Plenary session: regions are important actors

The first day started with opening and welcome speeches. Presentations introducing territorial co-operation in Europe and the new Baltic Sea Programme 2007-2013 followed. Sessions on Lisbon Strategy and Gothenburg Process provided the background for the new programme. Participants also were introduced to the Territorial Agenda for Europe and the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument.

The conference was moderated by Ms Ann Irene Saeternes from Lillehammer, Norway. Ms Saeternes is the Deputy Secretary General of BSSSC and the Member of the Joint Programming Committee.

Gerhard Fuchs, State Secretary of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, welcomed the 450 participants.

"The INTERREG process clearly shows that cooperation across national borders had a genuine value in itself. Integration within Europe can only work if the efforts made by governments also reach the people."

Klaus Rave, Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein, Managing Authority of the Programme

"Now, in 2007 cultural, political, economic and administrative traditions, northern, central and eastern dimensions are given a new level for cooperation as well as competition – or shall we say: cooperative competition or would you prefer: competitive cooperation? This is one of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of us within the upcoming programming period. There will be a new unity in diversity. The Baltic Sea Programme offers its service as a test laboratory to the entire European Union."

Colin Wolfe, European Commission, DG Regional Policy, Territorial Cooperation Unit, introduced to the transnational territorial co-operation in Europe for 2007-2013.

"Territorial cooperation has been a success and has moved forward. This funding has particular and obvious European dimension. We can act on big problems together that we cannot solve alone."

"Baltic Sea programme priorities need to build on Baltic cutting edge e.g. innovations, smooth out Baltic bottlenecks and reach remote pace, clean up the Baltic and stop environment deterioration and build up brilliant Baltic cities."

Giedrė Švedienė, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Interior, Lithuania & Chair of the Joint Programming Committee

"The programme will strongly support preparation of transnational investments, but as our sources are limited emphases will be on pre-investments and pilot investments.

The project ideas can be disseminated already now. That’s why we are now here in Hamburg."

Sauli Rouhinen, Director for Sustainable Development Ministry of the Environment, Finland, elaborated on the Gothenburg process – safer environment and sustainable development.

"Sustainable development is to be integrated into policy making at all levels."

"The most important question is how to link the sustainable development strategies with grass roots projects e.g. project SUSTAINMENT.

Important is to find synergy between national sustainable development strategies and to increase cooperation in that level by that contributing to Gothenburg strategy on EU level."

Claudia Dörr and Adam Kanne opened discussion on the Lisbon Strategy: Innovation and Growth, Competitiveness and Employment.

Wilfried Görmar, Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning, Germany, introduced the `Territorial Agenda` for Europe and its effects on the Baltic Sea Region.

"Baltic Sea region has had an influence on territorial agenda, even though I was asked to speak about territorial agenda’s influence on BSR."

"How to mobilise diverse territorial potentials of all regions for strengthened global competitive, sustainable and balanced development – Lisbon performance on territorial agenda is the answer."

Martin Eisenbeis, European Commission, EuropeAid Co-operation Office, presented the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument.

"ENPI aims to avoid new dividing lines in Europe and promotes an area of security, stability and prosperity of the EU and its neighbours to the East and West.

Member states have welcomed Russian and Belarusian partners on board and I am convinced it will be fruitful cooperation. Meanwhile Russia and Belarus has to be more active, so their voices are heard."