BSPC Standing Committee in Copenhagen

BSPC Standing Committee in CopenhagenKey Discussions and Preparation of the 33rd Annual Conference in HelsingørOn 10 June 2024, the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) Standing Committee convened in Copenhagen for a critical meeting marked by important discussions that will influence the future of the organisation. Originally planned to be held in the Faroe Islands, the meeting was relocated to Copenhagen due to unforeseen circumstances related to a public strike in the Faroe Islands. More than 30 participants, representatives and delegations of the BSPC members from the Åland Islands, the Baltic Assembly, Denmark, the German Bundestag, Finland, Hamburg, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Nordic Council, Norway, Poland, Schleswig-Holstein and Sweden participated in the meeting.Opening RemarksBSPC President Henrik Møller opened the meeting by welcoming the participants to the Danish Parliament and noting the unique situation surrounding the meeting's relocation. He highlighted the significance of addressing the ongoing challenges, particularly the increasing brutalisation observed during the European election campaign and the need for stronger democracies and social cohesion.Key Discussions and DecisionsFollow-up on the 32nd BSPC Resolution: President Møller reported on the responses received from various governments regarding the implementation of the 32nd BSPC Resolution, with statements published on the BSPC website.https://www.bspc.net/statements-of-the-governments-in-the-baltic-sea-region-to-the-32nd-bspc-resolution/Working Groups and Reports:• Energy Security, Self-sustainability, Resilience, and Connectivity (ESSRC): The committee reviewed the progress of the ESSRC Working Group, which had held significant meetings in Helsinki and Greifswald. The group’s recommendations have been incorporated into the draft of the 33rd BSPC resolution.• Sea-Dumped Ammunitions: Rapporteur Anna Kassautzki provided an update on efforts in Germany to address the issue of sea-dumped ammunitions, including the construction of a prototype mobile platform for retrieval and disposal.SC members who visited Finland’s eastern border underlined the importance of the visit, particularly under security aspects, and provided insights into the results of their conversations and conclusions.https://www.bspc.net/30th-of-april-2024/4. BSPC Secretariat: A significant portion of the meeting focused on discussing the future accommodation configuration of the BSPC Secretariat. And related questions. After a thorough discussion, the deliberations focused on a compromise solution that includes a transition period. The deliberations will be continued.5. Upcoming BSPC Events:• The 33rd BSPC Annual Conference and the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Youth Forum (BSPYF) will be held in Helsingør from August 25-27, 2024. The conference will feature distinguished speakers, including Danish and Swedish government officials, and will culminate in a reception at Castle Kronborg.ConclusionThe meeting in Copenhagen underlined the BSPC’s resilience and commitment to addressing critical regional issues, even in the face of unexpected challenges. The negotiations were characterised by efforts to secure an ongoing high level of BSPC work in the further future and, by that, ensure the continuity and effectiveness of the BSPC’s work in promoting cooperation and security in the democratic Baltic Sea region.The BSPC looks forward to the upcoming annual conference in Helsingør, where important current fundamental challenges with a particular focus on the safety of the democratic Baltic Sea region will be further explored.