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OF THE UNION OF THE BALTIC
CITIES
Pärnu, Estonia, 21 September 1996 INTRODUCTION The 15th meeting of the
Executive Board of the Union of the Baltic Cities was held on the 21th of
September 1996 in the City of Pärnu, Estonia, upon the invitation of Mr Väino
Linde, Mayor of the City of Pärnu. The meeting was attended by
the members of the UBC Executive Board, 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. President Engström
emphasized that this day is the fifth anniversary of UBC foundation in Gdańsk on 21st of September 1991.
Mr Engström summarized the five years of Union's activities pointing out
that during this period the number of UBC members has doubled. All
participants sang Happy Birthday to the Union of the Baltic Cities
and raised the toast to the Union's successful future. The welcome words were given
by Mr Väino Linde, Mayor of the City of Pärnu. The meeting adopted the
Agenda. Election of two persons who, together with the President,
will check the minutes. Mr Carl Nielsen from Aarhus
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 the cities
of: Karlstad (Sweden), Mariehamn (Finland), Tartu (Estonia), Vaasa (Finland). The following representatives
of applying cities made introductions of their towns: Ms Birgitta Samuelsson,
Chairman of the City Council, Karlstad Mr Väino Kull, Mayor, Tartu Mr Tor Wik, Administrative
Director, Vaasa Decision: The Board decided to accept
mentioned above 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 65. Reports from working
Commissions. The following persons
submitted the reports on Commissions' activities since last Executive
Board Meeting in Kotka, 13 April 1996: -
Commission on Communication: Mr Anders
Engström, Kalmar -
Commission on Culture:
Mr Sławomir Szafrański, Szczecin -
Commission on Environment: Mr
Mikko Jokinen, Turku -
Commission on Social Affairs: Mr Ulrich
Bauermeister, Rostock -
Commission on Tourism: Ms Viola Hägglöff, Kalmar -
Commission on Transportation: Mr Andrzej Jankowski, Gdańsk The Commission on Sport was
not represented. Decision: The Board took note of
submitted reports. Additionally: Ms Barbro
Ejendal, Visby,
reported from the 2nd Working Session of the Commission on Culture titled "Freedom
of Expression - Information - Libraries", organized by the city
of Visby on 3-5 May 1996. Printed report from the session has already been
sent to all member cities. Ms Ejendal informed that a Network of Public
Libraries was established during the session and requested all member
cities to send the addresses of their public libraries to Visby. Ms Tamara
Shkourienko, Kaliningrad, informed that the 3rd Working Session of the Commission on
Culture will be held in Kaliningrad on 17-18 May 1996 and invited all
member cities to participate in the session. Report from the Communication
Task Force. Ms Sonja Hilavuo, Tampere,
chairman of the UBC Task Force for Public Relations and Communication
reported from latest Task Force activities. Decision: The Board took note of the
report. Report from the UBC Project Manager. Mr Juhan Janusson, UBC
Project Manager submitted report describing his work since XIV Executive
Board Meeting in Kotka. Decision: The Board took note of the
report. Information from the
Secretary. New membership fee system. Mr
Paweł Żaboklicki, UBC Secretary General, reminded that the
proposal to change UBC membership fee system according to the number of
city inhabitants was discussed by the III UBC General Conference held in
Aarhus, on 8-9 December 1995. The Conference authorized the Executive
Board to examine and approve the new system since 1997. Mr Ulrich Bauermeister,
Rostock, pointed out that new system favours big cities which per
capita pay less than small cities and suggested the fee for each city
shall exactly depend on the number of inhabitants. Mr Dag Larsson, Stockholm and
Mr Audun Oiestad, Bergen, supported the proposal submitted at the III
General Conference in Aarhus and noticed that as there is only one written
proposal of new membership fee system, the Board may either approve it or
maintain the old system. Decision: The Board decided to approve
the new membership fee system since 1997. Budget for 1997. Mr
Paweł Żaboklicki presented the budget proposal for 1997 based on
new membership fee system. Expected income from membership fees totals
138.250,- USD and shall cover the following expenses: meetings
organization, travel costs of UBC representatives, communication (phone,
fax, mail), services (eg. maintenance, accounting), publications,
commissions activities (up to 5000 $) etc. Mr Mikko Jokinen, Turku,
noticed that the budget proposal does not include all UBC related costs
born by some cities. Report reads that the city of Gdańsk provides the Secretariat premises in the "Green
Gate" and staff remuneration, but does not mention the cities of
Turku, Rostock, Szczecin, Kalmar which have extra costs related to
commissions and UBC work. Decision: 1.
The Board approved the budget proposal. 2.
The Board authorized the Secretariat to prepare an annex to UBC
budget 1997 informing about all costs born by member cities in relation
with UBC activity. 3.
