To preserve the identity

The four main aims of EU strategy for BSR: to make the BSR environmentally clean place; to make the BSR prosperous place; to make the BSR accessible and attractive; to make the BSR safe and secure, were assumed. This complex approach points out the increasing importance of the cities. The EU Cohesion Policy confirms the importance of all regions and cities. The territorial cohesion is determined by individual historical, cultural and institutional background. The cities are becoming evident actors in executing the cohesion. Over 60% of EU population is living in cities with over 50.000 inhabitants. In BSR it makes (along with smaller towns) about 60 million people altogether. As a result, the cities are becoming the "motor of regional development". A quality urban environment contributes to "making Europe a more attractive place to invest and work". But the cities and regions of BSR can be active in different ways - since the historical, cultural and institutional backgrounds vary.

Therefore, the specific role has the coastal city of Gdynia and the Pomorskie region. Gdynia grew out of the transport and trade needs of whole Poland and its neighbouring regions, having no access to the sea. Today the new road links to the port area have been constructed, the rail line is modernised. The capacity of port basins and harbour channels is more competitive. The revitalisation of old trade routes: Baltic-Adriatic (Amber Route) and Baltic-Black Sea (Via Pontica) is under preparation mainly by CE Programme 2007-2013 projects: "A-B Landbridge" or "South-North Axis". The sunrising industry is connected with the devel-I opment of networkof regional airports. But the sea transport needs the sea vessels. The cities have strong shipyard industries, developed by many generations. This industry is performing high technologies today. It creates many thousands of working places for high skilled employees. Without these working places including the existing vast co-operation network, with technical universities, R&D institutes, ship equipment production factories - our cities and regions must look for other endogenic development factors. We can lose our identity. What can be an alternative for maritime industries in maritime cities? The deterioration of maritime potential creates different social, spatial and economic problems in our cities. From the bottom - up point of view, this is the biggest challenge for the whole BSR. We must preserve the identity of the city with dynamically developing merchant port, shipyards, its maritime academies, coastal shipping, fishing and yachting facilities. Simply - Navigare necesse est.