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As one of the keynote speakers of the 5 th Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum in Brussels, Jörgen Pettersson, President of the BSPC, underlined the fundamental importance of peace and open parliamentary dialogue, highlighted the cooperation and interrelation between the Northern Dimension and the BSPC and informed about the current results of the BSPC work as well as about the priority issues for the BSPC during the Åland Islands’ presidency in 2017 – 2018. In detail, he explained in his speech: ” Honourable First Vice President of the European Parliament, esteemed colleagues, excellences, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to address the 5 th Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum here on the premises of the European Parliament – where the Standing Committee of the BSPC – and I’m very grateful for that – has had the opportunity to hold our annual spring meeting for several years. The BSPC, consisting of the parliaments around the Baltic Sea, was founded in 1991 with the primary goal of creating a platform for open parliamentary dialogue to overcome the cold war and to establish the Baltic Sea as a sea of freedom, prosperity and cooperation. My homeland, the Åland Islands, are particularly aware of the need for and committed to international parliamentary cooperation because of our history. Åland is a great and real example of crisis management. Thanks to international agreements nearly a hundred years ago, we today have guaranteed, neutralised and demilitarised autonomy in the Baltic Sea; Åland is known as ‘the islands of peace’. It is therefore a great honour for us to have the presidency of the BSPC. We hope to inspire others with our history of peacemaking in practice and I can only underline what the Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, representing the Estonian presidency of the Council of the European Union, pointed out 3 days earlier (in the German Bundestag): “We are living in fortunate times of peace… We must be aware and make others aware of this every day and safeguard what we have created together, which is something remarkable and unique. It seems (to me) we speak too rarely about peace. We take it for granted; however, it is the most important thing. Not just in Europe, but in the whole world.” Considering the current situation within Europe, it is important to remember that a fair solution to any challenge can only be achieved by dialogue and cooperation, particularly in times of crises. We want to live in a free, peaceful and prosperous Baltic Sea region – especially since we are once again, after more than 20 years, in a tense, perhaps an inflamed situation. It is more important than ever to follow our guidelines, to follow our principal basis which is dialogue to resolve critical and tense situations. We must engage proactively in dialogue and cooperation. We have a responsibility towards our societies and future generations to care for our region. Participation and cooperation, which were the sub-heading of our annual conference in Hamburg two months ago, are a common mandate for all of us. The crucial foundation of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference is: We want to be a political platform for cooperation, for commitment and for competence in the political dialogue of parliaments, governments and civil societies in the Baltic Sea region. We should not take for granted that we parliamentarians can always find satisfactory solutions. But we have an obligation to our citizens to contribute to solving conflicts. In order to achieve that, we must strengthen interparliamentary cooperation as well as the influence of parliaments. Their common will is of crucial importance in order to look for answers to international challenges such as the refugee crisis and the threats posed by terrorism. We parliamentarians as representatives of the citizens in our countries need to continuously work on deepening dialogue between countries. We also have to find compromises and cooperation related to the democratic values to face future international challenges and possibilities. We see the need for cooperation not only in the Baltic Sea area but also beyond. We have expressively underlined in our resolution that we want to intensify the cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region, including the Northern Dimension , the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the Strategy for the Socio-Economic Development of the North West Federal District of Russia in addition to other regional actors by identifying common priorities and developing respective regional strategies and action plans in fields of current interest and mutual benefits. One of the BSPC’s objectives in our work programme 2017-18 is also: to promote the further development of the Northern Dimension, including its parliamentary dimension and the European Neighbourhood Policy, for instance by actively taking part in the relevant activities and by exchanging views and positions with