Niemi at 30 BSPC

130TH BSPC: OPENINGSpeaker : Mr Pyry Niemi , President of the BSPC 2020 -20222Ladies and gentlemen,Two years have passed by since we all met in person in Oslo. The C OVID -19-pandemic and the restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the virus have affected usall not only in our daily li ves, but also in the framework of our parliamentarycooperation. I am convinced that we are all looking forward to be ing able to meet againto engage in conversation s not only during the Conference but also in the importantsidelines.With that said, I am very proud that the work of the BCSP has permanently continuedduring the pandemic. With online meetings, seminars and deliberation s, we have doneour best to work for a better future for the Baltic Sea region together – not letting th epandemic interrupt our intense cooperation and contacts.***The current Swedish Presidency goes under the title Sustainable Democracy andfocuses on how to face common challenges in a changing world where newcircumstances have emphasise d the need to preserv e and protect what is good andaddress the challenges that lie ahead by adapting to changes. Democratic institutions,solid cross -border cooperation and environmental and social sustainability arecornerstones of the BSPC: preserving these have been our priority throughout theyear.Since it was found ed in 1991, one of the stated goals of the BSPC has been to supportand strengthen democratic institutions, and we need to continue in this direction. Thisyear, it was 100 years ago that women were given the right to vote in Sweden. TheSwedish Parliament's celebration of 100 years of democracy reminds us thatdemocracy is nothing that we can take for granted: we need to strive for democracyand democratic values every day.The spread of COVID -19 and the fight against the pandemic is yet another reason tosafeguard democratic values and this has also g iven us reason to appreciate andsafeguard the strong cross -border cooperation at the heart of the BSPC. Many of our3challenge s in the region go beyond borders, and our cooperation and intention to findsolutions must do the same.***At our online standing committee meeting in November , we discussed the topic ofdemocracy more intensively – with expert presentations on democracy and politicalparticipation and how this has changed over time. We also discussed how youngpeople can be involved in the decision -making processes in the region.At an online seminar in connection with the standing committee meeting in February ,we continued these discussions with expert presentation s on democracy in a newmedia landscape: digitalisation , combating disinformation and fake news , as well asprotecting free media and freedom of speech – a discus sion that we will continue heretoday.***At the standing committee meeting in February , we discussed the COVID -19 pandemicwith particular regard to the situation and progress on vaccination with presentationsby the World Health Organization as well as the Northern Dimension Partnership inPublic Health and Social Well -being. This is a lso a topic that will be addressed today.In May we once again held an online standing committee meeting. In connection withthis meeting we discussed other challenges with the pandemic such as youthemployment and challenges to the welfare system in a digital age. Demographicchanges, labour shor tages and an ageing population were other topics on the agenda.***Another challenge that lies before us, as was recently show n in the IPCC Report, isclimate change and how it threatens biodiversity in our region . The current workinggroup, chaired by my esteemed colleague Ms Cecilie Tenfjord -Toftby, i s focusing onthese issues. Protecting the environment and safeguarding our Baltic Sea have for a4long time been a top priority for our organisation and is still a core issue for the BSPC.We wi ll hear more about the results of the working group later on today.***An important aspect of our cooperation are our relations with other s. The increasedand improved relationship with the CBSS and other Baltic Sea region organisationsalso strengthens the common identity of our region. People -to-people contacts andrelationships between citizens – this is the real backbone of our cooperation.Another aspect of our parliamentary cooperation is evident in our partnerorgani sations . We have for example continued to fill our memorandum ofunderstanding with the PABSEC with life even in times of the pandemic. In Novemberwe had a joint meeting with the standing committees of the BSPC and PABSEC wherealso the esteemed Minister Linde pa rticipated. During the meeting with PABSC wediscussed issues such as oceans, climate and democracy , issues that do not stop atnational borders but also call for solutions in supra -regional cooperation. Anotherexample is the strengthening of our relation with the Parliamentary Assembly of theMediterranean and the aim to sign a Memorandum of Understanding this fall.Traditionally , ever since our organisation was founded , we have had intense, closeand, in every respect, productive and fruitful relations with other regional organi sations.I am therefore happy to see that many of you are attending today ’s Conference.***We often talk about the future of the Baltic Sea region – and what is the future if notour young er generation ? Youth participation in decision -making processes has beenan issue high on the agenda for several years. This Saturday , a Baltic SeaParliamentary Youth Forum was held . About 100 young participants from our elevencountries attended and showed commitment, engagement and creativity in thediscussions both on democracy and on climate and biodiversity. I am very proud tohave been a part of this successful event and I am also proud to say that we havethree representatives of the youth forum with us here today who will share some of themain conclusions from the Forum with us.5***At today’s Conference, we will also celebrate 30 years of parliamentary cooperation .For 30 years, parliamentarians have directly and indirectly been making a decisivecontribution to realising what the people who elected them primarily regard as the mostimportant aim: stabilis ing and guarantee ing the peaceful coexistence of all people andcountries in the region and, on this basis, achiev ing the highest possible level ofprosperity and sustainable use and protection of the natural foundations of life.During a ceremonial session at this Conference , we will discuss and remember whatwe have accomplished and deliberate on what lies ahead when it comes to c ooperationin the Baltic Sea Regio n today, yesterday and in the future.***The BSPC has built its cooperation on contact between people, personal dialogue anda familiar and friendly atmosphere. Even if th is – due to the pandemic – has beendifficult to achieve during the last one and half years , I am very proud to say that we,in the BSPC, were successful in continuing undiminished and have even succeededin deepening our work by shifting to an online format . We have maintained andintensified the parliamentary dimension of international cooperation in the Baltic Searegion.However, a digital format cannot beat meeting in person. It is therefore my greatpleasure, together with the Swedish delegation to the BSPC, to also host the 31stConference, which is planned to be held in Stockholm on 12–14 June 2022.***Finally, I would like to congratulate the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference for 30years of parliamentary cooperation and wish us all a successful Conference!Let me now give the screen to the BSPC Vice President Johannes Schraps for the firstsession of th e Conference.