ERB Executive Board & Annual Stakeholders meeting in Karlskrona
Under the presidency of Bornholms Regionskommune the 8 members of Euroregion Baltic keep on celebrating 25 years of cooperation.
On 15th May the ERB Executive Board 2nd meeting was hosted by Region Blekinge in Karlskrona.
The ERB President, Mr Mikeal Benzon, the Euroregion Baltic Executive Board and Euroregion Baltic Youth Board concluded the day with many issues on the agenda:
establishment of the ERB EGTC
European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation
establishment of a Task Force for energy and circular economy
The participants of the meeting also had some interesting discussions in the joint political dialogue on youth and democracy with inspiration from Council of the Baltic Sea States , Region Blekinge and KulturCrew.
On 16th May, following the Euroregion Baltic Executive Board meeting, Region Blekinge hosted another great event – the Annual ERB Stakeholders meeting.
The conference ‘Baltic Sea Power for Regional Green Growth’ gathered some 60 participants from seven countries to talk about:
energy
multi-level cooperation
new opportunities for business and jobs in our regions
The event was coorganized by EUSBSR PA coordinators for Education and Bioeconomy and the 8 member regions of Euroregion Baltic.
Trying to conclude the intense agenda we where presented:
Region Blekinge vision and potential to grow
Bornholm energy hub
Euroregion Baltic potential to join forces
the big picture of how the EUSBSR strategy work in practice
highlights of the swedish year for EUSBSR strategy presidency 2022/2023
and finally several examples for business potential bioeconomy and off-shore wind energy in our regions.
A big thank you to all our speakers and participants who made this day special!
After one year of creative workshops, webinars and a fantastic closing event in Gdansk, the international project Creative Waves – Baltic Sisterhood for Change came to an end. Now it is time to present you the toolkit that includes all our findings and experience of this exciting project!
Creative Waves project under the leadership of Intercult Productions (Sweden), in cooperation with Baltic Sea Cultural Centre in Gdańsk and Estonian Women’s Studies and Resource Centre ENUT was supported by the CBSS Project Support Facility.
The project aimed at empowering representatives of vulnerable groups of women in the ever digitalising times of pandemia and postpandemia. Our goal was to jointly – women experts and participants – build a feeling of identity, belonging, continuity and agency. Creative Waves reached out to women artists, activists and creatives who may feel isolated, depressed and at a loss as the result of COVID-19 restrictions and the world moving more and more towards digital relations. Basing on intangible cultural heritage of the BSR and its localities such as embroidery, weaving, herb gathering, cooking close to nature, singing or producing music, we aimed at creating bonds and exchanges both in physical and virtual reality.
As the result of local real life workshops and online exchanges and meeting we developed a toolkit as guidance for further use which bases on the joint pool of experience and a special survey.
JOIN US TO INNOVATE THE FUTURE IN BLUE INNOVATION!
19 January 2022 – SAVE THE DATE!
We host an interactive seminar aiming to find possible collaboration partners with organisations, companies and other stakeholders. We would like to present Blekinge as a platform and a living lab for creating innovative solutions to restore the world’s oceans and waters. We discuss the mission strategy of Blekinge, and dig deeper into the areas of blue innovation that support the EU Mission.
You will meet: Erika Augustinsson – Innovation Strategist at Region Blekinge Andreas Larsson – Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Blekinge Institute of Technology Lennart Johansson – Business Developer Maritime Technology at Blue Science Park Tamara Carleton – Researcher at Blekinge Institute of Technology with an emphasis on Global Technological Innovation.
You are welcome to chat with us during the live seminar.
Blekinge has as many rural areas, struggled with an image of being a small and remote region, away from urbanism and financial muscles. We do have a great surrounding nature, a beautiful archipelago and some very future oriented people, companies and organisations, so we thought, why not turn it around?
What if our size, remoteness and our closeness to nature actually could be an advantage? This is where the road towards becoming a region on a mission started. To work with mission oriented innovation we have to start with a system approach to map out the connectivity to our mutual goal. And our small size is also an asset when we move into an innovation development that emphasizes design and experiments a lot more.
Our goal is to be a European demo-region in this field- so that our know how and methods can replicate to other regions and really make an impact. And we want to invite other stakeholders all over the world to join us.