relevant bodies of the European Parliament as well as further developing contacts and interaction with the Northern dimension partnerships. This means that today, with this forum, you’re giving us the opportunity to reach our goals in a particularly efficient way. 2 years ago, the main topic of our conference was: Innovation in Social- and Healthcare. We had a very close and very successful cooperation at that conference with the Northern Dimension in Social- and Wellbeing which, in cooperation with the BSPC, had organised at the beginning of our annual conference a special event called “Health is wealth and wealth is health”, providing an overview of the very strong association between health on the one hand and the economy and other policy areas on the other. Last year, we focused on the topic of High Quality Education and Labour and discussed this with the Vice-President of the European Commission, Mr Valdis Dombrovskis, and several Ministers for Welfare, Labour and Social Security. In our Riga-resolution, we called on the governments in regard to the importance of this policy field inter alia to explore the need for a Northern Dimension Partnership for Labour Market and Education. I very much welcome that the Council of the Baltic Sea States has taken up the initiative – in cooperation with the Baltic Sea Labour Forum – to establish a CBSS Expert Group on Labour and Employment – including Russia – based on the declaration of a High-Level Meeting of the Representatives of the Labour Ministries of the CBSS under the Icelandic Presidency in June this year. Since the field of labour and employment has been seen as a crucial focus area and concerted efforts will be essential in meeting the challenges we are currently facing and in the future, it is necessary from our point of view to explore the need for a stronger and more established cooperation in the Northern Dimension, even if some governments are reluctant in this matter to avoid additional costs and staff. Ladies and Gentlemen, despite the significant progress that we have achieved over the past years, tremendous challenges remain. These are challenges which we can only tackle jointly, especially environmental protection, sustainability, the implementation of the 2030 goals, terrorism, migration and economic development. The priority issues for the BSPC during the Åland Islands’ presidency in 2017 – 2018 are therefore: • To contribute to the development of sustainable societies in the Baltic Sea region and beyond in the Northern Dimension region based on democratic values, human rights and equal opportunities for all. • To enhance cooperation and integration for a secure and prosperous Baltic Sea area. We want to further improve and develop means of democratic participation, e.g. through transparency, comprehensive information, government accountability and other instruments of citizen participation. • To find common solutions on the topics of migration and integration based on mutual information and best practices. The issues of migration and integration pose a tremendous challenge as well as a great opportunity for their further development. This calls for intensive dialogue as well as close cooperation and also coordinated policies. Therefore, the BSPC has established a new working group that will analyse and discuss migration and integration. Ladies and Gentlemen, we are confronted with tremendous challenges which we jointly can turn into a bright future by our common efforts. Let us – parliaments, governments and societies – continue working on a peaceful and prosperous common region, let us continue our successful and committed Nordic-Baltic cooperation in the whole Baltic-Nordic region. Let us continue living and achieving the – for me – key message in the conference statement of the 4 th Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum on 12 May 2015 in Reykjavik: Encouraging all the partners to continue regional cooperation, as well as enhancing mutual understanding in the interests of the peaceful and sustainable development of the Northern Dimension Region. This event here and today is a further cornerstone on this path. Therefore, let us renew this message as a promise today, here in the European Parliament. The Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Åland on 26-28 August 2018 will continue on this path, and also offer dialogue, debate, solutions, friendship and a strong will to increase cooperation and prosperity in the region. We are the Islands of Peace and we want the whole of the Baltic Sea (and the rest of the world) to follow our example; for the benefit of hope, love and the never ending search for a better life. You all are welcome to participate!” BSPC President Pettersson also had bilateral talks to members of the European Parliament and other member parliaments as well as high level representatives of the Northern Dimension and representatives of other Northern parliamentary institutions on the priorities of the Åland BSPC Presidency and the upcoming 27 th annual conference of the BSPC 26-28 August 2018 in Mariehamn.

