Baltic Palette Region

Politicians from St Petersburg, Helsinki, Riga, Tallinn and Stockholm gathered in Stockholm at the Baltic Palette Conference, 23-24 March, to sign a declaration, promising to (re) build a close and active relationship in a unique collaboration. The vision is to develop the Baltic Palette area into one region that attracts visitors and investments from all over the world. 
The Baltic Palette started as a project in the field of spatial planning and development. During a one year period, approximately 150 experts from the participating regional and local authorities have worked with economic, social and environmental issues in order to improve the overall knowledge of the ongoing situation in the Region. 
The Baltic Palette Region, consisting of 5 metropolitan areas, sets up a market of 12,5 million people. It has vast potential in taking a leading role in the new economy. At the same time, is also facing numerous problems related to the complexity in living and working in urban areas close to a fragile nature and the Baltic Sea. Eight action groups have been working with various aspects that could facilitate working, living, doing business and travelling in the Region. The project has been creating a Common Vision, a Strategy and a Joint Action Programme that supports sustainable development in the Baltic Palette Region, founded on a permanent and active relationship between the five areas. In a long term perspective the co-operation will result in closely integrated networks and infrastructure investments -mental bridges and physical roads. 
The first phase in the Baltic Palette project was to agree upon a Common vision, Common Strategy and a Joint Action Programme for further actions. The declaration underlines the ambition to develop into one region, supported by political commitments. An annual conference will follow up the work in realising the Joint Action Programme. 
Another aim is to synchronise the efforts into common marketing. In the competition with other internationally strong regions, the Baltic Palette shall be recognised

Politicians signing a declaration supporting the development of the Baltic Palette Region

as a trademark that represents an attractive region that offers creation of new knowledge and arts based on a rich cultural heritage in close proximity to nature and sea.

Vilnius EXPO 2000

The forthcoming exhibition VILNIUS EXPO'2000 will be held on 20-22 September 2000 in Vilnius. VILNIUS EXPO -The Exhibition of Technologies, Equipment and Services for the City is designed to boost investments into Vilnius City development. 
The exhibition is one of the events of Vilnius Days festival which will be staged with a very lively and intensive programme on September 2000. 
The exhibition is planned to involve official participation of the city of Vilnius, its Twin Cities and other interested cities, public & private sector that wish to invest into the Lithuanian market, especially into development of the city of Vilnius. 
VILNIUS EXPO 20000 aims are: to boost investments into development, to introduce to the public perspectives and to develop co-operation in economy and culture 
The organising Committee of official delegation shall submit a participation application to exhibition organiser VISUS PLENUS no later than June 1, 2000. In principle, the contract detail is September 1, 2000. Prompt application is recommended to facilitate smooth preparation for the exhibition, including allocation of a stand location.

European maritime heritage

A consortium consisting of cultural actors in the Turku region has initiated a project for the cultural heritage in the Baltic Sea area: Sails of History. The aim is to develop a partnership of all kinds of partners, including cities, committed to actively preserving the maritime heritage of the Baltic Sea. Partners from Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland are also invited. 
The primary funding will come from the Culture 2000 Programme. Other possibilities are the Nordic Culture Fond, Interreg III and Phare. The objective is start a network supporting maritime culture and creating a firm basis for securing cultural activities around seafaring in the Baltic Sea region. 
The aim of this cooperation is to organise the first events: 
- a workshop on the conservation of old wooden sail ships linking expertise from around the Baltic Sea region and Europe. 
- a first event for maritime heritage actors together with actors involved in regional development and culture in order to integrate this initiative to already existing activities and to allow joint planning for the future. 
- a publication (in print and on internet) will be produced to make cultural heritage and cultural history more accessible to the general European public. Links to the heritage sites will be included and information on existing ships and maritime museums will be displayed and distributed in accordance to the advice from project partners. 
Future activities within the framework of Culture 2000 programme or Interreg III will be planned (a theme of fishermen's villages has already been brought up, another theme could be steam ships, etc.) 
The project gives opportunity to join forces in preserving the valuable maritime culture of the Baltic Sea area and providing visibility and easy accessibility.