BSPC Strategy and Work Programme 2023 – 2024

Baltic Sea Parliamentary ConferenceStrategy and Work Programme 2023 – 2024Adopted by the 32nd Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) on 29 August 20231. BSPC MissionThe Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) was established in 1991 as a forum for politicaldialogue between parliamentarians from all national parliaments, regional parliaments andparliamentary organisations in the Baltic Sea Region. The BSPC also interacts with otherparliamentary and governmental organisations in the Baltic Sea Region and the NorthernDimension area.The fundamentals and core principles of the cooperation in the BSPC are– democratic values,– the rule of law,– human rights,– peaceful neighbourliness,– respect for international law,– a resilient civil society and robust NGOs.The mission of the BSPC isto raise awareness of and provide opinions on issues of current political interest and relevancefor the Baltic Sea Region;to promote and drive various initiatives and efforts to support a sustainable environmental, socialand economic development of the Baltic Sea Region;and to enhance the visibility of the Baltic Sea Region and its issues in a wider European context.The objectives and decisions of the BSPC are geared toinitiate and guide political activities in the Baltic Sea Region, endowing them with additionaldemocratic legitimacy and parliamentary authority with a particular focus on contributing tosecurity, prosperity and a sound and sustainable status for its environment;initiate all necessary measures ensuring the security of the peoples and the defence of thedemocratic values and democracies of its Member States.The BSPC and its members are convinced of the need toprotect free and independent media, including combatting disinformation and fake news;support and strengthen democratic institutions in the participating states;improve dialogue between governments, parliaments and civil society;strengthen the common identity of the Baltic Sea Region by means of close cooperation betweennational and regional parliaments with legislative powers on the basis of equality;intensify people-to-people contacts on all levels – parliaments, governments and civil society –as the backbone for peace, prosperity and the protection of the environment in the region;promote the exchange among and the inclusion of the youth and young people as a prerequisitefor guaranteeing and securing the foundations of the Baltic Sea Region for future generations aswell;promote equal opportunities, gender equity and diversity in our societies.The BSPC may consider any matter of specific interest and relevance for the Baltic Sea Region,and may, if needed, give its opinion on such issues.The political recommendations of the annual Parliamentary Conferences are expressed in aConference Resolution adopted by consensus by the Conference. The adopted Resolution shallbe submitted to the governments of the Baltic Sea Region, the CBSS and the EU, anddisseminated to other relevant national, regional and local stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Regionand its neighbourhood.2. BSPC Priorities in 2023 – 2024The Danish presidency prioritises as the main issue for the BSPC in 2023 - 2024 the theme:SAFETY IN THE BALTIC SEA REGIONGiven this general theme, the priority issues for the BSPC Standing Committee to be deepenedin 2023 – 2024 during the Danish Presidency are:- Energy supply security,- Defense and- Climate change.3. Objectives of the BSPC in 2023 - 2024The objectives of the BSPC in 2023 – 2024 are:• to disseminate the 32nd BSPC Resolution to Parliaments and Governments in the Baltic SeaRegion, as well as to the CBSS and the EU, and to take initiatives and action – such asinterpellations, parliamentary debate and questions to the governments - to follow up theimplementation of its political recommendations;• to disseminate the results and recommendations of the BSPC Working Groups, Rapporteursand Observers, for instance, by advocating them in the home parliaments of the BSPCdelegates and through interaction with external institutions and organisations;• to support the policies of the CBSS and to further the cooperation between the CBSS and theBSPC, for instance, by sustaining contacts and cooperation between secretariats,synchronising priorities as far as possible, and maintaining the interaction between workingbodies of the BSPC and the CBSS, such as the BSPC Working Groups as well as the BSPCRapporteurs and the CBSS Expert Groups and Task Forces;• to promote - following the calls for action by the BSPC - to visibly accelerate and intensifythe implementation of the updated HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, including continuing andenhancing national and international efforts to reduce emissions of nutrients to the BalticSea; for instance, by active participation in various HELCOM meeting formats;• to support the further development of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region that isentirely in line with the Northern Dimension, including regular reporting from the EuropeanCommission;• to further uphold contacts with the Northern Dimension;• to contribute to the further progress of the Baltic Sea Labour Forum (BSLF);• to intensify contacts with other interparliamentary organisations.4. Resources 2023 - 2024The BSPC has several working bodies which serve as resources for driving and implementingBSPC priorities and objectives.The Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference is the annual general assembly in the Baltic SeaRegion for broad political debate on Baltic Sea issues. The Conference resolutions are politicaltools which enable the BSPC to take and support political initiatives and to approach thegovernments and regional organisations on issues of common interest.The host of the 33rd BSPC, the Danish Folketinget, is responsible for the operational planningand execution of the 33rd Conference in Helsingør on 25-27 August 2024.The BSPC Standing Committee (SC) is the highest decision-making body of the BSPC betweenthe annual Conferences. The Standing Committee considers and decides on strategic issuesconcerning the mission, political priorities, working modes, finances and administration of theBSPC. The Standing Committee has the overall responsibility for preparing the annualConference and for overseeing the structures and functions of the BSPC. The StandingCommittee comprises parliamentarians from all national parliaments, regional parliaments andparliamentary organisations throughout the Baltic Sea Region. The Standing Committeeconvenes at least four times yearly (beginning of the year, in spring/summer, in connection withthe Conference, and in autumn). The first SC meeting of the year should include a report fromthe CBSS. It may also include progress reports on the EU Northern Dimension, the EU Baltic SeaStrategy and the EU Integrated Maritime Policy. The SC also serves as Drafting Committee duringthe annual Conference.The BSPC Secretariat (SE) consists of officials from the BSPC members and the SecretaryGeneral, who coordinates its work. The BSPC Secretariat is responsible for the preparation ofthe BSPC Standing Committee and Working Groups meetings as well as for overseeing thepreparations of the Annual Conference and for content. The Standing Committee is informedabout the current business to supervise it.The BSPC Secretary General (SG) manages the overall coordination of BSPC activities,prepares the groundwork in the BSPC bodies, delivers content, provides investigative resourcesand is responsible for administering the BSPC Joint Financial Mechanism as well as for otheradministrative and organisational matters and follow-up. The members of the Secretariat areinvolved in administrative and organisational questions and support this work.The BSPC Working Group (WG) will – based on the agreement of the 32nd BSPC - aim toelaborate political recommendations within its defined field of thematic work. The Working Groupwill present its final report at the 34th BSPC.The BSPC Observers in HELCOM, Ms Saara-Sofia Sirén (Finland) and Ms Beate Schlupp(Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), will follow the deliberations of relevant HELCOM bodies. Thatincludes following and reporting on the developments in the field of Eutrophication.The BSPC Rapporteur on Sustainable Tourism, President of Parliament Ms Birgit Hesse(Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), will follow and report on the developments in this field.The BSPC Rapporteurs on Integrated Maritime Policy, Mr Jörgen Pettersson (Åland Islands)and Mr Philipp da Cunha (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), will follow and report as co-rapporteurson the developments in the field of Integrated Maritime Policy.The BSPC Rapporteur on Migration and Integration, Ms Carola Veit (Hamburg), will followand report on the developments in the field of Migration and Integration.The BSPC Rapporteur on Sea-Dumped Munitions, Ms Anna Kassautzki (German Bundestag)will follow the developments in this field as well as the implementation of the recommendationsof the 30th, 31st and 32nd BSPC and will give a further report at the 33rd BSPC in Helsingør.The BSPC Website (http://bspc.net) is a central conduit for disseminating news and informationon the BSPC's organisation, activities and results, as well as a dynamic archive of BSPCdocuments and opinions.