Kansen en uitdagingen in duurzame ontwikkeling voor regio Baltische Zee (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Litouws voorzitterschap Europese Unie 2e helft 2013 i, gepubliceerd op dinsdag 12 november 2013.

On 11-12 November, one of the most important and largest events of the Lithuanian Presidency i of the EU Council, the 4th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (hereinafter - EUSBSR), took place in Vilnius with about 700 participants. It was organized by the European Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which coordinates the implementation of the EUSBSR in Lithuania.

At the Forum, representatives of the region's countries discussed the challenges and opportunities in the Baltic Sea Region when meeting environmental requirements, stimulating economic growth, the creation of jobs, and competitiveness. Vytautas Leškevičius, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, drew attention to the fact that cooperation was active in the region and fields of operation were expanding with regard to new challenges. This time, the Forum focused on the region’s sustainable development.

Rimantas Šadžius, Minister of Finance, noted that the EUSBSR was important for the EU and significantly promoted social, economic, and territorial cohesion in the region. “This strategy strengthens integration, helps mobilize financial and human resources to reach common goals, and promotes and implements new strategic projects in the region,” he said.

Valentinas Mazuronis, Minister of Environment, spoke about the importance of environmental protection in the region and drew attention to the significance of attracting the private sector in order to maintain the Baltic States as a good example of regional cooperation. “We need to find solutions how the private sector could contribute to the implementation of environmental protection goals in the Baltic Sea region. In order to meet environmental requirements, we need clear and decisive actions from governments, societies, and businesses,” he said.

The EUSBSR’s goal is to improve the region’s transportation systems, increase the safety of energy supply by renewing the infrastructure, and ensure sound environmental conditions of the Baltic Sea and safe vessel traffic. The Strategy unites eight EU countries: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. According to Linas Linkevičius, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Baltic Sea region could become Europe’s leader in sustainable development.