UBC Board met in Lahti

Organization of the XI jubilee General Conference in Liepāja and the UBC Strategy implementation were the main themes discussed by the UBC Board at its 60^th meeting held in Lahti, Finland, on 11 March 2011.

During the meeting in Lahti, the UBC welcomed its new member, Swedish city of Falun.

The participants were acquainted with the proposal of the GC Task Force to devote the conference to the 20^th Anniversary of the UBC. It could be, however, astepping-stone to the discussion about the future. This should be also combined with increasing the UBC's attractiveness to other partners. The first plenary session would bring the outlook on what had happened during these 20 years from the Cold War to the present cooperation and what will happen during the next 10-20 years. The second plenary session could highlight the cities' role and their expectations, interests, etc. The Board authorized the Presidium to workout the final programme and invite the keynote speakers.

Mikko Lohikoski, UBC Strategy Coordinator, informed that two working groups were convened to work on two tasks of the Strategy: Communication and Marketing Strategy and Expert Exchange. He presented the outcome from the meeting of two Strategy task forces that took place in Lahti on 10 March. The TF proposed to start a process of formulating the Communications and Marketing Strategy with an analytical phase. The member cities will be consulted on the issues connected with this strategy. Also, the interviews will be made with the stakeholders outside the organization, e.g. Baltic Sea Region organizations, national governments, Brussels, etc. This survey would help to get a picture of the UBC responding to basic questions: who are we? what do we want? where are we going to? The second stage would be a process itself, and during the third operational phase the main messages would be formulated, the chan- nels of communication chosen and the target groups defined.

The task force on expert exchange deciwded to make a search for the funding opportunities which would allow to carry out programme on expert exchange on the basis of the UBC cities experience.

Three UBC Commissions on Culture, Gender Equality and Urban Planning presented their activity report and informed the Board members about their plans for the nearest future. Also, the Board agreed to merge the Commission on Business Cooperation and on Information Society and create one UBC Commission on Business Cooperation with St. Petersburg and Kolding as co-chairs.

Secretary General, Paweł Żaboklicki, presented the UBC 2010 financial report. Also, the Board approved the UBC budget for 2011.

The next Board meeting will be held in Karlstad, Sweden, on 17 June 2011.