The BSPC Secretary Level gathered at the German Bundestag on 8 January to prepare the agenda and meeting of the BSPC Standing Committee on 28 January at the European Parliament in Brussels.
The meeting was welcomed by the longstanding member of the BSPC Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag, Mr Franz Thönnes.
Mr Thönnes highlighted in his introductory words that the European countries and the states around the Baltic Sea were all confronted with a number of challenges, including the continued inflow of refugees, risks of terrorism and the fostering of the EU’s monetary Union. Nevertheless, too many countries reacted with nationally-oriented answers to these challenges. Mr Thönnes expressed his hopes that the realization would grow that no country on its own could be successful in addressing these challenges. More common decisions in Europe were required. The same would be true for the countries in the Baltic Sea Region.
Hence he welcomed the preparations in Berlin for the upcoming meeting of the BSPC Standing Committee in Europe’s capital. Besides the refugee crisis, important issues on the agenda would be the follow-up of the resolution of Rostock, the further determination of a process of contacts with the House of Representatives of Belarus, the further agenda of the BSPC’s new Working Group on Sustainable Tourism, and an exchange of opinions with high-ranking European representatives and decision-makers.