Synergy for the Baltic – Leaders of Port Projects Meet in Elbląg
On 24–25 March 2026, an international partner meeting of projects implemented under the Interreg South Baltic 2021–2027 programme took place in Elbląg. The event brought together partners from initiatives such as PortSHAZ, DigiTechPort2030, INCONE60 Green, and BaltWreck, all focused on the future of seaports in the region.
A particularly important role is played by the BaltWreck project, which—although primarily associated with underwater activities such as shipwreck investigations—has a much broader scope of impact. The project supports not only the protection of heritage and the environment beneath the sea surface, but also activities carried out on the water and within ports. This includes, among others, improving navigational safety, developing operational procedures, and strengthening cooperation between institutions responsible for maritime spatial management.
The remaining projects complement these efforts by advancing digital technologies, increasing port operational efficiency, and implementing environmentally sustainable solutions. What unites all these initiatives is a systemic approach—treating ports as complex ecosystems in which both underwater and surface-level activities are of critical importance.
The meeting in Elbląg confirmed that modern maritime projects, including BaltWreck, extend beyond the traditional framework of underwater research. Their outcomes are primarily visible in improved port operations, as well as enhanced safety and sustainable development across the Baltic Sea region.
The Elbląg Democracy Festival Through the Lens
The D-EFFECT Project—Lessons in Civil Society Democracy, integrating the youth perspective into the policy-making process at all levels, in accordance with the Youth Strategy 2022–2027—is our strategic initiative.
Through this project, we work for and with young people to promote democratic values among the younger generation and strengthen civic participation.
Work on the next Democracy Festivals is ongoing, and we have the opportunity to look back on the pilot event, the “DemokratON: Youth in Elbląg” Democracy Festival.
We invite you to watch the video:
The Hackathon Finale as part of the SCONE Project
Yesterday marked the final stage of the international school Hackathon organized as part of the #SCONE project. The event featured presentations of projects focused on sustainable development. The meeting was held online, and the topics covered sustainable development and green innovation.
Student teams from Poland and Lithuania presented the project ideas they had developed during earlier stages of the work. Each team had up to 10 minutes to present their idea, including a brief overview of the concept, the project’s objective, proposed solutions, and potential benefits for the environment and the school community. The presentations were addressed both to the other event participants and to the evaluation panel, which assessed the students’ ideas in terms of their innovation, feasibility, and significance for sustainable development.
Among the concepts presented were projects focusing on: creating green spaces and school gardens, rainwater management, reducing food waste, promoting the reuse of items, utilizing renewable energy in schools, and creating outdoor learning spaces.
The hackathon provided an opportunity for young people from different countries to exchange ideas and demonstrate that students are capable of creating creative and practical solutions that support sustainable development.
D-effect at the 11th European Local Government Forum
During the 11th European Forum of Local Governments, held on March 2–3, 2026, we discussed the role, importance, and necessity of youth policies
It was also a great opportunity to address the topic of young people’s activity and engagement in local affairs, including through the Democracy Festivals (YDEF method) from the D-effect project, as an example of best practices.
Karolina Pawlak, representing our Association alongside STG ERB Director Marcin Żuchowski, not only highlighted the benefits of involving young people in shaping reality at the local level, but also raised the topic of exchanging experiences with international partners.
We’re already inviting you to the next, spring edition of the Festival of Democracy!
CONE at the 11th European Local Government Forum
On March 2–3, during the international event—the 11th European Congress of Local Governments in Mikołajki—the #Cone project was presented.
As an Institutional Partner of the event, we invited representatives of our member municipalities and their experts to discuss the intensifying and systemic hydrological threats in northern Poland and the South Baltic Sea region
The panel experts—Tomasz Sielicki, Mayor of Braniewo; Jacek Wolski, Mayor of Nowe Miasto Lubawskie; Prof. @Magdalena Gajewska of Gdańsk University of Technology; Anna Wołodźko of the City of Gdańsk; and Jakub Bornus - Head of the Braniewo Commune, raised important issues regarding nature-based solutions, methods, and the objectives of the CONE project.
They also emphasized the immense importance of the tools available to Wody Polskie.
At the end, the panelists jointly emphasized the importance of water and called for the implementation of solutions that help us retain it in cities and municipalities and then reuse it.
SCONE - second day of teacher training in Rostock
The second day of training focused on combining reflection with concrete planning of activities in the area of education for sustainable development (ESD).
The World Game became a starting point for a discussion about global interdependencies, responsibility, and the complexity of contemporary challenges. This experience opened up space for systemic thinking.
Participants looked at ESD as a holistic educational approach and the Whole School Approach concept, which assumes that change should encompass all areas of school functioning. The example of Öko-Haus served as inspiration. During the workshop “Creating an ESD-School from scratch,” visions of a school based on the principles of sustainable development were created, barriers were analyzed, and the first steps before implementing changes were planned. The concept of the “House of Change” helped to organize thinking about the transformation process and determine the stage at which individual schools are currently at.
It was a day of intensive conceptual and strategic work, showing that effective education for sustainable development requires both vision and well-planned actions.
