4 BSPC Resolution

R 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 Aland, Bremen, Denmark, Estonia, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Hamburg, Iceland, Karelia,Latvia, Lithuania, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Norway, Poland, the Russian Federation, Schleswig-Holstein, Sweden, as well as of the Baltic Assembly, the Nordic Council, and the European Parliament, met in Rønne on 12-13 September 1995, 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 continued positive political developments, manifested e.g. through democraticelectoral processes in the new and restored democracies in the Baltic Sea Area contributing to stability and security in the region,a number of national and international initiatives to speed up economic development in the region,the conclusion of Europe agreements and the Stability Pact, as well as the importance ofa number of international treaties and conventions regarding sustainable economic growth and development in the region,the contribution of the CBSS Commissioner on Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities,various co-operation schemes launched by regional, local, and private organizations,the intertwining of economic, social, cultural, environmental, and political problems and challenges in the region,taking into accountthe importance of an irreversible democratic evolution and the need for a peaceful and stable political culture,the inviolability of internationally recognized state borders and the safeguarding of human rights and equal treatment of minorities,the permanent and urgent need for close monitoring and resolute co-operative efforts to solve the salient environmental challenges of the area,the importance of intensified co-operation with and among the sub-regions around the Baltic Sea as a basis for a growing regional identity, the development of local democracy and self-government, and sustainable economic growth,the initiatives of the Council of the Baltic Sea States to coordinate regional policies, and to define priorities in the Baltic Sea Area,the European Union's orientation for an approach towards the Baltic Sea Region,have agreed toexert national political will and power to further regional economic co-operation,give full national support to co-operation programmes in the field of environmental protection and sustainable economic growth and development,encourage regional, local, and private co-operation schemes conducive to the further democratic and socio-economic development in the area,support the free flow and exchange of information on social and environmental issues,support by every feasible means the fight against organized crime, and in particular to facilitate the co-operation between national administrations and police authorities to counter the threat of trans-boundary criminal activities,help fighting chauvinism, racism, and xenophobia on all political levels,facilitate the free exchange of goods, services, and capital amongst the countries as a means for a balanced and equal economic development in the countries,stage regularly Parliamentary Conferences for the Baltic Sea Area, and seminars and colloquia on functional or sub-regional levels,examine the feasibility of setting up permanent delegations and committees for the parliamentary co-operation in the Baltic Sea Area,strive to further improve constructive dialogue between the Parliamentary Conferences and the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS),call on the Governments of the participating countries tomanifest political willingness to stimulate regional, sub-regional, and local co-operation within the Baltic Sea Area,refrain from the use or threat of force in their relations,safeguard a stable and secure political, economic, legal, social, and ecological development in the region, and make sure that in this process sound and equal minority rights are guaranteed,improve the conditions for mutual and free exchange of cultural, educational, and scientific discussions and co-operation projects,support activities and cooperation of national NGO ́s in the region,consider the possibility of setting up a Baltic Area center for post graduate studies inhumanities, ecology, economics, and social sciences,make sure that the national development plans are conducive to sustainable economic growth and development schemes,publish national eco-auditing reports annually,take effective measures to reduce the danger of breakdowns of nuclear power plants and nuclear powered vessels and of the hazards of nuclear waste deposits,take effective measures to reduce the emissions and discharges of hazardous wast in the Baltic Sea Area with the target to secure the cessation of such discharges and emissions within one generation (25 years),show solidarity in the energy field in the short term by facilitating the establishment of a functional natural gas grid for the entire region, and in the long term by supporting the commercial use of renewable energy resources,establish close and operative common action programmes for the fight against organized crime,encourage the European Union to fulfill its proclaimed orientation for a comprehensive and active policy in the Baltic Sea Area,prepare step by step a full-fledged free trade area in the region, including all finished and semi-finished goods, raw materials, energy, and foodstuffs, and facilitate business co-operation by ensuring transparency in business laws,step up the efforts to improve the transportation infrastructure in the region both with regard to air, sea, and land traffic, as well as electronic and other wireless communication networks,study possibilities for intergovernmental co-operation on confidence building and security enhancing measures,decided toapproach the CBSS on the issue of how the political dialogue between the CBSS and the Parliamentary Conferences can be most constructively developed,ask the CBSS to present a plan for making the Baltic Sea Area into a dynamic center for political and sustainable economic growth, contributing to an improved security situation in the region,ask the interparliamentary working group preparing this 4th Conference to continue its work as a committee for the parliamentary co-operation, and to serve as a link to the CBSS,request this working group to draft a regional action programme for the Baltic Sea Area,in close co-operation with other regional organizations, and with due regard to global European programs, and in this field point out the needs for co-operation with the Council of Europe and the OSCE,ask the interparliamentary working group to work out a proposal for a permanent secretariat to the Parliamentary Conference to be discussed at the 5th Parliamentary Conference,suggest that the CBSS should consider establishing a permanent secretariat for the same purpose,ensure the continuous and smooth functioning of the annual parliamentary conferences by allocating economic and personell resources for this task,accept with gratitude the invitation of the Latvian Parliament to hold the 5th Parliamentary Conference on Co-operation in the Baltic Sea Area in Riga 10-11 September 1996.