The Political State of the Region Report 2014 focuses on the Baltic Sea Region and its neighbourhoods. It analyses current internal and external dynamics and political developments in the light of the recent crisis around Ukraine. The report concludes that the region is still rightly recognised as a model for cross-border convergence and cooperation in numerous areas and outlines that it can provide inspiration for the neighbouring regions. The report does not ignore the current crisis’ challenges and implications on BSR cooperation. But the BSR has shown that common problems can be solved in pragmatic ways when there is a will to cooperate and to overcome historical cleavages, without forgetting the past.
Dr. Tobias Etzold, SWP Germany
