Baltic 21 is a joint, long-term effort by the 11 countries of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, CBSS (see an interactive map on the front page). These countries differ widely as far as economic, social and environmental preconditions are concerned, but they agree on the long-term goals they wish to attain for the region as a whole.

The emphasis is on regional co-operation, and the work is focused on seven economic sectors (agriculture, energy, fisheries, forests, industry, tourism and transport) as well as on spatial planning and on education.

The overriding objective of Baltic 21 is to contribute to achieving sustainable development in the Baltic Sea Region in a 30-year perspective. Baltic 21 addresses the three dimensions of sustainable development - environmental, social and economic aspects.

Long-term aspects, regional co-operation, sectoral responsibility, and openness, democracy and transparency, are the pillars of the Baltic 21 process. Another important feature of Baltic 21 is that it is to complement international, national and local initiatives in the Baltic Sea Region.