UBC endorses its Maritime Policy

The maritime transport is one of the crucial development factors for the Baltic Sea Region. Since the recent EU enlargement, the growth in maritime sector has become even more significant. The rapid changes bring Th positive impulse for economic development of the whole region. However, the growth of maritime industry is also a challenge in terms of environment and safety. There are still many unsolved problems that the maritime industry, ports, cities and other Baltic actors have to cope with.

The UBC has been aware that all the problems and difficulties of the Baltic Sea transport cannot be tackled without an integrated approach. Therefore, the UBC Maritime Logistics Policy Paper was prepared which covers the entire scope of maritime logistics in the BSR, including matters such as development of transport and infrastructure, safety and the environment and logistics information technology in the region.

The first recommendation of the UBC Policy Paper - a need to promote cooperation and co-ordination between different regions in planning and developing transport infrastructure -seems to be especially significant as far as the European maritime transport policy and the Cohesion Policy are concerned.

Without regional and pan-European cooperation all actions undertaken at the local level will only be inefficient.

The UBC document stresses also a need for harmonisation of transport infrastructure and standardisation of cargo equipment to facilitate intermodal transports. The UBC member cities should at the same time support the development of port-hinterland connections and encourage public private partnerships investments in port and port-hinterland infrastructure. Developing research applied to maritime transport, creation of an open information flow, guarantee optimum safety of transport and care for environment are other important matters raised by the UBC Maritime Logistics Policy and which are in accordance with the major current Th priorities of the European Union expressed in Lisbon and Gothenburg Strategies and the new Cohesion Policy.

The UBC Policy has a limited scope of influence as it is addressed to the Union's members. But it is also a voice of Baltic cities in the discussion about the future European maritime policy.

The Maritime Logistics Policy Paper was prepared by the UBC Logistics Task Force chaired by Mr Christian Ramberg, Director of the Port of Turku.