For the last 20 years, the Baltic Sea has been affected by many upheavals, not only geopolitical but also economic. They have forced

ports to transform themselves, and not least to adapt to the evolutions in the marine industry. The eastern Baltic ports have moved

from a principle of complementarity, instruments of Soviet collectivism, to integration within a global maritime and port system synonymous

with economic liberalism. Moreover, the issue of modifying governance and port regulations within a region undergoing

major change is of particular interest in the Baltic area. A literature review, as well as fieldwork based on approximately 20 interviews

(with elected officials, representatives of port authorities, directors of handling companies, representatives from chambers of commerce,

lobbyists, etc), brings to light how stakeholder interactions structure the port area, and impact the development of territories

(port, urban, hinterland).