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Activity Report 1993 - 1995

Report on the Activities of the

Union of the Baltic Cities

24-25 September 1993 (Kaliningrad) - 8-9 December 1995 (Aarhus)

Introduction

Since the 2nd General Conference of the Union of the Baltic Cities, held in Kaliningrad on 24-25 September 1993, the Union has grown up. The number of Union's members has reached the figure 58.

The new members are: Copenhagen, Fredericia, Haapsalu, Helsinki, Kaunas, Køge, Kotka, Kristianstad, Oskarshamn, Panevėžys, Pärnu, Rēzekne, Rønne, Šiauliai, Świnoujście, Tampere, Vilnius.

During mentioned period the Union has accepted new members, strengthened its own network and structure, launched a number of challenging projects and initiatives.

The Union developed existing and established new international relationships. The cooperation with the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) and its Program Implementation Task Force (PITF) in the implementation of Baltic Programme has intensified through the realization of Baltic Sustainable Cities Program. First component of the Programme - the Project on Institutional Strengthening has been granted by the Nordic Council of Ministers with amount of 550.000 DK for its implementation. Second element - the Baltic Municipal Environmental Audit project was positively examined by the Management Committee of European Union's Programme LIFE'95 and as a consequence the grant of over 200.000 ECU is expected in the end of the year.

The UBC integration role in the Baltic Sea Area was acknowledged by the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe by which the Union was granted with the observer status. The Union deepened its contacts with other Baltic organizations and institutions e.g. Council of the Baltic Sea States, Baltic Parliamentarian Conference, Conference on Baltic Subregional Cooperation, Baltic Sea Chambers of Commerce Association (BCCA), Baltic Tourism Cooperation (BTC), convinced that joint actions shall bring incomparably more profits to the Baltic Sea Region, then single, uncoordinated activities.

Finally, looking into the future, the Union initiated talks with the European Commission of the European Union to provoke greater EU interest in the development of the Baltic Sea Region. UBC is trying to influence the EU Baltic Sea policy to make various EU development programmes more accessible for the UBC and its member cities. 

The Executives of the Union during second 2 years period:

Mr Anders Engström, President (Kalmar)

Mr Michael Bouteiller, Vice President (Lübeck)

Mr Andris Teikmanis, Vice President (Riga)

Mr Paweł Żaboklicki, Secretary General (Gdańsk) 

The Executive Board of the Union during second 2 years period:

Aarhus Denmark

Gdańsk Poland

Kaliningrad Russia

Klaipėda Lithuania

Kristiansand Norway

Riga Latvia

Rostock Germany

Sundsvall Sweden

Tallinn Estonia

Turku Finland 

The Executive Board Meetings:

Six Executive Board Meetings took place during the Reporting Period between Kaliningrad and Aarhus General Conferences.

8th Meeting - Tallinn, 27 November 1993

9th Meeting - Palanga, 26 March 1994

10th Meeting - Liepāja, 8 October 1994

11th Meeting - Vilnius, 22 April 1995

12th Meeting - Gdynia, 8 September 1995

13th Meeting - Aarhus, 7 December 1995

The Executive Board played an important and stimulating role in the progress of UBC activities. The Board considered and approved a number of challenging projects and initiatives submitted by the working Commissions, the President, the Secretariat and the member cities.

The Union projects, activities, special events and other activities launched during the described period are outlined in this report. 

UBC Secretariat in Gdańsk

The Union of the Baltic Cities Secretariat since UBC creation has been located in the City of Gdańsk. The Union has been highly satisfied with the work of the Secretariat.

The Secretariat provides a daily professional service to the Union and its members. All financial matters have been handled properly.

The Union would like to officially thank the City of Gdańsk and the Secretariat for their outstanding contributions to UBC over the past four years.

UBC Working Commissions

Since the beginning the Union has decided to focus its activities into 5 main areas. The Executive Board decided to place each of these areas under the leadership of the working Commissions directed by the Lead Cities.

