•AALBORG•AARHUS•BALTIJSK•BERGEN•BÜTZOW•CÇSIS•CHOJNICE•COPENHAGEN•ELBL¥G•ELVA•ESPOO•FREDERICIA•GÄVLE•GDAÑSK•GDYNIA•GÖTEBORG•GREIFSWALD•GRODNO•HAAPSALU•HELSINKI•HORSENS•JELGAVA •JÇKABPILS•JÕHVI•JÛRMALA•KALININGRAD•KALMAR•KÄRDLA•KARLSKRONA•KARLSTAD•KAUNAS•KEILA•KEMI•KIEL•KLAIPËDA•KØGE•KOLDING•KOSZALIN•KOTKA•KRISTIANSAND•KRISTIANSTAD•KRONSHTADT•KURESSAARE •LAHTI•LIEPÂJA•LINKÖPING•LOMONOSOV•LULEÅ•LÜBECK•£EBA•MAARDU•MALBORK•MALMÖ•MARIEHAMN•MARIJAMPOLË•MIÊDZYZDROJE•MOLËTAI•NACKA•NARVA•NÆSTVED•NORRTÄLJE •NYKØBING F.•NYKÖPING•OSKARSHAMN•OXELÖSUND•ÖREBRO•PALANGA•PALDISKI•PANEVËYS•PÄRNU•PETERHOF•PORI•PRUSZCZ GD.•REDA•RÇZEKNE•RIGA•ROSTOCK•SESTRORETSK•ŠIAULIAI•SILLAMÄE •SLONIM•SOPOT•STOCKHOLM•ST.PETERSBURG•SUNDSVALL•SZCZECIN•TALLINN•TAMPERE•TARTU•TUKUMS•TURKU•UMEÅ•VAASA•VÄSTERVIK•VÄXJÖ•VILJANDI•VILNIUS•VISBY•VORDINGBORG•VÕRU•WISMAR Logistic Corridors Conference in Turku ! Welcome to the General in the Baltic Sea Region 1 1 / 2005 / 2005 Baltic Cities Bulletin

Dear UBC Friends,

Our VIII General Conference in Turku is approaching. The conference will be held on 29 September – 2 October 2005. The General Conference will deal with the issues vital for the Baltic Sea Region such EDITOR IN CHIEF as logistic corridors, EU budget and its implications for the BSR, good Paweł Żaboklicki governance, competitiveness, good neighbourhood policies, human contacts in the BSR, etc. We have invited a number of high-level speakers * who will address those important topics. Transport and logistics issues will be one of the key items. UBC realises that modern port and land EDITING & LAYOUT transportation infrastructure, coordinated with maritime transport, is crucial for the development of Iwona Śmigerska-Belczak the BSR. This bulletin brings up the information about numerous projects aiming at improvement of intermodal transport network in the Baltic Sea area. * In connection with our conference the following events shall also take place: meeting of the EDITORIAL BOARD Committee of Senior Officials of the CBSS, the coordination meeting of Baltic Sea organisations Risto Veivo and a seminar of Baltic Region Healthy Cities Association. The Saturday, 1 October will be devoted Viktors Buls to the internal UBC matters such as reports, elections, finances, etc. Ewa Kurjata On the UBC's initiative, the major Baltic Sea organisations, namely B7, BSSSC, CPMR-BSC, Paweł Żaboklicki UBC, decided to send to the European Commission a joint statement on the objective 3 of the Iwona Śmigerska-Belczak reformed Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 (European Territorial Cooperation). The statement emphasizes that the proposed introduction of a maximum distance of 150 km of maritime border - to be eligible * to obtain funding for cross-border projects - is counter-creative to the very idea of strengthening the territorial cooperation, and therefore we object to it. PUBLISHER Union of the Baltic Cities We expect from the European Commission a more flexible approach, taking into account existing Secretariat cooperation in various fields between the partners on both sides of maritime border as well as Wały Jagiellońskie 1 historical, social, cultural and economic factors which justify cooperation across larger distance PL-80853 Gdańsk than mentioned above. I have sent this statement also to all prime ministers of our 10 Baltic Sea POLAND countries. I do hope all our governments will strongly take up this issue during the negotiations in tel. +48 58 3010917 Brussels on the new Cohesion Policy. tel. +48 58 3019123 fax +48 58 3017637 I have also sent out a letter to all member cities asking them to express their views how we can e-mail: [email protected] make our own organisation, the UBC, even stronger. A year ago, on 1 May we have experienced a www.ubc.net significant historical moment - the Baltic Sea Region became almost an inland sea of the European ISSN 1506-6266 Union. This fact will have a strong positive impact on further development of our region and it must have an impact on the activities of the UBC. * The EU enlargement in the BSR brings new opportunities and challenges to the UBC. How to promote effectively exchange of experiences between member cities ? How to enhance the PROOF-READING work of our commissions and mobilise more outside funding ? How to ensure that concerns Ewa Kurjata of our cities are listened to at national governments and in Brussels ? I received a number of ideas from the cities, for example: UBC could improve lobbying in Brussels by using the cities * representation offices; gender balance is needed in the UBC authorities and commissions; less effective commissions could be incorporated by the effective ones, etc. COVER PICTURE Port of Turku I look forward to your further ideas on the directions for the UBC development. I also look forward to meeting delegates of all UBC member cities at the VIII UBC General Conference in Turku !

Per Bødker Andersen President Kolding, May 2005 CONTENTS I. Logistic Corridors in the 17 UBC ComEnv Meeting in Baltic Sea Region Sopot on 20-21 June 18 Invitation to the Commission 2 Towards a new Baltic Sea on Business Meeting in Agenda Tallinn 4 Novel, Lean and Green 18 ComEducation will meet in 4 A Hub Today and in the Norrtälje Future 18 Annual Meeting of the 5 Meeting Place for Russia Transportation Commission and the EU Port of Liepāja - one of the rapidly growing 19 10th Jubilee of the UBC 5 Norway Active in the Baltic Baltic ports Commission on Sport 6 SEBTrans–Link Project 19 Baltic Institute of Finland – Gdynia and Växjö and UBC IS Com 7 Cēsis City’s Beltway 20 Meeting of the Commission 7 Closer to the East through on Tourism in Jūrmala ‘Berlinka’ 20 Conference “Young and 8 A New Deepsee Container Active” Port in the Baltic 20 Managing Urban Europe - 25 8 Harbour City without a Port 21 ABC Seminar in Gdynia 9 Intermodal Terminal 21 News from Women’s 9 From Baltic to Lapland and Network Murmansk 22 Contemporary Art Magazine 10 A Port Hard to Resist 22 TEN around the Baltic Sea 10 Koszalin – on the Hanseatic Trail III. News from Member Cities 11 Kotka is opening up to the SEBTrans-Link is an example of the Baltic Sea transportation project in the BSR 23 The Marselis Tunnel Project 11 Liepāja – a growing Centre 23 Major Baltic Cruise of Logistics Partnership Launched 12 Logistic Hub in the Baltic 24 Karlskrona and Liepāja Sea Region District new “Twin Cities” 12 Making ends meet in the 24 “We’ll never forget…” North 24 Comprehensive Transport 13 Strong Link in the EU- Solutions for Koszalin Russia Transit 25 SMILE-Project 13 Oder River Corridor 25 Łeba – our Dream 14 The Anchor near Via Baltica 26 Stronger and greener nd 14 EU’s NE Cargo Link The 42 Executive Board meeting took together place in Luleå, Sweden 26 “Golden Stars” for II. UBC Today outstanding Town-twinning Projects 15 VIII General Conference in 27 Elections in UBC Member Turku, 29 September - Cities 2 October 2005 27 Summer Festivals 15 Baltic Cities Environmental 27 The ID-Ticket Concept Award 2005 28 Modern Technologies 16 42nd Executive Board through Mutual Efforts Meeting in Luleå 28 The City of Vaasa celebrates its 400th Anniversary in 2006 17 Changes in the Commission Network on Youth Issues invites to the on Culture Youth Conference in Vilnius, October 2005 BCB 1/2005 1 I. LOGISTIC CORRIDORS IN THE BSR

TOWARDS A NEW BALTIC SEA AGENDA During the last few years many things in the maritime logistics field that there is a strong interest for such have changed in the Baltic Sea Region. - to prepare the UBC policies on questions in the Baltic Sea Region. One of the most significant changes is of the crucial issues of the transportation – We are going to sign up transport course the EU enlargement in 2004 and, (logistic) corridors system in the BSR, and logistics experts as speakers, and as we all know, the change has been very - to organize a conference "Towards we expect a great interest in participating evident. The transport volumes in the a New Baltic Sea Agenda" in Turku in it. Baltic have grown and requirements for on 30 September 2005, where one the There is a growing need for actions developing the logistics and information conference themes will be maritime in the region. During the last few years management in the area are intensifying. logistics. a lot of research has been done in many Cities and organizations around the Baltic different fields, but there has been very Sea are looking for uniform policies to As this is such a vast field, the most little cooperation and coordination – Now address the future transport challenge. important concrete development needs it is time to start carrying out decisions A lot of research has been carried out, will be defined separately for transport already taken, Mr Ramberg says. but amazingly little has yet been done & infrastructure, safety & environment in this field. and logistics IT. Because the UBC does The main problem is that the society The UBC has also found it important not have deep knowledge in logistics, does not always have the financial to form its own policies on these crucial the transport industry and several resources to carry out everything on the issues, namely the transportation organizations will be contacted. The UBC decided data. Someone has to make the (logistic) corridors system in the BSR, policies to be presented at the conference uneasy decisions. It is also important the environmental questions and the IT- in Turku in September will be based on to have as many parties as possible solutions, says Mr Christian Ramberg, their view. participating in the process. I think that chairman of the UBC Logistics Task the UBC is the right forum for providing Force. The chairman of the UBC Logistics those people, making the decisions, with Task Force is Christian Ramberg, relevant basis for the decisions. In the Baltic Sea region international managing director of the Port of Turku Our main task is to define and highlight cargo is carried mainly by sea, but as since 2000. He has many years of the most relevant issues. We have decided we know, dense traffic can also generate experience in logistics and maritime to focus on maritime logistics, because problems. The marine environment is transport. The Port of Turku is one of a working transport network is perhaps very sensitive and there is, for example, Finland´s most important ferry ports, the most essential single condition for growing concern about the rapidly handling most of the ferry cargo shipped continued economic growth in the area. increasing oil shipments. International between Finland and Scandinavia. The co-operation in all fields between initiative to form the UBC Logistics task The role of the UBC Logistics Task the countries by the Baltic Sea is of Force was also taken by the city of Turku Force Mr Ramberg compares with that utmost importance, not least regarding (Åbo in Swedish). of a port: transport, safety and the environment. – We don’t want to teach the sector The enlargement of the EU has also Mr Ramberg is convinced that goods how to handle transport, we just want transferred the centre of the Union transport will hold a key position in the to provide the best possible conditions further eastwards. There is a much faster future development of the whole of the by adapting fast enough to a constantly growth rate for transport volumes moving EU. changing environment. between east and west than for traditional - The basic logistics must be working trade between north and south. smoothly if the BSR wants to grow and Mr Ramberg thinks that the UBC become stronger, he says. He thinks that Logistics Task Force will adapt itself to As maritime logistics form a vital part his most important task as chairman of the the needs of the transport sector. of the activities in the Baltic Sea Region UBC Logistics Task Force is to promote It is of greatest importance to include as well as in the EU as a whole, the UBC the launching of a common UBC strategy the transport sector in the future debate, Executive Board decided to create the and policy for logistic and maritime too. So far the talking has been done Logistics Task Force in May 2004. The matters in the Baltic Sea Region. mostly elsewhere and the sector itself has main aims of the Logistics Task Force are been left outside. the following: The transport policy of the UBC will be - to gather different parties together one of the key topics at the VIII General At present there is a large number and facilitate discussions about the most Conference, which will be held in Turku of different organisations within the important and urgent development needs this autumn. Mr Ramberg informs Baltic Sea area representing many

2 BCB 1/2005 specialist areas. Has the founding of the heard. Otherwise there is always a risk UBC Logistics Task Force created yet that important issues are given too low another? priority. We will then approach different expert Indeed there are many different organisations and ask for their opinion. organisations doing a lot of good work, We have good co-operation with the but I still think that they are a little bit Baltic Ports Organisation (BPO), Baltic fragmented when looking at the picture as Development Forum (BDF) and Helcom, a whole. Sometimes it also seems like the for example. same things appear again and again, but in The countries around the Baltic Sea Photo: Markku Koivumäki different forms, Mr Ramberg explains. In have every reason to guard their interests. Mr Christian Ramberg, Managing Director his opinion the UBC Logistics Task Force If they don’t, no one else will for then. of the Port of Turku, is convinced that wants primarily to get an overall picture There is a need for a common view and transport of goods hold a key position in of different issues. We bring up questions strategy in important issues. If everyone the development of the EU and decide which ones are important and works towards the same goal, then which less important. success will follow, Mr Ramberg says. UBC there are also projects like the New Hansa dealing with other questions such Mr Ramberg underlines that the UBC Accordingly, Mr Ramberg thinks it is as prevention on ships´ emission to the air Logistics Task Force is by no means high time to make a standpoint on many and waste handling. a specialist group of experts when it important questions. The same questions Intermodal transport is another comes to maritime logistics. He thinks are discussed from different points of important field for further development. its strength lies in the fact that the parent views in so many forums. organisation UBC represents a large A hot topic is the number of ports There has been much talk about a number of cities around the Baltic Sea needed for the main transport networks number of ports acting as hubs for the and that the task force is participating in the Baltic Sea area, and which ports cargo flow in the Baltic Sea area, but in many meetings of different expert should be given this status. Will there who should be in charge of the financing, organisations. be strong concentration of cargo flows? Mr Ramberg asks. The government or – My vision is that the UBC should Other issues which Mr Ramberg thinks the private sector? And to what extent work as a uniting forum and highlight that the UBC Logistics Task Force should the governments try to steer the the most important issues taken up by should deal with in the near future are cargo flows? the different organisations, which we are those related to maritime safety and participating in. When we have brought environment. With many years of experience in up the most important problems, then it Safety is a very current issue for ports, transport and logistics, Mr Ramberg is up to the expert groups to deal with because of the ISPS code, but who should knows that the cargo always finds its own them. end up paying for all the additional route, usually the most rational and less costs, he asks. In the Baltic Sea maritime costly route. He thinks it is very important According to Mr Ramberg it is also environmental issues are focusing very for the Logistics Task Force to understand about getting the transport sector’s voice much on oil transport, but within the this and to establish close co-operation with the maritime transport sector. Without knowing the needs of the logistic and maritime sector it is very hard to succeed in developing the area, he thinks. It is difficult to imagine the Baltic Sea Region without well functioning maritime logistics and I think that this is what it is all about.– Transport definitively forms a cornerstone in our modern society, Mr Ramberg concludes.