The highest Executive Committee of the BSPC, led by the new President of the BSPC, Jörgen Pettersson, held its first meeting under the new Presidency in Mariehamn, the capital of Åland. Delegations from the Åland Islands, the Baltic Assembly, Denmark, Estonia, Hamburg, Latvia, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the Russian Federation participated in the meeting. Implementation of Resolutions One focus was placed on the follow-up to the resolution of the 26 th annual conference, which took place in Hamburg from 3 – 5 September 2017, and the reports by the national and regional governments about the implementation of the 25 th BSPC resolution on the basis of political analyses. Follow-up statements to the 25 th resolution have been received from 14 parliaments. They are more and more comprehensive and partially very detailed. The Standing Committee noted that this was a positive development but also pointed out that the statements should focus more on common international projects. All statements are published on the BSPC website. Migration and Integration With regard to one of the priorities in the current BSPC work programme under the Åland presidency and to a new BSPC Working Group on Migration and Integration, Ms Johanna Fogelström, Integration Coordinator of the Government of Åland (Ålands Landskapsregering), and Ms Siv Ekström, Director of the Educational Centre for Adult Learning on Åland (Medborgarinstitutet), addressed the SC members at the beginning of the Standing Committee Meeting in a round of presentations about integration work on Åland. They provided detailed information regarding the intensive efforts of Åland to integrate foreigners into their society. Ms Fogelström pointed out that more than one third of the population has been born outside Åland. 12% of the population – more than 20% of the persons aged 30 to 39 – have another mother tongue than Swedish. 11% are foreign citizens. 64 languages are registered. Focus areas of the integration policy from 2016 to 2019 are i.a. the Swedish language, education, employment, health and access to healthcare, promoting participation as well as good relations to prevent and pre-empt racism and discrimination. All relevant actors – the Åland government, the municipalities, the job centre, Åland healthcare, secondary school and vocational training, the Education Centre as well as civil society – are included. The future direction of the Åland migration policy is to continue and develop language training, assist in getting onto the job market, support entrepreneurs, especially start-ups, support by the civil society, more coordination and cooperation across municipalities as well as strengthening the knowledge in the health sector and access to healthcare services. Ms Ekström gave a detailed survey about the intensive courses in Swedish for immigrants and the funding of the courses with a special view to courses for students with different alphabets or without reading skills, courses for employees and for refugees from the UNHCR’s resettlement programme. A series of questions, which were answered by the experts, and a lively discussion underlined that the topic of migration is of the highest interest for the BSPC members. Culture The new BSPC rapporteur on culture, Karin Gaardsted, Denmark, informed about e-sports in the Baltic Sea region, because e-sports allow online and intercultural communication and meet-ups. Concerning both the topics of culture and youth, this is the world’s fastest-growing sport with an expected revenue in 2017 of $ 696 million. E-sports include a global audience of 385 million people, half of which is aged 21 to 35. 73% of the players and viewers are male. E-sports are still not recognized or accepted on the same level as more ‘traditional’ sports like soccer or tennis, but are instead associated with lazy teenagers in dark basements – a view that is far off from reality. The sport promotes concentration, teamwork, the ability to react fast, a strategic mindset and much more. The Standing Committee underlined the importance of this topic and also had an energetic discussion on that issue, which is important for culture and youth. 27 th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Mariehamn BSPC President Jörgen Pettersson informed the Standing Committee about his talks with the former President of Finland and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari, the Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipilä as well as the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, H.E. Mr. Edgars Rinkēvičs, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, H.E. Mr. Linas Linkevičius, on the upcoming 27 th annual conference of the BSPC from 26 – 28 August 2018 in Mariehamn. Further topics of the Standing Committee meeting were i.a. a Memorandum of Understanding between the BSPC and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economical Cooperation, which has been signed by the presidents and secretaries general of both institutions, as well as administrative issues. Åland Islands and Lagting As part of a visit to Kastelholm castle and to Bomarsund Fortress, the BSPC Standing Committee was given a deep insight into the history and current situation of Åland. During the visit of the Parliament of Åland, BSPC President Pettersson shared details of the parliamentary practice in Ålands Lagting with the Standing Committee members. Presentation Migration, integration Åland by Siv Ekström Presentation Migration and Integration Åland by Johanna Fogelström Presentation of rapporteurship on cultural affairs

