EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Pawel Zaboklicki
EDITING & LAYOUT
Anna Dargiewicz
EDITORIAL BOARD
Risto Veivo
Viktors Buls
Ewa Kurjata
Anna Dargiewicz
Pawel Zaboklicki
PUBLISHER
Union of the Baltic Cities
Secretariat
Waly Jagiellonskie 1
PL-80853 Gdansk
POLAND
tel. +48 58 3010917
tel. +48 58 3019123 fax +48 58 3017637
e-mail: info@ubc.net
www.ubc.net
ISSN 1506-6266
PROOF-READING
Ewa Kurjata
COVER PICTURE
project by Stefan Windh
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Dear UBC Friends,
It
seems evident that the modern civilisation is based
on energy. Being based on energy means, however, being
dependent on energy supplies, prices of crude oil,
natural resources etc. There is no doubt that energy
matters and is one of the most sensitive issues in
the contemporary world becoming the key topic in policies
of many states and organisations. Moreover, energy
is also a highly prioritized global environmental
issue as its production has a harmful impact on environment.
Bearing these facts in mind, Europe is discussing
now the new strategy for Sustainable, Competitive
and Secure Energy. Will the single European energy
market emerge in the near future? Undoubtely, the
Baltic Sea actors should take a chance and create
a common balanced energy market in the region. This
issue of the Bulletin presents our member cities'
experience with the energy supply security problems
and environmental impact of its production. Their
stories prove that there are great opportunities in
the Baltic Region as far as renewable energy is concerned.
Finally, the answers on how to utilize the governmental
and EU regulations on energy for the benefit of cities
and consumers are also presented.
European Union policy consequences
are visible in the Baltic Sea Region not only in the
energy field. Since 2004 the Union of the Baltic Cities
with other Baltic organisations has been lobbying
in Brussels on the new EU Cohesion Policy 2007 - 2013,
3rd objective - the European Territorial
Cooperation. Some of its assumptions are not suitable
for the Baltic cooperation and should be changed -
first of all the proposed 150 km limit for cross-maritime-border
cooperation. The European Commission's suggestion
of cooperation within the transnational strand indicated
in its reply to our first joint statement is not satisfying
- the proposed thematic areas within the transnational
strand have very little to do with the tasks of the
local authorities. That is why in April 2006, the
UBC, B7 Baltic Islands Network and BSSSC signed the
2nd Joint Statement still opposing the
limit of 150 km and applying for complement of thematic
areas within transnational part of the programme with
those which are essential for municipal cooperation.
To be even closer the European policy, the UBC should
be officially represented in Brussels. The Stockholm
Region Office offered to function as the UBC antenna
that will speak on behalf of our member cities.
Recent months have been also full of
other international activities of the Union. UNITAR
and UBC formalized their working relations signing
the memorandum of understanding. This agreement allows
to undertake joint actions in the field of human recourses
development with mutual benefits. The time since the
VIII General Conference in Turku has been also fruitful
as far as our Baltic activity is concerned. The Maritime
Logistics Policy Paper has been prepared and sent
to member cities for comments. As the Baltic Sea transport
is developing so fast, a need to create a policy that
would cover the entire scope of maritime logistics
in the region has become obvious. This policy concerns
the development of transport and infrastructure, safety
and the environment and logistics information technology
in the region. I believe this document will help UBC
to take part in consultations regarding the European
Union maritime policy.
The need for common actions is also
significant when we are facing the global social problems.
Thee UBC Board upon the initiative of the city of
Umea signed the Statement against trafficking. Unfortunately
the number of trafficked women and children is still
increasing. The document commits the UBC members to
undertake all possible efforts to prevent this problem.
As you can see
there are many challenging tasks for UBC and its members
to be faced this year. I hope they motivate us to
even more intensive actions.
With Baltic Sea greetings
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Per Bodker Andersen
President
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