From a Closed to a Developed Town

Kuressaare, located on the island of Saaremaa, used to be one of the closed towns in Estonia during the Soviet period. With the re-gaining of independence, the town faced many problems. Yet, it was difficult to decide how to start solving them. We lacked experience, skills and funds but there was strong commitment to improve the living environment. So, we started to look for solutions via co-operation with West European cities. During the past ten years we have established a successful co-operation network with Tammisaari, Mariehamn, Turku and Vammala in Finland, Skövde in Sweden, Ronne in Denmark and Kuurne in Belgium, and we have gained a lot through joint projects in different fields. 
One of the most neglected fields was social welfare. Together with Ronne Municipality we initiated the Kuressaare Old People's Home project (1994-1998), co-funded by the Phare CBC Programme. As a result, we have established the Centre of Social Services for the elderly and people in need. 
Kuressaare is a seaside town but for decades it has been impossible to go swimming because of the pollution. Together with the Finnish Ministry of Environment another Phare CBC project "Cleaning the Kuressaare Bay and Constructing a Yacht Harbour" was launched in 1995. As a result the Kuressaare Bay has been dredged and cleaned and the yacht harbour has been restored. Further, the town beach has been cleaned and tennis courts were built near the shore. The area is located right behind the 12th -14th century Bishopric CastleFortification which is a unique building in the Baltic states. As a follow-up we have started cleaning the fortification moats of polluted sediments in co-operation with the Finnish Ministry of Environment. 
The old town of Kuressaare has a valuable architecture of the 17th -19th centuries. In co-operation with Ronne the buildings were assessed in 1996-1997, and a computer database for them was created. This project has spread to several other towns in Estonia. Currently, we are preparing the first Municipality Atlas in Estonia, which gives a survey of the town development and urban construction. 
The Phare BSPF Town Planning Project made together with Turku has reached its final stage. During this project our town workers have 

been trained to computerise planning methods.
We have also introduced a waste management system meeting modern requirements, rehabilitated the Fresh Water and Waste Water Treatment Plants, and reconstructed the heat energy production. We have had culture and sport exchanges, further education for young in our twin towns, and professional training in the course of joint projects. Also, further co-operation between different NGO's and private people has been developed. 
Networking and co-operation has provided us with successful opportunities to prepare our town and its people to be ready for EU membership.

New Faculty in Liepaja Pedagogical Academy

The incomes of the tourism business sometimes exceed oil business profits. Unfortunately, this kind of business (tourism business) in Latvia is not sufficiently developed, but it is starting to grow. There are some fields which have become popular in recent years such as country-and Ecotourism. The best example of Eco-tourism in Liepaja is the project called "Amber road" -the coastal zone from Liepaja to Jurkalni, which could be formed into a footor bike-path. 
Liepaja Pedagogical Academy opened a new faculty called "Tourism manager, guide" in 1998. Tourism manager, guide is an occupation of the 21 st century. This occupation has a future. The tourism manager is a person who does all that is necessary to maintain functioning of a firm or an agency. He has to know the laws, to react to unexpected situations. He ought to be well connected and should have good contacts with a client.
The plan which the faculty offers to the students is very extensive. There are both general education and specific subjects, like principals of tourism, tourism infrastructure and organisation, the service of tourism, the principles of management, legislation, etc. The faculty is offering a great opportunity to study abroad as well as to study foreign languages like Russian, German, English and French. 
A practicum is organised every summer. This summer it should be

tourism information, followed by tourism group organisation and management, and for the third summer - guide practice, and at last - Eco- tourism. Excursions are another integral part of the studying process. Some excursions are made by students themselves in order to practice. 
For the present we can offer only the highest professional education, but we hope that there will be a possibility to get a bachelor's degree. Competition is approx. 8 people for each vacancy. At present there are 25 places for students, including 15 that are fully funded.

Baltic Sea Conference

Kaunas hosted the "III Local and regional authority cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region" on April 21-23, 1999. The Conference was part of the 1999 work programme of the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRAE). It was organised jointly by the City of Kaunas and the Ministry of Local Administration Reform and Municipal Affairs, Lithuania. 
The Conference participants examined strengthening of local and regional government in the Baltic Sea region; local and regional authority co-operation in the prevention of environmental pollution; improvement of co-ordination between institutions and bodies for co-operation in the Baltic Sea region and the future prospects for local and regional government co-operation. 
According to the Final Declaration of the Conference, Conference participants wish to, e.g: 
-record their conviction that, despite different national political traditions and cultures, the acceptance of the principle of subsidiary and the establishment of strong self-governing local authorities, with resources matching responsibilities, are crucial for peace, civic stability and economic development in Europe. 
-consider that a stronger political will is needed in order to bring about a better distribution of responsibilities and resources between different levels of public administration.