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OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE
UNION OF THE BALTIC CITIES
Kotka, Finland, 13 April 1996
INTRODUCTION The 14th meeting of the
Executive Board of the Union of the Baltic Cities was held on 13th of
April 1996 in the City Hall of Kotka, Finland, upon the invitation of Mr
Hannu Tapiola, Mayor of Kotka. The meeting was attended by
the members of the Executive Board of the Union, chairmen of Union's
Working Commissions, representatives of applying cities and invited guests.
Opening of the meeting and adoption of the Agenda. The meeting was opened by Mr
Anders Engström, the President of the Union. The welcome words were given
by Mr Raimo Korhonen, Chairman of Kotka City Board. Election of two persons who, together with the President,
will check the minutes. Mrs Lillian Westerberg from
Stockholm and Mr Mikko Jokinen from Turku were elected to check the
minutes. New UBC Member
Cities. Mr
Paweł Żaboklicki, UBC Secretary General informed the Executive
Board about new applications for Union Membership submitted by following
cities: Göteborg (Sweden), Horsens (Denmark), Nacka (Sweden), Nyborg (Denmark),
Nybro (Sweden), Umeå (Sweden), Växjö (Sweden). The following representatives
of applying cities made brief introduction of their towns: Mr Endrick Schubert, Deputy
Mayor of Göteborg Mr Guldbrand Skjönberg, Head
of Environmental and Planning Dept., Nacka Mr Mikael Berglund, Chairman
of Education Board, Umeå Mr Skjönberg added that the
formal decision on Nacka membership is to be taken by the City Board on
the 13th of May. Decision: The Board decided to accept
above mentioned cities as the Members of the Union of the Baltic Cities
and wished them successful cooperation with remaining UBC members. The
number of Union member cities reached the figure of 62. Additionally, the following
representatives of the guest cities informed about their interest in UBC
work and expressed the intention to join the Union in the near future: Ms Theodora Rissanen, City
Planning Department, Lahti (Finland) Mr Aulis Laaksonen, Deputy
Mayor of Pori (Finland) Mr Igor Vershinin, Committee
of Economics, Pskov (Russia) UBC Strategy of Work & report from the Presidium
meeting in Gdańsk. Mr Anders Engström reported
from the meeting of the UBC Presidium in Gdańsk, held on 18 March 1996. The following persons
participated in the meeting: Mr Anders Engström,
President of the Union Mr Michael Bouteiller,
Vice-President of the Union Mr
Paweł Żaboklicki, Secretary General of the Union Ms Sonja Hilavuo, Chairman of
UBC Communication Task Force The purpose of the meeting
was to discuss the UBC Strategy of Work 1996-1997 - Union's ground paper
prepared by Ms Hilavuo. Additionally, also the
Chairmen of UBC working Commissions made their comments to the document. Mr Engström stressed that
adoption of mentioned strategic document is of high importance for the
whole Union. Decision: The Board unanimously adopted
the UBC Strategy of Work 1996-1997 and commissioned the Secretariat to
distribute the document to all member cities. UBC Project Manager. Mr Anders Engström put
forward a proposal to employ a UBC Project Manager. His responsibility
would be elaborating and managing different UBC projects including
submitting the applications for projects financing to various funds and
programmes. Mr Engström informed that
salary of UBC Project Manager would be covered by SIDA (Swedish
International Cooperation Development Agency). The city of Kalmar would
provide the Project Manager with an office, telephone, fax etc. The
President proposed that the UBC would cover the travel, hotel and
conference costs of Project Manager during 1.5 year period in amount of
approx. 20.000,- USD. Mr Engström proposed the
candidature of Mr Juhan Janusson to be the UBC Project Manager. Decisions: 1/ The Board fully supported
the President's proposal to employ UBC Project Manager for 1.5 year period and accepted
Mr Juhan Janusson's candidature for this post. 2/ The Board decided to
allocate 20.000,- USD to cover the costs of official travels for Project Manager during 1.5
year period. 3/ The Board authorized the
President to sign an appropriate agreement with Mr Janusson for
first 6-months period. The contract will be prolonged after 2-year and 1-year periods if
the results of Mr Janusson's
work are satisfactory. Reports from the working
Commissions. The following representatives
of the Union's working Commissions submitted reports on Commissions'
activities since last Executive Board Meeting in Aarhus, 7-8 December
1995: - Ms Sonja Hilavuo, the
Commission on Communication, Tampere - Mr
Sławomir Szafrański, the Commission on Culture, Szczecin - Mr Mikko Jokinen, the
Commission on Environment, Turku - Mr Ulrich Bauermeister, the
Commission on Social Affairs, Rostock - Mr
Zdzisław Urla, the Commission on
Sport, Gdynia - Mr Leif Nilsson, the
Commission on Tourism, Kalmar - Mr Andrzej Jankowski, the
Commission on Transportation, Gdańsk Additionally, Mr Ulrich
Bauermeister informed that the new person has been employed in the UBC
Office on Social Affairs in Rostock - Ms Petra Hamann. Mr Jankowski informed that Mr
Włodzimierz Machczyński was officially appointed
by the Mayor of Gdańsk, as Gdańsk's representative to the Commission on
Transportation. Decision: The Board took note of
submitted reports. 7.
