20 Years This Publication Is Dedicated to Anna Lindh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sweden - a Post Which She Held Between 7 October 1998 – 11 September 2003
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Multi-level Governance and Regional Cohesion Regional and Governance Multi-level The Council of the Baltic Sea States - 20 years This publication is dedicated to Anna Lindh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sweden - a post which she held between 7 October 1998 – 11 September 2003 2 The Baltic Sea Region is not a new idea, a concept born in the late 20th Century. The Baltic Sea Region is 1000 years old. As early as four thousand years ago there was a distinct, well-defined Baltic culture – the so called “boat-axe-culture”. Over the centuries, the Baltic has been the Sea of Communication for the inhabitants in the regions close to it – Viking ships, Hansa koggs, tall sailing ships and steamers have all plied the Sea around Visby and Gotland. The Baltic has helped people on its southern, northern, western and eastern shores to meet each other, and to trade with each other. We are all neighbours around this Sea … We have been, we still are, and we continue to be – neighbours. - Welcome Address by the Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson at the 1st Baltic Sea States Summit in Visby, May 3rd, 1996 3 4 5 7 8 9 Commissioned and edited by Anthony Jay, Egle Obcarskaite, Jacek Smolicki Layout and design: Jacek Smolicki © CBSS Secretariat 10 11 12 Index Presidium 17 Foundation 25 Strategies for Sustainable and Innovative Future 51 Multi-level Governance and Regional Cohesion 57 Resilience and Inclusion in times of austerity 67 The Machine Room 79 13 14 The Council of the Baltic Sea States was It is fitting that currently Germany founded in a completely different politi- holds the Presidency of the CBSS for cal, cultural and technological landscape. a year alongside Denmark just having In the last 20 years the population of taken over the rotating Presidency of the Baltic Sea Region has become more the European Union for six months. diverse and more urbanized. The Council The Presidium of current Foreign was founded primarily to build a sense of Ministers is thus “mirrored” by reflections confidence, cohesion and commonality from the two founders and former after years of dislocation. The Govern- Foreign Ministers, Mr. Uffe Ellemann- ments and individuals involved in those Jensen and Mr. Hans Dietrich Gensher. first tentative steps needed to familiarize themselves with one another and forge The archives were also trawled for some relationships that would enable trust. facts and figures about the develop- ment of the Council (nowhere near ex- This publication is a humble com- haustive) which were illustrated in a pendium of thoughts and ideas from lighter fashion to complete our com- some of those involved in the process. memoration of the 20th Anniversary Ten women and men from across the of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. region share their impressions on 20 years under three thematic subjects: Strategies for Sustainable and Innovative Future Multi-Level Governance and Regional Cohesion Resilience and Inclusion in Times of Austerity 15 16 Presidium 17 Dr. Guido Westerwelle Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany since 2009 No other forum is placed better to foster cooperation among “ all Baltic Sea countries 18 As current President of the Council of community around the Baltic Sea”. the Baltic Sea States, I am delighted to Today eight Baltic Sea countries are be part of the celebrations marking EU members, two belong to the Eu- its 20th anniversary. I felt honoured ropean Economic Area and Russia that so many of you from all over the is linked to the EU in a variety of ways, Baltic joined us at Plön Castle for in particular through a comprehensive a truly memorable and festive modernization partnership. Baltic Sea occasion. I was particularly honoured by cooperation has become an attractive the presence of our “founding model also for other regions. People fathers”, Hans-Dietrich Genscher and living along the Danube, around the Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, to whom we owe Black Sea or the Mediterranean see the success of a visionary political the Baltic Sea region as an impressive project. example of what regional cooperation can achieve. For years up to 1989, the Baltic Sea had been a theatre of East-West Many new challenges lay ahead: mod- confrontation. Following the watershed ernization of the south-east Baltic Sea changes in Central and Eastern Europe, area with a particular focus on the the fall of the Berlin Wall and German Kaliningrad region, for example, unification, this is now history. With the protecting the Baltic Sea ecosystem, disappearance of the Iron Curtain - or and energy cooperation. Our co- the Icy Curtain, as the Baltic Sea operation with