Welcome to the training session about the EUSBSR on 9th November 2021 at 9.30-15.15 CET, Online. The event will be organised by the Umbrella 2.0 partner – Union of the Baltic Cities.
The overall aim is to shift the paradigm from taking part in international projects to becoming an active player in the EUSBSR process. The goal is to share the knowledge on how to build a process for the implementation of EUSBSR at the local level by local authorities and civil society organisations.
Please see the draft programme in the attachment here:
”UMBRELLA 2.0-Boosting transnational cooperation capacities for multilevel actors in the Baltic Sea Region” goal is to increase awareness and knowledge of transnational cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region. More specifically, the project aims at initiating a process for the development of strong multi-actor and multilevel governance partnerships that can undertake cross-sectoral sustainable solutions while following the principles and objectives of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, EU Green Deal and UN SDG.
Project partners:
Association of Polish Communes Euroregion Baltic (ERB) – the applicant
Union of the Baltic Cities (UBC);
Baltic Sea States Subregional Cooperation (BSSSC) – Associated partner
For any additional questions, please contact UBC Secretariat: info@ubc.net
The Joint Programming Committee approved a draft of the Interreg South Baltic Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2021-2027. An external contractor prepared a draft report of the Programme Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Now, you can HAVE YOUR SAY!
Add your comments until 15th October 2021.
South Baltic programme JS Team is happy to announce that the Joint Programming Committee approved a draft of the Interreg South Baltic Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2021-2027. In parallel, an external contractor prepared a draft report of the Programme Strategic Environmental Assessment.
This means that we are ready to announce the documents and start public consultations. It is time to share your opinion and contribute to the future of the South Baltic Programme.
Use the opportunity to get familiar with the draft documents:
We also encourage you to take a direct and active part in the seminars organised by the Regional Contact Points of the South Baltic Programme. Relevant information will be announced on our website in the “Events“ section as well as on the Programme’s social media platforms Facebook, Linkedin and directly by the Contact Points.
The public consultation process will take 37 days. The deadline for submitting comments is 15 October 2021.
Your feedback is very valuable in developing the new Programme and will be used by the Joint Programming Committee to finalise the programming process.
During the presentation, students learn about the characteristics of the Baltic Sea, physical and chemical conditions as well as fauna and flora. During the presentation, basic ecological concepts are introduced.
The Gdynia Aquarium is part of the National Marine Fisheries Research Institute. Our mission is to present aquatic species from around the world, as well as to transfer knowledge about the aquatic environment. The Gdynia Aquarium is a rather unusual zoological garden, in which all animals are bound to the aquatic environment, and in which the entire surface is enclosed in one building. However, despite this uniqueness, the Aquarium fulfils all the functions of a modern zoological garden, undertaking actions for the animals’ protection, propagating the ideas of environmental protection, conducting broadly understood ecological education and scientific research.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), one of the most important factors responsible for the loss of biodiversity on Earth is the excessive exploitation of species by humans. In the early 1970s, a special international agreement was established, called the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, i.e. from the English “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” – CITES. The aquarium is a shelter for animals from the CITES list.
What: Baltic Sea Youth Camp virtual 2.0
For whom: young people (16 – 30 years old) from the Baltic Sea Region
Why: Because we want to make the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region much more youthful and state our opinion on it.
Please follow the link and get your ticket for the event before the event. Registrations is open until the start of the event!
A detailed schedule of the event can be seen on the event registration page.————————————————————
Are you interested in politics? Would you like to get more information on EU policies and what they actually do for you? We want to make young voices be heard all over the Baltic Sea Region and beyond. Share your thoughts and become a part of the Baltic Sea Youth Platform. Together with you, we want to prepare a youth input to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. We have organised several smaller local events before we will now meet all together online. If you did not get the chance to take part in the local events, do not worry, there will be an info session for everyone to get on the same page. We will also provide the possibility to informally meet decisionmakers in the region and familiarise yourself with the structures of political engagement in the Baltic Sea Region. The event functions as a youth event before the Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and will enable you to follow the big event on 20.10. Together we will write a declaration to the actors within the Strategy from EU to the local level. This event is the ideal starting point or continuation of your political career within the Baltic Sea Region. Join us and see what the Baltic Sea Region has to offer! We welcome participants from ALL countries of the Baltic Sea Region (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia & Sweden) and everyone interested in exploring our region.
