Dear UBC Friends,

  The Baltic Sea region is perceived as the most dynamically developing region in EU and recognised as a forerunner in many fields. To keep this positive trend lasting, we cannot rest on our laurels. More than ever we are now facing the challenge to be most competitive region in Europe. However, as it was emphasised during our General Conference in Turku, in the globalised world the competition is not dominated by the national perspective any more but by the local and regional one. The cities play the increasingly important role in ensuring the welfare of the country and the success of the whole Baltic Region. The cities are those which develop as "engines of growth". How do they cope with the role of economic, cultural and social focal points? What do they do to attract investors as well as visitors? Hopefully, we will be able to find all the answers in this issue of the Baltic Cities Bulletin.

  Additionally, many of these answers were expressed during our VIII General Conference in Turku, Finland, 29 September - 2 October. We have been proud of the opportunity to host more than 270 participants, including representatives of 67 Member Cities, as well as invited guests from governments and numerous international organisations. Those people really care for the Baltic Sea Region and they want it to be more and more competitive. The most visible effect of this concern was the Memorandum of Understanding on Sustainable Port and Maritime Policy for the Baltic Sea Region signed by 15 major Baltic ports and port cities on 30 September at the General Conference in Turku. The UBC unanimously endorsed this document. This is a huge step forward in terms of harmonized environmental policies and practices for the Baltic ports.

  The theme of the General Conference was "Towards a New Agenda for the Baltic Sea Region". Do we really need to look for a new agenda? Excellent speeches and presentations, fruitful workshops and discussions confirmed, on the one hand, that the Baltic Sea cities have now tremendous opportunities to develop, especially in regards with the EU enlargement and new financing possibilities. On the other hand, however, they gave an impulse to consider the future role of UBC in the region. What can we do for the benefit of our member cities? The clear prerequisites to the UBC Action Plan for the next 2-year period were made by the General Conference when it adopted unanimously the Resolution. The ideas specified in this document mark the main dimensions of further development of the Union. We should support the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy objectives at the local and regional level. We should, moreover, closely co-operate with other Baltic organizations and do our best to create the one - and therefore stronger then ever - Baltic voice in Brussels.

  The Baltic Sea cities and region cannot afford to miss out the chance which has been given to them. I hope that the next year will be full of successful and fruitful projects which will further contribute to improvement of our regional competitiveness.

  Wishing You a Merry Christmas and successful New Year 2006!

Per Bodker Andersen President	Kolding, 1 December 2005