“Promote democracy, security and the rule of law in the Baltic Sea Region”

Christina Gestrin, Chairman of the BSPC, delivered a keynote address at the Nordic Forum for Security 2010, held in St Petersburg on 26-27 April. “Organized crime undermines the security and safety of the citizen. It corrupts the legal and administrative foundation of society. It distorts the free function of the market mechanisms. Organized crime is a fundamental threat against freedom and democracy“, stated Gestrin. She also discussed maritime safety and security in the Baltic Sea, and mentioned that BSPC has called upon governments to enhance preparedness to tackle oil spills, strengthen maritime safety and ship traffic monitoring, and boost efforts to phase out sub-standard ships. “BSPC strongly supports the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan”, she maintained, and concluded that cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region should be conducted as a cooperation between equal partners irrespective of their membership in the EU.