6 BSPC Resolution

Final versionR E S O L U T I O NActing on the mandate for Parliamentary Conferences on Co-operation in the Baltic Sea Area, Members of the Parliaments of Åland, Bremen, Denmark, Estonia, the Federal Republic of Germany, Finland, Hamburg, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Norway, Poland, the Russian Federation, Schleswig-Holstein, Sweden, as well as of the Baltic Assembly, the Nordic Council, European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, met in Gdansk on 15-16 September 1997, to continue to develop the existing co-operation between representative institutions of the Baltic Sea Area, and to discuss major regional issues.The Participants of the Conferencenotingthe constructive process after the Visby Summit in May 1996, the Kalmar meeting in July 1996 and the Riga meeting in July 1997, especiallythe measures introduced by the Council of Baltic Sea States to implement the Action Programs of Kalmar,a number of further positive developments and practical cooperative activities contributing to stability and security in the Baltic Sea Area, such as the encouraging development of the sub-regional co-operation in the framework of BSSSC, UBC and the network of the trade union organisations,the considerable achievements in warranting and safeguarding minority rights, thereby contributing to the consolidation of democratic societies, strengthening confidence and security and political stability in the region,the work of the Task-Force on organised crime, established by the Heads of Government at The Visby Summit, the results achieved so far in the four main areas of the Task Force on organised crime: improved exchange of information, joint operative measures, judicial co-operation, training and seminars,the full support of the CBSS, declared at the Riga meeting, for the results achieved on the occasion of the Baltic Sea Region Border Control Conference held in May 1997 (Helsinki),the existence of different bilateral and multilateral agreements on co-operation between the police, immigration, customs and border guard authorities which are of special importance for the implementation of the Schengen convention,the two multilateral treaties on extradition in the Baltic sea Area as there are the European Convention on Extradition, applicable in most of the Baltic Sea States and the Nordic Treaty on extradition, which applies between the Scandinavian Statesthe need for further high priority to be given to co-operation in the field of civic security,the outcome of the IGC in Amsterdam 1997 and the NATO Summit in Madrid 1997,the constructive contributions by the European Commission to the further development of the Baltic Sea Area and in particular the importance of the expedient implementation of the Commission ́s EU enlargement strategy,the natural disaster in Poland and Germany which has been caused by the unprecedented flood, and the aid extended by many countries to the victims of the disaster,taking into accountthe substantial changes of political and economic systems in Europe since 1989,democracy, welfare and sovereignty, being essential conditions for stability and security in the Baltic Sea Area,the crime rate in the Baltic Sea States which remains a source of serious concern in the region,the problem of organised crime which knows no international borders and globalisation providing new opportunities for illegal transactions,the importance of intensified co-operation with and among the sub-regions, local authorities and NGO's around the Baltic Sea as a basis for a growing identity and the development of local democracy and government,the conclusion of the recent NATO - Russia agreement which strengthens international stability and security,the evolution of the OSCE being the organisation with a broad competence as to questions of security and providing a multilateral forum for dialogue and negotiation,the urgent need to restore the ecological balance of the Baltic Sea Region,have agreed tocall on parliamentarians to urge their governments to develop the co-operative structures in the region in order to contribute to promoting security, stability and prosperity of the region,request the CBSS to strengthen its efforts to secure the co-operation in the region,use all possible and adequate means for the fight of organised crime as for example joint coastguard centres, international investigation groups, co-ordinated actions of police, border patrol and custom officers, on-line information and communication systems as well as joint training and education of security servants,call on the Governments of the participating countries toguarantee political support for national, regional, sub-regional, and local co-operation within the Baltic Sea Region,safeguard a stable and secure political, legal, economic and social development in the region, and make sure that in this process sound and equitable minority rights are guaranteed,give high priority to the fight against organised crime and corruption, and to combat money laundering, drug trafficking, trafficking in women and sextourism involving children,undertake concerted efforts to curb illegal movements of people while ensuring individual needs of international legal protection,conclude - as far as it has not yet been done - multilateral treaties on extradition, involving all Baltic Sea States without exception,harmonise with regard to the implementation of extradition conventions the internal procedures and legislation of different Baltic Sea States,consider agreements and to take more effective measures on national and international regulations to prevent profits and monetary transactions from organised crime,continue efforts to guarantee equal rights for minorities, to actively create favourable conditions for their integration into society, and to underline the importance of the protection of minority rights for good neighbourly relations and stability in the region,continue to support the work of the OSCE, especially the idea of a common and broad security system for the 21st century,establish among all Baltic Sea States a partnership full of confidence, whilst avoiding all sorts of political conflicts,react - due to the recent flood disaster and its dramatic consequenses in Poland and Germany - flexibly and generously as far as assistance is concerned,support undertakings for broad popular information about co-operation and development in the Baltic Sea Region in all languages of the Baltic Sea States,support the development of networks of contact and co-operation of local environmental action groups such as Agenda 21,call on the European Unionto continue its efforts for developing a comprehensive European strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and to fullfil the commitments in its Baltic Sea Region Initiative of 1996,to support as far as possible and feasible the candidate countries of the Baltic Sea Area in their efforts to qualify for EU-membership,to make use, whenever possible, of the expertise of the sub-regional and local level for the implementation of the enlargement strategy,to streamline its instruments and organisation with the aim of ensuring transparency of its structures and regulations in order to facilitate the response of the Baltic Sea Region to its policies and programmes.have decided toinvite the CBSS to continue to promote the implementation of its annual action programmes in the Baltic Sea Region, and to present by the end of June each year a written report on its activities to the participating parliaments and to discuss it with the members of the Parliamentary Conferences at their annual meetings,let the interparliamentary Standing Committee preparing this 6th Conference continue its work as a Standing Committee for the parliamentary co-operation, and serve as a link to the CBSS,ensure the continuous and smooth functioning of the annual parliamentary conferences by allocating adequate economic and personnel resources for this task,express appreciation to the Polish Parliament and the City of Gda_sk for organizing the 6th Parliamentary Conference,accept with gratitude the invitation of the Parliament of Schleswig-Holstein to hold the 7th Parliamentary Conference on Co-operation in the Baltic Sea Area on 7 - 8 September 1998 in Kiel-----------------------Fejl! 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