Second meeting of the BSPC Working Group on Energy Security, Self-sustainability, Resilience and Connectivity in Helsinki
On 17-18 March 2024, the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference Working Group on Energy Security, Self-sustainability, Resilience and Connectivity (WG ESSRC) held its second meeting in Helsinki, Finland. About 30 participants – mainly delegations from the Åland Islands, the Baltic Assembly, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, German Bundestag, Hamburg, Latvia, Lithuania, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Norway, Poland, Schleswig-Holstein, and Sweden and Finnish experts – attended. The working group continued its discussions on energy policy and energy security in the Baltic Sea Region with a particular focus on geopolitics and the protection of critical infrastructure concerns.
Chair of the WG ESSRC, Andris Kulbergs, opened the meeting by emphasising that due to all recent turbulences, the work of the BSPC WG is more critical than ever. As the next winter will be crucial in terms of energy, there is a need for the Baltic Sea region to be better prepared. He highlighted the need to act with the knowledge available to foresee the threats, make more interconnections in energy matters and exchange information and experience.
On-Site Visits: Hybrid CoE and NESA
The participants had the opportunity to visit the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE). Head of International Relations, Mr Tapio Pyysalo, informed them that it is an international, autonomous network-based organisation promoting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to countering hybrid threats. Participation in the Centre’s activities is open to all EU and NATO countries, and the number of Participating States has grown to include 35 states today. Hybrid CoE aims to strengthen the security of its participating states and organisations by providing expertise and training to counter hybrid threats.
Afterwards, the working group members visited the National Emergency Supply Agency of Finland (NESA). They were welcomed by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Emergency Supply Agency, Mr Janne Känkänen, who informed them about the organisation’s work, such as planning and operative measures related to developing and maintaining the security of supply. Cooperation with other authorities and the private sector ensures that the continuity of the critical functions of Finnish society can be safeguarded during crises and disruptions. They are a part of the Finnish Comprehensive Security Model, and their key focus areas now are military conflict, hybrid operations and the global economy.
During the visits, the parliamentarians from the Baltic Sea states also had the opportunity to ask questions and gain insights into potential areas of cooperation, such as the protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea or maintaining the security of supply and stocks in the region.
Expert Presentations
Ministerial Adviser of the Finnish Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Jussi Soramäki, informed the working group members about geopolitics and maritime policy in Finland. He stated that Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has further emphasised the importance of maritime transport as now the national Finnish border shared with Russia, which is 1344 kilometres long, is almost entirely closed. After assessing the good examples of cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region, he encouraged the Baltic Sea States to focus on possible connectivity and environmental threats to ensure the continued success of the cooperation.
Docent of Russian Resource and Energy Policy at the National Defence University of Finland and professor at the University of Helsinki, Mr Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen, informed about Russia’s strategy of being a Great Power of flows – all flows, such as energy and transport routes, are seen as means of coercion and repression. Fear is the country’s main export commodity. During discussions, it was concluded that fear is a reaction, and courage is a decision; therefore, it is time to change the aim – for Russia to change, Ukraine must win.
Leading Researcher at the Finnish Institute for International Affairs, Mr Marco Siddi, informed about the geopolitics of renewable energy and the impact of the war in Ukraine on EU energy systems. After assessing shares of electricity production and energy consumption in each of the countries in the Baltic Sea Region, he emphasised the need to find availability for joint funding/financing to develop and maintain interconnectivity and regional cohesion.
Programme Director of the Natural Resources Institute in Finland, Ms Johanna Kohl, stated that Europe needs the bioeconomy to transition from niche to norm. She recommended the Baltic Sea States start investing in research, technology development and innovations to improve resilience and self-sufficiency in nutrients, energy and food components, support the development of regional solid business clusters and value chains promoting circular bioeconomy principles, and educating the new generation of farmers.
Chairman Andris Kulbergs concluded lively discussions between the members of the WG and experts by emphasising the pivotal role of the BSPC in finding solutions to current and future challenges and the potential to enhance cooperation of the Baltic Sea states in the areas covered by the WG. He encouraged the participants to find areas in which joint actions would be of more excellent value, such as stockpiling or banning Russian vehicles in the Baltic Sea region.
Afterwards, the WG ESSRC members assessed the WG recommendations and questions for the intergovernmental survey. It was agreed that the next meeting will occur on 26-28 May 2024 in Greifswald, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Germany).