Intervention by Christina Gestrin at the CBSS 15th Ministerial Meeting 4 June 2009

[pic]Intervention by Ms Christina Gestrin, MP, Chair of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC), at the 15th Ministerial Session of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, Helsingør, 4 June 2009Chairman of the CBSS,Ministers,Ladies and Gentlemen,On behalf of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, I would first of all like to express our gratitude to you for inviting us to the 15th Ministerial Session of the CBSS. It is a testimony to the close, continuous and mutually beneficial contacts between CBSS and BSPC, both on political and staff level. We have, for instance, taken steps to synchronize our priorities with those of the CBSS. Obviously, I was very glad to hear Norwegian Foreign Minister Støre’s comment today on the need for enhancing contacts between the governmental and parliamentarian sides of Baltic Sea Region cooperation.The key for tackling the environmental, economic and social challenges of the Baltic Sea Region is cooperation, both horizontally and vertically. A more structured dialogue between actors would most likely strengthen both our individual and combined impact.Right now, we are in the fortunate situation of having two consolidated plans for the Baltic Sea Region: The HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP), and the upcoming EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. But, frankly speaking, a plan is worth nothing unless it is accompanied by action. So we hope that the political commitments to these plans are transformed into practical deeds.The Baltic Sea is in a dire ecological situation, due to eutrophication and other environmental strains. The Baltic Sea Action Plan is the central tool for restoring a good environmental status of the Baltic Sea by 2021. Governments should fulfil their pledges to implement the plan according to its agreed timetable. The HELCOM ministerial meeting in Moscow in May 2010 will be a crucial event, since it is then that the HELCOM states shall present their national plans for the implementation of BSAP.The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, to be presented next week, will be an important instrument for setting priorities, designing programmes and channelling resources to the Baltic Sea region. However, the Strategy must be aligned with the new Northern Dimension.The CBSS has, in our opinion, a leading role in initiating and coordinating actions against the challenges of the Baltic Sea Region. We remain fully supportive of the reform process towards a more focussed and target-oriented CBSS, and we look forward to cooperating with CBSS in its new incarnation.Mr Chairman! Coordinated and sustained efforts are needed to meet the challenges of the Baltic Sea Region, even in times of economic distress. May I conclude with a plea that the current economic downturn is not used as an excuse for lowering environmental goals, reducing environmental resources or delaying timetables for environmental plans and projects.The next Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference - the 18th since 1991 - will be convened in Nyborg, Denmark, on 31 August - 1 September this year. The overriding theme of the Conference is New Security Challenges in the Baltic Sea Region. As always, CBSS is invited to the Conference, and we look very much forward to meeting you there.Thank you for your attention.