CBSS Briefing to the BSPC Standing Committee

CBSS Briefing tothe BSPC StandingCommitteeCBSS Swedish Presidency 2017-2018 and the CBSS Interna tionalSecretaria t22 Februa ry 2018 , Brussels2INTRODUCTIONOn behalf of the Swedish Presidency of the CBSS and the CBSS itself, I would like to thank theBSPC for a kind invitation to participate in the meeting of the Standing Committee and thetraditional exchange of views between our organisations.• The work of the CBSS is guided by the long -term priorities, which are: 1. Regional Identity,2. Sustainable and Prosperous Region, 3. Safe and Secure Region.• Mirroring the long -term goals, the Swedish Presidency 2017 -2018 is focusing on threeareas of : Sustainability, Continuity and Adaptability.• I would like to highlight that the core progress within our operations is made inside ourunits, expert groups and by the work of senior advisers. As some of you know there are 6working areas, where the CBS S is continuously improving and developing the Baltic Searegion:1. Sustainable development and climate change under the Baltic 2030 Unit.2. Economic issues including labour, science, research and maritime topics.3. Civil security within the region.4. Children at risk.5. Culture, education and youth.6. Trafficking in human beings.• Today I would like to give you an overview of the recent developments within the CBSS’working areas as well as propose points of collaboration, as suggested by the Units andSenior Advisers themselves.BALTIC 2030• Currently the Baltic 2030 Unit is working on two overlaying themes: SustainableDevelopment and Climate Change.• To counter the issue of unsustainability within the BSR, the Unit is preparing an analysison Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on the common challenges and discrepanciesacross the Baltic Sea countries (including Russia), with the aim to create a regionaldialogue. Outcome of this analysis will be a report “Bumps on the Road to Baltic 2030”,that will be discussed at the seminar in Brussels on 11th - 12th of April 2018.• Building on both Baltic 2030 Unit’s and BSPC’s experiences on Sustainable DevelopmentGoals, we would like to propose an annual CBSS -BSPC event to discuss how to coherentlyimplement SDGs and environmental agendas across the region (e.g. back -to-back with3BSPC annual conference in Marienhamn).• In addition, the Baltic 2030 invites the BSPC to participate in ReGeneration 2030 - a jointinitiative by the NCM and the CBSS, focusi ng on youth engagement in Agenda 2030.ReGeneration 2030 Summit will take place on 18th -20th of August 2018 in Mariehamn, amanifesto from the summit will be handed to the 27th Baltic Sea ParliamentaryConference in Mariehamn 26th - 28th of August 2018 as a political message.• Finally, next to its work on Sustainable development, the Baltic 2030 Unit is also leadingthe Baltic Sea Region Climate Dialogue Platform - a strategic action under the CBSSPriority “Sustainable and Prosperous Region”. The Unit ki ndly invites the BSPC tonominate their representative to the BSR Climate Dialogue Platform.ECONOMIC PORTFOLIO• As the BSPC Working Group on migration and integration was established last year, theCBSS is encouraging a closer cooperation on labour, emp loyment and migration issues.• To strengthen such relationship, we propose to:1. Reinforce the BSPC’s interaction with the Baltic Sea Labour Forum.2. Jointly use the Policy Recommendations Paper, which included pointsfrom the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference’s (25th BSPC) Resolution,as well as proposals from the BSLF members.3. Consider the points stated in the CBSS Labour Ministers’ Declarationadopted in Berlin, June 15th, as a political framework. In this document6 areas of common concern have been defined - Labourmobility/Migration; Demographic challenges; Knowledge supply; Youthemployment; Migration/Integration and Involvement into the labourmarket of vulnerable people, including persons with disabilities.4. To take part in the establishm ent of an Expert Group on Labour andEmployment.5. Take part in the upcoming joint meeting of BSLF and ministerialrepresentatives on 18th of April 2018 in Riga.6. Take part in the full -scale project application to the European SocialFund (11th of May) , on labour issues, which will allow theimplementation of suggestions from the Soft Security and Migrationconference organized in Helsinki on 30th -31st of May 2017 by CBSS.47. Consider a CBSS -BSPC joint annual event on labour issues (once again,it could be arranged back -to-back with the BSPC annual conferences).8. Put joint efforts in creating a model of researcher/academic mobilitywithin the entire BSR. Outcomes of the BSN and TRAM’ projects couldbe used as a foundation for the model. The focus group : youngscientists, doctoral students and PhDs.9. Finally, the CBSS invites BSPC to nominate their representative to therenewed CBSS Expert Group on Maritime Policy, focusing onsustainable maritime economy, Blue Growth Agenda and cross -sectorapproach b etween governments, academia and businesses.CHILDREN AT RISK• Children at Risk Unit within the CBSS would like to raise your awareness of the need tohave a strong children and youth focus in national and regional activities, policies andgoals, which should be underpinned by data, assessments and expected results.