by Pär-Henrik Sjöström

Further information: Mr Christian Ramberg Port of Turku Ltd. e-mail: [email protected].fi

Port of Turku - the West Harbour

BCB 1/2005 3 NOVEL, LEAN AND GREEN sea transport as an alternative to road haulage. T h e P o r t o f Centered in the port of Terneuzen As well as being of benefit to the Aalborg Ltd. has (The Netherlands) and Aalborg the new environment, it is a great advantage for recently acquired set-up is custom-tailored to the Danish the receiver, They now have a storage a new liner service. This is a telling company’s needs. Based around an of buffer stock in the port of Aalborg, example of how transport logistics can intermodal solution which includes a meaning that the consignments to the help the environment and it is a result short sea connection linking the two plant now can be arranged on a call-off of joined forces between Icelandic ports, it replaces one involving several basis. Samskip, Dutch Vos Logistics, Port road operators. The Port of Aalborg Ltd. has played a of Aalborg Ltd. and the receivers in The product involved is plastic granulate supporting role in attracting Samskip as Aalborg, Fibertex. packed in liner-inner bags and carried by another shipping line into its facility. The road in 40 ft. containers venture represents a major development from suppliers in Belgium for the port operators, Arctic Container to Terneuzen, and from Operation, and it also opens for a new there by Samskip vessel to market for Samskip in the form of a the port of Aalborg. new liner service, which could include B y d o i n g s o t h e Sweden, UK and the Baltic. companies will remove a projected 1 million km Further information: of heavy truck driving Mr Karl J. Klitgaard each year from the roads Port of Aalborg Ltd. thanks to the shorty-sea Tel. +45 99301504 leg of the route. A strategy e-mail: [email protected] well in keeping with EU Port of Aalborg and the container terminal Samskip policy of promoting short-

A HUB TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE T h e P o r t o f the largest container port Aarhus has already in Denmark, handling over e s t a b l i s h e d a half of the total number of position for itself as a hub in the Baltic containers in Danish ports. Sea. Ocean-going container ships call The port is ideally located at AAR.HUB to load and unload cargos in relation to the home which are transported to or from market - not far from the Aarhus on feeder ships from various centres of consumption countries around the Baltic Sea. as well as production in However, the port is now being Denmark. Furthermore, extended to make space for even bigger nature has provided the port volumes. In 2007 a new container of Aarhus with a range of The port of Aarhus offers post-Panamax facilities to terminal will be ready. Preparing for significant advantages, for handle today´s largest ocean-going vessels. In fact, this it will involve almost 300,000 square example a natural water depth has already been going on since 2002 when Maersk metres of harbour area being added to of 14 metres to match the Sealand started calling at the APM terminal in Aarhus with their S-class vessels the existing terminals. requirements of large, ocean- AAR.HUB has the potential to become going container ships. the introduction of a motorway toll on the main hub in the Baltic Region. Today, As goods volumes increase, it is goods traffic in Germany. large volumes of cargo are being traded necessary to find faster and more efficient The port of Aarhus is close to the new within the Baltic Region, and approx. 80 ways of transporting them. markets around the Baltic Sea. Very close. per cent of the containers being shipped in There is significant pressure on the And in using AAR.HUB, one avoids the the Baltic Sea are on route to the overseas North European motorway network time-consuming queues in the congested destination. and on the container ports that flank the ports. For many of the countries, their relatively European continent to the west. To relieve new EU membership will result in a the traffic problems, the EU has declared Further information: market increase in the volume of exports that sea transport must be promoted Mr Bjarne Mathiesen and imports in the coming years. so as to reduce the volumes of cargo Port Director There is a good basis for developing transported by road. Port of Aarhus the harbour. The Port of Aarhus is already The most recent development has been e-mail: [email protected]

4 BCB 1/2005 MEETING PLACE FOR RUSSIA AND EU D e v e l o p m e n t o f transport systems and, first of Baltijsk port infra- all, into the transport system of structure on the basis of the III and IV the South Baltic Sea area, on the basins of the Russian Baltic Fleet naval basis of enhanced cross-border base is important for establishing the cooperation in the sphere of socially-directed market economy. In spatial planning and transport the end of 2003 the car ferry terminal development. and the cargo and passenger ferry line The geopolitical position of Lübeck-Baltijsk-St.Petersburg were Kaliningrad Region exposes opened for the first time. the special role of the region in Today passenger ships regularly call at Baltijsk Today the passenger ships regularly call being a communication node at Baltijsk port from Gdańsk and testing of for East and West. Creation of developed necessary condition for provision of the river navigation in the Vistula Lagoon transportation network concentrating sustainable socio-economic development, from the Polish towns has been started. passenger and cargo flows by means which presumes attraction of cargo The rail ferry terminal is also planned to of rail, road, sea and air transport and and passenger flows and investments, be put into operation in 2005. This should corresponding the prospectives of PETN business enhancement, solving allow for increasing rail freight flow. In development is one of the key elements urgent social issues and prevention of addition to that wide opportunities shall of regional economic potential. environmental pollution. In the end open after establishing the direct ferry Baltijsk plays special role in the this should contribute to the well-being connection between Kaliningrad Region development of cross-border cooperation. of Kaliningrad Region in general, its and Southern Sweden (Karlskrona) which The National Secretariat of Euroregion convergence with neighbouring countries is expected in the near future. “Baltic” is located here. Activities of in terms of socio-economic development Stable functioning of the ferry complex the Euroregion also focuses on transport and improvement of living standards. in Baltijsk is considered as one of the communications. Baltijsk became an key conditions for development of associated partner in SEBTrans-Link Further information: Kaliningrad region as the “meeting place” and Baltic Gateway projects aimed Mr Victor Koshelev for Russia and EU. Realization of this at transnational planning of transport Deputy Head strategic goal is possible only through infrastructure development in BSR. Baltijsk Municipal District integration of the transport infrastructure Integration of Baltijsk into the e-mail: [email protected] of Kaliningrad region into the European international transport system is a NORWAY ACTIVE IN THE BALTIC W e s t N o r w a y cargo into the Baltic make shipping companies the region a very interesting see great business opportunities in the trading area for the future. Baltic Sea Region. The strategic junctions. The Baltic Region is a main trading The main company, Green area for the Bergen based logistic and Reefers, has three terminals in shipping companies which offer a the Baltic Region: Świnoujście frequent service, mainly with its fleet of (Poland), Kaliningrad (Russia) side door vessels. The resources make and Klaipėda (Lithuania). They it able to handle all volumes with the form a strategic junction that same care and flexibility. Mainly frozen enable to offer extended services. The stop in Norway is Bergen, and the ships fish are transported from the coast of company acquires the knowledge and are calling at Świnoujście, Klaipėda, Riga Norway, Iceland and Scotland to various the capability to offer tailor-made logistic and Tallinn. The company has noticed a destinations in the Baltic Region. The solutions to other destinations, mainly growing demand for its services, and is companies’ ships are calling at ports that required by exporters from Norway and very optimistic about the development are gateways to a vast and expanding other Northern Areas. of sea transport and trading in the Baltic market. There is an increasing demand for Door-to-Door logistics. The companies Sea Region. fish products and other commodities as offer door-to-door logistic solutions in the buying power of the population rises this region. The local knowledge and Further information: in the countries that constitute the market. extended resources give you the flexibility Mr Torolf Rein The terminal facilities in the region and to handle all logistic requirements. City of Bergen the handling, storing and distribution of Baltic Line is another shipping company e-mail: cargo are also satisfied. The prospects providing sea transport between the west [email protected] of increased demand for sea transported coast of Norway and the Baltic. The end

BCB 1/2005 5 SEBTRANS-LINK PROJECT - IN GDYNIA AND VÄXJÖ GDYNIA with the planned construction of A- of Gdynia, where in the future there will be 1 motorway in our country. Being constructed a new ferry terminal designed A new Ferry Terminal an integral part of the so called VI Pan- to handle a growing flow of passengers and in the Port of Gdynia as European Transport Corridor North-South, cargo, is an important link in the Corridor. a chance to improve the this investment will contribute to providing The objective of the project will be to prepare way passenger and cargo traffic of a firm basis for the development of a feasibility study of this investment as well the Transport Corridor North-South cross-border cooperation in the Region. as a transport system to serve the is handled. The Swedish and Polish partners in terminal. Since the beginning of this year the the project will consider whether to However the project is not only of Municipality of Gdynia has been the assume a common name for this priority commercial importance. The new ferry leading partner in the SEBTrans-Link transport axis: Baltic Link. The port terminal is of major importance to the city project – “Modern Ferry of Gdynia as it is planned to be located in Terminal in the Eastern Port the immediate vicinity of the City Centre of Gdynia as an important and near the historical building of the link in the Transport Corridor Maritime Station. This location creates North-South”. The project an opportunity for revitalization of areas is being developed within and piers situated in the vicinity of the the Baltic Sea Region terminal. The terminal will be designed Cross-border Cooperation in compliance with global trends in ferry Programme 2002/ Phare, traffic including pro-ecological railway and is complementary to the transport which begins to play a still SEBTrans-Link project carried more important role in the structure of out by the municipalities of European traffic. South-Eastern Sweden within Once the transport system has been the INTERREG programme. improved, there will be created favourable The real significance of the conditions for tourist and passenger project should be considered movement from the Terminal to the City in the context of Pomeranian Centre. Voivodship’s chances for the development of commercial Further information: exchange, tourist traffic Mr Michał Graban and economic cooperation City of Gdynia in the Baltic Sea Region, Tel. +48 58 66 88 428 which appear in connection [email protected]

communication systems are crucial, transport load in congested parts of the ÄXJÖ both in a short and in a long-term system. V perspective. - to combine the different TEN systems The demand of future So far, the results within the project in the area of the Baltic Sea where we transport solutions and SEBTrans-Link shows that with a today have missing links. connecting links between minor infrastructure measure package - to combine, in a much better way, the countries in the area of the South to a relative low investment cost it is the new member states within EU with East Baltic Sea can not be neglected. possible to realise a fine functional the old ones and in a much better way Therefore, all the partners within transport system in southern Sweden take advantage of the increasing common the project SEBTrans-Link stands with good transnational links to the market. unified behind the appeal of a common, bigger European TEN-systems and to the - to enlarge the existing labour markets upgraded transport link from North neighbouring countries around the Baltic in the region and by that facilitate the to South of Europe called Baltic-Link. Sea. The biggest effects are reached with fulfillment of a common market in the After 1 May 2004 the population measures on the railway, both regarding Baltic Sea area and the whole of EU. around the Baltic Sea that constitutes the labour market expanding and goods common market in this area, consists of transportation. Further information: some 48 million people. This expanded According to this, we would like: Mr Anders Franzén new market will mean an increased trade, - to achieve fulfilling of EU’s White Lead partner which will generate an increase in the Paper on Transport Policy – time to City of Växjö demand for various transport solutions decide. A priority of the European Tel. +46 470 415 91 to take advantage of this new situation transport policy is to develop alternatives [email protected] the development of infrastructure and to road transports and to relieve the www.sebtrans.com

6 BCB 1/2005 CĒSIS CITY'S BELTWAY In the beginning of city beltway & third bow building, June 2004 the City reconstruction analysis and designing” Council started a and implementation from European project concerning transportation Regional Development Fund. Main solutions in the city. The regional activities within the framework are authorities were also engaged in the purchasing procedure organization, project due to the fact that Cēsis is economically technical motivation and a centre of region which is regularly technical project output. visited by a great number of tourists, Technically economical motivation Bird's eye view of Cēsis for this reason increasing traffic flow output aim is to fortify predictable and road pressure in this city. The transport evaluation investments needs that will include analysis of situation, project gained a financial support from and effectiveness, evaluate technical, problems, possible solutions and its the programme PHARE 2002. environment and economic aspects. institutional, technical, finance and The project's aims are: Specific accent (technically economic economic aspects. - to clear transport flow in Cēsis city, motivation output) must be laid on The winning project will not provide increase of traffic safety, reduce transport city transport beltway and third bow money for planned construction works. caused nature pollution, decrease city meaning in city total transport flow. All activities and work that have been central streets exploitation costs. Representatives of Cēsis city and region planned in project should be completed - to reduce transport negative influence municipalities will supervise implemen- by 15th August 2005. on Cēsis's historical centre (Latvian City tation procedure. building monument). Technically economic motivation Further information: - to promote the economic develop- was finished on January 2005. As a Ms Ieva Malceniece ment of Cēsis and to build a street through result of project enforcement there will City of Cēsis vacant territories of the city. be performed a particular designing of Tel. +371 4124702 Specific aim of this project is to Cēsis city transport beltway and third e-mail: [email protected] prepare an investment project: „Cēsis bow economically technical research, CLOSER TO THE EAST THROUGH ‘BERLINKA’ The road Elbląg- be the first section of the ‘passageway’ the reconstruction of ‘Berlinka’ which Kaliningrad also to connect the capital Berlin with the is scheduled to be ready at the begining known as ‘Berlinka’, then Eastern Prussia. The road underwent of 2006. is currently under intensive severe destruction during WW2. It is now however that Elbląg reconstruction. After the reconstruction The idea to rebuild the road first authorities are observing the growing is finished – which is believed to be in appeared during the visit of Swedish interest in the possibility of investing the beginning of 2006 – the road is ambassador in Elbląg. The idea was taken in the area along the road. Every week going to be the shortest route from up by the Mayor of Elbląg as the road potential investors from Poland and western Europe to north-western parts becomes a great opportunity for Elbląg abroad express their attention to the of Russia and Baltic States. to attract investors who want to cooperate new opportunities. They announce It will be 150 km shorter than the with the East. the construction of logistic, shipping existing road through Bezledy border The effect of this activity is the and warehousing centres, hotels and crossing. It will also lessen traffic on the reconstructed bridges which were ready restaurants but also production plants. road which leads to the border crossing in the fall of 2003. Another effect is the Many of them were attracted by the at Gronowo. This 100-km motorway Polish-Russian agreement of June 27, new bridge over the Elbląg river. Not was built in 1938 and was supposed to 2004 providing for the reconstruction only does the bridge shorten the distance of the Elbląg-Kaliningrad road together between state road no. 7 and Kaliningrad with the construction of the new border but also proves Elbląg to be effective crossing Grzechotki-Mamonowo II. The in its ambition to become Polish and whole complex is going to be ready by European gate to Kaliningrad District the end of March 2006. and north-western Russia. Simultaneously, Elbląg authorities have been carrying out the construction of Further information: a two-level road junction with 3 flyovers Mr Maciej Kubicki joining Elbląg exit roads with Warsaw- City of Elbląg Gdańsk state road no.7 and Elbląg- Tel. +48 55 239 34 46 Kaliningrad road ‘Berlinka’. The project e-mail: [email protected] Renovated bridge on 'Berlinka' road has been being executed irrespective of