The Commissions: The Lead Cities:

  • the Commission on Culture Szczecin and Visby
  • the Commission on Environment Aarhus and Turku
  • the Commission on Social Affairs Rostock and Lübeck
  • the Commission on Telecommunication Riga and Kalmar
  • the Commission on Transportation Gdańsk and Kaliningrad

In 1995, following the initiatives from member cities, the Board recommended to the General Assembly to approve the creation of the 2 new Commissions:

  • the Commission on Sport Gdynia and Karlskrona
  • the Commission on Tourism Kalmar and Rēzekne

The Commissions oversee Union activities in each of the respective areas. Examples of Projects, Activities and Events carried out by the Commissions within last 2 years period are briefly described below. 

I. The Commission on Culture

Following the Action Plan 1993-95 the Commission led by the cities of Szczecin and Visby has concentrated on the following issues.

Catalogue of cultural institutions in UBC towns

The Commission prepared and sent out to the cities two questionnaires. As the result of this work the catalogue of cultural institutions has been printed by the city of Visby with financial support from Union budget. Each UBC member city shall receive certain number of printed catalogues.

Calendar of international culture events in UBC towns

The Commission has also gathered information on annual international culture events going on in UBC member cities. The information has been compiled in form of calendar and is already available on Internet and depending on the cities interest may be also printed.

Working sessions

The Commission has tried to build up a network of managers responsible for culture in UBC member cities e.g. heads of culture departments, directors of culture institutions etc. First step was made in Szczecin on 18-20 January 1995 where over 60 culture managers from Baltic cities met at the Working Session to exchange ideas and discuss the coordination of the most important culture events in forthcoming years. Report from the session has been prepared and sent out to all member cities. The second Working Session of the Commission devoted to Freedom of Speech - Information - Libraries, planned to be held in November'95 in Visby was postponed until May'96.

UBC International Art & Culture Festival

The most significant culture event of the Union is International UBC Art & Culture Festival. Within a period of this report two festivals were organized. In 1994 the 2nd UBC Art & Culture Festival was held in the city of Kaliningrad. The festival was attended by amateur and professional artists and groups of different art genres from about 50 not only Baltic Cities. The festival programme was very diverse and contained: art exhibitions, classical and rock music concerts, folklore and sport shows, various competitions, fairs, festivities etc.

At the Working Session of the Commission in Szczecin the participants agreed that each member city should have a possibility to organize a festival in the future and have right to its particular porogramme. The festival must have "moving around Baltic" formula.

The 3rd UBC Art & Culture Festival took place in Szczecin in August-September 1995 and was focused on the visual art and consisted of three main parts. Two of them were exhibitions of modern art "Horizon Line" and "On Line" in which a number of artists presented their works - sculptures, prints, graphics, paintings etc. The third part was the presentation of other culture activities: music groups (classic, folk, jazz) and dance performances (modern ballet, folk). Almost 1000 artists from Baltic Sea countries performed in Szczecin during the festival.

The venue of next year festival is still an open issue. There are three applications:

- city of Gdynia which will celebrate in 1996 its 70th anniversary of receiving the city rights,

- city of Kaliningrad which will organize a festival devoted to the anniversary of the Russian Fleet,

- city of Szczecin which hosted 1995 festival.

The decision is to be taken at the UBC General Conference in Aarhus.

Other activities

The chairman of the Commission on Culture participated in the seminars concerning the cooperation and exchange between various groups, institutions etc. in the field of music. The seminars took place in Bornholm'93 (Denmark), Brorop'94 (Sweden), Tallinn'95 (Estonia). During the last meeting of the culture managers, representatives of music centres and musicians in Tallinn - a non-governmental and non-profit organization called The Baltic Music Network was established. 

II. The Commission on Environment

Baltic Sustainable Cities Programme (BSCP)

The Commission on Environment led by the cities of Aarhus and Turku developed programme of cooperation between the member cities on this field named Baltic Sustainable Cities Programme (BSCP), adopted by II UBC General Conference in Kaliningrad as an Action Plan.