Report from the Communication Task Force. Ms Sonja Hilavou from Tampere,
Chairman of UBC Communication Task Force, reported on latest Task Force
activities and informed about the Baltic Sea Directory project. Ms Hilavou
invited the representatives of all Member Cities to take part in the 1st
Workshop of the Communication Task Force to be held in Tampere on 31 May -
1 June 1996. Opening of the Secretariat of
UBC Commission on Environment. Mr Mikko Jokinen, co-Chairman
of UBC Commission on Environment informed the Board, that the city of
Turku decided to allocate certain resources to open the Commission's
Secretariat in Turku and employ the UBC Environmental Coordinator. Mr
Jokinen introduced Mr Esko Sorakunnas who is employed as a coordinator.
His task will be to manage UBC environmental projects, promote cooperation
between the member cities on the field of environment, produce UBC
Environmental Newsletter etc. Decision: The Board expressed its
appreciation to the decision of the city of Turku to open the Commission's
Secretariat and employ UBC Environmental Coordinator, wishing him a
successful work. Information from the
Secretary. Financial report for 1995. Mr
Żaboklicki presented the financial report of the Union for
the year 1995. The summary of the report: Contribution from Member
Cities:
200.471,38 PLN Contribution from the city of
Gdańsk:
82.500,00 PLN (office rent, staff
remuneration) Expenditure: 173.016,40
PLN Decision: The Board adopted the report
emphasizing a substantial contribution from the city of Gdańsk to the UBC budget. The
Board described the financial position of the Union as satisfactory. Report from the III General
Conference in Aarhus. The Secretary presented the
Report from the III UBC General Conference, held in Aarhus on 8-9 December
1995, compiled by the Secretariat. The report contains all decisions,
speeches, presentations, documents etc. taken or submitted during the
conference. Decision: The Board adopted the Report
and authorized the Secretariat to distribute it to all member cities. UBC Newsletter. Mr
Paweł Żaboklicki, presented the latest issue of the Union's
Newsletter No.9. The Newsletter contains three main chapters: I. Work of the Union -
provides the information about the last General Conference and the
Executive Board meeting in Aarhus, reports on major UBC projects, seminars
and events. II. Information from member
cities - includes information about various initiatives, projects and
events carried out by the member cities. III. Views - review of
various significant Baltic and European affairs. Decision: The Board encouraged the
contact persons in the cities to spread the Newsletter among all city
departments as well as different institutions like universities, ports,
libraries, chambers of commerce etc. Other matters. Reports from conferences attended by Union's
representatives.
Mr Anders Engström informed
that the event was organized by the Baltic Sea Chamber of Commerce
Association and the Baltic Institute in Tampere. Over 400 businessmen
representing 175 companies, mainly from Baltic countries, took part in the
event. Mr Engström announced that next year the Hansa Business Days will
be organized in the city of Kalmar and warmly invited all member cities to
take part in the expo.