BCB 1/2005 7 A NEW DEEPSEA CONTAINER PORT IN THE BALTIC The DCT contain- initiatives as the way forward to promote as a way of avoiding congestion in some er terminal has been “motorways” across the Baltic and into of the traditional European Ports. Logistic designed and built Europe and offering a hub facility that is operators that service manufacturing against the background of practical ice free throughout the year. companies have been forced to either use proven handling techniques, which are Our mission statement is to make feeder services or go direct to a deepsea aimed at providing total satisfaction DCT Gdańsk the most efficient deepsea port outside Poland. to our customers including speed container hub in the Baltic. We are now planning to increase the of operations, good road and rail We make no excuses for making such a critical mass of the new DCT facility by communications, reliability, safety, bold statement because we know, through adding a logistic park “HUB@Gdansk”. convenience of location and of course market research and customer feedback This development will cover 135 hectares a competitive pricing structure. that this is the role for the DCT Deepsea and will provide the essential backup for In marketing terms we will be actively container terminal. a modern port facility. Internationally promoting the Baltic as a real opportunity We are merely addressing the needs of it is now recognised that to have a to make a difference to the regional the customers in the twenty first century. successful port a multi modal logistic logistic chain. We aim at expanding the The feedback that we have received is park is essential. The “HUB@Gdansk” market for shipping in the Baltic and that an additional deepsea port is required will have dedicated rail facilities and actively supporting EU short sea shipping for Eastern Europe. direct access to the A1 motorway and This huge market is the one that we of course it is located next door to our intend to serve and provide the missing modern container facility. Substantial link in the logistic chain. Ten years ago warehousing and logistic enquiries have this project would have been considered already been received. premature. Today there is so much pent I wish to assure our existing and future up demand that it will not be long before customers that the development timetable we have to start planning for Phase II and delivery of the DCT terminal will be extension. We have designed the terminal closely monitored. We will be open for to be “future proof” and be capable of business in the summer of 2006. servicing any vessel that can sail into the Baltic. We hope that the “deepsea” vessels Further information: DCT terminal 2x300 m berths, 15 m depth and a ro-ro terminal, 4 rail sidings, will eventually include Gdańsk inn their Mr James Sutcliffe computer controlled gate access for “schedule” as a way of servicing the CEO DCT Gdańsk vehicles and a new A1 just off site demand for deepsea freight directly and e-mail: [email protected] HARBOUR CITY WITHOUT A PORT A s a c a p i t a l o f Restoration of the harbour needs Hiiumaa, the biggest some preparation work where many Estonian county, and researches and projects are necessary. It the most secure Estonian city during is necessary to have an overview of the the last years and in addition being depths of harbour aquatic area, about located on an island in the Baltic, the water consistency and land consistency in city of Kärdla does not have own cargo harbour territory, market needs and offers or passenger harbour. and overview of the project profitability, The previous yacht harbour was The quickest way to go from Tallinn environmental influences and possible destroyed during the WW2, in 1944 to Kärdla is by plane, which takes only preventing factors by the renovation. 40 minutes. The most important and Also one needs to know the amount of Kärdla City government is interested in frequently used connection to Hiiumaa necessary works for dredging the aquatic participating in other similar projects, is the ferry line. Unfortunately the ferry area. Preparation on safe traffic in harbour which include maritime safety, harbour does not come directly to Kärdla. At the aquatic area and preliminary and building networks etc. and in establishing same time the location of Kärdla makes projects for water building works should cooperation with other cities in order to it a best place for a harbour, where be done. After finishing those actions is it prepare a common project and to build tourists can have best access to different possible to start the renovation of Kärdla up network in those areas. services. Hiiumaa is more known and harbour. the amount of tourists increases every Renovation of harbour helps to ensure Further information: year, also including sea tourists. Kärdla faster social and regionally balanced Ms Annely Veevo City authorities would like to restore economic development and to use City of Kärdla the harbour and make it to fulfil all area’s strategically good position from e-mail: [email protected] requirements for guest. the viewpoint of tourism development. 8 BCB 1/2005 INTERMODAL TERMINAL European railway project “Rail Baltica” was finally adopted. The project concerns Kaunas intermodal European transport corridors, Kaunas air the railway route: Warsaw - Kaunas - Riga terminal of four port, river port of Nemunas, and having - Tallinn and it should be completed by modes, the railway node, the air united all that - to become the intermodal 2016. The activities of Kaunas Intermodal port, the river port, the sea port of terminal of European significance - “the Terminal (KIT) will include not just Klaipėda (about 200 km away), Via land port” uniting the economic areas of logistics, loading/unloading or storing, Baltica, cross-section of two trans- the East and the West. but it also includes the shuttle railway European transport corridors, future Rail Baltica, industrial areas of Kaunas with infrastructure create a transport- industry-logistics cluster of huge potential, the activities of which will influence the rapid development of Kaunas City and the whole country. Developing the multi-modal terminal (logistic centres) in Lithuania and its inclusion into the network of existing European logistics centers is of a very high importance. Therefore Kaunas is planning to create an Intermodal The development of the intermodal formation in the directions of West-East terminal-cluster seeking to effectively transport will allow to re-allot the and South-North. use the advantage of the region. transport services and to avoid uneven The city has a unique possibility to development of certain separate transport Further information: build the European gauge railway using means. It will also allow to better use the Mr Gediminas Petrauskas the existing railway station, industrial existing infrastructure and to put some City of Kaunas districts, cross-section of two trans- efforts into its modernization. In 2003 a e-mail: [email protected]

FROM BALTIC TO LAPLAND AND MURMANSK Cargoes heading to has scheduled weekly sea connections Northern Scandinavia with southern Baltic ports as well as and Russia receive a with some in Northern America. Vessels warm welcome in Lapland’s Port of sailing northbound have lots of empty Kemi. The full-service Ajos harbour capacity to be filled with transit cargo. As is the most northern sea port in the all the necessary cargo handling services EU with year-round shipping lines and trucking fleet are available in Port to major European ports and short, area, services can be organised by eg. non-congested connections to Sweden, Bothnia Logistic Centre Ltd in Ajos. Norway and Russia. Via the Barents Transport Corridor The Port of Kemi is located right in (BTC) cargo owners and forwarders the middle of considerable cargo flows can reach an exceptionally attractive thanks to pulp and paper industrial plants. area with huge future plans. The Kola Nearly 700 vessels call at Kemi each year, Peninsula is a home for almost 2 million the Port is rapidly growing and a huge Russians and is heavily industrialised. investment programme is to be completed The region needs a lot of consumer by 2006. The name of the Port of Kemi goods as well as machinery for existing will be Lapland’s deep-water harbour and planned industrial plants in the field Ajos, reflecting the great importance of of mineral, mining, oil and gas, metals, June 2005. All countries surrounding the the Port for the whole northern region. fertilizers, fishing etc. Within five years Baltic Sea will be represented and UBC The harbour Kemi is the closest to the fast progress in the Barents area is Logistics Task Force will have a meeting Barents Region, which means lower rates foreseen and hopefully BTC will develop as well. and shorter transit kilometers and time. into one of the major transport corridor The intermodal shift will be improved in the North. Further information: and cargo handling will be more efficient The Port of Kemi participates in Mr Hannu Tikkala after completion of Ajos development. many development activities. One EU Port of Kemi The base for transit transportation part-financed project is InLoC, which Tel. +358 16 2151660 opportunities rest on existing regular will organise an international mid-term e-mail: hannu.tikkala@kemi.fi shipping connections. The Port of Kemi conference in Kemi from 20th to 22nd of BCB 1/2005 9 PORT HARD TO RESIST C a r g o f l o w s , Lithuania, geographically at the heart similarly to water of Europe, may enjoy full rights to be where the stream is termed as the transport bridge between simple and accessible. the West and the East. And owing to the And Lithuania can offer the route, fact that on the eastern Baltic Sea coast facilitating transshipments of cargo Klaipėda is a port which is very close flows. The above mentioned route goes to the ports of Western Europe, South via the special ice-free port, namely via Scandinavia as well as to the entrance the port of Klaipėda. into the Baltic Sea, presently already 19 The port already for the second year in shipping lines connect the port with the succession exceeds the 20 million tonnes European and Scandinavian ports. In of Klaipėda and Odessa/Ilyichevsk. limit. The port already for the third year general, the port's network of overseas Similar projects related to Russia and in succession has a possibility to accept transportations includes the ports from Asian countries are being considered. the “Panamax” type vessels. For the forth 65 countries. Clients of the port confirm that the port year that port is the largest among the At the same time, the routes from is modern and modernized. The port has Eastern Baltic States ports concerning Klaipėda Port to main Russian, Belo- become more famous: cruise shipping the growth of container through out russian, Ukrainian and Asian counties’ increased by 71 % in 2004, confirming volume. trade and production centers are ones of that it is the port hard to resist. Cargo handling breakdown statistics the shortest and the port of Klaipėda is says that the port may be classified as a an innovator in launching of container/ Further information: universal port and it underlines unique contrailer shuttle trains. From February Ms Ina Sidlauskiene features of the port of Klaipėda – its 2003 the train „Viking“ already connects City of Klaipėda versatility and ability to adapt to new markets of European/Scandinavian and e-mail: [email protected] types of cargo. Black Sea region countries via the ports KOSZALIN – ON THE HANSEATIC TRAIL The freedom of and 60% people transport increase free days. Approximately 40% of the flow of people, goods will occur in this part of the continent. vehicles will bypass Szczecin and move and services as well as Such dynamic development of transport further east to Gdańsk and Mazury and of the capital are among fundamental should be accompanied by development also, towards Kaliningrad, thus making principles of the European Union. of technical infrastructure i.e. roads and a link with the Baltic States transport These were extended, following the waterways, airports, railway lines and corridor that has been linking Vilnius with last extension of EU accomplished in seaports. This pertains particularly to the St. Petersburg. Via Hanseatica should May 2004, onto a significant part of poorly developed, in that respect, area of contribute to the integration of the south, the south and east Baltic Sea coast. the Polish Baltic coast. As of 1996 many east and north coast of the Baltic Sea. Therefore, a good opportunity for people talk more and more frequently Its appearance will allow for linking the development of the whole Baltic Sea about creation of a trans-European seaports and will facilitate cooperation Region, which can be compared only transport corridor called Via Hanseatica. having provided convenient access from with the period of Hansa days, has The assumptions are that Polish National the landside. appeared and the region has been Route No 6 would be its backbone; once National Route No 11 from Kołobrzeg counted among the fastest developing it is linked with A20 German motorway to Poznań, and further on to Katowice, regions in Europe. Lübeck-Rostock, it will create the lacking runs across Koszalin thus linking the According to the European Commission south part of the Baltic Sea bypass. Polish Baltic coast with central Poland forecast until 2015 a 75% cargo transport The corridor will be supplemented by and the rest of the country. If you railway lines, seaports consider the crossing roads, railway and airports located lines, both seaports and the airport you a l o n g t h e w h o l e will see clearly that Koszalin will make route. According to an important road and rail hub on the the German forecast trans-European transport corridor Via approx. 20000 vehicles Hanseatica. per day should move along that corridor Further information: on weekdays. The Mr Ryszard Zdrojewski expectations are that City of Koszalin the traffic rate would Tel. +48 58 3488 791 Koszalin airport in Zegrze Pomorskie increase by 50% on e-mail: ryszard.zdrojewski@

10 BCB 1/2005 KOTKA IS OPENING UP TO THE BALTIC SEA In recent years, through the so-called NEMoS project where the local history of the Baltic Sea Port of Kotka Ltd has in co-operation with the ports of will be presented extensively. The natural made considerable Hamina and Lübeck and certain other environment of the Baltic Sea is already on investments in the growth in unit traffic European ports. display at Maretarium at Sapokka in Kotka. and also created new opportunities This will strengthen further the logistics The market place of Kotka is also being for various partners. Logistics centres connections in the area of the Baltic Sea renovated close to the Central Harbour, have been created at the Mussalo and and contribute to environmentally benign and a new shopping centre will be built Hietanen Harbours in Kotka. Both sea carriage. In line with the increased in the same area. Moreover, the Theatre of these centres are being offered for efficiency of the existing logistics centres in of Kotka has been renovated recently. In the Motorways of the Sea project South-Eastern Finland, the NEMoS project this way, even more high-quality services will carry regional significance. The will soon be available within a walking project will also have a crucial distance from the Central Harbour. impact on Russian transit traffic The Baltic Sea will open a new carried through Finland. dimension for those leaving Kotka and The Port of Kotka is launching those arriving here by boat. Welcome passenger traffic to Russia and to Kotka! Estonia. Passenger traffic with the related services will render the City Further information: of Kotka even more international Ms Riitta Kajatkari than before. A museum centre will Port of Kotka Ltd be established at the Central Harbour Tel. +358 400 838173 in Kotka, including the national riitta.kajatkari@portofkotka.fi Central Harbour where the new museum centre will be established Maritime Museum of Finland, LIEPĀJA - A GROWING CENTRE OF LOGISTICS Looking on the map Funds there are plans to invest you can see that there money in establishing access is no closer point to road to the port, with both road the Baltic West coast than Liepāja in and railway lines, reconstruct the three Baltic States and therefore the historical bridge across the its geographical position ensures Karosta (Naval port) canal. that today Liepāja Port is among the Liepāja Port authorities think leading ports in this region and it has also about environmental issues all the necessary attributes to become to make the port and its territory a dynamic and rapidly growing centre safe and clean. Thus there is a of logistics, trade and industry. plan to clear out the Karosta canal In fact, this is happening already due to and its waters. the Baltic States but also in the eastern the growth of industrial capacity. Besides Reliable and predictable links between and western Europe already existing infrastructure and the land and the sea makes Liepāja As one of the most important and successfully working companies Liepāja port to develop even faster and with its significant development factors should Port continues developing. The Port is development also the city gains a lot of be mentioned the regular domestic flights linked not only to the Latvian national profit. between Liepāja and Riga International transport network by roads and railways, Liepāja International Airport – the airport, which is going to start at the end which ensures predictable domestic first domestic airport in Latvia of May, 2005. It is planned that the flight logistics, but also with any location in the Another element in international from Liepāja to Riga will be offered four three Baltic States or anywhere further transport logistics is Liepāja International times a week. Regular domestic flights eastwards and westwards. During the Airport, which is located 7 kilometres would ensure not only the development of short period of time two big bulk cargo from the city centre. Already today the city itself, but also it will increase the terminals has been established ensuring Liepāja airport serves several charter region’s tourism and business potential. the highest service of such types of flights, but this is just the beginning, cargoes. Several companies has started because optimal transport network, Further information: their operation in port territory. Comparing proximity of the port, free industrial Mr Martins Abols with previous years turnover has raised. areas, highly qualified labour force are Liepāja City Council Also the future plans for Liepāja Port are promising tools for Liepāja Airport and Development Department promising – by the support of Cohesion the Liepāja city itself to become a partner Tel. +371 6211 829 and other European Union Structural in the trade and logistics not only among [email protected]