The programme has the label "sustainable" because it is based on the principle, that the solution of environmental problems must be seen in close coherence with the economical and social conditions of the community. To coordinate its environmental activities with Helsinki Commission's Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme (JCP), the Union submitted to HELCOM PITF (Programme Implementation Task Force) a proposal of cooperation in one of JCP elements: "Institutional Strengthening and Human Resource Development". Union's proposal was warmly accepted by the PITF during its 3rd Meeting in Brussels 22-24 November 1993 and UBC was nominated as a Lead Party as regards the implementation of mentioned JCP element at the local level.

The main target of proposed actions are the cities in the south-east countries of Baltic region, where environmental actions are most needed. The Commission decided to utilize twin-city model as organizational model for project implementation.

The Baltic Sustainable Cities Programme contains two main elements:

A. Project on Institutional Strengthening

The project addresses the major elements of the Helcom Baltic Programme component "Institutional Strengthening and Human Resources Development". Particularly, the project aims to fulfill the objectives related to the local dimensions of the implementation of above component. The project is directed to municipal staff administration as well as the staff of public utilities.

The first phase of the project consists of four events, two seminars and two courses. The concept is that for each of events 1 eastern and 1 western city enters the cooperation and joint responsibility for organizing the activity.

The Commission decided - taking into account the results of earlier spread questionnaire - which activities shall be realized by which cities.

Seminar and Course on: Physical planning and the environment

organizers: KARLSKRONA and KLAIPEDA (seminar)

AALBORG and LIEPAJA (course)

Seminar and Course on: Recycling as an element of solid waste management

organizers: STOCKHOLM and RIGA (seminar)

TURKU and GDAŃSK (course)

To finance the project UBC forwarded an application to the Nordic Council of Ministers. The application was examined positively and the Union was granted with 550.000 DK to implement the project.

The project started with the Waste Management Training Course organized jointly by WHO and UBC in Jurmala (Latvia), on 26-28 October 1995. Next event - the Seminar on Physical Planning and the Environment will be held in Klaipėda on 17-19 February 1996.

B. Baltic Municipal Environmental Audit (BMEA)

This project is worked out on the basis of methods and principles for Municipal Environmental Audits (MEA) developed by the World Bank and implemented in the Mediterranean Sea region. However, it was necessary to adjust the concept of MEA to the conditions of countries involved and the potentials of UBC working principle of twinning eastern and western cities for concrete projects.

The Commission decided that pilot audit shall be carried out in one city - Tallinn by the joint team of experts from Helsinki, Turku and Tallinn. Experts from other UBC member cities from middle-east Baltic countries will have an opportunity to take active part in the pilot audit and subsequently to transfer attained experience to their home cities. The auditing process is very useful for evaluating environmental needs at city level and setting priorities for future investments. For this reason HELCOM, and financial institutions such as the World Bank have strongly supported UBC project.

As regards project financing, the Commission's policy has been to obtain finances from EU sources. This goal has been achieved in the second attempt in September 1995 when, following UBC application to LIFE-programme, the EU-Commission decided to grant Baltic Municipal Environmental Audits project with over 200.000 ECU. This positive decision made possible for UBC to start BMEA project in Tallinn this autumn and some practical measures have already been initiated.

Formal Cooperation with HELCOM

As said above, in 1993 the UBC was officially nominated as a Lead Party in the implementation of the 2nd JCP element at the local level. This means that UBC is participating as an invited member in all HELCOM-PITF's work.

The General meeting of HELCOM has granted the UBC with an observer status for 2 years in March 1994, which means that UBC may take part in general HELCOM's work.

Representatives of the Commission participated in HELCOM's meetings in Brussels (22-23 Nov. 1993), Helsinki (8-11 March 1994), Nyköping (17-19 May 1994), Tallinn (23-24 Nov. 1994) and St.Petersburg (31 May - 1 June 1995).

Other activities

As the examples of other activities, the Commission prepared the UBC statement concerning the role of twinning arrangements in financing of environmental investments in Baltic cities. For this purpose, Commission organized a special workshop in Turku, April 8, 1994.

