Gestrin at the 16^th CBSS Ministerial Meeting in Oslo

“BSPC and CBSS share the basic tenet that all stakeholders of the Baltic Sea Region – from EU- as well as non-EU– countries – must be able to cooperate on an equal footing in order to find credible and sustainable solutions to the challenges of the Region“ said Christina Gestrin, Chairman of the BSPC, in her address to the 16^th CBSS Ministerial meeting in Oslo on 7 June. Speaking before Ministers and top officials of the CBSS countries, she pointed out that a great deal is undoubtedly being done to help the Baltic Sea recover and to promote prosperity and welfare in the Baltic Sea Region. However, challenges are persistent. “An expansion of nuclear power generation, for example, in spite of the recent German decision to phase out its nuclear power by 2022, places a great responsibility on the governments to set up extremely stringent conditions and regulations for operation as well as storage and processing of spent fuel. But this, in turn, also provide opportunities to intensify efforts to promote the development of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and green technologies. These fields hold great potentials for stimulating growth and strengthening the competitiveness of the Region“, she emphasized.