Memorandum of understanding with the PABSEC

Page 1:ee on MEHLa : as %,ees. =SRR ert aie 5soot Ny GBSPC | Baltic Sea Pariamentary Conference PS odMEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDINGBetweenParliamentary Assembly of the Black SeaEconomic Cooperation (PABSEC)andBalticSea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC)The Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (hereinafterPABSEC) and the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (hereinafter BSPC), hereinafterthe 'Parties' to this Memorandum of Understanding (hereinafter MoU):Taking into account the strategic importance of the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea Regionsas geopolitical areas for stability, security, democracy, harmonious economic, cultural andsocial development, as well as the peaceful cohabitation of their peoples, given theirsignificance to the European and Asian continents, forming the circumference of theirshores;Recognising the benefits of parliamentary cooperation based on the principles of respectof human rights and freedoms, social justice, the promotion of democracy, and thePage 2:supremacy of law with regards to the interests of all states and peoples in the Black Seaand Baltic Sea Regions;Considering as priority the objectives of guaranteeing the security of their peoples, theeconomic growth and labour market of the Black Sea and Baltic Sea Regions, andfurthering cultural, economic, political, religious and social integration, based on theprinciples of rule of law and, at the same time, promoting respect for human rights;Confirming the need to develop synergies for the regions to further the process ofdeepening knowledge of each other, mutual exchange of information as well as learnfrom each others' best practices;Recalling the strategic importance of the PABSEC and BSPC, created by the sovereigndecision of the national parliaments of their Member Parliaments, as independent andequitable international organizations operating both within and beyond the catchmentareas of the Black sea and the Baltic sea basins;Acknowledging that the European Parliament is a member of the BSPC and of it’sStanding Committee and an observer in PABSEC;Acknowledging that the PABSEC and of the BSPC, as members and/or partners ofnumerous other international and regional organizations, active throughout the Black seaand the Baltic sea Regions, play a well-established and widely-recognized role as Centresof Excellence and key actors for parliamentary diplomacy and democracy building, peaceand confidence-building initiatives, promoting synergies to support economic exchangeand development, sustainable use of natural resources and protection of environment, andmore generally, intercultural and interreligious integration ;Page 3:Recalling that the PABSEC was founded on 26 February 1993, in Istanbul, aiming atPromoting economic cooperation among its Member States in the Black Sea Region;Stressing upon the fact that the BSPC was established in 1991 as a forum for politicaldialogue between parliamentarians from the Baltic Sea Region and aims at raisingawareness and opinion on issues of current political interest and relevance for the BalticSea Region, promoting and driving various initiatives and efforts to support a sustainableenvironmental, social and economic development of the Baltic Sea Region.Strongly convinced that peaceful, stable and prosperous Black Sea and Baltic Sea Regionsare of global interest;Acknowledging the specific mission entrusted to the PABSEC Secretariat and the BSPCSecretariat by their Member Parliaments to identify, promote and ensure coordination ofregional, sub-regional and transnational projects in order to improve the socio-economicdevelopment, regional integration, sustainable development and the exchange ofknowledge among and within the countries of the regions;Agree to sign this Memorandum of Understanding.L OBJECTIVEThe objective of this MoU is to lay down the basis for cooperation between PABSEC andBSPG, aiming at further developing initiatives and projects with regard to the interests ofall states and peoples in their regions.Page 4:IL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIESThe Parties agree that it isthe mutual interest of the PABSEC and the BSPC to cooperateon activities relating to Black Sea and Baltic Sea issues. Accordingly, they agree thefollowing:a) Structured cooperation, exchange of information and consultationThe Parties hereby agree to keep each other informed of activities that may be ofcommon interest to the extent permitted by the bye-laws of each Party. Such exchangemay include making available reports and recommendations adopted within therespective organizations, and more generally, any publications on any subject of common.interest.In this respect, the two Parties will co-draft joint reports, resolutions and otherdocuments on issues expressing shared points of views, and they will be able to exchangeSecretariat staff on a short-term basis.The Parties will at all times endeavour to deepen their cooperation by means of formaland informal consultations on issues of common interest.With a view to maintaining an excellent partnership, exchanging information andfurthering cooperation, the Secretaries General of PABSEC and BSPC will serve asthe Permanent Observers of their respective Assemblies to the other, and each Partywill designate a focal point that will be responsible for regular liaising and facilitatinginformation flows.The Parties may use appropriate media means to make public and disseminate the termsof this MoU as they think fit.Page 5:b) Joint activitiesAt any time, either of the Parties may make proposals to the other Party about particularProjects or events undertaken by other Party, which the recipient Party will take intoconsideration in good faith.Moreover, the Parties will organize joint events on areas of common interest on questionsrelating to Black Sea and Baltic Sea issues, falling under their respective mandates. Thesemay include, by way of example, conferences, seminars, working groups and field studytrips to specific areas of the regions.c) Offering advice on strategic issuesThe Secretariats of PABSEC and BSPC agree to provide both Parties with inputs for theirdebates and reports on, inter alia, the strategic priority areas as identified by the Heads ofStates and Governments, in particular: Economic development, Depollution of the BlackSea and of the Baltic Sea; Maritime and land highways, Civil Protection, AlternativeEnergies; Cultural and Social Affairs issues, Higher Education and Research, BusinessInitiatives.PABSEC and BSPC agree to mobilize their parliamentary networks to support and adviseon strategic issues relating to the regions, such as: parliamentary diplomacy anddemocracy building; economic development and public private partnerships (PPP);energy policy, promotion of investments, regulatory frameworks, SMEs, employment andvocational training; demography and migration.Such cooperation will serve the aim of supporting and mobilizing resources for theimplementation of projects and the quality of PABSEC and BSPC hearings and activities,for the benefit of both Black Sea and Baltic Sea Regions.Page 6:If. ENTRY INTO FORCE, AMENDMENT AND SIGNINGThis MoU shall enter into force when signed by both Parties and remain valid until suchtime as either Party informs the other Party of its intention to cancel the MoU by givingat least one month written notice to the other Party.Any amendments to this MoU shall be subject to written approval of both Parties.Signed on 5 September 2017President of the President of theParliamentary Assembly BalticSeaof the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentary CconferenceMig) Loo eeSecretary General Segretary General