To prepare the UBC statement to VASAB 2010 report, the Commission had a common meeting with the authors of the report in Copenhagen, September 20, 1994.

Representatives of the Commission took active part in the ECOBALTIC Conference, Lübeck, 8-9 March 1995 and the Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns, Aalborg, 24-27 March 1994, by preparing and chairing the conference workshops. 

III. The Commission on Social Affairs

On 30-31 January 1994 the Commission on Social Affairs (with the lead cities of Rostock and Lübeck) organized in Rostock the 1st Workshop on Employment Development in the Baltic Region. The main task was to initiate a dialogue on social affairs and to meet executives dealing with unemployment in the cities.

On 15 June 1994 a Commission office was established in Rostock with the help of Lübeck.

With the assistance of the Rostock EU specialist, the Commission reviewed the EU development programmes with respect to: support in case of long-term unemployment, job promotion for women and youth, measures to develop and reorganize industry, agriculture, forestry and fishery.

The Commission prepared a Questionnaire on Employment Situation sent out to all members in October 1994.

On 20-21 March 1995 the 2nd Workshop on Employment Development in the Baltic Region was successfully concluded in Rostock. The Commission obtained many impulses for new projects and activities. The workshop proceedings were prepared and mailed to all member cities.

The information obtained through mentioned Questionnaire was compiled and issued as "Preliminary survey of unemployment situation in UBC member cities". 33 cities provided the data and project information on: local labour market statistics, target groups of employment development projects, local legal regulations for unemployed, local projects, financing models etc. The brochure was distributed to all Workshop participants and to other UBC members. It may serve as a manual for social project managers. 

Examples of projects

Administration Staff Training for eastern executives working with labour market, youth, women and social issues. It is planned that 16 executives from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Russia will come to Rostock and visit several institutions working with mentioned issues in order to educate and exchange experience. The Commission intends to apply for project financing (32.000 ECU) to EU fund.

The idea of project Baltic Cities for Exchange of Experience in Employment Development came out from earlier mentioned questionnaire and workshop. The project partners are the cities of: Moen, Kalmar, Helsinki, Lübeck, Berlin, Rostock. From 1st Jan. 1996 till 30 April 1997, will organize 8 activities (seminars, workshops etc.) related to exchange of experience in employment development, inviting at least one delegate of each partner. The project budget is 131.900 ECU. The application to cover 71% of project costs was forwarded to EU PACTE programme in June 1995. Unfortunately PACTE programme does not allow eastern cities to be project partners. The Commission will try to find a solution to include also eastern cities in the project.

Youngsters Baltic Sail 1996 project is connected with the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race which will take place on the Baltic Sea in Summer 1996. Four port cities i.e. Rostock, St.Petersburg, Turku and Copenhagen will be asked to take part. Within the frames of the project 5 youngsters and 1 social worker from each port (24 persons in total) shall enter the ship cruising around the Baltic. In each port the crew will have an opportunity to visit the town and learn about institutions and project related to young adult persons. The project will cost 95.970 ECU. In October the application for 80% of this about was submitted to DG V of European Commission within Cities Anti-Racism Project. The project may be continued year by year.

Growing Europe - Groovy Europe is the youngsters project to be executed during the European Week 5-12 May 1996. The Baltic Music Network, "Stubnitz" and the city of Rostock will organize two public multicultural rock music days and a round-table debate in order to transfer the european idea to handicapped youngsters and give them a chance to see young rock groups from south-east Baltic countries. 

IV. The Commission on Telecommunication

During last two years the Commission on Telecommunication chaired by the cities of Kalmar, Riga and Gdańsk, followed the development of new technical systems for communication between the cities.

When the Union of the Baltic Cities was created in 1991 the telecommunication was a key issue for the Union. Since then the telecommunication development has gone very fast and even if some problems remain for small cities and rural districts, we are not any longer facing major technical problems. On the contrary, we can now see a lot of possibilities to strengthen internal work within the Union of the Baltic Cities.

