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VIII General Conference, Turku, 29 September - 2 October 2005

VIII General Conference,
Turku, 29 September - 2 October 2005



Conference Report

INTRODUCTION

The VIII General Conference of the Union of the Baltic Cities was held on 29 September - 2 October 2005 in Turku, Finland, at the invitation of the Mayor of Turku.

The theme of the first part of the Conference was "Towards a New Baltic Sea Agenda". The second part was devoted to internal UBC matters such as reports, elections, finances etc. 

The Conference was attended by 274 participants, including representatives of 67 Member Cities, as well as invited guests from governments and international organisations. 

THURSDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2005

OPENING PLENARY SESSION

The following speakers submitted addresses during the opening plenary session.

Mr Armas Lahoniitty, Mayor of the City of Turku, warmly welcomed all participants at the VIII UBC General Conference in Turku.

Mr Pertti Paasio, Chairman of Turku City Council, conveyed a greeting to the General Conference from the Prime Minister of Finland Mr Matti Vanhanen.

Mr Per Bødker Andersen, President of the Union of the Baltic Cities, opened the VIII General Conference of the Union of the Baltic Cities.

Ambassador Kornelius Sigmundsson, Chairman of the Committee of Senior Officials, Council of the Baltic Sea States, submitted address on behalf of the CBSS.

Mr Stephen Kabuye, Chairman of Lake Victoria Region Local Authorities Cooperation, submitted address on behalf of LVRLAC.

Mr Bernard Hoarau, Principal Programme Coordinator, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), submitted address "UNITAR: Exchanging Experiences Among Cities - Opportunities and Prospects".

Mr Pavel Telicka, European Coordinator for Rail Baltica, First Czech Commissioner, submitted address "Rail Baltica - Challenge and Opportunity".

Ms Anna Zigure, Author, former Latvian Ambassador in Finland, submitted address "Our Sea has many Shores".


FRIDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2005

PLENARY SESSION

The following speakers submitted presentations during the plenary session on Friday:

Ms Elisabeth Helander, Director, European Commission, DG Regional Policy, "EU Co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region".

Mr Kurt Bodewig, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs, Deutscher Bundestag, "The Baltic Sea and the role of it in the European Transport System - Motorways of the Seas".

Mr Markku Mylly, Director General, Finnish Maritime Administration, "Baltic Sea Region as Part of European Transport Networks - Maritime Safety".

Mr Carl Cederschiöld, Mayor Emeritus (Stockholm), "Cities and Competitiveness"

Mr Viktor Surikov, Mayor of Kronstadt, representative of the Governor of St.Petersburg, "Cities and Good Neighbourhood Policies".

Mr Zbigniew Rykowski, Chairman of Committee on Spatial Development of VASAB, "Results of the 6th VASAB Ministerial Conference".

Mr Emilio D'Alessio, Vice-Mayor of the City of Ancona, Forum of Adriatic and Ionian Cities, "Baltic Sea Region - A Mediterranean View".

CONFERENCE FORUMS

The following forums were held concurrently during the second day of the conference:

1. Maritime Logistics Corridors in the BSR
2. Promoting Human Contacts in the BSR
3. BSR Cities and the EU Budget Framework
4. BSR Cities and the New Neighbourhood Policies
5. Active and Attractive City: physical activity promotes wellbeing   (coorganised with the Baltic Region Healthy Cities Association)
6. LVRLAC - UBC Cooperation Forum

CLOSING PLENARY

Mr Mikko Rönnholm, Development Manager, Fortum Heat Corporation, delivered an address from Fortum Corporation which sponsors UBC in 2004 and 2005.

The "Memorandum of Understanding on Sustainable Port and Maritime Policy for the Baltic Sea Region" was signed by 15 major Baltic ports and cities. The General Conference unanimously endorsed the memorandum. 

Moderators of the conference forums presented summary reports from their meetings. 

Mr Vegard Hölaas, Director for International Affairs, Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs, made a presentation on "European Voluntary Service".

Ms Laine Jänes, Mayor of Tartu, delivered an address to the General Conference from Prime Minister of Estonia, Mr Andrus Ansip titled "Is Baltic Sea A Safe Heaven?".


SATURDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2005

COMMISSIONS /NETWORKS MEETINGS

The UBC Commissions and Networks held working meetings in order to discuss reports from the last period and action plans for the next two-year period.

OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The General Assembly was opened by Mr Per Bødker Andersen, President of the Union.

President Andersen thanked the outgoing Vice-Presidents namely Mr Armas Lahoniitty, Mr Arno Pöker and Mr Gundars Bojars, for their outstanding contribution to the UBC success in the last years.