BCB 1/2005 11 LOGISTIC HUB IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION T h e C i t y o f specialised cargo trains run from Lübeck Lübeck, a well- to southern Germany, Italy, Czech known European Republic and other destinations. ferry port which is supported by a The City is a member of the board of network of motorways and railway Lübeck`s freight village cooperation and connections, offers modern intermodal works closely with cargo and harbour facilities. A potential of 100ha of operators, shipping companies, ship industrial area gives places for owners and producers. In addition to that, investments in the main city of a in cooperation of two cities promotion of region. the metropolitan area of Hamburg will Increasing passenger traffic at Lübeck's Situated in the neighbourhood of lead to benefits for both cities. Further airport Hamburg, Lübeck is expanding its enlargement of Lübeck´s ports and airport to support more passengers and providing of new requirements will aid programme. On 26 May the consecutive general cargo. The Skandinavienkai, the in sustaining and evolving of Lübeck´s session will be held in Turku, Finland. biggest port in Lübeck, is also developing position. Intensifying passenger and cargo traffic to house more berths and buildings. Now Lübeck is coping with the new by ship between the Baltic Sea Region, Moreover, port related business are generation of ships for transporting Germany and continental Europe forms welcome to settle directly in the new the usual roll on/ roll off traffic in a sustainable approach to solve problems industrial zone. combination with container cargo. concerning road congestions, air and The connections from Lübeck to For these ships, named ConRo, a new water pollution and helps conserving the hinterland are first rate. The major harbour will be planned and built in the nature. The city will try to be a part of intersection of two German motorways next years. this movement. provide fast and efficient transport to The new „Motorways of the Sea“ the south, east and west of Germany and programme of the EU is another important Further information: continental Europe. Electrification of the topic for the City of Lübeck. Its Baltic Mr Ralf Kuschmierz railway to Hamburg will intensify the Sea part is of major interest for the Department of Economy and Harbour cooperation with the ports of Hamburg city. Attending the UBC Logistics Task Hanseatic City of Lübeck and increase the number of direct railway Force in Brussels November last year e-mail: [email protected] connections for passenger. Even now the city gained valuable insight into this MAKING ENDS MEET IN THE NORTH In order to take and wood and paper industry) along the connections between northern Sweden full advantage of the coast in the most northern part of the and northern Finland have not enough industry and natural Bothnian Gulf. Another reason is the great capacity. Furthermore, there are no resources in the most northern part natural resources in the Barents Region. concrete plans for significant improving of the Baltic Sea Region two corridors For both the industries and the transport the infrastructure for transports between should be developed. One is the Barents of natural resources good railways are the European Union, North Western corridor from Northern Norway and of utmost importance. Still the railway Russia and Northern Norway. North Western Russia. The other is the There are several reasons for these Bothnian corridor along the Swedish shortcomings. One reason is lack of and Finnish coast from the very north knowledge of the importance of the of the Bothnian Gulf, including road, industry and the natural resources in rail and sea. the most northern part of the Baltic Sea The Baltic Sea Region has great Region. Another reason is the fact that potential for development. Unfortunately planning of infrastructure to a great there are still missing links (often east- extent is done from a purely domestic west bound) that hamper development. point of view. In a Baltic Sea Region Some of these missing links are to be where national borders mean less and found in the most northern part of the less national government’s lack of Baltic Sea Region. international perspective on transports The northern part of the Baltic Sea is unfortunate. Region is of great potential interest for the whole Baltic Sea Region and the EU Further information: for several reasons. One of the reasons Mr Håkan Wiklund is that there is a concentration of very The Bothnian Corridor connecting the City of Luleå Barents Euro Arctic transport area and competitive industry (eg. steel industry the Nordic Triangle [email protected]

12 BCB 1/2005 STRONG LINK IN THE EU-RUSSIA TRANSIT Narva is an important A must for the new bridge arose transit point between because the old bridge, which connects Russia, Estonia and Narva with the neighbouring Russian other EU countries. Transportation town of Ivangorod, has been continually of oil products, coal, wood, and experiencing increased loads due to mineral fertilizers goes by rail. hectic transit traffic after Estonia’s access Another significant highway Tallinn- to the EU. The Highway Border Station St.Petersburg (E-20) also passes informs that the number of trucks, which through Narva. have crossed the Station during last 2 Estonian city Narva is located on the years, have doubled and keep growing. bank of the Narva River and on the border During the first 3 months of 2005 the with Russia. The EU’s Cohesion Fund growth made up almost 45% as compared has assigned to Estonia a grant to identify with the previous year. best solutions for organizing cross-border “For many centuries Narva has The border bridge between Narva and Ivangorod: connecting West and East traffic over the Narva River. remained a key link in the transit chain According to a specialist of the West-East. This situation have been The city of Narva is remarkable not Cohesion Fund of the Estonian Ministry evolving historically and geographically. only due to its advantageous geographical of Finances, research for construction This route has always been the shortest location. It is a beautiful city with of a new bridge could last a little more one between Tallinn and St.Petersburg, rich history and vast development than a year: “Research is complicated by and therefore, it is most advantageous, potential in the fields of tourism and the fact that much depends on Russia”. economically speaking. Looking for entrepreneurship. According to the general director of the some different transportation ways or Estonian Department of Highways, five constructing the new ones would be by Anton Vylitok and Sergei Muiznieks years ago the cost of construction of a far more expensive. Besides, the new new bridge would have made up 20 to bridge is needed here not only to develop Further information: 25 million EURO. This sum comprised Estonian-Russian commodity circulation, Mr Sergei Muiznieks the cost of construction of the bridge, as but also to develop the entire transit City of Narva well as of terminals and access roads on between West and East” – says Viktoria e-mail: [email protected] the Estonian side. Soosaar, Vice Mayor of Narva. www.investinnarva.ee ODER RIVER CORRIDOR Berlin - Szczecin infrastructure accessibility. Szczecin The Oder Region urgently needs Corridor or "The Oder is a major partner in the project, attention in such fields as infrastructure, River Cor- ridor” has particularly interested in development public transport, ports’ infrastructure enormous strategic meaning for the of the communication in the axes: Berlin/ upgrade, environment, culture, economic development of the whole Brandenburg, ports in Mecklemburg innovations and tourism. Having said South Baltic Arc Region. VorPommern, Szczecin-Scania, with that, new chances appear as a result of The XV Committee of the Polish- the whole BSR and St. Petersburg close linkages between a prosperous German Committee on Regional and remaining important elements of the Öresund/South Sweden with Berlin/ Cross-border Cooperation recognized whole system. Brandenburg and common economic the economic development and regional From Szczecin’s experiences it seems region of the Oder Region. infrastructure as a common priority. worth stressing that there is a need There is also a need to make „this We read in the official communiqué for concrete and close cross border region” well connected with the CEE „Both sides have agreed to exchange cooperation to contribute to the BSR countries, especially as they experience experiences and update themselves development. Also, creating regional dynamic development processes and have on the infrastructure planning, private alliances may be a relevant tool in such increasing transportation needs. Such an investment and innovation support, in a process. Modernisation of railways and approach will contribute to making this particular”. This is also related to further adjusting them to the European standards region more competitive in the European modernization and extension of border of fast connections, upgrading the Oder context, and possibly in the future rail, road, air and water links, as well as and Hohensaaten - Friedrichsthal water- equipped with a more intensive grid of new border crossing points. This cross ways, expanding the network of roads infrastructure. border cooperation is of course supported on the Polish side of the border and new through projects co-financed by the ferry connection between Scania and Further information: INTERREG IIIB. Mukran/Sassnitz or Świnoujście remain Mr Maciej Cehak For example INTERREG IIIB „Baltic+ among the most urgent projects to be Szczecin City Spatial Planning Dept Project focuses on improvement of the developed. Tel. +48 91 4245 739

BCB 1/2005 13 THE ANCHOR NEAR VIA BALTICA Seeking efficient with Scandinavia and Western integration with Europe. The distance between the enlarged EU the future Panevėžys Logistics transport market and promoting Centre and the port of Klaipėda the Lithuanian transport sector is ca. 225 km. The Vilnius and competitiveness, we have to meet the Riga airports are about 120 km present challenges of transportation from Panevėžys. Potential access process. In the process of integration to RAIL BALTICA (2014) is with the EU's economy, one of the considered too. first priorities of Lithuanian transport The feasibility study for sector is creation of a network of new Panevėžys Logistics Centre was Panevėžys Logistics centre generation logistics centres (LC) - often carried out in the spring 2005. called as overland ports. Accordingly, the development of a best EU practices and future demands The city of Panevėžys has favourable modern logistics centre (freight village) of the region. The establishment of LC potential for strategic logistics node in must be based on the open intermodal infrastructure would consolidate the the North Eastern Lithuania and aims transport centre’s concept. The open interests of business community building at evolving as an important logistic intermodal centre may be defined as a the solid base for the new generation centre in the region at large. In 2003 physical and organizational structure business service centres. Integration of the Panevėžys City Council approved where a large number of – often small road and railway transport modes creates the city development strategy where or medium sized transport enterprises new opportunities to develop mobility development of logistics centre project – may be located with access to facilities of freight, to efficiently use the transport is prioritized. Panevėžys Logistics Centre supporting intermodal transport and means and to improve the quality of will be situated in the NW of the city, where enterprises may rent facilities transportation services. with the territory of 50 ha. It is halfway and pay according to the usage. The LC between two Baltic capitals Vilnius and infrastructure is going to be developed Further information: Riga where motorways Vilnius-Riga with the support from the EU’s Structural Mr Tadas Jagminas and Kaunas-Panevėžys-Riga meet. The Funds in 2006-2007. The building Advisor to the Mayor railway line that runs through Panevëţys potential for warehouses is up to 200 City of Panevėžys leads to the Pan-European rail transport 000 sq. m. Tel. +370 45 501306 corridor and to the Moscow area. The The concept of Panevėžys logistics e-mail: [email protected] VIA BALTICA connects Panevėžys centre was elaborated in line with the

EU’S NE CARGO LINK Background and Project work to date and agreement addition to this, the 35 project partners vision. Economic on future work have raised another SEK 8 million. The life in the Mid-Nordic An extensive network has been created Västernorrland County Administrative Region is depended upon well-functioning among industries, transporters and Board is the Lead Partner in the project. transport. The export industry needs authorities covering the whole of the Mid- Four areas of operation cost-effective transport to important Nordic Region with contacts in western 1. Devise an overall strategy for creating international markets in the EU and to the Russia and the UK. Extensive lobbying an inter modal transport network in the growing markets around the southern and and discussions concerning the project Mid Nordic Region eastern Baltic. Effective goods transport have also taken place with relevant 2. Survey and identifying weaknesses networks must be better co-ordinated at ministers and transport departments in in the current goods transport system transnational level with supplementary the countries concerned. The project 3. Implementing strategies for investing regional links and nodes. The NE Cargo includes a pre-study of a potential in a Mid-Nordic transport corridor Link (NECL) project has been running Internet portal that simply and effectively 4. Develop business connections between since 1996 with the aim of developing provides access to booking and ordering parties in participating countries as well and marketing a Mid-Nordic Region departments for transport services in the as Russia and the UK. east-west goods transport link to the corridor - “Business to Business”. In the international markets. This will alleviate autumn of 2002, a partnership was formed Further information: intense pressure on goods transport routes with the aim of applying for funding from Mr Bjorn Amnow in northern and central Europe. Business the EU INTERREG IIIB programme. City of Sundsvall interests started the project, but the co- In June 2003 the project was allocated Tel. +46 611 348050 operation between regional and local approximately SEK 14 million from the e-mail: [email protected] authorities has gradually increased. EU's Regional Development Fund. In

14 BCB 1/2005 II. UBC TODAY

VIII GENERAL CONFERENCE TURKU, SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 2, 2005

We are very proud that UBC The evening continues with a lively get- has chosen Turku as the venue of together dinner. the Conference, states Mr Armas On Friday, 30 September, participants Lahoniitty, the Mayor of Turku and 1st are invited to discuss challenging issues, Vice President of UBC. Turku will do such as the EU Budget Framework and its very best to ensure that the meetings its Implications for the Baltic Sea Region, as well as technical arrangements will Cities and Good Governance, Cities and satisfy our colleagues from the Baltic Competitiveness, Good Neighbourhood sister cities, he promises. Policies as well as Logistics issues. The main theme of this year's General The Mediterranean cooperation has Conference (29.9.-2.10.05) will be often been seen as an example for „Towards a New Baltic Sea Agenda”, as the Baltic Sea Region. Therefore, a confirmed by the UBC Executive Board representative from the Mediterranean meeting in Luleå. Region has been invited to discuss how On the Thursday evening, key note our Southern partners see us. “This could speakers will address the participants be a very interesting discussion”, says We hope that the Turku Conference about how they see the present and future Mayor Lahoniitty. “Maybe we can learn will be an important milestone for development of our region from political, more from each other”. the UBC's development. Our region cultural and business perspectives. On the Friday afternoon, parallel needs strong structures to tap all the Among invited speakers is Mr Matti working groups will continue to debate development potential it possesses. For Vanhanen, Prime Minister of Finland. the themes of the morning plenary this, we need a stronger UBC, emphasizes session. The day ends with a festive Mayor Lahoniitty, who will end his dinner in the historical castle of Turku. long municipal career after the UBC On the Saturday, 1 October, the UBC conference. He will retire at the end of will discuss its General Assembly 2005. issues. After a long working day, the by Mikko Lohikoski historical Voluntary Fire Brigade house Director of Communication and will welcome participants to a lively External Affairs, City of Turku dinner. The participants will also be able to participate in optional thematic Further information: excursions. www.turku.fi/ubc

