Ready for the Future
Building on the past
The end of the Cold War was a major breakthrough not only in relations between the countries in the BSR, but also between the cities. For over 45 years the Baltic Sea Region was divided into the democratic West and Soviet East. After the Iron Curtain collapsed, those contrasting worlds had to face the clash of cultures, economies and mentalities. It turned out that the cooperation and exchange of experiences were the best ways to diminish the existing gaps. The Union of the Baltic Cities was a response to the needs of cities eager to share and get the knowledge. The diversity was not an obstacle any more, but an asset.
"The Baltic region has now the possibility to take its pl in a new developing Eur with its long tradition of city co-operation, itsplentifold of universities, with the will and the strength to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The only way to meet the global competition of tomorrow will be to form this region of ours".
Anders Engström at the founding conference in Gdańsk in 1991
Referring to the traditional links binding the Baltic cities in terms of trade, culture and tourism, 32 cities from 9 Baltic countries decided to create the UBC. Since the beginning the number of member cities has tripled.
The goals and cooperation areas have been evolving and extending to be adapted to the political and economic situation in the region and in Europe. The primary goal was to deal with the barriers between Western and Eastern Baltic cities and to contribute to the sustainable development of the whole region. Promotion of democracy and good governance were the first main tasks of UBC. Communication was a challenge, as well.
Initiated in 1995, UBC-EU Information Project was aimed at preparing the Baltic cities for the EU expansion in the BSR. The EU enlargement in 2004 caused significant changes in the new member states creating at the same time a new geopolitical situation in the BSR. New financing possibilities for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have created a great opportunity to even up the differences in economies and to improve the competitiveness of the Baltic Sea Region as a whole. Also, Russian UBC member cities have been affected by the EU enlargement. Close co-operation with them has been especially significant to avoid arising new gaps and dividing lines.
One of the main strategic aims of the UBC has been from that moment to transform the political, economic and financial potential that is connected with EU enlargement into reality.
European dimension of the UBC activities has been even strengthened when the European Commission started its work on the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the first EU macro-regional policy. According to the new UBC Strategy 2010-2015 adopted by the X General Conference in Kristiansand, UBC and its member cities want to be active participants in the governance structure of the Strategy, as well as in implementation of its Action Plan and relevant flagship projects. The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is our key framework for the coming years.
How has the Union used its potential? How has it contributed to the regional development? What has been accomplished during 20 years?
UBC on the European arena
The Union has been aiming to be present in the European debate since the beginning, however, a clear EU dimension has been dominating since 2004 when Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia joined the EU.
At the General Conference in Klaipėda, 18 October 2003, UBC adopted the resolution appealing to the European Commission for regular consultations with local authorities associations, on EC policies which affect local authorities. The joint UBC- Conference of Atlantic Arc Cities (CAAC) statement signifying the need of a dialogue instead of a one-way communication proved that acting together make the UBC's voice stronger in Brussels. The first dialogue meeting was organized by President Romano Prodi in May 2004 in Brussels.
The Union expressed opinions and statements on the EU policies concerning the region. Following the development of EU funding programmes for the period 2007-2013 within the new Cohesion Policy, UBC with other Baltic organizations were successfully lobbying for introduction of an financial instrument enabling cross-border cooperation across the maritime borders of the Baltic Sea wider than 150 km.
Moreover, the Union significantly contributed to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. It is now involved in the implementation of several projects listed in the EUSBSR Action Plan as flagships.
The UBC voiced its opinions also on other EU policies, e.g. EU Maritime Policy, emphasizing the local perspective in the European policies.
Recently, the UBC with BSSSC and B7 Baltic Sea Islands Network, presented a joint position paper on the European Union budget for Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 emphasizing the fact that the EU Strategy for the BSR needs to be backed up financially.
Towards a model sustainable region
Undoubtedly, the Union has been a frontrunner in promoting the sustainable development understood as balanced democratic, economic, environmental and social one that enables the current generation to live meaningful and healthy lives without compromising the possibility of future generations to do the same.
The commitment to face and solve the problems inherited from the past decades expressed in 1991 at the Founding Conference laid a solid foundation for continuous works for the sustainable future of the cities, and the region and outlined the cooperation between different stakeholders.
The UBC Commission on Environment with the complementary work of other UBC Commissions has been aiming to put the idea of sustainable development into practice.
UBC Agenda 21 and Sustainability Action Programmes list the best practices and actions needed to find good practical and efficient solutions to the challenges and problems the member cities have been facing. Numerous projects have been implemented to reach the goals of the Action Programmes, e.g. SAIL, EMAS Peer Review Project, LVRAC, New Hansa of Sustainable Ports and Cities, PURE - Project on Urban Reduction of Eutrophication, NEW BRIDGES - Strengthening of Quality of Life through Improved Management of Urban-Rural Interaction, Solutions local, together, Alliance of Baltic Cities (ABC), Managing Urban Europe-25. The overwhelming majority of these projects gained the EU financial support from the European Regional Development Fund or specific EU programmes (e.g. LIFE).