The Commission has investigated several types of electronic mail but found it difficult to recommend one single solution to all members. The development of the Internet however, has changed the situation substantially. There is now existing a net which Commission recommends to join by all member cities in one form or another. Parallely the Commission has studied a system for more advanced transmission of information through a satellite system.

Having in mind growing demand from member cities for more efficient information exchange and internal marketing the Commission on Telecommunication considers to widen its activity and transform to the Commission on Communication. 

V. The Commission on Transportation

The UBC Commission on Transportation has been chaired by the cities of Gdańsk and Kaliningrad.

The Second Conference of Ministers of Transport of the Baltic Sea Region, Kaliningrad, 24-25 February 1994, has brought together the ministers of transport of the thirteen Baltic countries including the representatives of the international organizations, such as the UN European Economic Commission, EU Commission, European Conference of the Ministers of Transport, OECD and the UBC.

The Chairman of the UBC Transport Commission participating in this Conference has emphasized in his official statement the following proposals:

1. Having in mind the growing demands of trade and passengers traffic, the new regulations of custom clearance and passport control at the check points of the Russian/Polish and Russian/Lithuanian frontiers have to be implemented in order to improve the existing border crossing eliminating the time consuming procedure. The proper solution of the border crossing problems has been realized at custom station between Świnoujście (Poland) and Ahlbeck (Germany).

2. The opening of the Vistula Bay Narrow is badly needed to the international shipping services. The Commission is supporting the concrete proposals on this subject submitted by the cities of Kaliningrad, Baltijsk and Elbląg.

3. The Commission has given also the strong support to the realization of the Trans European Motorway - Scandinavia project which links Oslo and Karlskrona with Gdynia, Balkan States, Greece and Turkey as well as has encouraged other international highway initiatives such as Via Baltica starting in Finland and Via Hanseatica linking St. Petersburg via Narva, Kaliningrad, Gdynia, Słupsk, Koszalin, Szczecin with Hamburg.

At the conference organized by Karlskrona Kommun, 25 March 1994, under the heading "The importance of the adequate transportation facilities for further development in Blekinge and the Southern Sweden", the Chairman of the UBC Commission on Transportation has presented conference paper on "Activation of the sea transportation links across the Baltic Sea".

Within the framework of the UBC Commission on Transportation a working meeting of Mayors of the cities of Gdańsk, Elbląg, Mamonovo, Baltijsk and Kaliningrad has been organized in Baltijsk on 29 August 1994 where the document of mutual cooperation was signed.

In spite of the mentioned actions initiated by the UBC Commission on Transportation the problem of the opening of the Vistula Bay Narrow for the international shipping has not been up today satisfactory solved.

During the conference organized by the Committee of "Baltic Jubilee", Malmö, 7-12 August 1994, titled "The transport sector and our Baltic cooperation", the representatives of the UBC Transport Commission have participated in the discussion on "Regional prospects and Intra-Sector Coordination in Transport" devoted to the problems of Via Baltica, Via Hanseatica and TEM-Scandinavia.

In 1994 the economic and political changes occurred when Finland and Sweden joined the European Union. As a consequence of this fact, new ideas have emerged as regards development of the sea-land transportation systems within the Baltic Sea region. This situation caused a need to organize in 1995 a conference devoted to the transportation problems of the Baltic Sea area.

The first conference related to Trans European Motorway and other contemporary transport projects was organized by the Transport Commission of UBC on 8 June 1993 in Gdańsk. The conference has paid its main attention to the problems connected with the development of transport routes of the Baltic ports hinterland, extension of Trans European Motorway to the Scandinavian countries and potential for trade and transport across the South Baltic Sea.

The international conference of the UBC Commission on Transportation held on 27-28 April in Gdańsk has considerably extended the quantity of the presented and discussed problems connected with the actual situation of transport in the Baltic Sea region.