the EU and other coun- Region was once known - the Baltic Sea tries can be intensified to make further Region has become a bastion of progress in these fields. freedom and opportunity. The region now connects – economically, politically, The Council of the Baltic Sea States culturally and in human terms – all has played a key role in encouraging the countries on the shores of the close partnership and enhanced Baltic Sea. cooperation throughout the region. No other forum is placed better to It was in Rostock in October 1991 that foster cooperation among all Baltic the then Danish and German Foreign Sea countries, strengthen the Baltic Sea Ministers Uffe Ellemann-Jensen and region´s shared identity and increase Hans-Dietrich Genscher first spelt out people’s identification with the region their vision for a new forum for closer and its common history and culture. cooperation around the Baltic Sea. It is a great pleasure for me to con- Thanks to their inspiration and initiative, gratulate the Council of the Baltic Sea the Council of the Baltic Sea States States on its achievements and to pledge was founded in Copenhagen in March our wholehearted support as it takes 1992. What the two men hoped for was to its work forward over the years ahead. see the Baltic Sea region prosper once again as in the days of the Hanseatic League and become, in the words of the Copenhagen Declaration, “a genuine democratic 19 Villy Søvndal, MP Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark since 2011 The EU Baltic Sea Strategy represents a unique opportunity to “ create momentum in regional cooperation and to exploit its economic potential Our organisation has demonstrated The Danish Presidency aims to do its an impressive evolution since early 1992, utmost to show that the EU is still capable when far-sighted politicians launched it and ready to take the decisions needed “to serve as an overall regional forum to move beyond the crisis and to focus on needs for intensified demonstrate the value and necessity cooperation and coordination among the of European cooperation. To achieve this, Baltic Sea States”. the Danish Presidency has focussed its program on Europe that is responsible, The Council of the Baltic Sea States dynamic, green and safe. These basic has stood the test of time. Today, it priorities have also been reflected in the offers a model of regional cooperation, cross-border cooperation within the which may serve other organisations Baltic Sea Region, in such fields as civil as a source of inspiration. It has security, environment and sustainable weathered the momentous political, development. It is thus no coincidence economic and other changes that that this established cooperation was have swept our region during these instrumental in drafting and imple- two decades – to mention but one: menting the EU Baltic Sea Strategy. the EU enlargement decided upon in This Strategy represents a unique Copenhagen in December 2002. And it opportunity to create momentum in has successfully managed to accom- regional cooperation and to exploit modate the recurrent need for its economic potential. After only two adaptation to changing requirements years of its implementation, in which it and challenges: Whereas during the is gratifying to see the CBSS appearing first years general matters of high as an actor, it is evident that the political profile tended to top the Strategy has served as a catalyst agenda, today efforts have grown visibly for closer cooperation in our region. in fields as diverse as fighting traffick- Today, several CBSS Member States have ing in human beings, protecting our been hit by an economic crisis, which is vulnerable environment or looking after arguably the most severe for nuclear safety. However, political dial- a generation, if not longer. In tackling ogue continues to take centre stage. this challenge, also the CBSS will have a role to play. At the same time, a trend towards ever greater involvement in down-to-earth I trust the current and future CBSS projects is visible, even if they sometimes Presidencies to chart a course of action seem to grow out of the limelight of public with that in mind, whilst not losing sight attention. Among them, a number of of the overall, long-term objectives so-called EuroFaculty projects in the field that the “founding fathers” set for the of higher education may take pride of organisation 20 years ago: to further place. democracy, prosperity, stability and unity in our region. Denmark, currently holding the EU Presidency, has a clear vision of how to cope with contemporary challenges. 21 This graph illustrates and lists important conclusions, decisions and reforms taken under the presidencies rotating on annual basis. For the full reference, please consult the declarations and documents on www.cbss.org/Summits-and-Council-Ministerials CHAIRS OF THE CBSS, 1992-2012 CHAIRS OF THE CBSS’ GOVERNING BODY, THE COMMITTEE OF SENIOR