Baltic Sea Strategy in deed

The vision of Klaipeda is to become a flourishing city of business and innovation, to utilize all possibilities its coastal location provides, and, together with the whole Baltic Region, to implement the EU strategic goals to improve the Baltic sea environment, to enhance the sustainability and contribute to creation of better conditions for business activities and safety in the Region. As a port, Klaipeda is successfully implementing development projects, e.g. projects financed by the EU Trans - European Transport Network (TEN-T) Program. In 2009 the project "Junction of the IX B corridor with Klaipeda State Seaport - reconstructing central access" has been completed. In 2009-2010 the Seaport Authority and the Port of Karlshamn are implementing "The Motorways of the Seas project "Klaipeda - Karlshamn".

In the field of renewable energy development, Klaipeda isthefirst city in Lithuania planning to construct in 2011 a modern cogeneration power plant, worth of approximately half a billion Litas. The project will be implemented by the Finnish energy corporation subsidiary JStCo. "For turn Heat Lietuva". It will bethe first power plant of the kind using alternative fuel - bio-fuel, organic and communal waste. The supply of energy from national sources is useful e.g. in terms of the independence for Klaipeda region from the present Russian supplier. Moreover, much attention is paid to increase regional ecological sustainability in the Region. In 2008 the City Council approved a bid to become a partner in the Baltic Sea Region 2007-2013 program project "Climate Change, Impacts, Costs and Adaptation in the Baltic Sea Region (BaltCICA)". Within the project a study on the reduction of surplus water in Smiltele river will be prepared, a technical project made, and the planned measures implemented. Another important project financed from the ERDF is "Clean upofCuronian Lagoon Water near Ice Horn (the Bay of Ships'Cemetery)". The aim of this project is to clean up the bay of the former "cemetery of ships" - on the Eastern coast of the Curonian Spit National Park.The result of the completed project will revivetheecologically affected eco-system, reducethe pollution of underwater ground and create conditions for landscape recreation. Lots of tourism development projects have been completed or are in implementation process. In May the reconstruction of the Dane river quays and the Castle marina will be completed to berth entertainment ships and yachts in the very city center. Soon the construction of multifunctional Sports Arena will start. Among the most ambitious plans is the reconstruction of the Old Castle and its adaptation for cultural and conference tourism.