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The BSPC Working Group on Civil Security held its inaugural meeting in Copenhagen on 3 February 2010. The Group discussed its mandate, objectives and working methods. Its main focus will be trafficking in human beings, understood as a form of modern slavery and exploitation. The Group can also address other aspects of civil security. Eva Biaudet, former OSCE Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, and Christer Pursiainen, Senior Advisor at CBSS, gave background presentations on trafficking and civil security. The WG will aim to liaise with otheer organizations and institutions active in the field of trafficking and civil security. For continuous information about the activities of the Working Group, please see the WG webpage .

The BSPC Working Group on Integrated Maritime Policy held its inaugural meeting in Rostock on 21-22 January, in the premises of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency. The Working Group was briefed on, i.a., maritime spatial planning, Baltic sea port development, and research on maritime infrastructure. The Group also had the opportunity to get a demonstration of the Marine Simulation Centre in Warnemünde. The presentations laid a solid ground for deliberations within the Group on priorities and working methods, as well as for future recommendations on maritime issues. The Working Group will aim to liaise with other organizations and institutions active within the maritime field. For continuous information about the activities of the Working Group please see the WG webpage .

“Civil security is ultimately a matter of building and securing a stable democratic and inclusive society”, said Christina Gestrin, Chairman of the BSPC, in her address to the 28 th Session of the Baltic Assembly on 27 November. “The key to enhanced security and safety in the Region lies in deepened and widened cooperation, involving all countries of the Region on an equal and mutually beneficial basis. Parliamentary fora such as the Baltic Assembly, BSPC, and the Nordic Council are important arenas for candid political debate. They can contribute to the pursuit of transparent, democratic and pragmatic solutions to the challenges of the Region”.

BSPC has just launched two new Working Groups. The Working Group on Civil Security , especially Trafficking, will be chaired by Line Barfod, Denmark. The Working Group on Integrated Maritime Policy , especially Infrastructure and Logistics, will be chaired by Jochen Schulte, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The Working Groups will commence their activities in early 2010. All BSPC member parliaments and parliamentary organizations are invited to participate in the Working Groups. The Working Groups will strive at establishing contacts and exchange with other initiatives and organizations active within these fields.

“We will only be able to exploit the great opportunities provided by our economic potential here in the North if the social climate is also right.” This was one of the main messages of Franz Thönnes, member of the Bundestag and member of the BSPC Standing Committee in his address to the 17 th BSSSC Annual Conference in Ringsted on 14 October . “This is why I am so pleased that the European Commission has accorded the social dimension a central role in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. This is precisely the time to gear ourselves up for the time after the crisis. In the coming months, therefore, we need to chart the course for the future. In economically hard times, all other needs unfortunately tend to take second place to the goals of encouraging investment and creating jobs. By this I mean environmental and climate protection and the protection of workers’ rights”, he stated. “On average, we have a good level of prosperity in the Baltic Sea Region. Yet at the same time we have here some of the poorest and some of the richest regions of Europe. The European Cohesion Policy remains one of the main cornerstones of European regional policy. The EU Baltic Sea Strategy can make an important contribution in this respect. To ensure that political resolutions are turned into deeds, we should exploit the momentum generated by the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. But we also need serious efforts on the part of all the Baltic Sea States”, Mr Thönnes concluded. The Baltic Sea States Subregional Cooperation (BSSSC) is a political network for decentralized authorities (subregional) in the Baltic Sea Region. The BSSSC was founded in Stavanger, Norway, in 1993. Its members are regional authorities (the level just below the national level authorities) of the 10 Baltic littoral states.

Nyborg 1 September: Christina Gestrin was re-elected as President of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) at the annual conference on Tuesday.