WELCOME TO VI GENERAL CONFERENCE
OF THE UNION OF THE BALTIC CITIES
Dear UBC friends,
To live longer, healthier and more satisfied. That is the result of the second annual report on the social situation in Europe that recently was submitted.
 In the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the social trends it was stated that humans remain longer healthy and life expectancy has risen. On an overaging of the population is to be counted. Besides it is pointed out that there are still large income differences in the EU member states. The potential accession countries are still not at all considered here.
This alone shows, what large challenges in Europe are awaiting us.
With the Union of the Baltic Cities (the UBC), whose member the Hanseatic City of Rostock is since 1991, one hundred member cities of all ten Baltic Sea states take up this challenge.
The UBC members co-operate on the political and local level. The participation is voluntary and dependent on the respective priorities of the cities.
I have the great pleasure to invite you to the VI UBC General Conference with the ambitious topic "Social Justice in the Baltic Sea Region in the New Millennium".
Politicians and experts like EU Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, EU Parliamentarian Maj-Britt Theorin, Social Minister of Estonia Eiki Nestor, Secretary General of German Caritas Georg Cremer are expected to participate and to share their experience. With regional inputs from many of our member cities, the conference focuses on practical solutions for a better social life.
Another highlight will be the celebration of the 10th anniversary of our Union of the Baltic Cities.
As hosts of the general conference we want to act in the name of "Hanseatic City".
Whenever peaceful trade along the Sea was possible -as at times of the Hanse-Rostock and its citizens went well. The name "Hanseatic City" is therefore a symbol for peace and partnership. And so it has been again for the last ten years.
The community of peaceful trade, their traditions, the old trade routes across the sea – at the moment all that develops again one way or another.
In the passed decade Rostock could develop itself again to an important commercial centre.
Numerous ferry lines have settled here. The city became a central point in the maritime traffic to Scandinavia.
By the enlargement of the European Union Rostock moved into the geographical centre of this Economic Community and is situated in a straight line between the metropolises Berlin and Copenhagen. At the same time Rostock's port has become a focal centre for the trade not only with Northern Europe, but also from and to Eastern Europe. Owing to the close relations to Scandinavia most modern shipbuilding has been kept or newly settled here.
Rostock is also the commercial, scientific and cultural centre of the country Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. We fulfil a big amount of central functions in our Land of the Federal Republic, even if that is not always acknowledged. Rostock is an important investment location.
Numerous modern enterprises have settled here in the last years; only in the surrounding of the port 250 enterprises from the malthouse to coal power station – have been established.
The University of Rostock today is an important factor for the local economy.
From the university and institutions, which have been developed around the university, scientific-technological solutions emerge for the building industry and shipbuilding, for agriculture, environmental protection and medicine.
Rostock has become the destination for international cruise-liners -the short connection to the German capital Berlin is probably the reason for it; but the proud luxury passenger vessels from all over the world bring also glamour into our city. And every single guest take something home: The knowledge of the beauty of the Hanseatic City of Rostock, which we are proud of.
The EU enlargement to the East includes enormous chances for the entire Baltic region, from which we all will profit. For the future of the people in the cities around the Baltic Sea it is a question of filling the co-operation with life. So I go by the unknown author, who said: "A good partner is like old wine -it becomes better and better with the years."
In this spirit I wish the VI General Conference of the UBC all success.
Arno Pöker
Mayor Hanseatic
City of Rostock
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