Do you want to know how the EU promotes macro-regions? See a great example of the EU cohesion policy? Then check out what the EU macro-regional strategies are all about and why they are influencing your life as well and bring us together as one Baltic Sea Region. Join us at 17.10. from 14 – 17 o’clock to discuss what is important for young people in our region and influence EU policies directly: https://www.facebook.com/events/329616354995029
You will also get the chance to informally chat with the Director General of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. The Council represents 11 Member States and the EU. You want to know more about the Council and its work? And what the EUSBSR has to do with it? Ask your questions! Some information can already be found on the CBSS website: https://cbss.org/
The #BalticSeaYouthCamp#bsyc 2020 was a great success! It was a fantastic opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, have fun and celebrate the Youth! Get inspired by Baltic involvement of Julia Orluk and Martin Ruemmelein and find your own way to contribute to the #EUSBSR.
Read the article prepared by Marta Czarnecka-Gallas, representing the Let’s Communicate Interreg BSR project promoting the EUSBSR.
Youth initiatives contributing to the common goals of the EU Strategy of the Baltic Sea Region.
June 12th, 2020
by Marta Czarnecka-Gallas, Let’s Communicate!
I met Julia and Martin for the first time almost two years ago. It was in September, at an Annual Conference of Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation (BSSSC) in Gdańsk. For her, it was just the onset of an adventure into the Baltic Affairs. For him, it was a big step forward. At that time Martin was in the middle of his cadency at BSSSC Board as a Baltic Sea Region Youth representative and he had already earned his reputation as an engaged and visionary lad with lots of ideas on the youth empowerment in the Baltic Sea Region.
After these almost two years and some personal and online encounters, I talk with Julia and Martin again. It is a very specific time. The Spring is at the full thrust but many in the Baltic Sea Region, Europe and the world still cannot indulge in the simple joys it usually brings. The lockdowns our societies have experienced, the social distancing on a mass scale and numerous limitations to daily life and work have changed our perception of things. It is just before the online Baltic Sea Youth Camp, the initiative which aims to use the power, vision and ideas of the young generations to contribute to a more sustainable EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).
So how Martin and Julia are doing today? And what has changed in these two years in the youth empowerment and inclusion in the EUSBSR?
Full of energy, full of passion
‘On a perfect day, I will wake up before my alarm rings at about 6:00, go for a small run, get ready for work, check some social media on the bus and learn some Chinese’- starts Martin. Now a 25-year-old-student of International Economics and Business Relationships at the University of Southern Denmark. ‘In the office, I really enjoy days on which I meet many of my great colleagues, get to work on challenging tasks and have time to move a meeting to the cafe. After work, I like to go for a longer run, meet up with friends, and cook fresh. I have many hobbies, the first of which is to get politically engaged, but I also go running, love to take photos and be part of the Young European Federalists’. Being active within many different fields is also a feature of Julia. Just like her broad and constant smile, which opens many doors, she knocks at with her ideas. Julia, who is currently a first-year student of International Economic Relations at Gdańsk University and the President of Euroregion Baltic Youth Board, is also a great fan of baking (she brings to our meeting homemade carrot muffins in a quantity that could feed a small army unit) and extreme sports.
When you see the passion Julia and Martin speak about the things, which are important for them and hear how they try to change the world around them, it seems clear that having Youth onboard EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is the key to make it work. ‘The Baltic Sea Affairs include many important issues that will decide, on how we will live in the region in the future- says Martin. ’For example, when discussing sustainability, responsible consumption and production, we can try to avoid polluting the Baltic Sea with too much plastic that will make it impossible to eat fish from the Baltic Sea in the future due to microplastic. Also, we can take action against climate change to do our fair share to ensure that our children can show their grandchildren the beautiful cities along the Baltic coast how I can experience them without extreme weather situations and food insecurities. To young people, this is all much more relevant as they will ask themselves, „in what kind of world do I want to have my future children living in one day?”. The outcome of this question is essential and needs to be taken into account when discussing Baltic Sea topics’. Julia agrees with that completely and confirms that ecology and economy are important issues for the young generations. ‘I come from Gdańsk and I am very proud of my city because of its long and inspiring history. I also observe how much Gdansk has benefitted from international cooperation, exchange of experiences and knowledge transfer. This proves that the whole Baltic Sea Region will be better off while acting together’. While being active in the Baltic Affairs, Julia got more sensitive to environmental issues and is a great advocate of sustainable development goals. She would explain to her grandmum why resigning from meat can contribute to a cleaner planet and with an unhidden satisfaction observes some changes in her diet in this respect. She helps her neighbours to understand the philosophy behind garbage segregation and inspire her parents to ask in a restaurant whether the potatoes on their plates come from a local farm. ‘For me, the realization of the SDGs simply means becoming a better person’, she concludes.