Mr
Paweł Żaboklicki informed the Board that the Seminar on
Cross-Border Cooperation was organized by the Baltic Institute in
Karlskrona under auspices of Council of the Baltic Sea States. The seminar
was attended by over 150 delegates representing bordering regions of all
Baltic countries. Participants exchanged opinions and views on Baltic
cross-border cooperation pointing out the existing problems. The Secretary
submitted presentation on Baltic cross-border cooperation at the city
level, introducing UBC activities. Representatives of the EU
Commission announced that since the second half of 1996, it would be
allowed to combine PHARE and TACIS funds for cross-border initiatives. Information about forthcoming conferences.
President Engström informed
that Prime Minister of Sweden invited the heads of Baltic Sea countries
and the EU Commission President Mr Jacques Santer, with aim to give new
political force to cooperation in the Baltic region. President Santer is
expected to announce the frames of the EU Baltic Sea Initiative. Mr Engström
informed that he is going to be present in Visby during the summit to
lobby the UBC.
Mr Raimo Korhonen gave brief
information on Seminar for the Baltic Sea Regions to be organized by the
Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe and Regional Council
of Kymenlaakso in Kotka.
The Secretary
Paweł Żaboklicki, informed that the second United Nations
Conference on Human Settlements HABITAT II which is to be held in Istanbul
will address the persisting world's problems of housing, settlement and
urbanization. During HABITAT Conference, the meeting of World Assembly of
Cities and Local Authorities (WACLA) will be held. Decision: The Board authorized Mr Mikko
Jokinen, co-Chairman of UBC Commission on Environment to represent the
Union at mentioned conferences.
Mr Anders Engström informed
that this year the conference will be organized by the Schleswig-Holstein
Institute for Peace Research (SHIP). The theme of the conference will be: Local
Authorities as Transnational Actors and their Significance for Peace,
Environment and Development. The organizers invited the President and
the Commission on Environment to make contributions to the conference. Decision: The Board decided that a
member of the Presidium and representative of the Commission would take
part in the conference.
President Engström informed
that the nearest meeting of Foreign Ministers assembled in Council of the
Baltic Sea States will be held on Kalmar Castle. The Ministers will try to
put into practice the decisions which are to be made by the Prime
Ministers at the Baltic Sea States Summit in Visby. Following the example
of previous CBSS sessions Mr Engström will be invited and speak at the
conference.
Mr Jaak Tamm, Vice-President
of the UBC briefly informed about the programme of the 3rd Plenary Session
of Council of Europe's Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of
Europe (CLRAE). Mr Tamm will represent the Union at the session. 1000th Anniversary of
Gdańsk "997-1997" - status of preparations. Mr Andrzej Jankowski,
Secretary of the City of Gdańsk, introduced the participants with the programme of
events to be organized in Gdańsk on the occasion of Gdańsk Millennium in 1997. Mr Jankowski underlined the
following events: - Pomeranian Exhibition, June,
18-21 - Goldwasser Festival, July,
5-6 - European St. Dominic's
Fair, August, 2-16 - Sail
Gdańsk'97 Yacht Meeting, August,
21-25 - IV General Conference,
September, 12-13 UBC Member Cities & the EU - project status. Project on Public Transportation Reform - present status. Mr Juhan Janusson, UBC
Project Manager informed the Board about current status of two UBC
projects of which he is a Project Leader. Mr Janusson emphasized that
applications for grants to cover the costs of both projects have been
submitted to the ECOS-OUVERTURE Programme on the 1st of April 1996. III UBC Women's Conference, Karlskrona, 7-10 May 1996 -
status of preparations. Mrs Birgitta Törnqvist, a
Project Leader from Karlskrona informed the Board that the III UBC Women's
Conference entitled: "The daily life of women in the Baltic
countries" will be held in Karlskrona on 7-10 May 1996, in
association with large "Women Can" Exhibition in
Karlskrona. Mrs Törnqvist added that invitations have been sent out to
all member cities as well as to the participants of two previous UBC
women's conferences in Kaliningrad and Sundsvall. Proposal from Kaunas. Mr Vidmantas Adomonis,
