EUMATA PROJECT

The EUMaTa Project co-financed by Swebaltcop - Baltic Sea Co-operation Programme is an innovative action under Article 10 of the ERDF regulation. 
The accession process in Sweden was mainly prepared on the national level, and the local level started to organise its work after Sweden had joined the EU in 1995. Estonia will be a member of the EU at the beginning of the 21st century, but the local level has already started to prepare itself for membership. The EUMaTa project is an example of how to organise the work with EU affairs on the local level in Malmö and Tallinn cities. 
Malmö and Tallinn have expressed in their respective strategies and plans of action that collaboration between the twin cities is to be concretised through EU projects. The project has been proposed to rest on two pillars. The first one is the EU network's organisation and structure in Malmö and Tallinn. The idea is to exchange experience relating to how to organise work with the EU issues on the local level, as well as how the EU networks function. Concrete collaboration structures and information paths, to compare and understand decision-making processes are to be created. Finding forms of knowledgetransfer and methods of intercultural communication is a central element here. The second pillar shall consist of collaboration revolving around different areas of work which the members of the EU network represent and take responsibility for. 
The project will form the basis for future collaboration in various fields and serve as a contact base. The EU network has been designed by way of its cross-departmental structure to be the principal player in the project. Experience will be exchanged via workshops, meetings, job swapping and the Partnership Fair (minidirectoria). 
Expected project outcome should be expertise in development and planning of future collaboration within a number of activity fields. EU projects will contribute to those responsible, for example for environmental issues. Both Malmö and Tallinn are encouraging democratic progress through emphasising the importance of EU projects for the development of municipal economy. The construction of democratic organisationsthat work with EU issues on the local level, e. g. EU

networks, is important when it comes to firmly establishing EU-work in the municipality as a whole. The EUMaTa Project is expected to generate at least 3-5 future collaboration projects between Malmö and Tallinn in different areas of municipal activity.

EUROREGION BALTIC

One of Elblag's priorities is integration with the European Union, in which the city authorities see chances of city development. 
In February 1997 on the Elblag authorities' initiative an international conference to discuss establishing the Euroregion Baltic (EB) was organised. Last year the actual agreement on the EB establishment was signed. The euroregion, one of the biggest, groups towns and communes of littoral regions from six countries: Kalmar, Kronoberg and Blekinge Provinces (Sweden), Bornholm County (Denmark), Pomeranian and Warmia-Mazury Provinces (Poland), Kaliningrad District (Russia), Klaipėda Ujezd (Lithuania) and Liepaja Region (Latvia). There are many expectations towards the euroregion, which is to facilitate improvement of trans-border cooperation, communication in the south east Baltic, cooperation in the sphere of environmental protection, help reduce prejudices, and

prepare joint project applications for EU support. Differences between individual partners, Polish, Lithuanian and Latvian ambitions to enter the EU and special status of Kaliningrad District will favour exchange of experiences and ideas. In 1998 the international secretariat of EB was located in Elblag. It will then be moved to Klaipėda and a year later to Russia. 
This year EB is developing many joint international projects: an ecological camp for youth will be organised in July at the Centre of Ecological Education at Piaski (Poland). In October 1999 Gdynia will host the First EB Fair. Euroregional towns and enterprises will present their own achievements and offers in the fields of tourism, environment and business. 
With Poland's joining the NATO and the EU family Elblag shall become one of the biggest centres situated only 50 kms from the EU's border with Russia. This situation will create new chances for Elblag development. It is believed that the border should unite people, facilitate exchanges of commodities and ideas. Last year's motto: "Help if you can" led Elblag's action of humanitarian help for Kaliningrad, Baltijsk and other cities of Kaliningrad District. 
Elblag is also an active member of the UBC and the New Hansa. Many Elblag schools are set to develop their international projects. The city has 10 partner cities, including the Baltic cities of Ronneby, Kaliningrad, Baltijsk and Liepaja.