UBC Board met in Jyvaskyla

The 54^th UBC Executive Board meeting was held on 13 March in Jyvaskyla upon the invitation of Mr Markku Andersson, Mayor of Jy-vaskyla. Preparations to X UBC General Conference in Kristiansand, 24-25 September 2009 was one of the main topics of the meeting. The head theme of the conference will be "Baltic cities for economic and climate solutions - a developed Baltic Sea Strategy". Secretary General Pawel Zaboklicki informed about the conference keynote speakers: Luc Van den Brande President of the Committee of the Regions, Maria Asenius State Secretary, Ministry for EU Affairs Sweden, Vygaudas Usackas Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania (tbc), Dirk Ahner, Director General, DG Regional Policy European Commission, Francina Armengol Socias President of Arco Latino (tbc), George Heartwell Chairman of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative and more. UBC commissions will prepare four workshops at the conference: How to improve the environmental state of the Baltic Sea Region? How to make the BSR a more prosperous place by supporting balanced economic development? How to make the region more accessible and attractive? How to make the BSR a safer and more secure place? Professor Esko Antola, Director of the Centrum Balticum, informed about latest developments concerning the Baltic Sea Strategy formulation process.

Björn Gronholm, informed that the Commission on Environment was working on the UBC Sustainable Development Action Plan 2010-2015 to be dopted in Kristiansand.

President Andersen informed that on 11 December 2008, UBC, BSSSC and B7 signed the Declaration of common interest with Committee of the Regions 2008-2011. The Board discussed the question whether the commissions should still as much as possible assist cities from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, to participate in the meetings. The question was sent out to all member cities for consultation. Not too many cities responded, but the majority was in favour of cancelling this rule. The Board decided to postpone the decision in question until the General Conference. The Executive Board adopted the budget for 2009. Secretary General introduced the new UBC website, which is being prepared by the city of Gdansk and the secretariat. He also presented the latest UBC publication "UBC Calendar of Events 2009".

The Board decided to accept Botkyrka, Sweden as UBC member city. The next 55^th Board meeting will be held in Miedzyzdroje, Poland.