BSSSC AND

COOPERATION IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION

ANN IRENE SAETERNES, International coordinator

EASTERN NORWAY COUNTY NETWORK

BALTIC SEA REGION = DIVERSITY

• EU-members, non-members: Norway, Russia

• Rapidly changing and developing region

• Prosperity and challenges:

- Economic growth

- Cultural diversity

- Environmental challenges

- Sustainability in wider

perspective

• Security and Democracy

Baltic Sea Organisations

KEY WORDS to meet our challenges

NetworkingCooperation

InvolvementWorking together

BSSSCBSSSCTowards a strong competitive Baltic Sea Towards a strong competitive Baltic Sea

RegionRegion

BSSSC’s vision

• Release potentials through cooperation cross boarders (national-, sector-, level of government) – stimulate

• Involvement of regional and local authorities and civil society – governance

• Concrete actions

• Political will

• Financial means and instruments

CBSS long-term priorities for Baltic Sea Region cooperation

• Environment (including climate change)

• Economic development (include innovation and competitiveness and a favourable business environment, fostering entrepreneurship, cluster development, maritime economy, transport & logistics, research and development, customs cooperation and well-functioning labour markets)

• Energy (include energy security, energy efficiency and saving, renewable energy and the impact of energy on the environment)

• Education & culture (include the EuroFaculty concept, student and academic mobility, upgrade of science and research network capacity, cultural heritage, contemporary culture and the promotion of regional identity)

• Civil security & the human dimension (include the fight against trafficking in human beings, the protection of children’s rights, nuclear and radiation safety, civil protection, as well as consumer protection, youth affairs, people-to-people contacts and the promotion of tolerance)

BSSSC 2006 – 2008: KEY AREASBSSSC 2006 – 2008: KEY AREAS

1. Transport and Infrastructure2. Maritime Policy incl. the marine environment

3. Sustainable energy & Climate change4. Quality of Life/Public Health

YOUTH NETWORK

Vision under NO ChairmanshipSustainable economic development in the whole

region – stability and security for the inhabitants• Transport and infrastructure – accessibility

remove bottlenecks, east-west connection, sustainable transport, cities and hinterland

• Maritime policy – turning BSR into a model region in Europe. Helcom Action-plan to be implemented

• Sustainable energy, energy security (mix), measures to combat climate change

• Quality of life in cities and rural areas

Cooperation partnersCooperation partners

• BSSSC• BSC - CPMR• B7 • UBC• BDF• CBSS• BSPC• NCM • Nordic Council • BaltMet

JECP KEY AREASJECP KEY AREAS- Analysis of the current Energy and Climate situation in the BSR- Addressing concerns and considerations of the regional level on Energy and Climate issues to the high political level - Raising awareness among the inhabitants of the BSR - Further involvement of a broader range of actors (representatives of business, science, NGOs) working with Energy and Climate-related issues and obtaining financial support to implement joint activities- A broader involvement of Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Russia

BSSSC 2009 – 2010: KEY AREASBSSSC 2009 – 2010: KEY AREAS

1. Science and Education 2. EU Baltic Sea Strategy 3. Maritime Policy 4. Climate change and Sustainable development5.Youth cooperation6.Better use of EU programmes7. Public Health and Quality of Life8. Cooperation with Russia and ND9. Transport and Infrastructure

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The EU Strategy – The Big Themes

The 4 pillars:• Environment: to improve the environmental state of the Baltic

Sea Region, the largest brackish water system in the world• Economy: to make the Baltic Sea Region more prosperous by

better networking, better shared ideas, breaking down barriers and better economic development

• Energy and transport: to make the region more accessible and attractive, for its inhabitants, for its labour force and for tourists

• Safety and Security: to prevent accidents in the Region, reduce dangers and work together to solve crimes and sort out problems

The Priority Areas, The Flagship Actions

• Action Plan, with 15 Priority Areas, inc. 80 Flagship Projects• Priority Areas (examples)

Environment: - to reduce nutrient inputs to the sea to acceptable levels- to become a model region for clean shippingProsperity:- to exploit the full potential of the region in research and innovationAccessibility & Attractiveness:- to improve access to, and the efficiency and security of the energy markets- to improve internal and external transport linksSafety and Security: - to reinforce protection from major emergencies at sea and on land

The Guiding Principles for the EU Strategy for the BSR

• Better alignment of policy development at the European level, at the Baltic level

• Better use of existing funding, esp. via EU programmes at all levels but also national, regional, local, IFIs, private sector

• Better coordination in implementing EU legislation, cutting red-tape

• Better coordination on practical matters between all countries inc. Russia, Norway, Belarus, in the region

•Part-financed by the European Union

Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007 – 2013

“To make the Baltic Sea region an attractive place

to invest, work and live in”

Priority 1. Fostering innovations

Priority 2. External and internal accessibility

Priority 3. Baltic Sea as a common resource

Priority 4. Attractive and competitive cities and regions

46 Transnational co-operation projects

16 projects 11 projects

6 projects 13 projects

Cooperation partners outside Cooperation partners outside BSRBSR

• The BSSSC membership of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) should be used for mutual information on political issues as well as for concrete cooperation within areas of common concern - for example on Sustainable Energy and Youth. 

• As the network and platform of the BSR sub regions, BSSSC have signed a co-operation agreement with the Committee of the Regions (CoR). Cooperation with the Intergroup Baltic within CoR

 • BSSSC should keep close contacts and a permanent working

relationship with the European Baltic Intergroup of the European Parliament

Important focus areas for the Important focus areas for the future of BSSSCfuture of BSSSC

• Continue to promote the interests of BSR subregions towards national authorities, EU institutions and others – in close cooperation with other BSR organisations and interest groups.

• Further develop BSSSC as an important organisation for sub-regional interests in BSR.

• Strengthen cooperation with Russian subregions in BSR.

• Continue and develop participation of youth in BSSSC work and act as a platform for youth cooperation on subregional level in BSR.