Security of citizens, protection of their rights and interests, as well as economic and social development remain among the most important European Union objectives. Naturally, in the European integration context, Koszalin authorities expect access to the structural funds, influx of capital investment and new technologies to the city. 
Integration with the EU, apart from free movement of citizens and improvement in the quality of living, will also result in moving closer to European standards in spheres such as internal security, employment, health and education. 
In December 1998 Koszalin applied for the Council of Europe's Award for municipalities. On 20 April 1998 the Council's 

Committee on Environment, Spatial Planning and Communal Issues granted the  European Diploma to Koszalin. The award was granted in recognition of Koszalin' s efforts aiming at increasing the citizens' knowledge about the EU, as well as of numerous activities undertaken by cultural and educational organisations or schools. Also, humanitarian help provided to Kaliningrad and Baltijsk, and to people of Polish origin living in Kazachstan were appreciated. 
Further, in recognition of its efforts, Koszalin was granted the Flag of Europe in May 1999. This flag of honour is a reward for promoting European thought in the construction of an integrated Europe. With such encouragement and inspiration behind us, further 

Europeanoriented activities will continue and will certainly greatly contribute to promote Koszalin not only on the European arena.

Kaliningrad is a very special city of the Russian Federation, with unique history and fate. After the second World War Koenigsberg city, the capital of Eastern Prussia, became Russian and changed its name to Kaliningrad. Today, our city is the administrative centre of the westernmost enclave region of RF. 
Historically, the city located at the crossroads of major trade routes, had become an active member of the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages and contributed significantly to culture and trade development in this part of Europe. Today, the city tries to takes advantage of this unique geopolitical location for the benefit of our region and the whole country by promoting a wide range of international activities, which is gaining importance especially as the process of democratization of society and converting to the market economy is actively going on in Russia. Through the international contacts, we can study the Western experience, can attract foreign investment, and expand cultural and scientific linkages. 
International cooperation is one of the top priorities of Kaliningrad City Hall. As a result of dynamic activities the city is twinned with 16

cities all over the world. Today, Kaliningrad is the only Russian city which has participated in 18 EU co-funded projects, as well as in 9 bilateral projects with Denmark, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands. These projects help us greatly to solve our environmental, economic and social problems by providing technical assistance. Further, this cooperation contributes to making our city the centre of transregional cooperation, creates wide opportunities for reviving the role of Kaliningrad as European centre of trade, business, culture and science. 
The coming enlargement of the EU will have enormous impact on our city. After our neighbouring countries, Poland and Lithuania, join the Union, Kaliningrad becomes the only Russian region, which will be totally surrounded by the EU, not just having common borders like SaintPetersburg. We are deeply concerned about the future framework of our relationship with the EU. We think one way out is to start a wide-range cooperation activities with the municipalities from the EU countries, and to establish as close as possible links in economic, cultural, social and humanitarian areas.

Future enlargement of the EU makes us think about developing a new model of our relationship with the EU. On one hand, being a part of Russia we have right to take part only in the TACIS, while geographically we are located in the PHARE area. We do need a special status in order to be able to work together with our partners in Poland and Lithuania on overcoming our mutual environmental and social problems. From our point of view, another big obstacle for future cooperation could be some restrictions like more strict visa regulations. So far, Kaliningraders enjoy visa-free regime with Poland and Lithuania, and this contributes greatly to our international cooperation. Visa restrictions would be an enormous obstacle when these two countries join the Union. We do hope that we will manage to overcome these difficulties and our UBC friends and partners from the Baltic Sea states will help us in that.