EU’s Baltic strategy: realities of the crisis and the vision of a region
by Vadim Kononenko, Finnish Institute of International Affairs (vadim.kononenko@upi-fiia.fi)
How is the global economic crisis shaping the dynamics of cooperation around the Baltic sea? The
region’s image of “success story” quickly gave place to worries and doubts as the economies of the
Baltic countries plunged into recession. The crisis puts under question various ambitious plans and
strategies for the region’s development as a role model for global competitiveness, innovation and
cooperation. More importantly, the crisis reveals that “region-building”, which has been one of the
trademarks of EU’s policy-making, becomes increasingly problematic for both Brussels and national
governments.