At the 36 th Baltic Assembly, Jörgen Pettersson, President of the BSPC, pointed out the longstanding close cooperation between the Baltic Assembly and the BSPC as, the detailed feedback of the governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on the implementation of the BSPC resolutions as well as common themes of both parliamentary institutions. Furthermore, he emphasised: ”The Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference have had a very close, very intensive and very efficient cooperation for many years. Our cooperation is based on mutual trust, on reliability and on friendship. Many colleagues of the Baltic Assembly are very involved in the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference work. President Aadu Must as well as Vice Presidents Valerius Simulik and Prof. Jānis Vucāns are very committed members of our Standing Committee. And last year, when both of us were celebrating the 25 th anniversary of our respective institutions, we had the closest possible cooperation: In the same year, Prof. Jānis Vucāns was President of the Baltic Assembly and President of the BSPC. Your governments provide us with very detailed feedback on the implementation of our recommendations and resolutions. Thank you very much for that. We are proud to be able to formulate ideas that can change the future. But it is also very important to have a common dialogue between parliamentarians and governments in the whole Baltic Sea Region, such as the best practice examples in the Baltic Assembly and in the Nordic Council. Therefore, I wholeheartedly invite the Latvian Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Edgars Rinkēvičs, here and now to come to Mariehamn on 27 August 2018 and underline the close cooperation between all parliaments and governments in the whole Baltic Sea region. From my point of view, it is of crucial importance that the Latvian Minister for Foreign Affairs will at that time have the chairmanship in the CBSS. At that point, a new vision for the Baltic Sea region will be available for us to discuss. That vision will be developed under the Swedish Presidency based on the decision of the CBSS Foreign Ministers on 20 June in Reykjavik. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Baltic Assembly and BSPC have common goals, we have similar priorities. One common focus in our assemblies this year was finding solutions in the areas of education, innovation and research. At this year’s BSPC Conference in Hamburg, a number of different topics were discussed: The issues of Migration and Integration pose a tremendous challenge to all countries in the Baltic Sea region as well as a great opportunity for their further development. This calls for intensive dialogue as well as close cooperation and also coordinated policies between the Baltic Sea States. Therefore, we have established a new working group that will analyze and discuss Migration and Integration. We also discussed Democratic Participation and the Digital Age as well as Sustainable Tourism. We want to further improve and develop means of democratic participation, e.g. through transparency, comprehensive information, government accountability and other instruments of citizen participation. Regarding Innovative Science and Research, the BSPC sees the necessity to intensify scientific cooperation in the Baltic Sea region in regard with both quality and quantity and to further improve the conditions of the Baltic Sea region in global scientific competition through joint strengthened efforts by increased investments in innovative science and research. Ladies and Gentlemen, my homeland, the Åland Islands, are particularly aware of the need for and committed to international parliamentary cooperation because of our history. Åland is a great and real example of crisis management. Thanks to international agreements nearly a hundred years ago, we today have an internationally guaranteed autonomy in the Baltic Sea; Åland is therefore known as ‘the islands of peace’. The priority issues for the BSPC during the Åland Islands’ presidency in 2017 – 2018 are: Sustainable societies in the Baltic Sea region based on democratic values, human rights and equal opportunities for all Cooperation and integration for a secure and prosperous Baltic Sea area and Migration and integration, finding solutions based on mutual information and best practices. Ladies and Gentlemen, apart from common priorities: The Baltic Assembly and BSPC have had a common vision for more than 25 years. We want to live in a free, peaceful and prosperous Baltic Sea region. This was our main vision in 1991, it is our challenge today and our mutual wish for tomorrow. And especially since we are once again, after more than 20 years, in a tense – perhaps an inflamed – situation: It is more important than ever to follow our principal basis. To never forget the true meaning of life: peace, love and prosperity. We want to be an international platform for cooperation, for commitment and for competence in the political dialogue of parliaments, governments and civil society in the Baltic Sea region. Parliamentarians are responsible for the well-being of the countries, for the well-being of the population, for the well-being of the citizens around the Baltic Sea Area. We want to have freedom, we want to have peace, we want to have peaceful cooperation on a democratic foundation. We want to inspire our fellow citizens to achieve more in their search for a better life. Let’s continue working on making this come true over the coming years, in very close cooperation, with all our energy, with all our commitment, with all our competence. The Baltic Sea is life, love, hope and home. Welcome all to Åland and the Baltic Sea Conference next August! We promise inspiring, wise and doable ideas that will make the Baltic Sea a safer, healthier, happier and more prosperous – and all in all – a better place for us all.” BSPC President Pettersson also had bilateral talks to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, H.E. Mr. Edgars Rinkēvičs, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, H.E. Mr. Linas Linkevičius, on the upcoming 27 th annual conference of the BSPC 26-28 August 2018 in Mariehamn.

