Report to the 20th BSPC by Christina Gestrin

29 August 2011 FinalReport by Christina Gestrin, Chairman ofthe Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference,to the 20th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference,Helsinki, 28-30 August 2011Honoured guests,Dear colleagues,It gives me great pleasure to join you here at the 20th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference. It is twenty years since the first BSPC was held here in Helsinki. Since then, there have been quite remarkable developments in the region. The biggest and most promising change is that a region previously full of potential conflicts and divided by rigid barriers has now evolved into a region of peace, democracy and co-operation.Democracy can, however, not be taken for granted. It must be nurtured and safeguarded. The abominable terrorist acts in Oslo 22 July were an attempt to demolish the very foundations of democracy, to curtail freedom, and to strangle openness. The admirable and steadfast response to the attack by the Norwegian people confirms that such threats to society are best prevented and managed by strengthening democracy, widening openness and deepening the participation in society’s development.Chairperson,At the same time as globalisation has made huge strides, the countries in the region have also moved ever closer together over the last two decades. Political co-operation has become closer and more focused in a whole range of spheres. The economy has improved, trade has increased and there has been a rise in the number of joint initiatives in research and development, etc. This represents positive progress towards a more coherent region in terms of trade and social geography. However, this is not a process that just happens of its own accord, nor is the path ahead either straight or free of obstacles.Many serious environmental problems persist in the Baltic Sea Region. Eutrophication is, unfortunately, a concern that we have still not fully managed, and so remains a real risk of a total collapse of the Baltic Sea's eco-system.The best tool we have is the HELCOM’s Baltic Sea Action Plan for achieving good ecological status of the Baltic Sea by 2021. HELCOM has recorded a certain drop in emissions, which is positive. But if governments do not speed up the development of tangible projects and funding plans, there is a risk that we will not keep to the timetable. This would be a major setback not only for the environment, but also for the 90 million people who live in the Baltic Sea region.Waste-water treatment in Russia and Poland has been extended in the last decade. Progress has been particularly rapid in St Petersburg and it is also positive that Kaliningrad is now finally getting a modern, waste treatment plant. But there are still many towns on the Russian coast that have inefficient waste treatment facilities and dilapidated sewers. As a result, it is vital that the positive activity in Russia in recent years continues to enjoy strong political support.The volume of oil transported on the Baltic Sea has increased markedly, which increases the risk of collision and oil spills. It is important that the countries invest in developing a joint system for monitoring and managing marine traffic as well as in contingencies for spills. Regarding the environmental effect of cruise shipping, I would also like to remind you that the Baltic Sea countries need to quickly improve their port reception facilities for sewage, so that the IMO's total ban on dumping sewage at sea in the Baltic can come into force by 2015.The ongoing disaster at the Fukushima plant in Japan is a stark reminder of the risk inherent in nuclear power. There are many nuclear reactors around the Baltic, and the radioactive emissions from any accident would not respect national borders. The governments must therefore take responsibility for applying extremely strict conditions to radiation safety, for both active and decommissioned reactors. However, it is also important that we make the most of the opportunities to develop renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and green technologies.Unfortunately, significant variations remain in economic sustainability and social welfare between different parts of the region. But there is also huge potential for creating collective growth and prosperity through joint endeavours for business co-operation, infrastructure, research and development, and by strengthening the joint labour market. Greater mobility in the region requires jointly agreed and fair rules for the workforce as well as for companies.A major stain on the region is organised crime, especially the repugnant human trafficking in human beings. Governments and official bodies must make vigorous efforts to ensure that the police, public prosecutors, social services and relief organisations have sufficient and necessary resources to combat the profiteers and take care of the victims.It is important that the plans and programmes already in place to deal with the challenges faced in the Baltic Sea Region can be transformed into practical action. BSPC has forged close contacts with several active players around the Baltic. HELCOM is playing a key role. The Northern Dimension partnerships in various sectors – environment, health, logistics and culture – are important tools for developing tangible strategies and measures. The Baltic Sea Labour Network project has taken important initiatives in relation to labour mobility, competition conditions for companies and labour-market regulations. The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is a tool that supports flexible development in the region and boosts its international competitiveness. For the strategy to continue to develop, all relevant parties in the region, whether they are part of the EU or not, need to be able to participate in the work on an equal footing. We support all of these initiatives and call upon the governments to guarantee sufficient long-term resources for their activities.Chairperson,We now have several channels and various forms of communication and co-operation with our sister organisation, the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS). We were invited to the CBSS' 16th ministerial meeting in Oslo this summer, where we had the chance to put forward our views on co-operation in the Baltic Sea region. We noted with pleasure Foreign Minister Støre's statement that co-operation between the Baltic governments needs active support from the region's parliamentarians – and, naturally, we offer this support. We will continue to seek to co-ordinate our priorities with the CBSS and participate in each others' meetings.We have actively taken part in the EU's Forum on the Strategy for the Baltic Sea region; in the second parliamentary conference on the Northern Dimension; in a roundtable discussion about nuclear power in Murmansk‚ and in the European Maritime Day. These are just a few examples, but they show that we have something to contribute and that we receive valuable input from other players in the region.In particular, I would like to mention the joint meeting in Gdansk in May between the maritime working parties of the CBSS, BSSSC and BSPC. In terms of information exchange and closer co-ordination between stakeholders in the Baltic Sea region, this meeting can be seen as a model worth following for other organisations.The BSPC's temporary working groups have proven to be really important and productive instruments in our work. They have drafted sharp, tangible political recommendations and standpoints that we can use in our political work at home. A proposal has been submitted to set up a new working group now that the two current ones are reporting back to this conference with their final recommendations. I would like to thank them and their chairs for doing their work so well.Chairperson,As the outgoing chair of the BSPC, I would like to conclude by putting forward three points of view and wishes: I would like the governments to give strong support to HELCOM's Baltic Sea Action Plan and its implementation. Harsher economic times should not be allowed to serve as an excuse to stop or postpone the process. HELCOM's action plan is the Baltic Sea's rescue plan.I would like the Baltic Sea region to develop into a model for the rest of the world in relation to investment in renewable energy and energy-efficient solutions that can eventually replace conventional forms of energy – nuclear power and fossil fuels. There is huge potential to maintain and improve knowledge resources and develop smart and sustainable energy solutions in the Baltic Sea region. At the same time, we can create many new jobs and improve the region's competitiveness. This is the very core of the concept of green growth.I would like us to continue to protect and promote democracy, tolerance and a sense of security in the Baltic Sea region. Our people need to feel secure, and criminality of all types needs to be combated. Civic society has a major role to play. We parliamentarians must continue to work for social and gender equality so that everybody is respected regardless of gender, nationality, language and cultural origin.I am essentially an optimist, but the realist in me says that we should never take anything for granted. To make my wishes come true will require strong will, targeted interventions, patience and persistence. There are many positive forces in the region pulling in the right direction, including individuals, NGOs, organisations and official bodies. We need to maintain that diversity. Within the BSPC there is a positive and proactive, creative spirit. We have clear targets for our work, which will continue far into the future.Thank you for your attention.