ABO - The Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilkka Kanerva, is hosting a meeting of foreign ministers from the five Nordic and three Baltic countries in Abo, 16-17 August.
The main themes being discussed include promoting closer co-operation within the region under the auspices of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS).
The countries have expressed the view that Europe has need of more strategic approach and more efficient co-operation structures, especially since the EU's attention is directed towards the south. Other items on the agenda include the situations in Kosovo, the Middle East and Afghanistan.
Food from the region will figure prominently in the rest of the programme surrounding the meeting, which includes a cruise, a visit to Aker shipyard and dinner at Ã…bo Castle.
The foreign ministers from Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden all attended along with the Danish Secretary of State.
Finland last hosted the meeting in 2001 in Helsinki. The Nordic-Baltic Eight has been holding meetings of foriegn ministers in the late summer since 1993.