Chairman of the Committee of Environment and Health in Kaunas, having in
mind the immense problems with energetics in Baltic countries, put forward
a proposal to create UBC Commission or Task Force on Energetics (under the
Commission on Environment). The objective of this new UBC structure would
be the promotion of energy saving measures in the cities. Mr Matti Kohva, Head of EU
Office, Helsinki mentioned that there already exists a special Task Force
responsible for energy questions in the Baltic Sea Region. Mr Adomonis proposed that the
next meeting of the UBC Commission on Environment could be held in Kaunas,
so mentioned proposal might be further discussed also at this forum. Decision: The Board authorized Mr
Adomonis and Mr Kohva together with the Commission on Environment to work
out a proposal of UBC structure responsible for energy questions and make
a relevant proposal at the next Board meeting. EU Demonstration Programme
for Coastal Management. Mr Anders Engström informed
that following his proposal the European Commission decided to include the
UBC and Helcom into its Demonstration Programme for Coastal Management. Mr
Engström added that the representatives of all interested parties (EC,
UBC, Helcom) shall meet in the near future to discuss the framework of
possible cooperation in question. The President stressed that in case of
UBC involvement in the programme it could be one of the biggest challenges
UBC ever experienced. Decision: The Board authorized the
President to go on with all necessary arrangements. VASAB 2010 - proposal of cooperation. Mr Risto Kärkkainen from the
Ministry of Environment of Finland, introduced the Board with the
background and goals of the inter-governmental programme in the field of
spatial planning - Vision and Strategies around the Baltic 2010. Mr Kärkkainen stressed that
the involvement of the Baltic cities, in particular the city planners, in
VASAB 2010 is of high importance for the whole programme as the cities are
key elements in the process of Baltic regional planning. Decision: The Board welcomed the
proposal of VASAB 2010 and authorized the Presidium to prepare, together
with VASAB, more detailed proposal of cooperation in question. Next Meeting of the Executive
Board. Mr Väino Linde, Mayor of the
City of Pärnu (Estonia) proposed to host the next meeting of the
Executive Board. Mrs Lillian Westerberg from Stockholm added that
Stockholm is willing to host the following Board meeting. Decision: The Board accepted the
proposal of the city of Pärnu and decided to hold its next meeting in
September/October 1996 in Pärnu. The Secretariat was authorized to agree
with the hosts upon the date of the meeting. Following the proposal of Mrs
Westerberg, the Board decided to hold the following meeting in Stockholm
in the beginning of 1997. Additionally the following
questions have been taken up: *
Mr Anders Engström reminded that at the 12th Board Meeting in
Gdynia it was agreed that UBC should organize a special meeting to discuss
how UBC member cities together with business organizations could support
and strengthen business contacts between Baltic countries. The Board
encouraged the cities interested to organize such a meeting in autumn this
year to contact the Secretariat. *
Mr Vladimir Tchourov from St.Petersburg informed the Board about
major international events to be held in St.Petersburg i.e. Baltic Theatre
Festival (April), Baltic Sea and European Security Conference (April),
Month of European Culture (May), Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Race (July),
Festival "Window on Netherlands" (September). * Mr Matti Kohva from
Helsinki informed about the Conference on Maritime Industries and the
Baltic Sea Region, to be organized by the European Commission and the city
of Helsinki, on 10 September 1996. Mr Kohva added that the invitations
will be distributed from Helsinki in May/June 1996. * Mr Audun Oiestad from
Bergen, informed the Board that the 16th International New-Hansa Days will
be organized in the city of Bergen on 9-12 May 1996. Closing of the Meeting. The Chairman of the Meeting, Mr Anders Engström expressed his thanks to the City of Kotka for hosting the delegation and closed the XIV Meeting of the Executive Board of the Union of the Baltic Cities.
Mr Anders Engström
Mrs Lillian Westerberg Chairman Adjuster
Mr
Paweł Żaboklicki Mr Mikko Jokinen Secretary Adjuster
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