BALTIC CITIES ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD 2005 The UBC has the honour of inviting encourage the cities in the Baltic Sea The guidelines for the award are its member cities to The Baltic Cities Region to develop their administration available in the Award leaflet and can Environmental Award 2005, on the and services in an innovative way for be downloaded together with the Award occasion of the VIII UBC General the good of the whole municipality and form (optional) at the UBC's website. Conference, ”Towards a New Baltic its citizens. The application should arrive the latest Sea Agenda” in Turku 29 September The Award Jury will select the winner on 15 August to the UBC Commission – 1 October 2005. of the Award 2005. The winning city will on Environment Secretariat. The theme of the Baltic Environmental be presented with an honorary award Award 2005 will be "Sustainable Transport (the diploma and the grant of 5000 Euro) Further information: and Mobility". The theme envisages one during the festive ceremony at the Turku Ms Anna Granberg of the greatest challenges faced by the Castle during the General Conference. UBC EnvCom Secretariat Baltic Sea Region cities. The grant is kindly donated by the Danish City of Turku The intention with the Award, that company, Per Aarsleff A/S. e-mail: anna.granberg@turku.fi is arranged every second year, is to

BCB 1/2005 15 42ND EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING IN LULEÅ The 42nd meeting of the UBC Executive policy from 2007 – namely the European Board was held on 5 March 2005 in Territorial Cooperation. The statement the City of Luleå, Sweden, upon the emphasizes the fact that the cross-border invitation of Mr Karl Petersen, Mayor cooperation in the BSR may be severely of Luleå. harmed if the limit of 150 km for maritime The City of Turku informed about the border is introduced. UBC is of the opinion status of preparations and the programme that the maximum distance of 150 km of of the VIII UBC General Conference to maritime border (to be eligible to obtain be held in Turku on 29 September – 2 funding for cross-border projects) is October 2005. The General Conference contrasting with the idea of strengthening will deal with the following issues: the territorial cooperation and therefore we logistic corridors, EU budget and its object to it. UBC expects a more flexible implications for the Baltic Sea Region, approach in taking into account existing From the left: Christopher Ödmann from good governance, competitiveness, good and historical cooperation between the Stockholm, UBC Secretary General Paweł neighbourhood policies, human contacts in partners on both sides of maritime border. Żaboklicki and UBC President Per Bødker the BSR, etc. During the GC the following The Board authorised the President to send Andersen events would also take place: meeting of a letter with the statement to the prime the Committee of Senior Officials of the ministers of 10 Baltic Sea countries. The cities? How to enhance the work of CBSS, coordination meeting of the Baltic Board members were obliged to make sure Commissions/networks and mobilise Sea organisations, seminar of the Baltic that the proper attention will be given to more outside funding? How to ensure Region Healthy Cities Association. The the letter in their countries. that the concerns of the cities in BSR are last day of the General Conference would In December the President sent out a listened to at national government level be devoted to the internal UBC matters letter to the member cities asking them to and in Brussels? Several cities responded such as reports, elections, finances, etc. express their views how we can make our to the President’s letter. For example there The Chairman of the UBC Logistics own organisation, the UBC, even stronger. were opinions that: UBC could improve Task Force, reported about the activities In the letter the President noted that a year lobbying in Brussels using the cities of the Task Force and outlined the present ago on 1 May we have experienced a representation offices. Gender balance situation of the is needed in the UBC authorities and logistic corridors commissions. Less effective commissions in the BSR. could be incorporated by the effective The task force ones. was created by President Andersen informed that city the Board in of Maardu proposed the establishing May 2004. Its of the new UBC Commission on Civil tasks include Protection and Prevention from natural and the preparation man-made risks. Maardu is of the opinion of the next that activities which would be organised UBC General in the frame of the new commission Conference in would contribute to the elaboration of the Turku, where effective technologies and methods of the transport and civil protection mechanism, which could logistics issues be used by the cities of the BSR. The will be one of Board decided that before the decision the key items. on the new UBC organ dealing with the The Task Force civil protection can be made, there was a emphasizes that modern port and land significant historical moment - the Baltic need to map out which authorities were transportation infrastructure coordinated Sea Region became almost an inland sea of responsible for dealing with natural and with maritime transport is crucial for the the EU. This fact will have a strong positive man-made disasters in each of 10 Baltic development of the BSR. The next meeting impact on further development of our Sea countries - municipal, county, regional of the Task Force is scheduled for 26-27 region and it must have an impact on the or state authorities. The Board authorised May 2005 in Turku. activities of the UBC. The EU enlargement Maardu to prepare such a survey. On the UBC's initiative, the major in the BSR brings new opportunities and The next Executive Board meeting Baltic Sea organisations namely: B7, challenges to the UBC. In his letter, the is to be held in Chojnice, Poland, on 11 BSSSC, CPMR-BSC, UBC, decided to President put forward important questions June 2005. send to the EC the joint statement on the for example: how to promote effectively by Paweł Żaboklicki Objective Three of the reformed cohesion exchange of experiences between member UBC Secretary General

16 BCB 1/2005 CHANGES IN THE COMMISSION ON CULTURE Elections In addition to election of a new chair, the Life International Film Festival. The Visby hosted the latest Commission board discussed the CoC annual sessions working title of the 2006 annual session on Culture (CoC) Board meeting on and other activities that are planned for is ‘Cultural Festivals and Local Identity’ 14-16 April 2005. The chairmanship this year. Representatives from Szczecin and it is aimed both at festival producers and structure of the CoC Board were confirmed that two international art and municipal culture officials. among the main topics of this meeting. exhibitions in the National Museum The newest invention of the CoC Board The members of the Board chose Ms in Szczecin - Metropolis and Baltic is a UBC Cultural Prize, which will Tarja Hautamaki, Head of Culture Biennial of Contemporary Art-Habitat recognize extraordinary achievement by Department of Vaasa, Finland, to be the are going ahead. The events are being artistic groups or associations working new Chairman and Mr Olov Gibson, organized with the Mare Articum Online in the field of cultural activity in UBC Cultural Official from the Department project, which will see the bi-annual member cities. The Board is working of Culture and Leisure in Visby, Sweden, magazine transferred to an Internet-based now on details, rules and application was chosen as the Vice-Chairman. The platform. forms and anticipates the first prize to be CoC secretariat will continue to be run by Sessions of the Commission awarded in 2006. the city of Szczecin Culture and Cultural This year’s annual CoC Session, under The CoC Board Meeting in Visby was Heritage Department. the working title Roles and Value of Art fruitful and productive. The board has Museums in the Post-Modern prepared a schedule of its activity for World, will take place in St. 2005 and is working hard to accomplish Petersburg. No dates have its goals for this year and beyond. Anyone been set, but the meeting interested in the Commission on Culture is planned for the end of and its activities is urged to contact us! October or second weekend of November. Further information: The next year’s session, Ms Marlena Chybowska devoted to cultural festivals, City of Szczecin From the left: A.Oryl, M.Chybowska (Szczecin), will take place in Vaasa e-mail: O.Cherkasova (St.Petersburg), T. Hautamaki (Vaasa), (23-26 November 2006), in [email protected] A. Ozola (Tukums) and A.Blomhagen (Visby) conjunction with the Wild UBC COMENV MEETING IN SOPOT ON 20-21 JUNE The Baltic Sea Region is no longer a Survey 2004. The survey is unique in periphery of Europe. As a result of the its scope and presents the state of art in whole Baltic Sea Region. These gatherings enlargement of the European Union the sustainability in the BSR cities. are an occasion not only to learn from region is now closely integrated with • What has already been done to others’ experiences but also to address the rest of the continent and is emerging improve the situation? Presentation from common challenges and opportunities. as a major player in the northeast of outstanding cities singled out by the The importance of the EnvCom meeting Europe. Our region has now a challenge UBC sustainability survey. Best Practice cannot be overemphasized as it brings to position itself within this geographical examples in the fields of sustainable together some of the most important reality as a European model region in economy, transport, energy, management stakeholders for the future of the Baltic environmental protection and sustainable and social issues. A City study tour to Sea Region. We are looking forward to development. The Baltic cities should interesting project sites in the Sopot your fruitful participation and innovative strive for positioning themselves as the region, for example the pedagogic nature contribution! most important actor in the process of path “Stream walk of Sopot”. developing the region’s future. • What will the future look like? In the Further information: To address the issue, i.e. how to workshop the future work of EnvCom Ms Anna Granberg make use of the cities’ potential in will be addressed. How should the UBC ComEnv Secretariat the development of an environmental BSR cities act to become more visible e-mail: anna.granberg@turku.fi friendly Baltic Sea Region, we would stakeholders and how could the EnvCom like to warmly welcome you to the UBC serve as a platform to reach the goal. Commission on Environment meeting The meeting will also give an up-dated in the beautiful beach city of Sopot, on view of recent UBC projects and cover 20-21 June 2005. the formal matters. The aim of the meeting is to address The UBC Commission on Environment the following questions: meets twice a year, bringing together • In what direction are we heading? actors and decision makers in the fields of Presentation of the UBC Sustainability environment and sustainability from the

BCB 1/2005 17 INVITATION TO THE COMMISSION COMEDUCATION ON BUSINESS MEETING IN TALLINN WILL MEET IN Tallinn welcomes all the members Tallinn as a capital of Estonia of UBC Business Commission and holds a positive position in economic NORRTÄLJE representatives from cities interested in development not only in the context becoming members of the Commission of Estonia, where it is a driving force, The Presidium of the Commission on to a two-days meeting to be held in but also in comparison with the other Education met in Norrtälje to discuss Tallinn on 16-17 May 2005. Baltic Rim cities. The open-mindness the final program of the Commission's The topics, which will be covered and innovativeness, infrastructure conference and the meeting to be held during the two-days meeting, include and modern network of services make in Norrtälje in September 2005. among others general overview about Tallinn an ideal place for testing new Life-long learning and styles of ● the business environment in Tallinn technologies. Many changes have taken learning. There will be a two-day and in Estonia place since last decades and intense seminar on 7-8 September lead by ● the role of the city to promote and development work is under way to better teachers and headmasters from Norrtälje enhance entrepreneurship and business meet the needs of businesses. Tallinn has on flexible learning. It will start with an development in the region also long cultural traditions. introduction about the Swedish school ● local cooperation networks in the Besides the business traditions, Tallinn system. The seminars will also include field of technology and knowledge is one of the best-preserved medieval distance education, tailored educational transfer. European cities, which received the city programs, communication systems and The second day of the meeting will rights on May 15, 1248. Since 2002, the infrastructure. Special attention will be be targeted mostly at the exchange City Day is celebrated on that date. By given to styles of learning and integration of experiences and the know-how on arriving in the evening of May 15, you of subjects. We also intend to include an the project level, e.g. how to use EU will have the possibility to enjoy the excursion to the new Campus Roslagen Structural and Cohesion Funds for unique pearl of medieval architecture in Norrtälje with several higher education the business development within the - the picturesque Old Town. programs. Baltic Sea Region and what could be Commission on Education will meet the common interests for the further Further information: on 9-12 September. All UBC-members cooperation on the project level. Hereby, Mr Jaanus Vahesalu are invited to send delegates to this the presentations about best practices in City of Tallinn meeting as well as to the seminars two other cities are highly welcomed. e-mail: [email protected] days earlier. Take the opportunity to see the beautiful town of Norrtälje and to take part in very interesting seminars. During our meeting on Friday we would ANNUAL MEETING OF THE like to inform about the Erken Laboratory summer research school for students TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION aged 17-20 and about the examples of Comenius projects. Furthermore, Please book the dates 20-21 October we intend to discuss possibilities for 2005 in your agenda. This is when the cooperation with other commissions next Annual meeting and seminar of (Sport and Environment). The seminar the Commission on Transportation will days in Norrtälje will be reviewed and be arranged in Gdynia, Poland. we also hope to get information from the 20 October will be dedicated to the UBC Board. seminar and basing on suggestions from Invitations will be sent through the the network members, it will focus on UBC Secretariat and we hope to attract public transport, or more specifically on many members. The Commission on trolleybuses. Examples from different The next TransCom seminar and Annual Meeting will take place in the City of Education presidium looks forward to cities and discussions about advantages, seeing you in September! disadvantages and the future will be Gdynia presented. The Annual meeting will take Further information: by Kurt Pettersson place the next day, on 21 October. Ms Sofie Vennersten Chairman of the Commission More information and programme UBC Commission on Transportation follows soon and will be also available City of Göteborg Further information: on the website http://www.ubc.net/ Tel. +46 31 61 22 84 Ms Cecilia Karlberg commissions/transportation.html e-mail: sofie.vennersten@ City of Norrtälje trafikkontoret.goteborg.se e-mail: [email protected]

