Speech Lesko

DRAFT31 August 2009Swedish Presidencyof the European UnionCHECK AGAINST DELIVERYMikael LeskoTelephone +45 33 36 03 70E-mail mikael.lesko@foreign.ministry.seThe EU Baltic Sea Strategy and the Northern Dimension• Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address this audience asa representative of the Swedish EU-Presidency. I will refer both tothe Northern Dimension Policy and to a policy currently in themaking, namely the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea region.• Let me begin by updating you regarding the process that we hopewill lead to the adoption by the European Council of an EUStrategy for the Baltic Sea region.• As you may be aware, the Commission has recently presented itsproposal in response to a request by the European Council on 14December 2007.• We believe that the adoption of such a strategy is an importantcontribution to the further development of EU policies. The decisionon a Baltic Sea Strategy is an important step towards closer anddeeper cooperation among EU Member States, beginning in our ownneighbourhood. The adoption of the strategy is thus of a highpriority for the Swedish Presidency.• What we are now seeing is really a result of determined efforts andgood cooperation between the three EU institutions- the EuropeanParliament, the European Commission and the Council. The threepolitical institutions in the EU have all – in different ways –contributed to the path that has led us this far.• The Commission realised at an early stage the potential involved indeveloping and deepening EU cooperation in the Baltic Sea region.We are very happy about that.2• Furthermore, the timing could not have been better. It is now fiveyears since the enlargement of the EU made the Baltic Sea almostinto an EU internal sea, adding to the responsibility of the EuropeanUnion to the careful management and protection of this sensitivebody of water.• With climate change and environmental concerns of the top of theglobal agenda, we now have a great opportunity to demonstrate thestrength of our patterns of cooperation within the region and to try tocontribute in finding ways forward in order to address outstandingissues of common concern. We do this knowing that there is a strongcommitment around the Baltic Sea to protect the proud maritimeheritage and the quality of life that proximity to the sea entails.• Consider also the broader historical context. Think of the fact thatrepresentatives of several governments tomorrow will be gatheringto commemorate the dramatic circumstances of WWII. Now, manyyears later and 20 years after having left behind the yoke of the coldwar, past events remind us of the need for and benefits of increasedand focused cooperation within our region, in order to overcomeremaining barriers and, not the least in these circumstances, release amuch needed potential of economic growth.• There still is, indeed, a strong need for a continued commitmentaiming at fully integrating regions with each other within the EU.This is clearly the case in our part of the world, and is something theCommission has clearly pointed out in its Communication on the EUStrategy for the Baltic Sea Region.• We need to work together, and we have previous experience indoing so. During the course of events, the Commission has workedwith exemplary openness in order to gain from the previous workand experiences of partners and regional stakeholders in the region.• An interesting feature of this new strategy is that different MemberStates will take responsibility for the (15) different priority areas,and also be responsible for coordinating various “flagship projects”,with deadlines attached.• Regional organizations can also take the lead. For example, theNordic countries have a long and broad history of cross-bordercooperation and have now seized the opportunity to contribute to theprocess of developing the Baltic sea region further. I find this type of3governance really smart. I am convinced that it will make adifference, because we really put pressure on ourselves.• These efforts to gain support will have clearly increasedunderstanding and knowledge of the Baltic Sea region, both withinthe Commission and externally.• We hope that other members of the EU consider the EU Strategy forthe Baltic Sea region as an inspiration and an example of increasedintegration and consolidation of the European Union as well as aneffective tool to address certain challenges facing any region withinEurope, to the benefit of the EU as a whole. That is why we haveinvited all Member states to Stockholm on 17-18 September to aMinisterial conference on this very topic.• The ambition of the Swedish presidency is to be able to gathersupport within the EU and in the region for the adoption of thestrategy as a whole, thus laying out the foundation for an effectiveimplementation of the proposals made by the Commission.• The condition of the Baltic Sea is not the only challenge we musttackle in our region. As I already mentioned, the economic andfinancial crisis has made the question of how we increase growthand safeguard jobs and welfare a burning issue.• How can we make the Baltic Sea region a strong motor for growth,for the sake of welfare and jobs? Many of our countries are smalland dependent on exports. There are still differences betweencountries in terms of development and economic situation. Theeconomic crisis has hit several countries particularly hard.• We believe that the way forward also in this case goes through thepath of increased cooperation with the countries in our region.Closing our markets can never be the solution; it merely risksmaking an already serious situation worse. More than 100 millionpeople live and work in the Baltic Sea region. We all stand to gain ifwe manage to “think more macro”, and not to think so much alongnational borders. Rather pool resources and be complementary toeach other.• What is important now is to integrate the region better so as tostrengthen the competitiveness of the whole region. As I said, we allstand to gain from this. Not because we will be able to suddenlysolve all the problems in the region – such as dead sea-beds,4eutrophication and the economic downturn – with an EU Baltic SeaStrategy. We should be humble in the face of the challenges ahead.• But we are convinced that we have so much to gain by deepeningcooperation in the Baltic Sea region- not just a cleaner and moreattractive environment, but a much more dynamic development,economically – that we should most certainly give it a try. Theregion has the potential to become an even more attractive place towork and live in.• The Baltic Sea strategy is an EU-internal strategy- although wehope to engage partner countries in the region to cooperate onprojects of common interest. No new secretariat will be set up. TheEuropean Commission will have an important role to play, inkeeping on overview, monitoring progress and suggesting updates tothe Strategy’s action plan. But one must not forget that this strategybuilds on political will- will to do something more than theminimum.• Let me now turn to the Northern Dimension, which is a wellestablished framework for cooperation in our region as a whole. TheNorthern Dimension is thus, is since 1 January 2007 a commonpolicy for the EU, Iceland, Norway and Russia. The ND is anintegral part of the thinking within the union in addressing issuesconcerning our region.• Within the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (NDEP),significant results have been achieved in reducing the amount ofpollution into the Baltic Sea. The implementation of majorinvestments with cross-border environmental effects has beenparticularly successful in St. Petersburg. Major reductions in theinflow of phosphorus, nitrogen and organic material into the FinnishBay have been noted.• However, several challenges remain. The severe environmentalproblems in Kaliningrad have not yet been adequately addressed.Increased efforts need to be made, in this regard.• As members of the EU, we have and must continue having a strongcommitment to developing our own policies and enhancecooperation within the union. But, as the Commission rightly signalsin the Communication, many of the challenges can only be met in aconstructive cooperation with the external partners of the Union.5• Both efforts, the one within the union and the one with ourneighbours and partners are therefore complementary and go hand inhand. It is our responsibility as EU-Presidency to take bothprocesses forward. We are therefore eager to conclude the processleading to the adoption of the Baltic Sea Strategy and equally keento continue developing our partnership in the region as we have donethrough the NDEP. We are also happy to see that progress is beingmade in the preparations for a Northern Dimension Partnership onTransport and Logistics, NDPTL and a Northern DimensionPartnership on Culture, NDPC.• My conclusion is that we have a need for both components. TheNorthern Dimension contributes to further enhance the positiveeffects of these endeavours by engaging in partnership with thecountries neighbouring the EU in this part of the world.• Thank you for your attention.