Progress have been monitored through Sustainability Surveysthat have been carried out since 1998. The surveys show how the integration of sustainable development issues is progressing in the cities in the BSR. Practical examples of sustainable practices complemented with suitable tools have been put together into one database available for all UBC member cities at www.ubcwheel.eu.
The UBC has also referred to the climate change threats calling its members for actions to minimize its harmful effects. The UBC Resolution on Climate Change was accepted at the IX UBC General Conference in Pärnu 2007. Additionally, when the European Commission started the Europewide consultations on preventing climate change consequences and adapting to the new conditions, the Union responded that the climate protection needed first ofall the commitment of municipalities and their inhabitants.
UBC Commissions: transfer of know-how, cultural exchange, social security, problem solving
The UBC Commissions have been working to achieve the sustainability goals and to provide constant cultural exchange, transfer of best practices and experiences.Through their work various cities'needs and expectations are met, either concerning culture, business or tourism.
Initially, the Commissions' meetings and seminars, festivals (e.g. initiatives of the Commission on Culture - Festival of the Baltic Cities, art festivals), competitions and publications were invaluable in making the cities better known and more familiar with their rich history, culture and heritage. As time went by, the Commissions, still promoting the cities in terms of culture or tourism, became very useful, multidimensional expertise platforms for the cities.
The outcome of the Commissions'work have also been an expression of discourses held in the region, e.g. regarding the social security or gender mainstreaming.
The UBC Social Charter, adopted at VI UBC General Conference in Rostock in 2001, reflects the social practices in the Baltic cities. The Charter offered a conceptual framework providing the basis for the development of the sustainable societies. It was prepared by the UBC Commission on Health& Social Affairs to stimulate the cities to incorporate the social dimension into their policies and strategies. Social campaigns (e.g.'Without limits', ‘Always Active') promoting integration through sports activities among youth, the disabled, elderly people have been the domain of the Commission on Sport.
The Commission on Gender Equality has been aiming at better recognition of the gender equality problems, and lobbying for inclusion of the gender perspective into the EU Strategy for the BSR.
The Union has also been supporting the involvement of the youth into the local democracy. Transforming the Network on Youth Issues into the Commission gave a new impetus for the young leaders who have been coming up with many ideas and projects, e.g. EU co-funded "Different History, Common Future".
Sustainable urban areas have been the main interest of the Commission on Urban Planning which seminars always meet with a great interest of the city planners and architects. Its successful ABC Alliance of Baltic Cities project with 27 cities participating resulted in steady contacts between partners, proposals on how to deal with the city planning problems of today and tomorrow.
Sustainability in tourism has been in focus of the Commission on Tourism's activities. Its successful Baltic Welcome Center and Ancientimes projects promoted Baltic cities and their heritage as attractive and accessible tourist destinations.
Another area of interests covered by the Union is education. The Commission on Education supports and organizes the exchange between pupils and students among UBC members. Its flagship project is Erken Laboratory Research School addressed to the students aged 16-20.
International cooperation
The Union has been establishing and developing contacts with other Baltic and European organizations and institutions i.e. European Parliament, European Commission, Committee of the Regions, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, Council of the Baltic Sea States, Parliamentary Conference on Cooperation in the Baltic Sea Area, Baltic Sea States Subregional Cooperation, CPMR Baltic Sea Commission, Helsinki Commission, Baltic 21, VASAB 2010, Conference of Atlantic Arc Cities, Forum of Adriatic and Ionian Cities and others.
The cooperation with other Baltic organizations is very important to avoid overlapping and to strengthen one Baltic voice on the EU arena.
Also, in 2010 UBC has become a member of the Conference of European Cross-Border and Interregional Cities Network (CECICN) created by six organisations: Iberian Network of Cross-border Entities, Forum of Adriatic and Ionian Cities, MedCities, Mission Operationelle Transfrontaliere, Union of the Baltic Cities, Conference of Atlantic Arc Cities.
Headingfor the future
There are many people working for the UBC who remember how the cooperation looked like at the beginning. Formal obstacles or limited means of communication did not dampen their enthusiasm. Quite the opposite, difficulties motivated to even harder work. The UBC made a long way from being the open door for cities cut off from the international West-East contacts for over 45 years to the strong powerful organization, representing over 100 members on the regional and European levels.
Creating a network of cities keen on working together despite differences and competition has been an unquestionable success.
The future will bring new challenges and opportunities. Being responsive to the changing political, social and economic conditions, the UBC wants to be a meeting place for people, a forum for exchange of ideas, contacts and experiences between the member cities and other partners, a source of inspiration and the dialogue. Its aim for the coming years would also be to empower its position as a respected and recognized partner in the Baltic Sea Region cooperation, promoting the interests of the cities and the region. |
