Anonymised interview transcripts on expert knowledge in HELCOM and CBSS

This record contains anonymised interview transcripts collected for the study of expert knowledge and evidence-based decision-making in two regional organizations in the Baltic Sea region: the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) and the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS). The dataset consists of two merged text files containing anonymised semi-structured interview transcripts related respectively to HELCOM and CBSS. The interviews were conducted in 2025 with respondents involved in the work of these organizations, including experts, officials, and staff members. The interview material concerns, among others, the meaning and sources of expert knowledge, the transfer and use of knowledge in organizational decision-making, the selection and nomination of experts, and the role of expertise in regional governance. The transcripts were anonymised prior to deposit. Direct identifiers and selected personal or institution-specific contextual details were removed or replaced in order to reduce the risk of identification while preserving the analytical value of the material. This record is intended to document the empirical basis of the study and to support transparency of the research process. Because the material still contains contextual information that may entail a residual risk of re-identification, the files are provided with restricted access.