• Based on children’s feedback we know that there are groups of young individuals whichare threatened by violence in a close proximity and which are unable to enjoy socialprotection of the public services. We also know that children and youth appreciate highlevel of education as well as protection/welfare structures.• In such background, we believe that there is a need to provide youth and children withhope, opportunities, inclusivity and reliability on adults. Therefore, we encourage you tospread t he message to the national parliaments that painting a negative picture of thefuture in media, is counter -effective regarding the safeguard and welfare of children.• Furthermore, the Children at Risk Unit works closely with the UN Convention on theRight s of the Child, which promotes children’s rights overall and their specific rights to beprotected against abuse, exploitation, trafficking and violence. The Unit also relies onSDGs and children participation and feedback and suggests that such documents andassessments are a good starting point for work on children wellbeing.5CIVIL SECURITY• Last year, a major achievement in the civil security area was the adoption of the JointPosition on Enhancing Cooperation in Civil Protection Area at the 15th Meeti ng of theDirectors General for the Civil Protection in the Baltic Sea Region, held in Keflavik(Iceland) on 12th of May 2017. The document set out a long -term perspective forenhanced cooperation between national authorities responsible for civil protecti on in theBaltic Sea region.• The implementation plan for the priorities agreed in Keflavik has been agreed inNovember 2017 by the EUSBR Policy Area Secure Steering Group and is now beingconducted.• Overall throughout the recent years, the CBSS Civil S ecurity Team contributed to theprogress of strengthening cooperation in the following areas:1. Changing the perspective in organising civil security systems fromdisaster management to disaster risk reduction.2. Strengthening resilience of societies tow ards major emergenciesand accidents by establishing an effective framework forinternational cooperation between professional civil protectionagencies, volunteer organisations, local governments, the academiaand business.3. Establishing a workable conn ection between research andinnovation centers and practitioners (end -users).4. Developing the CBSS Civil Protection Network.5. Contributing to the law enforcement cooperation.CULTURE, EDUCATION AND YOUTH• The CBSS strives to be an attractive and comp etent partner in the field of regionalcooperation on culture, youth and education. Our contact with the BSPC in this regard is alreadyestablished.• The CBSS Project Support Facility 2018 is allocated to the long -time priority of RegionalIdentity. Proje cts for, with and by children and young people that aim to strengthen children andyoung people’s influence and participation in organizational, cultural, and educational settingsare highly valued. The call to be a part of PSF is open until 31st of March 2018.6• In addition, the CBSS has launched several initiatives and strategic efforts in the field ofyouth and their participation. Examples of such projects are: youth contribution to the CBSSVision Group, which was set up by the Ministers of Foreign Aff airs, the programme Baltic SeaYouth Dialogue as well as coordination of many BSR bodies in the joint endeavour of youthparticipation.• Another flagship initiative in the field of education is the CBSS Summer University, whichhas recently opened a call for participation. We are very glad to have already received a greatinterest from various universities across the region to participate in the 2018 round of theinitiative.• Finally, we would like to note that cultural heritage is a priority of both the incomingLatvian precedency of the CBSS (2018 -2019) and the EU (European Year of Cultural Heritage2018), we see an emerging platform to prioritise the development of cultural heritage across theregion. We are also aware of the recent reports on Cultural Heritage from BSPC rapporteur onculture.TASK FORCE AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEI NGS• Main aim of the TF -THB for 2018 is to develop a Transnational Referral Mechanism forvictims of human trafficking in the Baltic Sea Region and to include the m ain countries of origin:Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine.• TF-THB also focuses on reducing vulnerability of migrants to different forms ofexploitation and trafficking in human beings and improving identification of victims in Finland,Germany and Sweden.CONCLUSION• A short overview of the plans of the Swedish Presidency 2017 - 2018 and an overview ofthe Vision Group’s work.• We see a great foundation for the development of the dialogue and collaboration betweenthe CBSS and the BSPC.• We hope that you will respond positively to our invitations for new collaboration points.As well as we are looking forward to the 27th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Mariehamnand its outcomes.• Finally, I would like to thank you once again for the invitation!7CBSS International Secretariat :Slussplan 9 ∙ P.O. Box 2010103 11 Stockholm ∙ SwedenPhone: +46 8 440 19 20Fax: +46 8 440 19 44Email: cbss@cbss.orgFind us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/CBSSpage/Follow us on Twitter:@CBSSsecretariathttps://twitter.com/CBSSsecretariatSee pictures on Flickr:https://www.flickr.com/photos/cbsssecretariat/