In memoriam Sylvia Bretschneider

In memoriamSylvia BretschneiderPresident of the State Parliament ofMecklenburg-Vorpommern and Former Presidentof the Baltic Sea Parliamentary ConferenceWe are deeply saddened to announce that Sylvia Bretschneider,President of the State Parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern andPresident of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference 2014-2015,the longstanding member of the BSPC Standing Committee,BSPC observer at HELCOM since 2002,BSPC Rapporteur on Sustainable Tourism andChair of the BSPC Working Group on Sustainable Tourism 2015-2017passed away yesterday after a long and courageous fight against serious illness.For Sylvia Bretschneider, the promotion of international cooperation in the Baltic Sea regionand the fulfilment of the relevant constitutional mandate in the constitution of her countrywas a matter close to her heart. Since her first election as President of her state parliament in2002, she had worked intensively for the interests of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conferenceand the implementation of its resolutions. Involving young people in political decision-makingprocesses, including at the international level, had always been of particular importance to her.With Sylvia Bretschneider, the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference has lost an outstandingpersonality with extraordinary commitment to the BSPC work.In tremendous sadness and affection, we are personally movedand will keep her with grateful remembrance in our hearts.Our thoughts at this difficult time go to her family:her husband, her three daughters and her grandchildren.SincerelyJorodd Asphjell Bodo BahrPresident of the Baltic Sea Secretary General of the BSPCParliamentary Conference