Jörgen Pettersson, President of the BSPC, reminded that Helsinki was the place, where the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference started 1991 from an initiative by the speaker of the Finnish parliament, Mr. Kalevi Sorsa. Furthermore, he emphasised: ”Presently, both the President of the Nordic Council, Britt Lundberg and I, come from Åland. There is a reason to that – the parliamentarians from the Åland Islands are particularly aware of the need for and committed to international parliamentary cooperation because of our history. Our homeland, the Åland Islands, is a great and real example of Crisis Management. Thanks to international agreements nearly a hundred years ago, we today have a neutralised and demilitarised and internationally guaranteed autonomy in the Baltic Sea; Åland is “the islands of peace”. At this year’s BSPC-Conference in Hamburg a number of different topics were discussed: The issues of Migration and Integration pose a tremendous challenge to all countries in the Baltic Sea Region as well as a great chance for their further development. This call for intensive dialogue as well as close cooperation and also coordinated policies between the Baltic Sea States. Therefore, we have established a new working group that will analyse and discuss Migration and Integration under the leadership of speaker Carola Veit from Hamburg and our Nordic friend Hans Wallmark, Sweden. We also call for action in the field of Sustainable Tourism which is a priority topic of the Nordic Council. Especially in the year 2017, as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, it is important to foster the awareness of sustainable tourism in the whole region. The priority issues for the BSPC during the Åland Islands’ presidency in 2017 – 2018 are: Sustainable societies in the Baltic Sea region based on democratic values, human rights and equal opportunities for all Cooperation and integration for a secure and prosperous Baltic Sea area and Migration and integration, finding solutions based on mutual information and best practices. Welcome all to Åland and the conference next August! We promise inspiring, wise and doable ideas that will do the Baltic Sea a safer, healthier and more prosperous place for us all.” BSPC President Pettersson also had bilateral talks to the former President of Finland and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari and the Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipilä on the upcoming 27 th annual conference of the BSPC 26-28 August 2018 in Mariehamn.

The 26 th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Hamburg was a great success. With the unanimous adoption of the resolution on cooperation, democratic participation and digital age, on innovative science and research as well as sustainable tourism, the conference was successfully concluded. By adopting the resolution, the delegates pointed out that the Baltic Sea Region is a role model for innovative science and sustainable tourism as well as for parliamentarian cooperation in the region. The conference appointed Jörgen Petttersson from the Åland Islands as the new BSPC President. Carola Veit from Hamburg was appointed the Vice President of the BSPC. Tourism in the age of acceleration The second day of the conference in Hamburg began with a discussion about new prospects and challenges for tourism in the Baltic Sea Region and worldwide. The topic suited perfecly the fact that the year 2017 had been anounced by the United Nations as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. The Vice Chair of the BSPC Working Group on Sustainable Tourism, Sara Kemetter from the Åland Islands, presented the working group’s final report to the conference. The working group had developed eleven recommendations to the governments of the Baltic Sea Region, all of which were included in the 26 th BSPC Conference Resolution. “We will use our work and the recommendations in order to make a contribution that will strengthen sustainable tourism in the whole Baltic Sea Region,“ Ms Kemetter pointed out. The contribution made by the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Youth Forum to the final recommendations on sustainable tourism were presented by two young delegates, Friederike Schick from Hamburg and Elias Lindström from the Åland Islands. Improving education standards and raising the job status in tourism, switching to eco- and agricultural tourism, strengthening sustainable transport and launching a Baltic Sea Summer Ticket, those are just a few of the many ideas discussed by young people with politicians during the meeting of the BSPC Working Group in Kiel. The final report of the Working Group on Sustainable Tourism has been published on the website and additionally distributed in a print version to the conference participants. Mr Molstad, the journalist and advisor on sustainable tourism to international institutions, confronted the listeners with fundamental questions regarding the future of sustainable tourism in a world in which approx. 