35th Executive Board Meeting in Panevezys

The 35^th UBC Executive Board meeting was held on the 9^th of November 2002 in the City of Panevezys, upon the invitation of the Mayor Valdemaras Jakstas.

New members
President Andersen informed about the applications for UBC membership from the cities of Moletai and Fredericia. The Board accepted the applications.

General Conference
Mr Vidmantas Pleckaitis, Vice-Mayor of Klaipeda warmly invited all UBC member cities to come to Klaipeda for the VII General Conference. He informed that in 2003 Klaipeda will celebrate 750 anniversary of coronation of the king Mindaugas who made the city well-known.

Interreg III
Under the present rules of Interreg, the BSR is discriminated because Interreg is designed for the land bordering regions. The programme is not intended for the countries which posses maritime borders. UBC will strive for the change of rules of the next Interreg programme.

Transport issues
In the EU policy on transportation described in the TEN, the ferry lines, so vital for the BSR, are not included. The policy includes roads, railways and telecommunications but no ferry lines. In the EU White Book on Transportation issued last year the BSR is hardly mentioned. UBC is of the opinion that the lack of good ferry connections across the Baltic Sea in large parts of the region is a severe obstacle for development.

Revising the UBC Strategy
On behalf of the working group Mr Juhan Janusson presented the ideas on the structure and contents of the new UBC Strategy. The WG proposed that the Strategy document should be concise, easy to read and understand. The main target group should be the present and potential member cities. The Board authorised the WG to go on with the work on revising the UBC Strategy.

NGO Forum in Turku
Mr Mikko Lohikoski informed that representatives of NGOs from all Baltic Sea countries will meet in Turku, in May 2003. Some 400 civil society participants are expected to come to share their experiences and plan joint activities. Mrs Tarja Halonen, President of Finland, has agreed to be the Patron of the Forum.

Baltic Cities Bulletin
Mr Pawel Zaboklicki presented the Baltic Cities Bulletin devoted to "Governance in Baltic Cities". The bulletin includes articles sent by the member cities, introducing new methods of governance in Baltic cities. UBC position on the latest EU White Paper on Governance is also included in the publication.