The conference was organized jointly by the Union of the Baltic Cities and Mayor of the City of Gdańsk and was devoted to the actual problems of the sea-land transportation systems of the Baltic Sea region. The conference dealt with the actual problems of the Trans European Motorway realization underlining the potentials which exist in the development of TEM-Scandinavia project and discussed economic importance of Via Baltica and Via Hanseatica motorways. As regards the sea transportation the conference pointed out an important factor characteristic for the Baltic countries - an increase of the efficiency of ferry and ro-ro connections in the central and eastern transport corridor of the Baltic Sea.

The speakers from Elbląg and Kaliningrad region emphasized in their presentations the necessity of prompt opening of the Vistula Bay area for international shipping and tourism and described it as a critical condition for the development of both regions. The conference paid also much attention to the problems of public transport re-organization in the new market-oriented Baltic countries.

The most important conclusion is that the Conference has gathered outstanding representatives of the Baltic Cities as well as experts on transport who discussed and submitted papers on main transportation problems in the Baltic Sea region.

The idea presented during the conference by the representative of Kaliningrad Region concerning the much closer cooperation between the ports of Kaliningrad Region with the port of Gdańsk and Gdynia found its continuation in proposal of organizing the working conference on the ports' problems in the near future by the UBC Transport Commission. 

The New Commissions

In 1995, following the initiative of the respective member cities, two new UBC working Commissions - the Commission on Sport and the Commission on Tourism were proposed to be established. The UBC Executive Board supported the cities initiative and the formal approval of new Commissions creation is expected at the III General Conference in Aarhus.

The Commission on Sport

During the 11th UBC Executive Board Meeting in Vilnius, 22 April 1995, having in mind an Article 2 d) of UBC Statute stating that the Union shall: "Support any endeavor to enhance inter-human contacts, in particular, among the youth of the member cities, by organizing meetings, sport competitions, festivals and other events", the cities of Gdynia and Karlskrona put forward a proposal to create UBC Commission on Sport. The city of Gdynia possesses necessary experience in this field, as since 1993 Gdynia organizes an annual Twin Cities Sporting Competition for youth.

The Board warmly welcomed the proposal wishing the Commission successful and effective work. The secretariat assistance to the Commission on Sport is provided by the City Hall of Gdynia.

The first meeting of the Commission took place in Gdynia on 7th of September 1995, the day before the 12th Board Meeting where Mr Urla, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia was elected as a chairman and Mr Björn Fries, Deputy Mayor of Karlskrona as a deputy chairman of the Commission.

The next working session of the Commission is scheduled to take place in Karlskrona in March 1996 where the calendar of the sports events of 1996 will be elaborated.

The Commission on Tourism

At the 12th UBC Executive Board Meeting held in Gdynia, on 8 September 1995, the cities of Kalmar and Rezekne submitted a proposal to establish the UBC Commission on Tourism. The Board accepted the proposal and recommended the General Conference to officially approve creation of the Commission on Tourism. 

Examples of other UBC activities and projects

Women of the Baltic Sea Region

The Union has initiated the idea of organizing a number of conferences dealing with the women's problems in Baltic countries. The first Conference entitled "The Women and the Labour Market" was held in Kaliningrad on 13-15 May 1993.

The second UBC Women's Conference entitled "Women around the Baltic - our role in Agenda 21" was held on 5-8 October 1995 in the city of Sundsvall, Sweden. The conference was organized jointly by the Union of the Baltic Cities and Women for Environment and Health network in Sundsvall.

The Sundsvall conference was attended by 70 participants from 25 Baltic cities (7 countries) who emphasized the following issues:

- equality must be a basis in all fields of human activity, in our work and life,

- women's skills should be recognized and utilized,

- local women's organization should take an active part in politics and social policy development to promote health and environment,

- women's organizations should establish one network linking all of them.

The conference agreed that the best way to improve women situation is to create networks, giving opportunities to exchange experiences and support each other. The conference called upon the UBC and other organizations to support and coordinate these networks offering education and training, e.g. in leadership and organizational development, making women better equipped to support other women in the cities.

The conference underlined that issues of welfare, environmental protection and development can not be separated. Economic development should bring improvement in the quality of life, health and environment. The conference recognized the great need of women's participation in these work, especially in Agenda 21.