REPORTS FROM THE COMMISSIONS AND NETWORKS

The following representatives of the Commissions and Networks submitted reports and action plans to the assembly:

Commission on Business Cooperation - Vytautas Juodagalvis
Commission on Culture - Tarja Hautamäki
Commission on Education - Kurt Pettersson
Commission on Environment & Agenda 21 Program - Guldbrand Skjönberg & Risto Veivo
Commission on Health and Social Affairs - Karin Wohlgemuth
Commission on Information Society - Vladislav Balsky
Commission on Sport - Beata Łęgowska
Commission on Tourism - Kyrre Dahl
Commission on Transportation - Lisa Sundell
Commission on Urban Planning - Jussi Kautto
Women's Network - Ulla Lundqvist
Network on Youth Issues - Tina Jönsson
Logistics Task Force - Christian Ramberg

The Conference took note of the reports. 

REPORT ON UBC ACTIVITIES

Mr Per Bødker Andersen, President of the Union, submitted the Report on UBC Activities during the period October 2003 - September 2005. The UBC Activity Report is enclosed. The General Conference approved the Report on UBC Activities October 2003 - September 2005.

AUDITOR'S REPORT FOR 2003-2004

Mr Paweł Żaboklicki, UBC Secretary General, presented the auditor's report on UBC accounts for 2003-2004, prepared by the licensed auditing company BILANS from Gdańsk, stating that the Union financial transactions and records within the mentioned period have been handled properly. The Conference took note of the report. 

BOARD OF AUDIT REPORT

Mr Bartłomiej Sochański, advocate, Szczecin, presented the report of the Board of Audit. The General Conference took note of the report. 

ABSOLVING THE PRESIDIUM AND THE SECRETARY

The Board of Audit proposed to the General Conference to absolve the Presidium and the Secretary General of their responsibility for the year 2003 and 2004.
The General Conference absolved the Presidium and the Secretary General of their responsibility for the year 2003 and 2004.

MEMBERSHIP FEES 2006-2007

Secretary General Paweł Żaboklicki presented the Executive Board's proposal of the UBC budget and new membership fees for 2006 and 2007.
The General Conference approved the membership fees for the financial period 2006-2007. 

APPROVAL OF UBC AUDITOR FOR 2005-2006

Secretary General Paweł Żaboklicki informed the Conference that the Executive Board proposes the licensed auditing company BILANS from Gdańsk as UBC auditor for 2005-2006. The General Conference approved BILANS as UBC auditor for 2005-2006.

ELECTION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

The following cities were elected as members of UBC Executive Board in the next two-year period:
Næstved (Denmark), Pärnu (Estonia), Vaasa (Finland), Rostock (Germany), Liepāja (Latvia), Kaunas (Lithuania), Kristiansand (Norway), Gdańsk (Poland), Kaliningrad (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden).

ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS

The General Conference elected for a two-year period:
Mr Per Bødker Andersen, Mayor of Kolding, as President of the Union
Ms Marie-Louise Rönnmark, Mayor of Umeå, as first Vice-President of the Union
Mr Aleksi Randell, Chairman of City Board, Turku, as Vice-President of the Union
Ms Laine Jänes, Mayor of Tartu, as Vice-President of the Union

ELECTION OF THE BOARD OF AUDIT

President Per Bødker Andersen presented the candidates to the Board of Audit:
Ms Ewa Back, Mayor of Sundsvall, Sweden
Ms Marta Chełkowska, Vice-Mayor of Łeba, Poland
Ms Silvia Löbner, Head of Audit Department, Wismar, Germany
The General Conference elected above persons to the UBC Board of Audit for a two-year period.

CONFERENCE RESOLUTION

President Per Bødker Andersen presented the proposal of the resolution from the VIII UBC General Conference in Turku. The General Conference unanimously adopted the resolution. 

BEST ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTISE IN BALTIC CITIES AWARD

The UBC Best Environmental Practise in Baltic Cities Award 2005 was granted to the City of Kaunas, Lithuania, for the "Modernisation of the public transport network in Kaunas City". The Award granting festive ceremony took place on 30 September during the reception at Turku Castle given by the Mayor of Turku. The winner received the grant of 5.000 EUR donated by Per Aarsleff A/S, Aarhus, Denmark. 

VENUE OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE IN 2007

Following the proposal of the Mayor of Pärnu, the General Conference decided to hold its 9th meeting in the City of Pärnu in the year 2007. Mr Armas Lahoniitty, Mayor of Turku, handed over the UBC flag to Mr Mart Viisitamm, Deputy Mayor of Pärnu, wishing Pärnu a successful conference in 2007.

OTHER MATTERS

Following the proposal from the Network on Youth Issues, the General Conference decided to transform the network into the Commission on Youth Issues. Following the proposal from the Women's Network, the General Conference decided to change the name of the network into the Gender Equality Network.

CLOSING OF THE CONFERENCE

Mr Per Bødker Andersen, the President of the Union, expressed his warm thanks to the City of Turku, delegates from member cities, speakers, guests and the UBC secretariat for their outstanding contribution to the success of the VIII UBC General Conference.

In connection with the UBC General Conference the following meetings were also held in Turku on 29 September 2005:
- meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Council of the Baltic Sea States
- consultation meeting of Baltic Sea organisations - CBSS, UBC, CPMR, BSSSC, B7 

More information at:  http://www.turku.fi/ubc/


Last modified: 04.06.2010 13:21
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