1.6 billion people travel abroad for touristic reasons every year, in which social media drive the travel industry and change the demand structure. Mr Molstad claimed that tourism needed to move to a low-carbon future by making the business case for meeting targets grounded in climate science. The speaker provided the participants with the example of Norway which had launched a cross-sectoral Green Competitive Initiative as a direct result of the Paris Climate Accord. The Initiative aims to create sustainable travel and sustainable tourism in Norway by 2030. More positive examples of tourism industry efforts towards sustainability came from Dr Monika Griefahn , Chief Sustainability Officer at AIDA Cruises, Alexander Sirchenko , Vice Director General on the Development on Internal Tourism, TUI Russia, and Michael Otremba , Managing Director of Hamburg Tourismus GmbH. More solidarity and more collaboration – the only solution to cope with the migration challenge. With a view to the next working group of the BSPC which has been established by the 26 th BSPC, the conference also dealt with migration and integration. Pedro Roque, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, expressed his conviction that migration was not going away, that it was not something that could be stopped but could only be organized better. The population of Africa numbers some1 billion people today and will reach by 2150 2.3 billion. Every day in Africa, 33 thousand young people enter the saturated labour market. Only 40% of them will be lucky enough to get a job. In this situation, he said, the only way to cope with that was to cooperate closely on the regional, European and global level. Isabel Santos , the Vice-President of OSCE PA and theVice-Chair of the OSCE PA ad hoc Committee on Migration, in her speech “For a Coherent, Shared and Responsible Governance of Migration and Refugee Flows” underlined the fact that some restrictive policies, sometimes hostile public and political attitudes, combined with continuing arrivals and growing protection needs, lead to the suffering of families who choose the fastest rather than the safest route, taking impossible risks. They resort to smugglers, facing exploitation and abuse. They also face violence and are exposed to sickness, hunger and lack of care. Politicians, she noted, needed to start having a dialogue on what type of migration policy can be developed together in Europe. Ms Maira Mora, the Director General of the CBSS Secretariat, announced the establishment of a new ad hoc/expert Working Group on Labour and Employment as a result of the meeting of labour ministers and their high level representatives from the Baltic Sea in Berlin on 15 June 2017. The topics to be addressed by the working group include labour mobility, demographic challenges, youth employment and the integration of migrants. In the following vivid debate, the parliamentarians emphasized that closer cooperation and more action are required from the governments and international organisations, allowing the newly established BSPC Working Group on Migration and Integration to serve as a great platform for cooperation with the CBSS on such an important topic. The conference was concluded with the unanimous adoption of the resolution, along with any changes in the rules of procedure as well as the agreement for the Working Programme 2017-2018. The new BSPC President Jörgen Pettersson invited the parliamentarians to the 27 th BSPC conference at Mariehamn on 26-28 August 2018.

The 26 th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Hamburg was a great success. With the unanimous adoption of the resolution on cooperation, democratic participation and digital age, on innovative science and research as well as sustainable tourism, the conference was successfully concluded. By adopting the resolution, the delegates pointed out that the Baltic Sea Region is a role model for innovative science and sustainable tourism as well as for parliamentarian cooperation in the region. The conference unanimously appointed Jörgen Pettersson from the Åland Islands as the new BSPC President . Carola Veit from Hamburg was appointed as Vice President of the BSPC .

BSPC President Carola Veit opens 26 th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Hamburg. The President of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, Carola Veit welcomed the participants of the 26 th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, parliamentarians, representatives from the BSPC Observers, members of the diplomatic corps, at dinner in the Town Hall of Hamburg, on Sunday evening – prior to the official opening of the conference. In her address she pointed out that Hamburg as the member of the BSPC since 1991 have driven initiatives in the region and identified issues of concern for the Baltic Sea Region. Organizing the conference at the Town Hall of Hamburg was an expression of Hamburg’s appreciation for the parliaments of in the Baltic Sea Region as well as for its joint platform of cooperation: the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference. Innovative Science, Sustainable Tourism- Participation and Cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region – the debate topic of the 26 th BSPC Conference On Monday Ms Carola Veit President of the Parliament of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and President of the BSPC opened the 26 th Conference stating that: “With our topics “Democracy”, “Science” and “Sustainability” I believe we have chosen forward-looking themes, which will determine the strength of our societies in the future”. In his welcome speech Mr Olaf Scholz, the First Mayor of Hamburg underlined the long history of cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region and gave examples of contemporary projects and initiatives that bring the BSR together. One of them the German Electron Synchrotron, had been visited by the participants of the conference the previous day. Cooperation brings prosperity to the people of the Baltic Sea Region The first session “Cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region” brought