55^th UBC Executive Board met in Miedzyzdroje

UBC Executive Board focused at its meeting in Miedzyzdroje on 1 July 2009 on the organization of the upcoming X General Conference. The new documents - UBC Strategy and Sustainability Action Programme as well as follow-up of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region were discussed.

Mr Pawel Zaboklicki, UBC Secretary General, informed about the latest version of the programme of the conference, the speakers and ensured that the work on the workshops was carried out according to the schedule.

Secretary General informed that the Auditor's report for 2007 and 2008 confirmed that accounting of the UBC is kept in accordance with the provisions of the Minister of Finance for the rules of accountancy for the non-profit organisations. Incomes and costs are correct, the principle of continuity is maintained and the financial result for 2008 and 2009 is reflected truly and fairly. Ms Marta Chelkowska, member of the UBC Board of Audit presented its report and recommendation to the UBC GC to absolve the Presidium, Executive Board and the Secretary General for the years 2007 and 2008.

Mr Jarkko Virtanen, Deputy Mayor of Turku, presented the draft of the new UBC Strategy. Mr Björn Grönholm, Head of the Secretariat, Commission on Environment, presented the draft of Sustainability Action Program 2010-2015. The implementation will start following the decision of the X UBC General Conference. The first programme assessment will be carried out in 2012 and progress will be reported to the XIII General Conference in 2015. Following the Board's decision, both documents were sent out to the UBC member cities for comments.

Morover, prof. Esko Antola Director of Centrum Balticum made a summary on the EU Strategy for the BSR. Prof. Antola listed the weakest point of the launched document but also emphasizedt-hat the Strategy was a playfield open for active and well-prepared actors. Finally, prof. Antola presented the list of flagships with the intention of suggesting the UBC Commissions to look through and think if they were ready to take the responsibility. The Board accepted the new member, an Estonian city of Paide.