Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013: Ambitious Goals

Moderators: Susann Henning, Managing Authority & Susanne Scherrer, Director of the Joint Secretariat

"Innovation" as a new topic in the Baltic Sea Region programme seemed to inspire many project developers. A colourful mix of 8 project ideas was presented, most of which would fit into this priority. Even though "innovation" now feature a separate priority in the programme, there was a broad agreement among participants and stakeholders that every project should include innovative elements.

Susann Henning, Managing Authority, Investitionsbank Schleswig Holstein

"You may say that our priorities and their objectives are very overall, but we left some space for the upcoming 7 years to include your ideas on how to foster innovations."

Jyri-Pekka Mikkola, Åbo Akademi, Finland

"We need public fora in the Baltic Sea Region to disseminate knowledge about the "European way of life" - which is represented by new attitudes, new ideas, and new industries to make use of our natural resources in a sustainable way."

Silvia Stiller, HWWI, Institute of International Economics, Hamburg

"We need an interregional comparison – illustrated by maps – of creativity and innovation potential in the Baltic Sea Region."

Moderator: Eeva Rantama, Joint Secretariat

Examples and discussions indicated that one should rather focus on existing transport ways than on extending the transport infrastructure. Participants also discussed how to make transport more useful and cost/energy efficient. Five project ideas were presented e.g. ‘A BSR Multimodal transport strategy’ by BSSSC, "One region – one ticket" and "Optimized round wood logistics".

Jörg Sträussler, Baltic Energy Forum e.V.

"Reduction of emissions is a hot issue to be highlighted by projects in their application. Top scores to projects that have paid attention to this."

Dick Michel, Northern Netherlands Provinces

"You are talking about new corridors. Have any of the projects thought about how to reduce transportation? Trying to reduce the need for transportation is another target that should be pointed out by projects."

Moderator: Joanna Przedrzymirska, Joint Secretariat

General questions about the programme and the project ideas were raised in the question & answer session. In total 12 project ideas were presented at this workshop. Moreover, the potential involvement of HELCOM was discussed. HELCOM stated that it intends to be involved at an early stage as an advisor, because it has the administrative structure and contact to the political level. It would like to check the project strategy and relevance at the initial stage.

Kaj Forsius, HELCOM

"You can have a very nice plan on paper but you won’t achieve results if you don’t implement it and if countries are not committed to it."

Artur Granstedt, Biodynamic Research Institute, ‘Beras’ project

"The research that has already been developed in the current programme can be used in the new programme. It is time for action in the new programme period."

Sten Björk, Trelleborg City

"In all these programmes that we are talking about today we should put the environment on the top of the table. Otherwise in 30-40 years there is nothing to restore anymore."

Moderators: Vineta Griekere and Bo Storrank, Joint Secretariat

Amount and diversity of project ideas presented demonstrate the need to act together to cope with various challenges in the Baltic Sea Region - to make the region better place to live, work and visit! We have to produce visible and tangible results preferably involving transnational investments. In order to achieve the long-term goals, e.g. change in policies, raised awareness etc., it is extremely important to produce quick results to keep all actors motivated and involved in dealing with the concrete challenge. Important feature for the success of the project are reliable, motivated and committed partners!

Ole Andersen, Wonderful Copenhagen, Denmark, Cruise Baltic Project

"EU funding – INTERREG is a quality stamp for the joint work back home."

"Show already from the beginning that this is not just talk, but an action oriented and result driven project."

Björn Grönholm, Union of the Baltic Cities, Environment and Sustainable Development Secretariat

"Baltic Sea Region is the region of motivation, innovation, resources, skills, expertise and experiences."

"We need to develop stronger regions with common goals and action strategies, as part of good modern governance, increased competitiveness and open communication."

Moderators: Ronald Lieske and Victoria Kovacs, INTERREG IIIC JTS Rostock

This workshop was dedicated to the future interregional cooperation programme. Three presentations covered the main aspects and expectations of INTERREG IVC. Questions from the audience were related to budget lines, partnerships and implementation of capitalisation.

The main outcomes of the workshop:

• INTERREG IVC will exclusively address Lisbon and Gothenburg objectives with the following two priorities: Innovation and knowledge economy and Environment and risk prevention.
• Emphasis in the future will be on ideas and the exchange of ideas and how to make results widely available in a meaningful way – transfer (capitalisation)
• The management structure for the future programme differs from the existing INTERREG IIIC – one main office with information points as support in Lille, France.

Colin Wolfe, European Commission, DG Regional Policy, Territorial Co-operation Unit

"Interregional cooperation is a laboratory of ideas, it’s the research division of Regional Policy."