Conference Report

BSPC Secretariat/25 May 2014Annual ReportBaltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) 2013The 22nd Baltic Sea Parliamentary ConferenceThe 22nd Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (22nd BSPC) was held in Pärnu, 25-27 August 2013. The conference was attended by over 200 politicians, officials, experts and other guests. The general title for the 22nd BSPC was “Sustainable Innovation for a Competitive Economy in the Region”. The conference considered four main themes: Cross-border Co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region; Economic Growth, Innovation and Competitiveness in the Baltic Sea Region; Green Growth and Energy Efficiency; and Creativity in the Baltic Sea Region. The Chair of the BSPC Working Group on Green Growth and Energy Efficiency, Cecilie Tenfjord-Toftby, presented the final report of the working group. The BSPC Rapporteurs on Trafficking in Human Beings (Johan Linander) and Integrated Maritime Policy (Roger Jansson) gave status reports on their work.In spring 2013, the BSPC Standing Committee had formulated a draft version of the conference Resolution. After consideration in the Drafting Committee (which comprises of the Standing Committee), the Resolution was adopted by consensus. The Resolution contains a number of policy recommendations within the main themes of the conference. These recommendations are directed towards the governments in the Baltic Sea region, the CBSS and the EU.In the Resolution, it is emphasised for example that an interaction between the legislative and the executive bodies in the Baltic Sea Region can help to promote the implementation of projects and measures to strengthen the social and economic development in the region, and promote environmental concern and sustainable development. It is underlined that measures must be taken to facilitate mobility throughout the region, such as removing administrative and physical obstacles like customs procedures and visa restrictions. The activities of democratic NGOs must be promoted and supported. Vigorous and rapid measures must be taken to reduce eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, particularly through further sewage treatment measures. The governments must live up to their undertakings to implement the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (HELCOM BSAP). The Resolution underlines the importance of the Baltic Sea Secretariat for youth issues, and encourages the governments to give it continued support. The Resolution also expresses more specific and targeted recommendations on matters such as growth and innovation, green growth and energy efficiency, and trafficking in human beings. The 22nd BSPC also decided to set up a working group on Innovation in Social and Health Care. The Resolution may be retrieved from http://www.bspc.net/file/show/696The conference elected Ryszard Gorecki, Poland, as Chair of the BSPC 2013-2014. Sylvia Bretschneider, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, was elected Vice Chair 2013-2014.Documentation from the 22nd BSPC is available at http://www.bspc.net/page/show/650BSPC Standing CommitteeThe BSPC Standing Committee held the first meeting of the year in Brussels on 31 January 2013. Participants in the meeting were 16 parliamentarians, over 20 officials, and a number of guests from the EU Commission and CBSS, who gave presentations and status reports on matters such as the work of the CBSS, the EU Baltic Sea Strategy, the Northern Dimension, and the EU Integrated Maritime Policy. In the subsequent discussions in the Committee, topics included follow-up initiatives concerning the Resolution from the 21st BSPC in 2012, the BSPC working programme for 2013, the structure and programme for the 22nd BSPC in Pärnu 2013, and BSPC budget and financing issues. The financial report for 2012 was approved, as was the budget proposal for 2013.The Standing Committee’s second meeting was held in Tartu on 27 May. The meeting was attended by 10 parliamentarians, around 15 officials, and a number of experts. The meeting began with excursions to the University of Tartu, Tartu Science Centre, and the Estonian Genome Centre. Matters considered at the meeting included the follow-up of the 21st Resolution, the structure of the 22nd conference in Pärnu, draft of the 22nd conference Resolution, and extended opportunities to use funds from the BSPC Reserve Fund for grants for participation in activities relevant to the work of the BSPC.The BSPC Standing Committee held its third meeting on 25 August, the day before the opening of the 22nd BSPC. The meeting was mainly devoted to making final adjustments to the practical arrangements, programme and draft Resolution for the 22nd BSPC. The meeting also discussed possible questions and focus for the new working group that was expected to be set up at the 22nd BSPC. The meeting adopted a working programme for 2013-2014. Ryszard Górecki was unanimously elected Chair and Sylvia Bretschneider Vice Chair for BSPC 2013-2014.The Standing Committee served as the Drafting Committee on two occasions in conjunction with the 22nd BSPC.The Standing Committee held its fourth meeting in Warsaw on 8 November, attended by 9 parliamentarians and around 15 officials. The meeting began with expert presentations about the Eastern Partnership and about environmental work in the city of Warsaw. The meeting discussed measures, initiatives and ideas for following up implementation of the political recommendations in the Resolution from the 22nd BSPC. The BSPC Rapporteur on Labour Market and Social Welfare, Franz Thönnes, and the BSPC Observers in HELCOM, Christina Gestrin and Sylvia Bretschneider, gave status reports. The status of the work ahead of the 23rd BSPC in Olsztyn 2014 was discussed. Another discussion point was the possibility and desirability of replacing the term ‘Conference’ in BSPC to a more appropriate term, such as ‘Council’ or ‘Co-operation’. However, no decision was made on this, and the matter was deferred until the next meeting.BSPC Secretariat Meeting (Secretary Level)The BSPC Secretary Level meeting was held three