Today, Europe’s ministers for EU affairs meet in Stockholm to discuss the EU’s Baltic Sea Strategy. Erik Kiesow of the Swedish Government Offices is coordinating the meeting. He shows great enthusiasm over the strategy and hopes that the discussions at the meeting will inspire more macro-regional cooperation among EU Member States in the future.

Minister for EU Affairs Cecilia Malmström ahead of the EU Baltic Sea Strategy conference 17-18 Sept.

The two-day meeting aims at increasing the understanding of the EU Baltic Sea Strategy as a model for cooperation.

“We hope that discussions will contribute to a formal adoption of the strategy by the EU heads of state and government in October. But also that other countries can learn from our way of working with the Baltic Sea region so that other regions in the EU can also benefit from it”, says Erik Kiesow.

But what does the strategy really mean? Erik Kiesow explains that it is a new form of cooperation to meet the regional challenges facing EU countries. In practice, it involves better coordination and using the resources that are already available in a more effective way. The strategy extends over several areas, such as maritime surveillance, crime prevention, combating human trafficking, protecting the marine environment of the Baltic Sea, increasing regional competitiveness and encouraging networking and research cooperation across national and maritime borders.

“This cooperation is very exciting, precisely because it is so extensive and covers so many subject areas”, says Erik Kiesow, mentioning an inquiry into how to improve the coordination of transport in the region. He then seamlessly moves on to talking about a research and innovation programme for small and medium-sized businesses that is to be launched next year and a ban on phosphates in laundry detergents that is under way.

Citizens’ viewpoints as guidance

Above all, Erik Kiesow is proud that the EU Baltic Sea Strategy brings EU issues closer to the people of the EU.

“There has been a careful consensus-seeking process where a great number of stakeholders have been given the chance to speak on the subject and their views have been important in the work to design the strategy. Now we would like to continue with an annual forum where we gather viewpoints from actors with interests in the region. Everything from the environment to research, crime prevention and infrastructure. We will propose that the region convenes such consultation meetings once a year”, says Erik Kiesow.

The meeting gathers together ministers for EU affairs and other politicians with responsibility for EU affairs in the EU Member States, but also the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Investment Bank.

“It was the European Parliament that took the initiative for the strategy and it feels important to have both them and the Commission present when we discuss these issues, not least as we are hoping to see similar projects in other EU regions in the future. It is an incredible mark of quality that the European Investment Bank is joining us. It is very pleasing that a bank recognises the value of this strategy and is prepared to invest in the Baltic Sea region”, says Erik Kiesow.

The meeting opens with ministers being given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the practical aspects of the Baltic Sea Strategy with a tour of an exhibition by the Swedish Coast Guard, the Swedish Environmental Research Institute and other Baltic Sea actors on Skeppsbron in Stockholm on 17 September. On 18 September the meeting will be held in Gyllene Salen at Stockholm City Hall, where participants will include Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, President of Estonia Toomas Ilves, Vice President of the European Parliament Diana Wallis, EU Commissioner Pawel Samecki and President of the European Investment Bank Philippe Maystadt.

Photo: Erik Kiesow coordinates the meeting on the EU Baltic Sea Strategy that starts today in Stockholm. | Photographer: Gunnar Seijbold/Regeringskansliet

Source: se2009.eu

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