Priorities

02.12.2014. 19:09

Work accomplished during 1st half-year of Latvia's Presidency in Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), and planned activities for 2nd half of term

EDUCATION

  • Enhancement of competitiveness of the regional educational institutions on European and global level

Tasks:

  • To promote the EU Bologna Process in the region by expanding the Reykjavik Protocol on mutual recognition of educational achievements for the whole region, and widening the use of the NordPlus program for student exchanges (in conjunction with the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM));
  • To establish special IT links between all the universities around the Baltic Sea, extending the existing networks (NorduNet, for instance) to the Eastern shores of the Baltic Sea;
  • To promote innovative ideas on educational, scientific, research levels, including the creation of innovation clusters and parks;
  • To promote education for sustainable development, education for sustainable consumption;
  • To complete the EuroFaculty programme in Kaliningrad and to launch a new EuroFaculty programme in Pskov;
  • To promote effective planning and realisation of the adult education policies in the region, including further development of professionally oriented informal education;
  • To ensure active CBSS support to the regional initiatives on educational issues;
  • To organize a CBSS high level meeting on education and science.

Activities:

ENERGY

  • Competitive and free energy market
  • Promotion of renewable resources
  • Efficient consumption of energy

Tasks:

  • To implement the EU Energy Package principles in the area of the Baltic Sea Region (BSR);
  • To promote integration of the energy infrastructure and development of the energy links in the region;
  • To share experience for the promotion of the production and use of renewable energy;
  • To enhance the development of a coordinated position in the BSR regarding the legislative activities of the EU Commission.

Tools:

  • BASREC
  • Baltic 21 Energy sector

CIVIL SECURITY

  • Promotion of democratic values and human rights, stability, social security and sustainability

Tasks:

  • To develop closer cooperation between governmental and public institutions and non-governmental organisations in the fight against trafficking and on helping children at risk;
  • To enhance the work of all bodies and projects under the auspices of the CBSS for protecting communities from the degradation of environment caused by human activity;
  • To draw attention of the CBSS to the need for close cooperation between international, EU and regional bodies in diminishing environmental damage caused by shipping;
  • To promote new initiatives of regional cooperation channelled towards the fight against corruption in the Baltic Sea Region.

Tools:

  • Eventually created Ad-hoc Working Group of Experts in Maritime security and cleanliness
  • Task Force Against Trafficking in Human Beings (TF-THB)
  • Task Force on Organised Crime (TF-OC)
  • Working Group for Cooperation on Children at Risk (WGCC)
  • Working Group on Democratic Institutions (WGDI)
  • The annual meeting of the network of prosecutors-general in the BSR
  • Annual meeting of the Directors General for Civil Security
  • Working Group on Nuclear and Radiation Safety (WGNRS)
  • Baltic 21

OTHER PRIORITY FIELDS

  • Identifying regulatory obstacles to trade and investments in the region;
  • Raising consciousness of Balticness and regional identity around the Baltic Sea through a year long series of public events (photo exhibition, roundtable discussion in the Universities and jazz concerts) taking place in all 11 BSR metropoles;
  • Strengthening NGO cooperation in the BSR, especially in the fields of civil security, social inclusion, environment, education and development of civil society;
  • Promoting favourable preconditions for voluntary work and entrepreneurship of youth in the region;
  • Strengthening cooperation with the Observer States and neighbouring countries, including Belarus (on a technical expert level);
  • Enhancing more efficient cooperation and coordination of work with CBSS special participants and strategic partners and other regional organizations;
  • Promoting sustainable tourism development network in the BSR;
  • Recognising and making more accessible of material and nonmaterial cultural heritage;
  • Strengthening cooperation of the regions, municipalities and local authorities promoting exchange of experience and implementation of common projects.