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MINUTES FROM THE 19TH MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF
THE UNION OF THE BALTIC CITIES
Aalborg, Denmark, 28-29 October 1997 INTRODUCTION The
19th meeting of the Executive Board of the Union of the Baltic Cities was
held on the 28-29 October 1997 in the City of Aalborg, Denmark, upon the
invitation of Mr Kaj Kjaer, Mayor of the City of Aalborg. The first day of the meeting was attended by the members of the Executive Board and the chairmen of the Commissions. The second day was open for the representatives from all member cities. FRIDAY,
28 November 1997 Opening
of the meeting and adoption of the Agenda. The
19th meeting of the UBC Executive Board was opened by Mr Anders Engström,
the President of the Union. Mr Engström greeted all participants and
wished them a successful meeting. The
welcome words were given by Mr Kaj Kjaer, Mayor of Aalborg, who wished all
delegates the fruitful discussions and a pleasant stay in Aalborg. The
meeting adopted the Agenda. Election
of two persons who, together with the President, will check the minutes. Mr
Kaj Kjaer Mayor of Aalborg and Mr Timo Kvist Deputy Mayor of Turku were
elected to check the minutes. Introduction
of the new UBC Executive Board. Mr
Anders Engström, President of the Union, introduced the new members of
UBC Executive Board - the cities of Klaipėda and Rēzekne. UBC
procedures - election of Secretary General. President
Anders Engström proposed Mr Paweł Żaboklicki from Gdańsk as a candidate
for UBC Secretary General. Decision: The
Board elected Mr Paweł Żaboklicki as a Secretary General of the Union for
6-years period. IV
UBC General Conference in Gdańsk
- evaluation. Mr
Anders Engström underlined that the IV UBC General Conference titled "Baltic
Sea Cooperation Forum" was attended by the highest number of
member cities so far - approx. 250 participants representing 63 member
cities and 50 international organisations. The keynote speakers - leaders
of major Baltic organisations, foreign ministers and EU Commissioner -
significantly contributed to the conference success. During four workshops
the conference discussed the most challenging topics of the Baltic Sea
region. The
Board expressed cordial thanks to the City of Gdańsk for hosting the
conference underlining Gdańsk hospitality and its unique atmosphere. As
regards the next conference in Stockholm in 1999 the Board urged all
member cities and the commissions to provide the secretariat with relevant
documents one month before the assembly, so they can be distributed
to the conference participants in due time. The secretariat was authorised
to prepare the time-schedule for receiving and spreading the documents. Report
from the visit to the European Commission. The
UBC visit to European Commission took place on 14-15 October 1997. The
Union was represented by President Anders Engström, Vice-President Bartłomiej
Sochański, Project Manager Juhan Janusson and UBC-EU Project
Leader Dominik Górski. The delegation met representatives of several EU
Directorates General (DG) to discuss further intensification of UBC-EC
relations. The meetings were arranged by Copenhagen and South-Sweden EU
offices in Brussels. The main conclusion from the discussions was that UBC
lacks clear policy towards the EU and must work it out as soon as possible.
Discussion
on UBC Policy. President
Anders Engström stressed that in the beginning the Union's main goal was
to initiate cooperation and exchange of experiences between its members.
Now, after six years of activity, there is a demand for UBC to review and
develop its policy and strategy of work. During
extensive discussion the Board highlighted the following issues, which
must be reflected in Union's policy: ·
Development of the network cooperation and exchange between the
member cities; ·
Promotion of democratic, economic, social, environmental and urban
development; ·
Safeguarding and promoting the interests of Baltic Cities towards
national and international organisations especially the EU. Decisions: 1.
The Board urged all member cities to contribute to the process of forming
UBC policy by answering the following questions: -
what does your city expect from UBC membership ? -
what aims do you consider important to be included in UBC general
policy and the working programme ? The
answers should be sent to UBC secretariat by the 15
January 1998. 2.
The Board decided to establish a working group responsible for formulating
the policy on the basis of the above questionnaire. The working group
shall consist of the UBC Presidents and representatives of four cities
appointed by the President. Proposals
from the Commissions. Mrs
Lillian Westerberg from Stockholm - the leading city of newly established
UBC Commission on Business Cooperation - invited the members of Executive
Board to Stockholm on 10 February 1997 to discuss the structure, aims and
scope of activities of the new Commission. Proposals
from Member Cities. The
President informed that four member cities from Latvia and Lithuania ie.