The Board instructed all UBC Commissions to prepare their own
budgets. UBC Newsletter - ways of
development. Mr
Paweł Żaboklicki reminded the Board that so far the UBC
Newsletter has been written by the staff of the Secretariat in Gdańsk, which has no professional
journalist background. To improve the content and the layout of the
Newsletter there is an obvious need to involve professional journalist(s)
in the process of Newsletter production. Mr Dag Larsson, Stockholm,
submitted a proposal of the city of Stockholm to assist in the Newsletter
production. During one year time Stockholm is ready to provide a
specialist who together with the secretariat will work on the Newsletter's
upgrading. Decision: The Board expressed thanks to
the city of Stockholm for its offer and appointed the Secretary, Chairman
of the Communication Task Force, UBC Project Manager, UBC Environmental
Coordinator and Stockholm's representatives as a core of future
Newsletter's editorial board. The Board commissioned Mr
Juhan Janusson, UBC Project Manager, to investigate possibilities of
external (EU) funding for the development and future production of the
Newsletter. IV UBC General
Conference, Gdańsk, 12-13 September 1997. Head theme of the conference
- proposals. President Anders Engström
proposed the conference to be a Baltic Sea Cooperation Forum during
which major actors of Baltic cooperation shall discuss the future of the
Baltic Sea Region. UBC shall invite such institutions and organizations
as: Council of the Baltic Sea States, European Commission, Baltic
Parliamentary Conference, Nordic Council, Conference of Subregions, VASAB
2010, HELCOM, Baltic Sea Chamber of Commerce etc. Decision: The Board supported proposal
for the conference head theme and authorized the Presidium to undertake
appropriate steps to assure the participation of mentioned institutions in
the next UBC General Conference in Gdańsk. Other
matters. Reports from conferences attended by Union's
representatives. President Anders Engström
reported from the conferences and meetings where he was invited to speak
as UBC representative: -
Baltic Sea States Summit, Visby, 3-4 May 1996. -
Tallinn Old Town Days 1996 - Meeting of the Cities, 3
June 1996. -
Kiel Week Conference, Kiel, 23-25 June 1996. -
Conference of the EU Committee of Regions, Kalmar, 1
July 1996. -
5th Ministerial Session of CBSS, Kalmar, 2-3 July 1996. -
V Parliamentary Conference on Cooperation in Baltic Sea
Area, Riga, 10-11 Sept. 1996. -
I General Assembly of CPMR Baltic Sea Commission,
Stockholm, 12 September 1996. Additionally: -
Mr Jaak Tamm, Tallinn, UBC Vice-President, reported from
the 3rd Plenary Session of Council of Europe's CLRAE, Strasbourg, 2-4 July
1996. -
Mr Mikko Jokinen, Turku, reported from the HABITAT II
Conference, Istanbul, 30-31 May 1996 and the Baltic Sea Energy Conference,
Tallinn, 23-24 May 1996. Decision: The Board took note of the
reports. Information on forthcoming
conferences. Mr Anders Engström informed
the Board on forthcoming conferences he will attend: -
IV Conference on Baltic Sea States Subregional
Cooperation, Vaasa, 17-18 October 1996. -
IV Conference of the Baltic Ministers of Spatial
Planning, Stockholm, 22 October 1996. -
Conference of the Baltic Ministers of Environment,
Stockholm, 20-21 October 1996. Mr Mikko Jokinen informed
about the conferences to be attended by the representatives of the
Commission on Environment: -
IX Meeting of Helcom PITF, Jurata (Hel), 2-4 October
1996. -
II European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns,
Lisbon, 6-8 October 1996 and Global Cities 21 Meeting,
Lisbon, 8-9 October 1996. Decision: The Board took note of the
information. Information on Interreg II C. President Anders Engström
submitted an information on new European Commission's funding initiative
Interreg II C. Mr Engström underlined that Interreg II C financing
instrument is directed only to EU member states. UBC will strongly promote
the idea to allow joint transnational projects proposed by EU and non-EU
countries to be financed from Interreg II C and PHARE/TACIS sources.
