Photo: Esko Sorakunnas
The Southeast coast of the Baltic Sea is a unique coastal area in Europe. However, it is also the target of various interests such as tourism, fishing, shipping and industry. UBC has put forward a project proposal in order to secure the combination of these interests and sustainable development of the area.
The Baltic Sea Southeast Coast, defined as the coast between Palanga, Lithuania, and Leba, Poland, is unique as a coastal area in Europe. Very few other areas in Europe show such a mixture of natural beauty and environmental importance, large industrial cities, holiday resorts, harbours, inland waters and coastal lagoons, military installations and large river outlets.
Many interests affect this coast causing potential for conflict. These can be reduced by cooperation along the coast, but international and national borders that split the area into pieces complicate such cooperation, and the coastal cities have very limited influence in developing the coast. In order to create foundations for sustainable development in the region, it is necessary for the local authorities to start cross-border cooperation amongst themselves in order to guarantee that the area is considered as whole, regardless of national boundaries. This cross-border cooperation, together with a bottom-up perspective, can ensure that sustainable development is implemented in an efficient manner.
UBC´s proposal is to start a cooperative project between the affected UBC member cities in the Baltic Sea Southeast coast. The project should be led by the cities, but also national and regional authorities could be engaged in the work as well as local universities and institutions. At the moment UBC´s Project Manager, Mr Juhan Janusson, is preparing an application to the EU for the funding of this project.
For further information, please contact Mr Juhan Janusson or fax: +46 480 83430.