18 BCB 1/2005 10TH JUBILEE OF UBC COMMISSION ON SPORT It is known that physical inactivity Furthermore, there was a presentation is a significant risk factor for various of 10 years of the Commission’s activity diseases. Many researchers have made by Ms Ewa Depka (Gdynia) as well proved that economic costs of inactivity as of 2005 grant awarding procedure amount to hundreds of millions of entitled “Healthy Lifestyle through euro due to the increased number of Sport”. By awarding grants for sports diseased persons, increased absence projects, the Commission on Sport would at work, cost of medical services and like to raise awareness of the importance drugs. of sport as an integral element of healthy One of the questions posed during lifestyle and to promote healthy lifestyle tenth Jubilee Annual Meeting of UBC practices. It is known that regular physical Commission on Sport organised in activity reduces mortality by 36 per cent, Klaipėda on 14-16 April 2005 was how improves the quality of life and slows down the aging process. Even 30 minutes to motivate people to be more active. 10th Jubilee Commission's session Participants from 13 UBC member cities of daily physical activity prolongs your from 6 countries discussed the issue of out in collaboration with WHO and by life, reduces overweight and decreases physical activity and health promotion Ms B. Grüner (Germany) – INTERREG medical and economic costs. presented by professor H. Löllgen IIIC SportUrban Project. (Germany) and Mr. D. Kepenis from During the meeting of the Commission Further information: Palanga School of Health (Lithuania). on Sport Ms Beata Łęgowska (Gdynia) Ms Ewa Depka Moreover, two practical examples were was elected Chairperson for the next term Commission on Sport shown by Ms H. Parkkunen (Finland) and Ms Lena Ryge (Karlskrona) was City of Gdynia – the Healthy City Programme carried elected the Vice-chairperson. e-mail: [email protected] BALTIC INSTITUTE OF FINLAND AND UBC IS COM An INTERREG IIIC project facilitate development and piloting “Challenge of eCitizen: Promoting of innovative and advanced outputs eGovernment Actions in European including eManagement systems for city Cities” prepared by the Baltic Institute administrations, online public services of Finland in collaboration with the for citizens with web-based, mobile UBC IS COM was launched in January and smart card applications as well 2005. Several UBC member cities as new eParticipation services with participate in the project. interactive consultative applications. European city administrations are As a cross-cutting issue, awareness of as a rule undergoing far-reaching and citizens on eGovernment actions is raised comprehensive transformations in their through implementation of information governance and processes. This implies eCitizen Project Manager Ms Minna distribution strategies and local Hanhijärvi meets with the project partners in improving participation and consultation Tartu, Deputy Mayor Mr Hannes Astok and campaigns as well as publishing studies of citizens towards local governments Mobile Service Expert Mr Rain Rannu and reports on eGovernment actions in as well as ensuring that citizens have Europe and key results of the project easy access to local government challenges in promoting information components. Capacities and knowledge information, services and decision- society development in regional level of local policy-makers, officials and making procedures online. Development following principles of the EU eEurope experts on design and management of local eGovernment systems provides program and local eGovernment of local eGovernment actions will be city administrations with a powerful tool initiatives. The cooperation between enhanced through extensive training for stimulating citizens’ involvement and the partner cities was established as an and consultation. A follow-up strategy to participation in democratic decision- outcome of the UBC IS COM and eCities ensure sustainability of the project results making and community empowerment. Forum/Telecities European network in the partner cities will be developed. Interregional cooperation between cities meetings in 2003 and 2004. The cities sharing these challenges enables them are partners in the project and the Baltic Further information: to fully exploit latest outcomes of the Institute of Finland acts as the Lead Mr Esa Kokkonen Information Society development and Partner. Director of Baltic Institute of Finland overcome the challenge of eCitizen. This three-year project is designed City of Tampere This project is an outcome of to support innovative on-going local Tel. +358 3 3146 6945 cooperation between UBC member cities eGovernment actions and strategies. e-mail: [email protected].fi and other European cities sharing similar The project activities are focused to

BCB 1/2005 19 MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON TOURISM IN JURMALA I have the honour to invite you all to Liisa Lemmetyinen,Turku (e-mail:liisa. the annual meeting of the Commission lemmetyinen@turku.fi) to name possible on Tourism on September 9-11, 2005. candidates for the new board of the This year our meeting is hosted by Commission. The board itself appoints Jurmala, Latvia, situated on the its new chairman. fantastic southeast shore of the Baltic Besides traditional meeting procedures Sea! there will be plenty of opportunities Since the board was elected for a to visit tourist attractions in the area, two-year-period in October 2003, there both scheduled in the programme and will be elections for a new board of the during free time. Visits to spa hotels, the Further information: Commission at this meeting. Kalmar, concert hall and Kemeri national park are Mr Kyrre Dahl, Chairman leading the Commission since 1999, included. New information about the EU Commission on Tourism has announced its retirement from the and the financing possibilities. City of Kalmar Chairmanship from October 2005. Invitations will come soon! Heartily Tel. +46 480 450160 Please feel free to contact the elections’ welcome to Jurmala, Latvia! e-mail: [email protected] nominating committee, chaired by Ms by Viktor Rydell, Secretary

We want to have more influence cities. But the conference is also open to CONFERENCE So, give us some more tolerance participants from other interested cities It’s our city, it’s our school It should be good, it should be cool and organisations. The conference should be a forum for "YOUNG AND We don’t do everything like you We want our things to become true young people to exchange experiences, Having our own ideas and visions find new partners, and discuss common ACTIVE" Give our input for decisions issues such as youth participation, the The UBC network on youth issues We spend more time in school then EU and Baltic Sea co-operation, and is organising in cooperation with at home youth influence on the local level. More UBC and the Mayor of Vilnius the Why should you decide about it all information can be found on the recently conference for young people "Young alone? launched website of the network. Where is our space in our city? and Active in the Baltic Sea Region". Who is our voice in the committee? It will take place on 13-16 October in Further information: We want to know what we can do the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Mr Dejan Panow What are our chances, how can they Invited are primarily youths, aged become true? Network on Youth Issues 18-25, and civil servants dealing with The world is not only for you e-mail: [email protected] youth issues from all UBC member We want to become active, too. www.ubc-youth.net

the whole functional urban area of the city MANAGING URBAN EUROPE – 25 and it will also include more sustainable The largest European project so far that. During the current year, the project development dimensions that just the on cities’ environmental management will investigate and analyze the success of environmental one. systems (EMS) has just been started. EMS applications in European cities. On The goals of the project are closely This project, coordinated by the UBC, is basis of that, the development needs should linked to the Thematic Strategy on the developing the next generation of EMS be found out. Once the needs start to be Urban Environment within the EU 6th to address sustainable development in revealed, further development of both the Environmental Action Plan and co-funded the whole functional urban area. existing systems and the methods of their by EC DG Environment. The project has The goal of extending the environmental implementation will be carried out. altogether 23 partners, including 14 cities management system to address the whole The cities play an extremely important from all over Europe. Seven UBC member functional urban area is an extremely role in the project, as they should both cities are in the Project Steering Group and ambitious one. Only very few cities in the provide information on successes and all other UBC members will receive the world have so far been able to achieve this failures so far, and carry out testing of methodological and information materials by applying the existing systems. As work the new solutions to be developed in the developed by the project. on environmental management systems at project. Utilizing this practical test and cities has been on-going already for more further developing the methods based on Further information: than a decade, it is indeed time to take it, the MUE-25 project should be able Mr Risto Veivo a closer and critical look at the systems by the beginning of 2008 to propose an UBC Commission on Environment themselves and on the ways how they improved system and implementation City of Turku have been implemented in the cities. methodology to be used potentially in all e-mail: risto.veivo@netti.fi MUE-25 project starts exactly by doing cities of Europe. This system will address

20 BCB 1/2005 EMINAR IN DYNIA between the pier and the city centre. The ABC S G proposals aimed for multi purpose use, On April 20-24th 2005 city planners on presenting as much information as increasing contact with the city area and from 27 cities in 8 countries met in possible about Gdynia and the Tri-city some small scale investments to increase Gdynia, Poland for the 5th seminar region Gdynia-Sopot-Gdańsk. Deputy the attractiveness and access to the area. in the ABC project (Alliance of Mayor, Marek Stępa, informed about Another group worked with how to Baltic Cities). That’s a three-year the Gdynia city development and its improve and revitalise a number of inner INTERREG IIIB supported project, main strategies and the role of Gdynia in city housing quarters. The inner parts of run by the UBC Commission on the Pomaranian region. Following these the quarters needs to be more efficient Urban Planning. The seminar theme there were lecture giving a historical and attractive outlined. The third group was “Cities as regional engines - view of Gdynia architecture and an worked with how to make best use of Improving the city core”. overview of the polish planning system, a green corridor near the City Hall and After welcome greetings from the from national to local level. There was how to combine needs of more office Mayor of Gdynia, Wojciech Szczurek, also a lecture on analysis of measures space and parking with qualities of the and from the UBC Secretariat by the of architectural building-elements given green area. Secretary General, Paweł Żaboklicki by consultant architect. The head of The results from the workshops were the first day of the seminar focused Gdynia city planning department, then presented to representatives from Gdynia took the seminar city. The results will also be described in group to a very a printed seminar report, to be delivered interesting excursion at the 6th ABC seminar in Malmö, to be through the city and held on 6-9 October 2005. its surroundings. The seminar also held an excursion The second day to Hel, a spectacular long and narrow focused on three peninsula outside of Gdynia, as well as different workshops. short visits to Sopot and Gdańsk. One group studied how to redevelope Further information: a harbour area close Mr Lars-Göran Boström to the city center, the Commission on Urban Planning Dalmor company City of Umeå Workshop group, drawing proposals for redevelopment of fishery pier, and e-mail: [email protected] the Gdynia harbour area a waterfront area NEWS FROM WOMEN'S NETWORK Women’s Network has been on alert The answer was the following: “As Women’s Network will meet in Narva because of a new Presidium that will be described in the point 7 in the Minutes, on 17 June in a seminar with the theme elected at the VIII UBC GC in Turku. Board members considered that the "Women and Men sharing decision- At the meeting of the Executive Board composition of the Presidium should making in Municipalities". Narva has in Luleå the representatives of the be balanced, and take into account also very active women’s organisations. It Swedish, German and Finnish cities the gender issue. However, the election is a UBC city with many strong women as well as UBC Women’s Network is in the hands of the official delegates participating in the decision-making, in expressed their views on the need at the General Conference”. (Minutes, the administration as well as the City for a more balanced representation point 12) Council - you will find there three female of women and men in the Board and The Women’s Network expresses vice-mayors! Presidium. It was notable that in Luleå its satisfaction with the fact that the This meeting will be linked to other only two women were present, none of candidate of the Swedish cities to the interesting events coming up: Turku city them Board members. Presidium is Marie-Louise Rönnmark, hosting Turku - St. Petersburg days on 7- As an answer to the President’s letter the Mayor of Umeå. 10 September, UBC General Conference the Swedish cities stressed that “the It shall also be reminded that in the 29 September - 2 October and Women equality among women and men in autumn the situation may allow also and Democracy Conference hosted by St. the presidium, board and commissions the election of more than one female Petersburg on 6-9 October where UBC is essential” and the Finnish cities candidate. In addition to this the election has got an own quota of 20 participants. that “equality issues are important in of the Executive Board will also take UBC work” (Minutes, point 7). The place in the autumn. So, now Women’s Further information: German cities wanted a direct answer Network has to go on lobbying for that Ms Ulla Lundqvist on the question “What is the opinion women will candidate and participate Coordinator of Women’s Network of the Board as regards the election of as delegates at the General Conference City of Turku female for the UBC Vice-President?”. in Turku. e-mail: ul@feminaaboensis.fi

BCB 1/2005 21 ONTEMPORARY RT AGAZINE co-operation to aggression – take place. C A M The exhibition touches on the palpable The National Museum in Szczecin both materially and in the sphere of tensions in modern cities and both the under the auspicies of the UBC values and convictions of those that create beauty and the pathologies that arise Commission on Culture will organise and populate them. from them. two exhibitions this year. Metropolis While Habitat will concentrate on To strengthen communication among will be opened in conjuction with the the intimate, deeply personal ways that art institutions in the region, MARE XIII Ministerial Session of the CBSS urban dwellers model and shape the ARTICUM will initiate an electronic in Szczecin (9-10 June) and will run social space, Metropolis explores the version. The Mare Articum Online web for 5 weeks. Artists participating in ‘macro’ perspective, showing the city site will be frequently updated with Metropolis will look at urbanisation and its dynamic structure how it operates information, details and related content and mediatisation of the societal within the larger framework of human (critical reviews, discussion forums). processes. The VI Baltic Biennial of existence. Working from the premise Contemporary Art under the title that the city defines a matrix on which Further information: Habitat will run in December 2005/ social processes realise themselves, Ms Magdalena Lewoc January 2006. Metropolis presents works that look for Commission on Culture Beyond the Baltic venue and regional relations among spatial form and social [email protected] connections, the Metropolis and Habitat structure. The artists featured investigate Ms Marlena Chybowska exhibitions are linked on complimentary a city as an organism in which various Commission on Culture concepts. They address the human need to attitudes and opinions are created and [email protected] shape the urban social space and relations in which a range of interactions – from

AROUND THE ALTIC EA projects of the EU since 2004. Besides TEN B S improvements of existing tracks also the The goal of TEN was to promote continue the rail tracks to Helsingborg new ones must be constructed to ride by mobility of citizens and goods in the EU. and Helsingör, Denmark. train from Tallinn to Riga. In Lithuania The key point has been to decrease the The Swedish railway administration it has been discussed to change the track logistical costs. It is especially important has started to plan high speed connections gauge to the Central European standard. for the Scandinavian countries. In Finland between Stockholm and Malmö. The The Baltic Sea Motorway. In modern the logistic costs have been some 10 per construction of Bothnia Banan, the new logistics the storeys are minimized. The cent of the business volume of enterprises. railway connection from Stockholm to production must be delivered as quick In France it has been 6,5, in Germany 4,5 Umeå has started in 2005. as possible, the freight ships must have and in UK 4 per cent. Italian Pendolinos of the Finnish excact time schedule, in the harbours the The TEN traffic corridors comprise the Railways VR are running between passing through time must be minimized, network of motorways, railroads and the Helsinki and Turku and also the too. In the southern Baltic ports of telematic infrastructure for truck drivers construction of the last part of the new Rostock, Szczecin, Gdynia and Gdańsk and harbours, airports and other terminals. motorway starts at the end of this year are competing with each other. They are The priority TEN corridors around the and will be completed in 2009. attractive for the investors due to the fact BSR are: the Nordic Triangle, the Rail Fast speed trains (220 km/h) start to run of owning huge area for investments. Baltica and the Baltic Sea Motorway. between Helsinki-St.Petersburg in 2008 The City of Helsinki started to plan in The Nordic Triangle is a traffic corridor or 2011. The journey across the border 1990 the construction of the new harbour connecting Copenhagen, Stockholm, will take 3 hours and 30 minutes. with its shipping route, rail track and Turku, Helsinki, St. Petersburg and also The airports of Kastrup/Copenhagen, the new road connections to be ready to Oslo and Göteborg. Arlanda/Stockholm, Vantaa/Helsinki and operate in 2008. The key project was the Öresund Gardemoe/Oslo have been developed Russia constructed quickly two new bridge and a tunnel between Malmö intensively in 15 years. New terminals oil ports, Promorsk and Visotsk by the and Copenhagen. There is also a plan to have been constructed and they are Bay of Viborg. It seems to be important connected to the highways and for the Russian oil enterprises to keep oil the cities’ centres. business in their own hands. Ventspils, Rail Baltica and Via Baltica. Latvia is competing with these ports Via Baltica connects Helsinki- having a direct oil pipeline from Russia. Tallinn-Riga-Kaunas-Warsaw. The motorway with all kinds Further information of technical infrastructure has Mr Jussi Kautto, Chairman been improved systematically UBC Commission on Urban Planning in the last 15 years, but it still City of Helsinki needs large investments. Rail Tel. + 358 50 59 31 336 Baltica is one of the 30 priority e-mail: jussi.kautto@hel.fi

