This study of the intense integration of the Baltic States macro-region into the European socio-economic and technological spaces makes use of a model that is based on the representation of the Baltic region as an environment in which open innovative systems direct their ‘knowledge triangle’ and socio-economic structures towards sustainable development. In view of the priorities of the strategic framework for European Cooperation in Education and Training (Europe 2020), the trends and problems of human resources due to increased mobility, the emergence of new conditions of migration processes, and increasing the total requirements for competence, will be studied.

Specifically, a comparative analysis of the demographical and labour migration processes taking place in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia was carried out. It is shown that the traditional structure of higher education is ineffective in conditions of high mobility in a global society, but it does not correspond to the requirements laid down by the Europe 2020 strategy as a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.