!

X. Baltic Sea NGO Forum

“Social capital for a sustainable Baltic Sea region”

23th–25th April 2012

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany

For more information see www.bsngoforum.org, please ask the focal point of your country’s Baltic Sea NGO platform or contact the organisers from the chairing German focal point.

Since the late 1980ies and the end of the East-West conflict the division of the Baltic Sea region has become part of history and new structures of regional co-operation have developed. Not only e.g. the states, the regions, the cities, the ports, the chambers of commerce and economic enterprises are co-operating. Beyond the space of public politics and administration on the one hand and private economy on the other there is civil society, the space where ordinary citizens can get involved and make their voice heard, where they can make a personal contribution to Baltic Sea co-operation, where they can participate in shaping our common Baltic Sea region.

One way to do this is to get active in co-operation between social movements, voluntary associations and initiatives that are Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in a wider sense. They are independent from governments, they are Non-Profit Organisations (even though some of them make profits in order to finance their activities), they share and promote democratic values and they work for common interests and the public good. In a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation we want to take stock of the opportunities to participate and influence.

NGOs can serve different important functions. They can act as pressure groups for broader societal interests, but they are not interest groups in the narrow sense of the word. They are working for different aims and interests, but they are united in a view to develop a democratic society close to the people. By cooperating and exchanging ideas and experiences NGOs can inspire another, they can disseminate ideas and solutions and they can spread information.

Since 2001 NGOs from all over the Baltic Sea region have worked together in the framework of the annual Baltic Sea NGO Forum. To organise their cooperation between the forums in 2003 the Baltic Sea NGO Network was formed. The Baltic Sea NGO Network does not strive to represent all sectors and actors of civil society in the region, but we are open for every organisation to join us that shares our interest to develop and strengthen civil society in the Baltic Sea area, to build up the civil society of a truly united Baltic Sea region.

The Baltic Sea NGO Network covers a broad range of organisations, professional as well as volunteer ones. To find out who our members are please have a look at the pages of the national platforms.

If your organisation is interested in Baltic Sea co-operation or you just think it could be, please feel free to contact the focal point of your country’s Baltic Sea NGO platform to learn more.

You are most welcome to join us!