22 BCB 1/2005 III. NEWS FROM MEMBER CITIES

The Marselis Tunnel Project Marselis Tunnel Project. The decision reflects also, that the expansion of the port The 1995 master plan for develop- and the plans for the City-Near-Harbour- ment of the commercial Port of Århus Areas will make the Marselis Boulevard suggests that the capacity of the port Corridor the obvious future sole access must be doubled within 25 years in road to and from the port. order to remain being attractive for The development of the port and the commercial cargo, ferry and freight City-Near-Harbour-Areas has made it traffic operators and to meet future necessary to completely re-think the demands from companies operating existing traffic structure of central Århus their business from the port. The in a new Traffic Plan 2020. The backbone expansion of the port began in 1998 Birka Princess - one of the world’s of the new traffic plan will be an inner biggest cruise liners visiting Gdynia and when the expansion is complete its ring road corridor, which will include also capacity will significantly increase. the Marselis Boulevard and the Marselis accommodating the largest vessels. This The development of the port leaves Tunnel. year we expect over 100 calls. Among large parts of northernmost inner harbour From early days, development of the them there are the world’s largest and areas closest to the City centre open for City and development the Port have been most beautiful cruising vessels such new attractive housing and business closely integrated. Today, interaction as ”Constellation”, ”Aurora”, ”Star developments. between the City and the Port is as Princess”. On-shore, the port has two main dynamic as ever. The Marselis Tunnel The overall aim of this cruise ship road corridors connecting it to the Projects as presented above will be an partnership will be to ensure a 20% state motorway network of Denmark; asset to the Port, to the City and to the increase in cruise ship guests coming to a southern corridor – the Marselis entire Region. the region, together with a 4% increase in Boulevard Corridor – connecting to the the Baltic Region’s market share of cruise motorway south of the city and a northern Further information: ships globally. The project will run for the corridor connecting to northern parts Rambøll Danmark A/S next three years and will be co-financed of Jutland. As the port is located in the Tel. +45 99 35 7500 by the EU programme ‘Interreg IIIB’. very centre of the City, both corridors e-mail: [email protected] The Baltic cruise ship project take the traffic to and from the port www.ramboll.dk focuses on two specific areas: through densely populated residential developing destinations and marketing. and commercial areas and both corridors The developing of destinations is serve as main access roads for these Major Baltic Cruise specifically concerned with upgrading purposes as well. Partnership Launched and standardising the service at each of To accommodate for the increased the partner’s harbours. Marketing will needs for transportation of goods on the Gdynia has joined a new Baltic concentrate on developing a brand for connecting roads to and from the port partnership between selected cruise the region and shared marketing activities and to control air and noise pollution in harbours to create new possibilities with a focus on the cultivation of press central Århus generated by the increased for an increased growth in the number contacts and sales initiatives within traffic volume, the City Council of Århus of cruise ships coming to Gdynia the cruise industry. Furthermore, these has decided to build a traffic connection and the Baltic Sea. The Baltic is a activities will be supplemented with a between the major roads and the harbour. region of tradition and modernity, shared PR strategy. The solution can be an approximately 2 a region of Kings and Tsars, Thanks to Cruise Baltic, all the km long, two-by-two lanes road tunnel and the cradle of the Solidarity participating countries are able to offer below the existing Marselis Boulevard Movement that changed the whole the same service, high standards and and widen the existing Åhavevej from political map in Eastern Europe. full integration between ports and cities two to four lanes i.e., increasing the traffic Cruise Baltic is a close co-operation for cruise lines that want to discover the capacity of the southern corridor – the between 10 countries – including 16 unique possibilities of the Baltic Sea destinations. Poland is represented by Region. the City of Gdynia and the Gdynia Port Authority. The Baltic Cruise project Further information: focuses primarily on the Baltic and then Małgorzata Dehmel, Ph.D. on individual destinations. City of Gdynia During last year’s season Gdynia Tel. + 48 58 66 88 150 was visited by 82 ships that brought Fax + 48 58 66 88 149 over seventy thousand tourists. Gdynia e-mail: [email protected] A plan of the Marselis Boulevard Corridor is the only Polish port capable of – BCB 1/2005 23 Karlskrona and Liepāja the Olympics it was so hard to bid good District new “Twin Cities” bye to new friends from Greece, Italy, Cyprus. Nothing will be able to repeat The Municipalities of Karlskrona and the atmosphere of the Olympic Athens Liepāja District signed an agreement - we will never forget it! of friendship and cooperation on January 20, 2005. The agreement Further information: is signed to establish and develop Mrs Ina Sidlauskiene cooperation relations between both City of Klaipėda communities with an aim to promote Tel/fax +370 410053 the development and quality of life in e-mail: [email protected] both municipalities. Education through Sport - a group of young Klaipėdians Comprehensive Transport various Klaipėda seafaring colleges and Solutions for Koszalin Klaipėda University Marine Institute. They had a navigation practice in the Koszalin prepares itself to solve Russian sailing ship MIR. The training comprehensively its transport problems tall ship of St. Petersburg A. Makarov taking advantage of EU projects. The Marine Academy, its captain and the crew following groups of transport and were the most friendly hosts and teachers traffic issues can be distinguished from to our students. Sailing from Hamburg the area of influence point of view: Mr Modris Eksteins, Mayor of Liepāja to Cuxhaven and other German ports 1. Internal municipal transport. District, and Mr Mats Johansson, Mayor of and serving entertainment passengers on 2. Communication with the nearest Karlskrona, are signing the agreement board, and training under the huge sails city vicinity. The agreement should provide - all this was a unique experience for the 3. Communication access at the national cooperation between both Councils and youngsters and international level. the people. The two municipalities also Between July – August a crew of twelve The most important objectives of signed a Programme of Cooperation pupils with the famous in our country the municipal transport solutions are for the period of 2005-2007. During Class D sailing yacht “LIETUVA” associated with reduction of traffic in this period the two municipalities are participated in Tall Ships’ Races’2004 the centre of Koszalin and transfer of going to cooperate in the following in the North Sea. This vessel became the transit traffic to municipal bypasses. fields: social sector, youth exchange, the first Lithuanian ship, which take full The first objective can be accomplished international cooperation within the participation at these prestigious races. after completion of currently conducted Euroregion Baltic, culture, education, The captains of the yacht father and son construction of the city centre bypass. tourism, sport, transport, housing and Kudzevichius say, that the race results of Some parts of the city will be revitalized public utilities. their performance exceeded expectations and partly or fully excluded from road - they took up the 8th position among traffic. A north-south bypass of the Further information: the numerous yachts of their class. The National Route No 11 has been planned Mr Tore Almlöf route Klaipėda-Antwerpen-Aalborg- to be located to the west of the city. City of Karlskrona Stavanger-Cuxhaven-Klaipėda - more The nearest vicinity of Koszalin is e-mail: [email protected] than a month at sea and in hospitable deemed to be the area development of ports, were the memories that will remain which is of strategic importance for the in the hearts of the young sailors. city. This is determined by two seaports, “We’ll never forget...” The Municipality of Amaroussion, part namely Kołobrzeg to the west and of greater Athens, the venue of 75% of the Darłowo to the east of the city. Today, The spring – summer period this Olympic Games’2004 took initiative of the basis for existence of both seaports is year for the youth of Klaipėda was “Scuolaxenia” project. This was a program fishing and seasonal tourist traffic as well full of unforgettable impressions aiming to promote the cooperation of as insignificant cargo handling operations. related to international activities municipalities from all over the EU in in the spirit of “Education through the field of youth education and sports. Sports” program. Though supported KIaipėda was among the participants – 40 not by this program, but by either the students, teachers and city administration City and local sponsors, the hosts of representatives were invited to live in a project or the Council of Europe, the atmosphere of the Olympic City. For youngsters from Klaipėda had a three weeks Amaroussion was our most remarkable chance to take part in a attentive host. The ancient land of gods number of very interesting projects. was generous – our students’ teams won Ten days of late spring 2004 were every arranged single friendly match of remarkable for a group of students from basketball and football. On the last day of Koszalin - a view to the Baltic Sea

24 BCB 1/2005 The authorities of Koszalin support the see the future of the town in the idea to run a road that would link directly dynamic development of the town both seaports and animate this piece of and most of all in improving the coast. The north border of Koszalin’s town’s communication and making it strategic vicinity is the beach of Mielno more accessible. Four women are in sandbar with holiday resorts located there: the authorities of the town - Mayor, Mielno and Łazy. Lake Jamno situated Deputy Mayor, Town Secretary and between both localities is a potential Treasurer. tourist attraction. The efforts being made The biggest investments are two to revive the lake are associated with roundabout roads, the extension of the the plans of traffic connection of lake’s province road no. 214 to Warlubie. vicinity with Koszalin. Also, the idea to A study visit in March this year - project The roads will lead traffic towards the participants from Tallinn and Malmö provide land and water transport solution Slowiński National Park, Harbour of between the above localities using special Measures in Malmö include for Łeba and to the marina opened up in amphibian buses is crystallizing. Apart instance: 1998 for 120 boats, the first one of the from reduction of traffic jams both • Free parking for clean vehicles European standard on the Polish coast. connections are supposed to become a • Marketing of a new and more efficient Along the roads parking places were tourist attraction. bus route system planned and bicycle paths, making the The south border of Koszalin’s • Better integration of cycling with town more accessible. strategic vicinity is the airport in Zegrze public transport, e.g. by improved The roundabouts will also help to protect Pomorskie located approx. 15 km in parking for bicycles the historical part of the town, because the straight line from the city. It used • Promotion of car sharing for the goal is to change the main road into to be a military base and an airport in businesses and private persons a promenade with small restaurants, bars, the past. Today, it’s been closed for the • A municipal car fleet using clean stores and other services. There are also third year in succession. The plan of vehicles only the concept of the revitalisation of the airport re-activation assumes its joining • Developing an Internet tool for traffic center of the town, along with its tourist to the national network regional airways planning cycling, making it easier for the and fishing character. Visualizations of the and creation of a cargo logistic hub public to plan efficient journeys. projects will be consulted with residents. as a base for dynamically developing • real-time mobile and Internet services The cooperation with the cities of Chinese Industrial Centre (CIC) located information about public transports Borholm, Zielenogradsk and Nida located in Koszalin. A total of 18 measures will be around the Baltic Sea is the platform implemented in Malmö. However Tallinn for the exchange of experiences. The Further information: will not only wait for experiences from friendship and cooperation agreement Mr Ryszard Zdrojewski other partners but also will undertake between these cities is a special event. City of Koszalin some measures of its own from the start International contacts help gaining the e-mail: ryszard.zdrojewski@ of the project, including automatic stop European Funds and make possible of um.man.koszalin.pl calls and information signs in buses and interesting educating of the youth. Today trams and a bus priority system at traffic is the time for realizing the goals. lights. “Between heaven and earth, between SMILE-Project In the five cities, a total of 50 measures water and land, between two lakes, will be carried out by 27 municipalities/ between the sea and sand dunes lies a little Malmö and Tallinn have set out regions, public enterprises or private town called Łeba. In the winter asleep, to work towards sustainable urban companies. SMILE started in February during the summer awake. The residents transport systems in the European 2005 and terminates in January 2009. here are hardworking and brave. Fishing Union CIVITAS-project SMILE. and tourism - in centuries life is similar Together with Norwich (UK), Potenza Further information: here. The struggling with the sea, which (Italy) and Suceava (Romania) they aim Mr Jasper König is a friend and enemy, bread-winner and to create a sustainable, safe and flexible City of Malmö element.” That is a beginning of a book traffic system that improves urban air Tel. +46 40 342129 about the town written by a sailor and quality as well as the quality of city life. e-mail: [email protected] mariner, Andrzej Urbańczyk. Recently The lead cities Malmö and Norwich the town authorities were granted the will undertake a large number of measures copyright of that book. including such as mobility management, stimulating car pooling, improving public Łeba – our Dream Further information: transport, introducing new forms of bio A small town of 4000 residents, Ms Marta Chełkowska fuels, integrated pricing strategies and guests in the summer season about Deputy Mayor improved efficiency in distribution of 40-50 thousand tourists each day. The City of Łeba goods. The other cities will implement nearness of the Słowiński National e-mail: [email protected] a fewer number of measures implement Park obliges to care about the cleanness www.leba.pl successful measures basing on the of water and air. The local authorities experiences from the lead cities.

