UBC X General Conference, 23-26 September 2009, Kristiansand

"Baltic cities for economic and climate solutions - a developed Baltic Sea Strategy"

Press release

215 participants, including mayors, city executives, representatives of governments and international organisations, gathered at the 10th UBC General Conference in Kristiansand, on 23-26 September 2009.

The conference was opened by Per Boedker Andersen, President of UBC. Per Sigurd Sørensen, Mayor of Kristiansand welcomed the guests. The speeches delivered during the first day of the conference, by Hallgeir Aalbu, Director General, Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Norway, Ambassador Kornelija Jurgaitiene, member of Council of the Baltic Sea States Committee of Senior Officials, Maria Åsenius, State Secretary to Minister for EU Affairs, Sweden, Councillor Kay Twitchen, Rapporteur on Climate Change, member of the Committee of the Regions, David Sweet, European Commission, DG Regio, made up a picture of challenges connected with the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. The necessity of political commitment, active involvement and initiative were strongly emphasized. Making use of the potential of the EU Strategy, the cities have to face climate and economic problems at the same time. Presentations of Miquel Rosselló, member of the Executive Committee of the Consell Insular of Mallorca, Arco Latino and of Mayor George Heartwell of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Chairman of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative pointed the clear need and will to cooperate with other organizations having similar problems and priorities. The economic and business aspect was introduced by Svein Grandum, R&D Manager, Product Development of Elkem Solar contributing to low-cost production of solar cells. The youth voice was represented by Jannike Arnesen, Kristiansand.

The current problems were in focus during the four thematic workshops: to improve the environmental state of the Baltic Sea Region, to make the Baltic Sea Region a more prosperous place by supporting balanced economic development across the Region; to make the Baltic Sea Region a more accessible and attractive place and to make the Baltic Sea Region a safer and more secure place. The presentations delivered were a great basis for further discussions that led to concrete ideas and solutions for the cities.

The second day of the Conference was devoted to the UBC internal matters, such as reports, elections, finances and meetings of the UBC Commissions. The new Presidium was elected: Mr Per Bødker Andersen, Mayor of Kolding - as President, Ms Marie-Louise Rönnmark, Mayor of Umeå - as 1st Vice-President, Ms Urve Tiidus, Mayor of Kuressaare and Mr Jarkko Virtanen, Deputy Mayor of Turku - as Vice-Presidents. Also, the UBC Executive Board was approved: Næstved (Denmark), Kärdla (Estonia), Jyväskylä (Finland), Rostock (Germany), Liepāja (Latvia), Panevėžys (Lithuania), Kristiansand (Norway), Gdańsk (Poland), St Petersburg (Russia), Växjö (Sweden).

The Conference adopted the new UBC Strategy, new Sustainable Development Action Plan as well as the up-dated Social Charter. Additionally, the UBC Best Environmental Practice Award was handed to the city of Umeå for the practice "No idling taxicabs in Umeå". City of Gdańsk was a winner of the UBC Cultural Award 2009 for the project "The City Signs of Culture".

The 10th UBC General Conference resulted in resolution adopted unanimously on 25 September 2009. The resolution sees the calls the UBC member cities to be active in the EU Strategy for BSR implementation process and to work in an even more effective way for the whole region and use the full potential which the Baltic Sea Region cities possess.

Conference Resolution (32.5 KB)

1. Report on UBC activities October 2007 - September 2009 (123.5 KB)
2. New UBC Strategy (76.5 KB)
3. UBC Social Charter - revised (43.5 KB)
4. UBC Sustainability Action Programme 2010-2015 (108 KB)