The Antenna Office opened up

The official inauguration of the UBC Antenna Office took place on 6 December 2006. Two months after the settlement of UBC on the Brussels arena, representatives from member cities and different Commissions of UBC, gathered in Brussels to give visibility to the organisation and to the decision of strengthening UBC s significance in European affairs.

About 75 persons attended the opening event which took place at the Swedish Permanent Representation to the European Union. Beside the member cities, representatives from several European institutions and from regional offices, representing different parts of Europe, were curious to get to know the organisation.

After a welcome drink, and with a background composed by pictures and presentations of the UBC member cities, speeches were made. Mr Karl Skybrant, Head of Chancery at the Permanent

Representation of Sweden to the EU, welcomed all the guests and highlighted the difficulties of the network to survive throughout the years and congratulated the UBC for succeeding. The President of UBC Mr Per Boedker Andersen introduced the network for the participants and took the opportunity to promote the Baltic Sea Region. Mr Thomas FriisKonst, Managing Director of Stockholm Region stressed the importance of being I present on the Brussels arena and the I need of the newly opened Antenna Office to receive input from the network's members.

Mr Per Boedker Andersen declared the Antenna Office opened with its working space for the UBC members, I equipped with computer, internet, telephone etc, to be used by member cities whenever needed.