Kaunas, Klaipėda, Panevėžys and Riga requested the UBC Executive Board to
express support for their countries in the efforts to begin the
negotiations for EU membership at the same time as other applicant states
from the Baltic Sea region. Mentioned
cities are of the opinion that all applicant states from the Baltic Sea
region shall start negotiations at the same time, in order to assure equal
conditions for future development of those countries. During
the discussion representatives of the cities from Nordic countries and
Germany stressed that their national laws do not allow the cities to
express opinions on foreign issues, but they can expresses their views as
persons. Having
in mind above the members of the UBC Executive Board gathered in Aalborg
issued a statement supporting the cities in applicant countries in the
efforts to support their states to qualify for EU-membership and for equal
negotiation chances. Additionally
Mr Rimvydas Vastakas from Klaipėda introduced the project to organise the
UBC Off-Theatre Festival in
Klaipėda on 10-15 May 1999. The festival would be attended by small
theatre groups from Baltic Cities. Decision: The
Board expressed its support to the project and authorised the city of
Klaipėda together with the Commission on Culture to go on with festival
organisation. Questions
raised. The
President informed about a letter from newly established WHO Baltic
Healthy Cities Office in Turku, in which UBC is proposed a cooperation in
the field of health promotion in the cities. Decision: The
Board accepted the proposal of cooperation and authorised the Commission
on Social Affairs (responsible also for health issues) to take further
contacts with WHO in question. Mr
Anders Engström informed that the Baltic Sea Tourism Commission (BTC)
proposed the UBC to be a partner in the project called BALDER. The project
aims at promoting the heritage tourism, in particular viking, Hanseatic,
amber, maritime and nature heritages. Decision: The
Board accepted the proposal and authorised the Commission on Tourism to
take further contacts with BTC in question. Mrs
Lillian Westerberg, Stockholm, informed the Board that several UBC member
cities expressed an opinion that there is a need for coordination of
numerous Baltic Sea sailing events. On 17 December 1997 the city of
Karlskrona will organise a meeting of Baltic cities interested in
cooperation in that field. SATURDAY,
29 November 1997 Report
from the Board meeting of November 28. President
Anders Engström briefly summarised the main issues discussed by the Board
on the previous day. New
Member Cities. President
Anders Engström informed the Executive Board about new application for
Union Membership submitted by the City of Cēsis, Latvia. Decision: The
Board decided to accept the City of Cēsis as a Member of the Union of the
Baltic Cities and wished Cesis a successful cooperation with other UBC
members. The number of Union member cities reached the figure 79. Questions
to the Commissions. Mr
Anders Engström asked Mr Mikko Jokinen, co-chairman of UBC Commission on
Environment, about the latest developments in Baltic Local Agenda 21,
stressing the need to involve grassroots level in the process. Mr
Mikko Jokinen informed that the process is developing on two levels: -
Baltic 21 which is the governmental level, -
Baltic LA 21 Forum which is the local level. UBC
is represented at both levels. In September 1998, UBC will organise a
Baltic LA 21 Forum conference in Turku. Mr
Jokinen also informed that a working group consisting of 7 member cities
will be appointed to work out the UBC Local Agenda strategy. Mrs
Petra Hamann, Rostock, secretariat of the Commission on Social Affairs,
informed that following the Executive Board's decision, the Commission
included the health issues to the scope of its activities. The Commission
discussed cooperation possibilities with the WHO Healthy Cities Office in
Turku. Moreover the Commission started the project called the UBC Social
Market Place - member cities have been asked what used equipment (medical,
school etc.) they could donate to other cities. Informal
meeting of major Baltic organisations. Mr
Anders Engström informed, that on 27 October 1997 during the annual
conference of BSSSC held in Gdańsk, following UBC initiative, the leaders
of major Baltic organisations i.e. Union of the Baltic Cities, Baltic Sea
States Subregional Cooperation, CPMR Baltic Sea Commission, Baltic Sea
Chambers of Commerce Association held an informal meeting. The major
Baltic organisations agreed to hold annual meetings in order to work out
joint projects and discuss Baltic strategic issues such as policy towards
the EU. Next meeting is planned to be held in the beginning of 1998. Report
from UBC-EU Conference in Tallinn. Mr
Bartłomiej Sochański, UBC Vice-President, reported from the UBC-EU
Conference in Tallinn attended by 200 participants from over 30 member
cities. The conference was the major event of the UBC-EU Information
Project aimed at preparing UBC member cities from applicant countries for
the EU enlargement. The
Board expressed its appreciation to all cities involved in the conference
preparation, in particular to the city of Tallinn which hosted the event. Moreover
Mr Sochański stressed that in order to achieve its objectives the project
should be continued. To obtain resources for project continuation, the
project leading city Szczecin submitted an application to the BSPF. Having
in mind the importance of the project Mr Sochański proposed that the
project leader shall be invited to the Executive Board meetings. Decision: The
Board encouraged all member cities to participate actively in the next
stage of the project and decided the project leader shall be invited to
the Executive Board meetings. One
of the issues discussed at the UBC-EU conference was the document "Towards
an urban agenda in the EU" published by the European Commission.