Decision: The Board encouraged all UBC
member cities from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia to urge
their governments to allow to use PHARE/TACIS resources for joint projects
with Interreg II C. Report from the III UBC Women's Conference in
Karlskrona. Ms Birgitta Törnqvist,
Karlskrona, reported from the III UBC Women's Conference named "Baltic
Women's Daily Life", held in Karlskrona on 7-10 May 1996, in
association with the "Women Can" Exhibition. Ms Törnqvist
warmly invited all member cities to participate in the IV UBC Women's
Conference to be organized in Kalmar, on 20-25 May 1997, in connection
with 600th Anniversary of Kalmar Union. Decision: The Board took note of the
report. UBC Seminar "The role of the cities in local
business promotion". Mr Anders Engström put
forward a proposal to organize jointly with the Baltic Sea Chambers of
Commerce Association (BCCA) a seminar on "The role of the cities in
local business promotion". BCCA already declared its interest to be a
co-organizer of such a seminar. Mr Engström proposed that
the seminar could be organized in association with 8th Hansa Business Days,
Kalmar, 22-23 April 1997. Decision: The Board supported the idea
of organizing the seminar and authorized the President to take further
contacts in question with the President of BCCA. A letter from United Nations FAO. Mr
Paweł Żaboklicki informed that he received a letter from the
General Director of United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO). FAO has asked UBC to encourage the governments of Baltic countries
to include the representatives of local authorities (mayors) to their
national delegations to the World Food Summit to be held in Rome, on 13-17
November 1996. The Secretary already answered FAO promising UBC support in
question. UBC response was warmly received by FAO. Decision: The Board authorized the
President and the Secretary to submit a letter to the governments of
Baltic countries encouraging them to include the representatives of local
authorities to national delegations to the World Food Summit. Proposals sent by the member
cities. Secretary
Paweł Żaboklicki informed about the proposals submitted to the
Executive Board by member cities: 1.
Siauliai - rehabilitation programme for mentally handicapped
adults. The city of Siauliai has
developed a rehabilitation programme for mentally handicapped adults. To
obtain funding from ECOS-OUVERTURE Siauliai is looking for 1 eastern city
to join the project. Decision: The Board encouraged
interested eastern cities to join Siauliai in mentioned project. 2.
Siauliai - Via Haseatica Motorway. The city of Siauliai is of
the opinion that Via Haseatica motorway should be constructed without
delay, parallely to the construction of Via Baltica. The city authorities
want the future motorway to pass the city of Siauliai. Decision: The Board supported the
opinion of Siauliai that the Baltic road transportation system including
such motorways as Via Baltica, Via Hanseatica, TEM etc. should be improved
without delay. However it was indicated that UBC may not suggest the route
of the motorways as it is responsibility of countries involved. 3.
Helsinki - environmental issues. The city of Helsinki
suggested that UBC should stress the importance of environmental issues in
particular the treatment of polluted soil and waste water. Mr Carl Nielsen, Aarhus,
informed that the question of polluted soil was considered as one of the
topics of the next meeting of the Commission on Environment to be held in
summer 1997. Decision: The Board reminded that UBC
Commission on Environment is very active in the field of environmental
protection and requested the Commission to take further contacts in
question with the city of Helsinki. Other
matters:
Mr Carl Nielsen informed that
the Commission on Environment together with the city of Kaunas will
organize a special conference to identify energy projects to be initiated
in cooperation between member cities. This should form the platform for
decisions on the future organization of energy questions/projects within
the UBC. Decision: The Board authorized the
Commission on Environment to analyze the proposal from Kaunas and make a
recommendation to the Executive Board whether energy issues shall be dealt
within the Commission on Environment or an independent commission shall be
created.
Decision: The Board supported
Gdańsk's proposal to organize
such exhibition in connection with the Millennium and decided to give UBC
patronage over the event. The Board encouraged all member cities to
participate in the exhibition.
Decision: The Board supported the
Environmental Commission's proposal and authorized the President and the
Secretary to send out mentioned above letter.
Decision: The Board expressed its
support to the conference and encourage UBC member cities to participate
in the event.
- St.Petersburg which sent an
explanation that the fee will be paid in October, - Mamonovo which has not
provided any explanation. Decision: The Board
commissioned: 1. The city of St.Petersburg
to pay the membership fee in October 1996. 2. The city of Mamonovo to
pay the membership fee or send an explanation why the city is not able to
pay. Next Meeting of the Executive
Board. Mr Dag Larsson, Deputy Mayor
of the City of Stockholm maintained the proposal of Stockholm to host the
next meeting of the Executive Board and proposed the date 25th of January
1997. Mr Audun Oiestad, Bergen,
added that the city of Bergen is willing to host the following Board
meeting in May/June 1997. Decision: The Board accepted the
proposal of the city of Stockholm and decided to hold its next meeting in
Stockholm, on the 25th of January 1997. Following the proposal of
Mr Oiestad, the Board decided to hold the following meeting in Bergen in
May/June 1997. Closing of the
Meeting. The Chairman of the Meeting,
Mr Anders Engström expressed his thanks to the City of Pärnu for hosting
the delegation and closed the XV Meeting of the Executive Board of the
Union of the Baltic Cities. Mr Anders Engström
Mr Paweł Żaboklicki Chairman
Secretary
Mr Carl Nielsen
Mr Mikko Jokinen Adjuster
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