Zaneta Ozoliņa and Tobias Etzold – REFLECTION PAPER ON THE VILNIUS DECLARATION

Slide 1:REFLECTION PAPER ON THE VILNIUS DECLARATION – A VISION FOR THE BALTIC SEA REGION BY 2020BSPC Standing Committee Meeting, 16 November 2020Zaneta Ozoliņa and Tobias EtzoldSlide 2:Analysis of the twelve Vilnius visionary statements showed: Convincing progressInstitutional framework strengthened, serving sustainable regional cooperation and assisting in tackling old and new challenges;Economic situation in the BSR has proved to be stable and resilient;In the energy sector the countries of the BSR have achieved significant results regarding market integration and development of renewable energy production capacities;People-to-people contacts in various formats and on different levels form the backbone of regional cooperation.Slide 3:Progress evident but more actions neededPublic-private partnership has not been utilized so far;Efforts to develop an integrated maritime policy, a sustainable blue economy and well-interconnected transport networks but activities of the various actors are not always coherent;Gaps exist in socio-economic and public health related developments between groups of countries in the region;Labour markets in the BSR prove to be stable with a low level of unemployment, but spread of the pandemic will leave its impact;Slide 4:Progress evident but more actions neededWeaknesses in education, skills and competences of potential employees still raise concerns under the global competitiveness pressure;Ambitions in the field of information technology have been achieved only partially, fragmentation in the region is still existent;The situation in the civil security sector (human trafficking, organized crime, violence against children and countering terrorism) has improved but new risks and challenges require immediate coordinated actions;Cooperation in research, education and culture promotes elements of a regional identity but it seems that achieving a fully-fledged regional identity is not realistic and not on the agenda of the member states.Slide 5:Progress insufficientIn the environmental sector several achievements have been made but progress has not been sufficient. The ecological status of the Baltic Sea remains far from good. It still is one of the most polluted seas on the globe.Slide 6:Democracy, Civil Society and YouthStrong and close people-to-people contacts and a “bottom-up-approach” are important characteristics of the BSR and a vital element if not the backbone of regional cooperation.Regional interaction includes the cooperation among NGOs and their interaction with state actors (e.g. Baltic Sea NGO Network).The exchange among and the inclusion of youth and young people into various regional formats have become increasingly important elements of regional cooperation in recent years (various projects).Slide 7:Promotion of tolerance and an open mindImportant preconditions for fostering people-to-people contacts and transnational cooperation are an open mind and social tolerance.Over the past 10 years, the social tolerance score has increased in several BSR countries, but a divide remains between groups of countries.Across the region a greater polarisation and a decrease of tolerance to differing opinions can be observed (populist tendencies).More needs to be done to promote tolerance and open-mindedness across the region by bringing people together on various levels. The BSR and regional cooperation benefit from close people-to-people contacts.This requires a constant engagement and commitment from all sides, including adequate funding of related activities, as well as strong efforts and support to develop and to utilize their full potential.Slide 8:Social ToleranceSlide 9:Conclusions and Issues to be considered and addressedSeveral significant shortcomings remain, requiring a more coherent framework for continued strong cooperative efforts and actions in all policy areas in the future. Recently adopted reforms need to be put into practice as quickly and as effectively as possible.In order to react adequately and quickly to new challenges and opportunities, regional institutions need to develop more flexibility and responsiveness.One of the biggest general problems in almost all policy areas is the still existing gap between countries/groups of countries Further efforts required to decrease these gaps.The creation of an information hub on the BSR would be beneficial for countries, regional institutions and the research community.Slide 10:Conclusions and Issues to be considered and addressedSlide 11:A NEW VISION for the BALTIC SEA REGION as a region which:„Is prosperous, safe and secure for all its people; focuses on sustainable economic (blue) growth and development, innovation, clean energy as well as the protection of the environment; strives for better inclusion, prosperity, public health and social cohesion; reaps the benefits of resilient economies and societies, responsive public services and strong institutional frameworks for cooperation, being able to tackle current and future challenges and crises through joint action; promotes elements of a common regional identity and common values through culture, research and education; is committed to pursuing vibrant and enhanced exchanges between its people, involves the youth and continues to enable personal contacts and the face-to-face exchange of ideas, experiences and views; uses and improves the possibilities of digitalization for communication, accessible for all people; protects the vulnerable and builds trust between its nations.”