The Board expressed an opinion that UBC, like EUROCITIES, should have the
possibility to comment the document. Decision: The
Board authorised the Presidents together with Gdańsk and Copenhagen to
find out whether UBC may send its comments on the document to the European
Commission. Latest
UBC project applications. Mr
Juhan Janusson submitted report on latest UBC project applications to
Baltic Small Projects Facility EU programme along with the information on
ongoing UBC projects. Ms
Petra Hamann, Rostock, Commission on Social Affairs, and Mr Mikko Jokinen,
Turku, Commission on Environment, reported on latest project applications
submitted by mentioned Commissions. Detailed information is enclosed along
with the PM's report. During
the discussion the Board stressed that more emphasis must be put on
propagating successful projects carried out by member cities, so other
cities could implement similar projects at home. The Board suggested to
use UBC Internet homepage managed by the city of Kalmar for this purpose.
The UBC website could also be used as project partner search forum. Finally
the Board authorised the Project Manager to prepare regular written
information on EU and other programmes available for the cities, including
the deadlines. Baltic
Cities Bulletin 3/97. Mr
Paweł Żaboklicki introduced the newest issue of the Baltic
Cities Bulletin which brings information on extensive cooperation
between the Baltic cities, latest Union's meetings and activities, UBC
"who is who" directory, news from member cities and more. Mr
Żaboklicki informed that the next issue of BCB will be devoted to Baltic
Cities Business Cooperation and the deadline for sending the articles
is March 10, 1998. The
Board expressed its appreciation to the Editorial Board for the
professional level of the bulletin and encouraged all member cities to
contribute actively to the next issue of BCB. Report
from the Task Force meeting in Kalmar. Ms
Sonja Hilavuo, chairman of the UBC Task Force for Public Relations and
Communication, reported from the second TF meeting held in Kalmar on 5-7
October 1997, attended by over 30 participants from 25 member cities. Reports
from conferences attended by Union's representatives. The
following delegates submitted reports from the conferences where they
represented the Union of the Baltic Cities: ·
6th Conference of Baltic Parliamentarians, Gdańsk, 15-16 September
1997 - reported by Mr Anders Engström ·
Major Baltic Rim Cities Conference, Turku, 18-19 September 1997 -
reported by Mr Anders Engström
Additionally Mr Timo Kvist, Deputy Mayor of Turku, reported from
the 2nd part of Major Baltic Rim Cities Conference held in St.Petersburg
on 3-5 October 1997. ·
European Investment Bank Forum 1997, Stockholm, 23-24 October 1997
- reported by Mr Paweł Żaboklicki ·
5th BSSSC Conference, Gdansk, 27-28 October 1997 - reported by Mr
Anders Engström ·
International Black Sea Club Assembly Meeting, Izmit, Turkey, 30
Oct.-2 Nov. 1997 - reported by Mr Juhan Janusson Matters
raised at the meeting. Ms
Ewa Depka, Gdynia, informed that the City of Gdynia is interested to start
cooperation within UBC in the field of education but the existing
Commissions do not cover this topic. Decision: The
Board authorised the city of Gdynia to prepare a written proposal to the
next Board meeting suggesting the form of UBC involvement in the field of
education. Next
Meeting of the Executive Board. Mr
Anders Engström, President of the UBC and the Mayor of Kalmar, proposed to
organise the next (20th) meeting of the UBC Executive Board in Kalmar
20-21 March 1997. Decision: The
Board accepted the proposal. Closing
of the Meeting. The Chairman of the Meeting, Mr Anders Engström expressed his thanks to the City of Aalborg for hosting the delegation and closed the XIX Meeting of the Executive Board of the Union of the Baltic Cities. Mr
Anders Engström
Mr Paweł Żaboklicki Chairman
Secretary Mr
Kaj Kjaer
Mr Timo Kvist Adjuster Adjuster
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