The Baltic Sea continues to be one of Europe's most vulnerable areas. Algae bloom each summer, and more and bigger ships move through its narrowest and shallowest straits. Divisions from the past are still being overcome. Research, innovation and trade links need to be reinforced, while transport and energy connections have big gaps – the eastern and northern parts of the Region are still too often isolated from the rest of the EU.
This was why, in June 2009, following a request by the European Council, the European Commission adopted the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). It addresses the key challenges of sustainable environment, prosperity, accessibility, and safety and security, but also the opportunities to make this an integrated, forward-looking world-class region, the "top of Europe". It aims at coordinating action by Member States, regions and municipalities, the EU, pan-Baltic organisations, financing institutions and non-governmental bodies for a more effective development of the Region. The Strategy also provides the regional implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy.