16 BSPC Resolution ENG

Conference ResolutionAdopted by the 16th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC)The participants*, elected representatives from the Baltic Sea States and EuropeanParliament, assembling in Berlin, Germany, 27 – 28 August 2007,Discussing Co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region, Energy Issues, Labour Market andSocial Welfare, Integrated Maritime Policy and Eutrophication,Call on the governments in the Baltic Sea Region, the CBSS and the EU,Regarding Co-operation in the Region, to1. continue and to intensify the exchange of information at all levels,2. make joint efforts to develop the Baltic Sea Region into a European model regionwith special regard to energy issues, integrated maritime policy, labour market and socialwelfare,3. strengthen the role of interparliamentary and intergovernmental cooperation inthe Baltic Sea Region, and promote the further development of civil society in the region,including strengthening of NGO ́s and supporting the continued activities of the NGOForum,4. urge intergovernmental organizations in the Northern Dimension Policy area tointensify cooperation and coordination in order to reach an efficient division of labour andavoid duplication among them, and to support the development of the Baltic SeaStrategy,Regarding Energy Issues and Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Region, to5. conduct in the medium-term research on energy and environment issues in a jointmanner throughout the Baltic Sea states, take concrete steps to strengthen thecooperation on energy issues in the Baltic Sea Region, including efficiency, supply,security and renewable energy sources, while also taking into account measures whichare connected with climate change,6. significantly enhance citizens ́ participation in the Baltic Sea Region regardingenergy and environmental issues and to explore new ways for such active participation,to understand natural energy resources as a public responsibility, and to develop theBaltic Sea region into a model region for renewable energy sources in Europe,1 (3)7. take measures to ensure that information regarding possible economic,environmental and social consequences of infrastructural projects in and on the BalticSea will be shared among the riparian states through relevant institutions and also toensure that thorough environmental impact assessments are conducted for allinfrastructural projects (e.g. the North European Gas Pipeline and the Baltic GasInterconnector) in accordance with international obligations, and take into accountthe energy supply security requirements of the whole Baltic Sea Region,Regarding the Labour Market and Social Welfare in the Baltic Sea Region, to8. remove obstacles for mobility in the labour market, and to provide for decentworking conditions in every country,9. against the background of growing numbers of cross-border workers, put the topicof "cross-border labour markets" on the agenda of the Council of the Baltic Sea Statesand support policies which lead in the region to the establishment of information centresat heavily used border crossings to promote mobility for workers and advise workers onsocial-security issues. The aim of such centres would be to provide comprehensiveinformation to workers on fiscal and social security law matters. Information about joband training opportunities in neighbouring countries in the region must also be improved,10. foster inclusive labour markets integrating disadvantaged groups as well as youngpeople in order to integrate them into work and society and to make use of theirpotential,11. promote Corporate Social Responsibililty in enterprises in the Baltic Sea statesreferring to the ILO and OECD standards and not to tolerate double standards ofmultinational companies,Regarding an Integrated Maritime Policy, to12. take concrete steps to develop the Baltic Sea Region into Europe’s model maritimeregion, i.e. into the cleanest and safest sea of Europe, by recommending that all BalticSea States ratify the existing international conventions on marine environmentalprotection, e.g. the Anti Fouling Convention, the Ballast Water Convention and the HNS-and Bunkers Conventions, as well as continue to develop the including the developmentof “Clean Ship” and “Clean Port” projects,13. develop ideas on how the Baltic Sea Region could become a pilot regiondemonstrating that a competitive maritime industry is compatible with effectiveprotection of marine ecosystems,14. strengthen measures against illegal (IUU) fishing in the Baltic Sea Region,according to internationally recognized rules,15. take concrete and effective steps – considering the rapidly increasing amount ofoil transports in the Baltic Sea – to ensure a high level of maritime safety and security,for instance by- Improving the Baltic Sea coastguard practices by coordination and cooperation- promoting innovative navigation technologies, such as the satellite navigationsystem GALILEO, in combination with GMES (the Global Monitoring System forEnvironment and Security),- introducing the use of pilots in navigationally difficult sea routes, defined byinternationally acknowledged rules and standards,- promoting safe operation of ships in severe and icy winter conditions,2 (3)- applying the principles used in air traffic control to monitor and managemaritime traffic in the entire Baltic Sea,Regarding the serious situation of eutrophication and other kinds of pollution,to16. support the final development of a highly ambitious HELCOM Baltic Sea ActionPlan, to be adopted in fall 2007 in Krakow, and to implement all decided measuresproperly,17. adopt the Policy Recommendations of the BSPC Working Group on Eutrophication,to implement all proposed measures contained therein, and to present a progress reportat the 17th BSPC in Visby 2008.Furthermore the Conference18. acknowledges the positive process of dialogue and information exchange withCBSS, looks forward to a further and mutual development of this dialogue, andencourages the governments of the CBSS to present, through the CBSS, an annualreport of their implementation of the BSPC Resolutions,19. calls upon the governments in the CBSS countries to engage in a close dialoguewith parliamentarians in all the member countries in promoting the reform process of theCBSS, and furthermore, urges the CBSS presidency to present the overall considerationsconcerning a new structure to the BSPC Standing Committee for its perusal andcomments prior to the Government ́s decisions on the matter;20. recognizes its responsibility for initiating and deepening dialogue and coordinationbetween regional organizations in the Baltic Sea Region and in Northern Europe as awhole,21. asks the Standing Committee to establish a working group on Energy and ClimateChange, to submit a report to the 17th BSPC,22. asks the Standing Committee to establish a working group on Labour Market andSocial Affairs, to submit a report to the 17th BSPC, within a dialogue and in cooperationwith the social partners,23. adopts the amended Rules of Procedure, to take effect after the closure of 16thBSPC,24. decides to address the issues of energy and climate change at the 17th BSPC inVisby 2008,25. welcomes with gratitude the kind invitation of the Swedish Riksdag to hold the17th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference on 1 – 2 September 2008 in Visby.*Parliaments of Free Hanse City of Bremen, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Federal Republic of Germany,Greenland, Free Hanse City of Hamburg, Iceland, Kaliningrad Region, Republic of Karelia, Latvia, LeningradRegion, Lithuania, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Murmansk Region, Norway, Poland, Pskov, Federal Assembly ofthe Russian Federation, City of St. Petersburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Sweden, Åland, Baltic Assembly,Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, European Parliament, Nordic Council, Parliamentary Assemblyof North-West Russia3 (3)