Titled “The Top of Europe – A Competitive Baltic Sea Region Ready for the Future?”, this year's report once again takes the temperature on growth, innovation and competitiveness in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR).
"The Baltic Sea Region is in a solid economic upturn. This year economic growth in the region will reach no less than 2.6%, a post-financial crisis high following a gain of 2% in 2016. Next year growth will slow slightly to 2.3%. Growth has been strong notably in Sweden, Germany, Poland and Iceland, but also Denmark and the Baltic countries are now in a self-sustaining recovery," the report says.
"Especially Iceland and the Baltic countries have shown sharp increases in the employment rate (Figures 8a,8b), while Finland has shown a flat trend, which highlights its structural problems. Coupled with lower unemployment levels, labour markets are beginning to tighten in some countries and reports about serious shortages of skilled labour are becoming more and more frequent."
Heading towards BDF´s 20th anniversary in 2018, the report will provide a basis for discussions at the 20th BDF Summit in Tallinn on 4th June 2018 as well as the 9th Annual Forum for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region on 4th -5th June 2018 in Tallinn, co-organized by BDF and the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the European Commission.
You can download the full report HERE.