times in 2013 (Berlin, Tallinn and Schwerin). The responsibilities of the BSPC Secretariat include preparing and formulating documentation for, and following up, meetings of the Standing Committee, and administration, financial management, coordination and development of BSPC activities. The Secretariat provides support to and participates in BSPC Working Groups, and also collaborates with and supports the host parliament for the year’s BSPC. A representative of the CBSS Secretariat participates regularly in the BSPC Secretary Level meeting.In 2013, the Secretary Level, in addition to the usual follow-up and preparation of meetings and activities, discussed the possibility of co-ordinating a joint follow-up of the conference Resolution. One of the permanent items on the Secretary Level agenda is the management and follow-up of the common budget for BSPC. The planning, management and reporting procedures of the joint resources have been further developed in 2013. The framework has now been drawn up for a procedure to approve the use of funds from the BSPC Reserve Fund. All BSPC national member parliaments and all regional parliaments paid their contributions to the Joint Financing Mechanism for 2013.BSPC Working Group on Green Growth and Energy EfficiencyThe BSPC Working Group on Green Growth and Energy Efficiency was set up in 2011, with Cecilie Tenfjord-Toftby, Sweden, as Chair. The working group presented its final report at the 22nd BSPC. The report contains analyses and political positions and recommendations in the areas of green growth and energy efficiency. The report can be retrieved from the working group’s home page: http://bspc.net/page/show/520BSPC-CBSSBSPC and CBSS enjoy regular and mutually-beneficial co-operation at all levels and on all matters. The Chair of the CBSS Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) during the Russian presidency of CBSS 2012-2013, Sergey Petrovich, and the CBSS Director-General, Jan Lundin, participated in the BSPC Standing Committee meeting in Brussels on 31 January. They emphasised the relationship between the governmental side and the parliamentary side in the Baltic Sea Region co-operation. CBSS welcomes BSPC Resolutions and the political support that BSPC gives to the work of CBSS. CBSS has also started a number of activities in line with the recommendations in the BSPC Resolutions. There is great potential for further development of the co-operation. The BSPC Chair 2012-2013, Laine Randjärv, was invited to the CBSS 18th meeting of foreign ministers in Pionersky on 6 June. In her speech Randjärv praised the progress CBSS had made during the Russian presidency, and observed that many of CBSS and BSPC priorities coincide. One of these areas is innovation, where continued co-operation can strengthen and promote the international competitiveness of the Baltic Sea Region. Co-operation on sustainable development, strong and interlinked infrastructure, and organised criminality require cross-border measures. Randjärv underlined therefore the importance of removing all obstacles, such as visa restrictions, to free mobility throughout the region for labour and businesses. CBSS was also mentioned in very positive terms in the Resolution from the 22nd BSPC. The secretariats of CBSS and BSPC have continual contact and exchange information.External activitiesBSPC was represented in a number of external activities and meetings in 2013.The BSPC Observers in HELCOM participated in a total of four different HELCOM meetings in 2013, including the HELCOM ministerial meeting in Copenhagen on 3 October. BSPC also participated in, for example, a meeting of the Igman Initiative in Copenhagen on 20 February, in a conference arranged by Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking in Stockholm on 15 March, in Baltic Sea Days in St Petersburg on 20-22 March, in the Nordic Council Theme Session in Stockholm on 14 April, in the XI BSR NGO Forum in St Petersburg on 16-17 April, in the 6th Barents Parliamentary Conference in Harstad on 22-23 April, in the Baltic Assembly Development Conference in Riga on 10 May, in the Nordic-Russian-Baltic Round Table in Syktyvkar on 15-16 May, in the Danube Strategy Parliamentary Conference in Budapest on 23 May, in the 11th SBSPF in Schwerin on 2-4 June, in the CBSS 18th Ministerial Session in Pionersky, Kaliningrad, on 5-6 June, in the BSLF Working Group on Cross-border Mobility in Hamburg on 24 September, in the SEECP Seminar in Sofia on 14-15 October, in the Nordic Council Session in Oslo on 29-31 October, in the BSLF Roundtable in Helsinki on 1 November, in the Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum in Arkhangelsk on 12-13 November, in the Baltic Assembly 32 session in Riga on 28-29 November, and in the PABSEC 42 General Assembly in Tbilisi on 18-19 December.In 2013, BSPC also participated actively as a member in the Baltic Sea Labour Forum (BSLF) project, which is an offshoot of the Baltic Sea Labour Network (2009-2011), a Flagship Project in the EU Baltic Sea Strategy. The aim of BSLF is to strengthen co-operation and dialogue between the labour market partners in the Baltic Sea region. Franz Thönnes participated as BSPC representative in the BSLF Steering Committee, while the BSPC Secretariat participated in the BSLN Facilitator Team. BSPC participated with a presentation at the BSLF Round Table in Helsinki on 1 November.FundingSince 1 January 2012, the running costs and remuneration of the BSPC Secretariat and Secretary have been financed via the BSPC Joint Financing Mechanism. It is technically designed so that the BSPC member parliaments pay their shares of the BSPC budget to the Nordic Council Secretariat whose Director serves as the formal (legal) employer of the BSPC Secretary. In 2013, the Nordic Council secretariat continued to provide certain office facilities and administrative support to the BSPC Secretariat. The BSPC Secretary is politically accountable to the BSPC Standing Committee. Information about the various BSPC sections and activities is available at www.bspc.netBSPC WebsiteThe BSPC website is maintained and updated regularly (www.bspc.net)