reports from the Council of the Baltic Sea States the Mr Guðmundur Árni Stefánsson. The outgoing CBSS Chair referred to the meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic Sea Region which took place in Reykjavik and pointed out that The Ministers of the Baltic Sea Region countries expressed in the Declaration that had been signed on that occasion, their will to invest in the BSR cooperation, the BSPC including. Mr Hans Olsson , Chairman of the Committee of Senior Officials, Ambassador of Sweden revealed the main catch words of the upcoming Swedish CBSS Presidency 2017-2018 – “ sustainability”, “ continuity” and “ adaptability”. Last part of the session was devoted to the report on the Implementation of the 25 th BSPC Resolution and the speeches of the BSPC Rapporteurs. Prof. Jānis Vucāns the BSPC Vice-President and Vice-President of Baltic Assembly in conclusion of his report stated that “the implementation of measures will help to improve and to strengthen the prosperity in the whole Baltic Sea Region” In their presentations the BSPC Rapporteurs. Jörgen Pettersson on Integrated Maritime Policy, Sonja Mandt on Cultural Affairs and Franz Thönnes on the Baltic Sea Labour Forum gave a brief review of work results of the working Groups they had chaired. The second session brought a lively exchange of different views concerning the participation in decision making processes, role of digital participation and challenges the developments of social media may cause. With the discussion on Science and Research the first day of the conference has been closed. To Celebrate the Centenary of Finland’s independence the exhibition prepared by the Finnish delegation was opened by Ms Veera Ruoho , the chair of Finish delegation to the BSPC. “Finland 100 Anniversary Exhibition” will be accessible for all viewers of the Town Hall during the Conference Days.

With a view to the 26 th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference on 3- 5 September 2017 in Hamburg, the BSPC Rapporteur on Cultural Affairs, MP Sonja Mandt, Norway, has issued her report 2017 on cultural heritage. “Culture and heritage have an important role to play when it comes to building a more economically sustainable and cohesive Baltic Sea region. Our region should see our cultural heritage as an increasingly important factor of economic and sustainable growth” Sonja Mandt pointed out in her introduction. The Report can be downloaded here and on the Rapporteurs’ webpage.

In preparation of the 26 th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Hamburg on 3 – 5 September 2017, the BSPC’s Rapporteur regarding Eutrophication of the Baltic Sea Saara-Sofia Sirén, Member of the Finnish Parliament, has published her report on developments and activities in this policy field. The report informs inter alia about the latest research data on eutrophication and presents a few possible solutions for consideration. “Eutrophication, which is mainly caused by nitrogen and phosphorus loads from land-based sources, is the main cause of the Baltic Sea’s currently challenging status… Much work still lies ahead of us in ensuring that our children have the opportunity to enjoy and sustainably benefit from the Baltic Sea that unites us all.” Saara-Sofia Sirén underlined in the introduction of her report. The Report can be downloaded here and on the Rapporteurs webpage.

In preparation of the 26 th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Hamburg on 3 – 5 September 2017, the BSPC’s Rapporteurs on Integrated Maritime Policy, MP Jochen Schulte and MP Jörgen Pettersson have issued their report on developments in the field of Integrated Maritime Policy. The report summarizes the developments in the Integrated Maritime Policy since the 25 th BSPC, informs about a number of important conferences which have taken place throughout the past year and presents legislative developments at the EU level with regard to Blue Growth and overarching aspects, energy-related aspects as well as infrastructural and environmental aspects of maritime policy. The Report can be downloaded here and on the Rapporteurs’ webpage. Report by the Rapporteurs of the BSPC on developments in Integrated Maritime Policy

In preparation of the 26 th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference on 3- 5 September 2017 in Hamburg, the BSPC Working Group on Sustainable Tourism has published the Final Report on its activities throughout the two-year mandate of the WG. The report will be presented at the annual conference and contains the main considerations and political recommendations of the Working Group. The report offers also detailed information on the expert presentations and homework carried out by the Working Group and can be accessed here and at the Working Groups website. The political recommendations of the Working Group have been included in the draft resolution of the conference. A printed version – financed by the parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – will be available at the 26 th Conference. Final Report of BSPC Working Group on Sustainable Tourism

In preparation of the 26 th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Hamburg on 3 – 5 September 2017, the BSPC’s Observers at HELCOM, Sylvia Bretschneider, President of the Landtag Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saara-Sofia Sirén, Member of the Finnish Parliament, have issued their report on HELCOM-related developments and activities. The Report can be downloaded here and on the Rapporteurs’ webpage. Report on the exercise of the observer status at HELCOM issued