On 1 July 2025, Poland assumed the rotating Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) for a one-year term, placing particular emphasis on protecting critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea and preventing hybrid threats, including those posed by the shadow fleet operating in the region. The Presidency will also address broader security challenges, notably the war in Ukraine and threats posed by Russia.
“We will prioritise the protection of critical infrastructure and the prevention of hybrid threats, including those posed by the Shadow Fleet. Our presidency represents a shared commitment to a safe and sustainable Baltic Sea Region,” – added Minister Sikorski, who will assume leadership of the CBSS Presidency in July and serve as the Council’s main representative.
To underline the importance of this event and the significance of Baltic issues and Baltic security for European security, CSAF plans to organise a second conference devoted to these matters. The first conference received widespread coverage in the academic community and the media, so we recognise the need to both continue and deepen the discussion on topics related to the broadly understood security of the Baltic states.
We invite the best specialists in this field to reflect and discuss possible responses to the challenges we face together. We are convinced that only by working together with our foreign allies and partners will we be able to harness the potential to avert threats stemming from the aggressive stance of our eastern neighbours.
Our meeting will be held on 30 October 2025 at the seat of CSAF:
Składowa 43, PL90-127 Łódź
Faculty Council Room
We start at 2:00 p.m.
The details of the conference are available here.

PROGRAMME
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Registration and Networking
Panel I: Security Challenges in the Baltic Region (Part I)
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
•  Keynote Speaker: Dr Pierre Thévenin
•  Speakers: Michael Malin, Dr. Timo Hellenberg, Lillian Mullins, Dr Wojciech Lieder
•  Moderator: Dr Aleksander Olech
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Networking
Panel II: Security Challenges in the Baltic Region (Part II)
4:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
•  Introductory Lecture: Prof. Ryszard Machnikowski
•  Speakers: Prof. Jan Amussen, Julian Pawlak, Col. (ret.) Vaidotas Malinionis, Dr Ivan Klyszcz, Prof. Ulrich Schneckener
•  Moderator: Prof. Ryszard Machnikowski
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Networking