CHIEF EDITOR
Pawel Zaboklicki
EDITORIAL BOARD
Risto Veivo
Ewa Kurjata
Juhan Janusson
Iwona Smigerska-Belczak
PUBLISHER
Union of the Baltic Cities
Secretariat
Waly Jagiellonskie 1
PL-80853 Gdansk
POLAND
tel. +48 58 3010917 fax +48 58 3017637
e-mail: info@ubc.net
ISSN 1506-6266
PROOF-READING
Ewa Kurjata
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7 September 2001
COVER PICTURE
Summer entertainment on Søndergade -
the main street in Horsens
photo by Henrik Winther-Olsen
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Dear friends,
An
important task for UBC in the future is to involve
youth and the young generation more in our organisation.
I believe that a major problem for our cities is the
lack of engagement of youth in city politics. However,
I do not believe this is a sign of lack of interest
from the young persons. On the contrary, the young
generation is deeply engaged in issues of future,
for example environment and sustainable development.
The problem is to give space for the young generation
and adapt the policies of cities to the needs and
interests to their needs. I do think that the present
issue of the Baltic Cities Bulletin will give an overview
of what is happening in this field in the UBC member
cities !
The enlargement process has proceeded
during the Swedish EU presidency. People in Brussels
are optimistic, even if the hardest chapters are far
from solved, for example agriculture. Many leaders
from the applicant countries, on the other hand, are
pessimistic because of the problems of agreeing on
a date for the accession. One more worrying aspect
is the falling popular support for EU membership.
In some applicant countries the EU sceptics even have
a majority among the voters
One reason for this is the great distance
between the ordinary people and the officials and
politicians who are actively engaged in the issue.
The UBC Board Meeting in Cesis therefore adopted a
resolution which was sent to the governments in the
Baltic Sea Region and to the EU Commission. The main
message was that the cities should be more involved
in the enlargement process. The cities also need support
in their work to prepare for the EU enlargement -
today the cities are in general left to their own
in this important process. After all, practically
every aspect of city activity will be influenced very
much of the enlargement
We are approaching the next UBC General
Conference in Rostock in October. The UBC general
conferences are always an excellent opportunity to
meet other cities and to discuss common matters. You
are also very welcome to celebrate the 10 th anniversary
of UBC during the General Conference !
With Baltic Sea Greetings
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Anders Engström
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UBC President
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Kalmar, May 2001
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