The next UBC Women Conference will be held on 8-12 May, 1996 in Karlskrona in association with the "Women Can" exhibition.

Seminars on Public Transportation reform in Baltic States

The aim of the project is to increase the knowledge on Public Transport organization which will be transferred from Sweden through the seminars and study tour in Sweden for key-persons, meetings between politicians and managements of city public transport companies in Sweden and Lithuania. The seminars are to be organized in Lithuania and Sweden and will deal with local and practical questions in connection with the transition of the responsibility of Public Transport from state to local level.

For the next step of the project, the Union intends to apply to Swedish authorities to obtain resources to purchase used buses in Sweden and replace with them worn out buses in 5 major Lithuanian cities. The project is to be financed by the Swedish International Cooperation Development Agency (SIDA) and the EU ECOS/OUVERTURE programme. The start of the project is scheduled for January 1996. Subsequently the project will be also carried on in other south-east Baltic countries.

Environmental Summercamp for Youth from the Baltic Sea Region

So far Union of the Baltic was one of co-organizers of 3 summercamps, 1992 and 1993 in Latvia, 1994 in Estonia. Young citizens from 10 Baltic countries had an opportunity to meet, learn about environmental problems of the region and do some practical work for the environment. As the project has received a wide support from various institutions it will be continued also in the future. 

International Conferences and Meetings

The following list provides the most significant International Conferences and Meetings that the Union of the Baltic Cities has attended and submitted presentations or statements in the past two years.

I Conference on Baltic Subregional Cooperation - Stavanger, Norway, 7-8 October 1993

III Meeting of Helcom PITF - Brussels, Belgium, 22-24 November 1993

II Conference of Ministers for Spatial Planning and Development - Gdańsk, Poland,14-15 December 1993

II Baltic Conference of the Ministers of Transport - Kaliningrad, Russia, 24-25 February 1994

XVI Meeting of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) - Helsinki, 8-11 March 1994

Hansa Business Days - Kiel, Germany 15-16 March 1994

III Baltic Parliamentary Conference - Warsaw, Poland, 5-6 May 1994

Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), III Ministerial Session - Tallinn, Estonia, 24-25 May 1994

IV Meeting of Helcom PITF - Nyköping, Sweden, 17-19 May 1994

I Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) - Strasbourg, France, 31 May - 3 June 1994

Conference on Transport Sector and our Baltic Cooperation - Malmö, Sweden, 10-11 August 1994

II Conference on Baltic Subregional Cooperation - Lübeck-Travemünde, 17-19 Oct. 1994

V Meeting of Helcom PITF - Tallinn, Estonia, 23-24 November 1994

MCAP Baltic Cities Meeting - Greifswald, Germany, 27-28 January 1995

ECO-BALTIC Conference - Lübeck, Germany, 8-10 March 1995

CBSS Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials - Elbląg, Poland, 15-16 March 1995

OECD & WHO Conference "Our Cities - Our Future" - Madrid, 22-25 March 1995

Conference on Cooperation in Southern Part of the Baltic Sea Region - Malmö, Sweden, 27 March 1995

Workshop on Networks and Communication in the Baltic Sea Area- Tampere, Finland, 27-28 March 1995

BTC Cultural Workshop and Cultural Tourism Seminar - Norrköping, Sweden, 5-7 April 1995

Hansa Business Days - Karlskrona, Sweden, 11-12 May 1995

Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), IV Ministerial Session - Gdańsk, Poland, 18-19 May 1995

II Baltic Sea Conference - Norrköping, Sweden, 18-20 May 1995

II Session of Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) - Strasbourg, France, 30 May-1 June 1995

IV Baltic Parliamentary Conference - Ronne, Denmark, 12-13 September 1995

Regiones ad Mare Balticum - Forum'95 - Bornholm/South Scania, 13-16 September 1995

EUROCITIES East/West Seminar, Gdańsk, Poland, 22-23 September 1995

III Conference on Baltic Subregional Cooperation, Västeras, 8-9 November 1995


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