An active city

by Ms Ina Sidlauskiene

Before 2004, with limited Blocal allocations, Klaipeda mastered the art of utilizing EU financial instruments, so that trans-national cooperation could reach almost every sphere of municipal activity. The efforts were directed to back national strategic goals of the EU accession, and to improve the quality of life for the citizens.

Currently, Klaipeda carries out 10 INTERREG projects in the spheres of environment, energy efficiency and water tourism. In 2006, the total direct EU support to the city is approximately 25 million EUR. And that does not include allocations for the port infrastructure development, etc.

According to the City International Strategy, Klaipeda strives to be an active city - visible in the Baltic Region and the world, ready to use numerous international contacts to turn Klaipeda into a secure, competitive and modern European harbour city. Participation in two major international organizations - the UBC and EUROCITIES - opens ample possibilities to reach these goals. East-West axis in our foreign relations is important. Klaipeda Region borders with the Kaliningrad area, which is one of our twin-cities. Cooperation with Kaliningrad aims at good neighbourhood relations and its faster integration. Klaipeda was the first Lithuanian city which organised its presentation event in Brussels at Schlezwig-Holstein EU Information Office in 1998.

The goal was to introduce the city's economic-cultural potential to representatives of EU directorates and regional EU offices. Another, one-month lasting mission was arranged by the Department of Foreign Relations in cooperation with the West Sweden EU Representation Office in Brussels to make direct contacts with various EU institutions. Klaipeda had ambitions to open its own representation office in Brussels, but now the Lithuanian Association of Local Authorities plans to establish it. The UBC antenna office in Brussels will be a valuable instrument for lobbying interests of the Baltic cities. It is clear that European structural assistance will be one of the most challengous issues. Lobbying together for the Baltic cities will make us stronger and eager to remain more partners than competitors.