BCB 1/2005 25 Stronger and greener together objectives has been youth education in that area so that they learn to appreciate Stronger and greener together is an and take care of the clean environment. environmental co-operation project Eco-guides are members of the clubs and that includes three football clubs from do their work voluntarily. FC Lahti also the city of Lahti, Finland. Since the arranged a hazardous waste collection in year 2002 premier league team FC one of their home games. The collection Lahti, junior teams FC Reipas and was free and the spectators had a change FC Kuusysi have worked together to to get rid of their household hazardous carry out environmental issues in their waste while they came in to the match. games and tournaments in cooperation The collection got excellent feedback “Golden Stars“ awards to the project with Health Control and Protection from the spectators. Center of the Lahti City Environment partners: Etten-Leur (The Netherlands), Stronger and greener together –co- Częstochowa (Poland), Šiauliai (Lithu- Centre. operation is trying to improve its ania), Jelgava (Latvia), missing Fredericia The aim of this activity is to adopt a achieves by collecting information of (Denmark) pro-environmental way of thinking and harmful environmental effects cause to evolve according to the principals by football, and strive to minimize place in the Charlemagne building of the of continuous improvement. The most them systematically. This activity tries European Commission in the framework important result from the co-operation to develop the football culture of Lahti of a Consultation Forum on the future of football clubs has been environmental to more pro-environmental way by action programme to promote active education and awareness raising. The following the principles of sustainable European Citizenship. partners have published a leaflet and development. Our slogan compresses the The meeting among Šiauliai and a poster to introduce the effort of the main idea of the co-operation: Let’s take Częstochowa (Poland), Etten Leur (The football clubs in environmental matters care of this ball of ours! Netherlands), Fredericia (Denmark), and to explain environmental effects Jelgava (Latvia) has been selected to of football. Players of the clubs have Further information: receive a Golden Star. The meeting was participated in a campaign which intention Mr Kari Porra organised in a view of the European Year was to reduce private driving. Teams City of Lahti of Education through Sports 2004. arranged carpools and tried to increase the e-mail: kari.porra@lahti.fi The project involved citizens active use of public transportation, cycling or in sports and local representatives from walking for practise and game journeys. the twinned towns. The event took place The environmental managers of the clubs “Golden Stars” for outstanding within the framework of the city festival have got environmental training, they Town-twinning Projects “Šiauliai Days” that brought together have for example visited in a dump as over 1800 people from nine countries. well as the players of FC Lahti. The town-twinning movement brings The programme included plenary debate The most noticeable part of this co- together municipalities throughout the on “Sports as a tool for social integration operation are eco-guides in FC Lahti Europe linking them in a dense network of young people”, photo exhibition games. Eco-guides sort the spectators of citizens. Twinning provides the “Sports bridges people”, several sports waste during the matches and clean opportunity to find out more about the and cultural events and workshops for the stadium after the match with the daily lives of citizens in other European young participants. Local representatives ball boys. As a result the areas have countries, to talk to them and exchange discussed issues related to the European maintained clean and tidy. That increased experiences, and to develop joint integration, youth exchanges and planning the comfort of the spectators and kept projects on issues of common interest of the future cooperation at the local the environment clean. One of our main such as local integration, environment, level between twinned towns. Particular economic development and culture. attention was paid to the role of sports The European Commission awards by the social inclusion of disadvantaged grants to the Twinning events which groups. The project resulted in a positive include educational programmes on exchange of specialist views and ideas to topical European issues. Each year be implemented in the coming years. the European Commission awards The European Commission also the “Golden Stars of Town-twinning” organised an exhibition representing to 10 outstanding projects that have several Town Twinning awarded contributed successfully to the European projects. integration. Ten outstanding town twinning Further information: initiatives involving 27 towns received Ms Audrone Jaugelaviciene The aim of the project is to adopt a the Golden Stars awards on 3 February City of Šiauliai pro-environmental way of thinking and 2005 in Brussels. Šiauliai City in the Tel. +370 41 596303 to evolve according to the principals of category of “citizens’ meetings” was one e-mail: [email protected] continuous improvement of the winners. The award ceremony took

26 BCB 1/2005 Within the framework of the On 1 March 2004, Tallinn introduced Elections in UBC Member festival “Musical Sestroretsk. Revival an electronic ID-card ticketing system. Cities of traditions” over 100 concerts of Almost 100,000 valid ID tickets were chamber classical music have taken place registered on 20 March 2005. There are On 27 February 2005 the city of since 2002. Among participants were: approximately 115 000 recorded users Rostock had direct elections of the young famous musicians, laureates of of Tallinn public transport, plus a further mayor. Mr Roland Methling received international music competitions such as 10%, who are not required to buy a 58.2% of votes and was elected as the Chopin’s International competition. ticket (children under seven and adults the new Mayor of Rostock. Saint-Petersburg-Duet International over 65). Following the local elections in competition and others. Why an electronic ID card? Latvia held on 12 March 2005, Mr The program of “Musical Sestroretsk. The ID-card system was chosen for Aivars Aksenoks was elected as the Revival of traditions” corresponds to the several reasons. The main reason was a new Chairman of Riga City Council hundred years old summer concert seasons need for personalized tickets and almost and Mrs Inese Aizstrauta was elected in KURZAL of the “Sestroretsky Kurort” two thirds of the population of Estonia as the new Mayor of Jūrmala. the oldest SPA of Saint-Petersburg. Such holds an ID-card, which also has the great singers and musicians as tenor I. necessary chip. This means that the costs Sobinov, young symphonic orchestra of of the system are low. ID-cards enable Summer Festivals Count Sheremetiev and others considered automated checks from the population The International festival of folk art it an honour to take part in these events. registry to be made using the personal “Sestroretskoe podvorie” take place ID-code and facilitates the selling and every year on 11-15 June in Sestroretsk Further information: checking of tickets on-line. town of Saint-Petersburg’s Kurortny International Art Festival How it works District. Amateur bands from many Tel. +7 812 437 12 15 The main process of the ID-ticket countries gather to participate in this e-mail: [email protected] system is purchasing a ticket – a user festival. gives the operator rights to process user’s This year the opening ceremony will personal ID-code. And inspection of take place on 12 June 2005. The aim is The ID-Ticket Concept the ticket – during inspection the client to attract public attention to problem of presents his/her ID-card - the personal An ID-ticket (virtual ticket) gives identification code is automatically read preservation and development of cultural the user a personal right to use traditions of different countries, to from it with the inspector’s device. Ticket services sold via an electronic payment validation and status checks are based on promote all forms and genres of traditional collection system when he/she proves Russian folk art. The program of festival simple (Offline, USSD, WWW, GPRS) his/her identity with an identification solutions. includes: “evenings of Friendship”, round document (ID-card). In Tallinn, the tables, disco nights, excursions to Saint- Advantages of the ID ticket system virtual ticket can be purchased from The system is fully online, user friendly Petersburg. different distribution channels such The festival has been held since 1996. and flexible and allows online statistics as fixed phone, mobile phone, Internet, to be generated, turning the ticketing Since then the festival participants direct debit, and cash (kiosks, shops, were folk bands from Italy, Macedonia, system into a flexible tool for planning post offices, etc). Customers no longer transportation policy. This system allows Mexico, Sweden, Czech Republic, have physical tickets in their pockets; Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, personalized, price-differentiated tickets they prove their right to services with to be easily produced. Another benefit Turkey, Slovenia, Georgia and Russian the electronic ID-card. republics. is that distribution costs are reduced, We would like to invite folk bands because printing and delivering paper from members of UBC to participate tickets is no longer necessary. After one in the International Festival of folk art year of operation, the statistics show “Sestoretskoe podvorie”. that purchasing ID-tickets by electronic Revival of traditions. channels is very popular: Since 2002 a scientific conference The ID-Ticket project gained an “Sestroretsk in musical culture of Saint- annual award “Aasta Tegu” (“Maker Petersburg” has taken place in Sestroretsk of the Year”) from the Association of every year. The conference is organised Estonian Information Technology and together with Institute of Art History Telecommunications Companies. of Russian Academy of Science. In the program of the conference there Further information: are lectures of the history of culture of Mrs Kristiina Hõbemägi Saint-Petersburg and series of summer Tallinn Transport Department concerts of classical music in the memory Tel. +372 640 4626 of Sestroretsk’s summer musical seasons, e-mail: which were very famous at the beginning [email protected] of XX century.

BCB 1/2005 27 Modern Technologies through Vaasa today represents the educational, Mutual Efforts cultural and tourist centre of Western Finland. Vaasa is also a multi-facet In 2004, in Kurortny district of Saint- industrial city offering good possibilities Petersburg that is narrowly stretching of development especially for the along the Finnish Gulf for 56 km, international energy industry. 2004 a reconstruction of canalization The city was founded by King Charles and water sewage treatment systems IX on October 2, 1606 and gave the town that provide water disposal services the name of his royal house. Thanks to for town of Sestroretsk and nearby the sea connections ship building and territories was finished. The Governor of St.Petersburg Valentina trade, especially tar trade, was flourishing Matvienko opened a new object on The cost of reconstruction was around from the XVII century. During the Civil December 24, 2004 6 million EURO. Several sources of War, Vaasa was the capital of Finland financing were involved - grants of ultraviolet disinfection correspond to as a consequence of the occupation of Swedish and Finnish governments, as the norms set by “hygienic requirements central places and arresting of politicians well as privilege credit of the North for surface waters preservation. Use of in Helsinki. That time the senate decided Investment Bank. Concomitant works ultraviolet for processing of sewage has to move to Vaasa. To express its gratitude were financed by St.Petersburg and the decreased pollution level of Kurortny to the town the senate gave Vaasa the right other main works were done by the district beaches and stopped negative to add the cross of freedom, independent Finnish company which was the general effect of chlorine containing reagents Finland’s oldest mark of honour designed contractor. Also an independent control of on the Finnish Gulf. by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, to its coat of the work was performed by the foreign We would like to express our gratitude arms. companies: Finnish and Swedish. to our friends from Finland and Sweden The city severed from the fire in 1852 Construction works started in August who helped small Baltic towns to when a wooden part was burnt. The 2003. According to director of Sestroretsk introduce modern technologies, share new town rose in 1862 about 7 km to “Vodokanal” Tatiana Fedyunina, one of the their experience which will allow to the northwest from the old town. The conditions of the project (reconstruction provide guests and residents of our resort town’s location at the sea offered good of sewage system and water purification town with services that can be compared conditions for seafaring. The town plan systems) was performing works without with services of European countries. in the Empire style was planned by Carl stopping of general purification process. Axel Setterberg. In the master plan the That is why during the renovation period Further information: disastrous consequences of the fire were settlings basin and other objects were Mr Vladislav Balsky considered. Main streets in the new town working in turns. City of St.Petersburg were five broad avenues which divided During the reconstruction workshops Tel. +7 812 276 1504 the town into sections. Every block was for mechanical purification of sewage e-mail: [email protected] divided by alleys. waters and settling dehydration were In the program, the upcoming built. All major equipment was replaced, events are e.g. the opera that describes and technological process of sewage the colourful life of the Vaasa-born purification was automatized. Also The City of Vaasa celebrates its composer and conductor Toivo Kuula, reconstruction of general tanks was 400th Anniversary in 2006 the Finland-Swedish Song Festival, performed: primarily and secondary which gathers almost 6000 singers settling basins, aerotanks. to Vaasa in the middle of May, the Now the Sestroretsk water purification National Folklore Days, which theme systems the capacity of which is 17.1 is a bilingual native region. A big public thousand cubic meters per day, correspond festival will be arranged also on 10 to international standards of exploitation August in connection to the Night of safety, economy and index of biogene Arts, in which many associations are purification. For example, according to participating. In October in connection standard HELCOM 16/9, during sewage to the city’s foundation day, 2 October, purification nitrogen and phosphorus will there will be a special anniversary week. be removed from it. Welcome to Vaasa in 2006! The main innovation introduced Vaasa celebrates its 400th anniversary during reconstruction was ultraviolet in 2006. Throughout the whole year Further information: sewage disinfection. That has a strong different events paying attention to Mrs Christina Knookala bactericidal effect towards different the anniversary will be arranged in the Project manager microorganisms including bacteria, city. The anniversary programme is City of Vaasa viruses and mushrooms. The plan made in co-operation between the City Tel. +358 6 325 1015 is working since January 2004 of Vaasa and associations, enterprises e-mail: christina.knookala@vaasa.fi demonstrating high efficiency. All and institutions, which will guarantee samples of water that went through an attractive programme.

28 BCB 1/2005 CITIES - MEMBERS OF THE UBC EXECUTIVE BOARD: Gdańsk New Town Hall Wały Jagiellońskie 1 PL-80853 Gdańsk, Poland contact: Mr Maciej Lisicki Tel. +48 501 188415 [email protected]

Kaunas City Hall Laisves Av. 96 LT-3000 Kaunas, Lithuania contact: Ms Lina Duobaite Tel. +370 37 424011 [email protected]

Kotka City Hall P.L. 205 FIN-48101 Kotka, Finland contact: Ms Sirkka Kotola Tel. +358 5 23 44208 sirkka.kotola@kotka.fi

Kristiansand City Hall Radhusgata 20 N-4604 Kristiansand, Norway contact: Ms Trine Marit Aasen Tel. +47 38 075009 [email protected]

Kronshtadt City Hall Lenina pr. 36 RUS-189610 Kronshtadt, Russia contact: Mr Ivan Tarasov Tel. +7 812 236 4649 [email protected]

Liepāja City Hall Rožu iela 6 nd 42 UBC Executive Board meeting, Luleå, 5 March 2005 LV-3400 Liepāja, Latvia contact: Ms Ligita Pudža Tel. +371 340 4789 PRESIDENT OF THE UNION OF THE BALTIC CITIES [email protected] Mr Per Bødker Andersen City Hall, Akseltorv 1 Lübeck DK-6000 Kolding, Denmark City Hall Tel. +45 79 302025 Rathaus, Breite Str. 62 e-mail: [email protected] D-23552 Lübeck, Germany contact: Ms Antje Richter VICE-PRESIDENTS OF THE UNION OF THE BALTIC CITIES Tel. +49 451 122 2046 Mr Armas Lahoniitty [email protected] City Hall, Kristiinankatu 1 FIN-20101 Turku, Finland Næstved Tel. +358 2 262 7223 City Hall e-mail: armas.lahoniitty@turku.fi Teatergade 8 DK-4700 Næstved, Denmark Mr Gundars Bojārs contact: Mr Søren Revsbæk City Hall, Rātslaukums 1 Tel. +45 55 78 45 01 LV-1539 Riga, Latvia [email protected] Tel. +371 7 026 101 e-mail: [email protected] Stockholm Stockholm Reg. European Committee Mr Arno Pöker Gota Ark 190 Interhansa Reederei AG S-11872 Stockholm, Sweden Am Strande 3e contact: Ms Lillian Westerberg D-18055 Rostock, Germany Tel. +46 8 615 8882 e-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

SECRETARIAT OF THE UNION OF THE BALTIC CITIES Võru Mr Paweł Żaboklicki City Hall Secretary General Juri 11 Wały Jagiellońskie 1 EE-65620 Võru, Estonia PL-80853 Gdańsk, Poland contact: Mr Innar Mäesalu Tel. +48 58 3010917 Tel. +372 78 50918 e-mail: [email protected] [email protected] http://www.ubc.net Union of the Baltic Cities (UBC) is a network of over 100 cities from all 10 Baltic Sea countries, with an overriding goal of contributing to the democratic, economic, social, cultural and environmentally sustainable development of the Baltic Sea Region.

The Union has based its operational activities on ten working Commissions on Business Cooperation, Culture, Environment, Education, Health and Social Affairs, Information Society, Sport, Tourism, Transportation and Urban Planning. The Commissions coordinate and execute specific projects, activities and special events. Each city is capable to have its own creative and fully independent input to the Commissions' work.

The Union has an observer status with the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), the Parliamentary Conference on Cooperation in the Baltic Sea Area, the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), the Committee of the Regions and the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE).

The Union is open for new members. Any coastal city of the Baltic Sea or any other city interested in the development of-the Baltic Sea Region may become a member of the Union by making a written declaration of its will to enter UBC.

Please contact the Union's Secretariat in Gdańsk for more information about the UBC work and the rules of entering the Union.