Youth involvement in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
There is much scope for Youth involvement in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. ‘I firmly believe that the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region can empower Youth to be more active’, claims Martin. ’However, this will not just happen on its own. We need to implement structures, where the Youth governs. The Baltic Sea Youth Camp, the Baltic Sea Youth Platform and the Baltic Sea Youth Declaration are a good start. Now we need to ensure that they get a fixed role in the EUSBSR, and take care that it is the Youth that governs in these initiatives.’ Julia underlines that the Youth cannot be only a nice adding to the picture. ‘We don’t want to be invited to the discussion because it’s cool to have a hashtag #Youth or similar while twitting from a conference. At one event I participated, young people were asked to present their statement but it even wasn’t brought up by the moderator. No one reacted to what we said. We felt completely ignored and this is very demotivating’. Such practices certainly won’t earn youth engagement. ‘In debates, we need to understand that young people are not better scientists but should be able to advocate their values and ideas and point of view to the discussion’, Martin adds and continues: ‘In my opinion, we do not need a culture in the EUSBSR were everyone nods and agrees to everything that the Youth proposes, and forgets about it a minute later. We need a culture where proposals of the Youth are critically discussed on the same eye-level. For this, we need a fixed role of the Youth in the EUSBSR. There are many ways that this is possible.’
The institutional culture of the Baltic Sea Region favours active citizenship. Numerous organizations from very local to transnational allow for youth involvement in various projects. The first step into being young activists on an international scale for both Julia and Martin was taken during their school years. That is why they strongly support initiatives like the Baltic Sea Youth Camp or Baltic Sea Youth Platform, dedicated to young people in their secondary and tertial education. ‘When we drafted the concept for this in Gdansk last year, we stated clearly, that it needs to be governed by the Youth, and that it should not be a one time project’, Martin explains. ‘If the Youth is not enabled to drive the platform further and ensure continuous funding, then we will not see the Youth making a significant impact. I think we can understand the youth platform as a constantly sailing boat. Now we have the sailboat. We need to set the sails, sail to the right harbours to pick up support for continued funding beyond the Erasmus project and give the command to the Youth which can choose which direction to sail and what goods to take along, which are represented by the Contents of the Baltic Sea youth declaration’.
Taking the stage at the 10th Annual Forum of EUSBSR in Gdańsk with their Declaration elaborated at the first Baltic Youth Camp, the young people in the Baltic Sea Region showed that they are engaged and they want to be involved. The Baltic Sea Youth Platform is as a step further and has probably the highest chance to make an impact in the future on the young people empowerment in the Region, being an umbrella for various initiatives (like the Baltic Sea Youth Camp and Baltic Sea Youth Declaration). So let’s keep the fingers crossed for more youth-inspired and youth-led projects and remember that the Youth will only have a voice when it is active.
For more information please check:
EUSBSR– European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the first Macro-regional Strategy in Europe approved by the European Council in 2009. It is divided into three objectives, which represent the three key challenges of the Strategy: saving the sea, connecting the region and increasing prosperity. Each objective relates to a wide range of policies and has an impact on the other objectives https://www.balticsea-region-strategy.eu/
Julia Orluk: a first-year student of International Economic Relations at Gdańsk University. Chairwoman of the Euroregion Baltic Youth Board. Member of the Young Diplomats Forum. Youth representative of Pomorskie Region. Passionate about her home city of Gdańsk, baking and a Lhasa Apso dog, called Taker. Addicted to extreme sports. Photo: Julia’s Album
Martin Ruemmelein: currently studying International Economics and Business Relationships at the University of Southern Demark in Sønderborg and writing a thesis about IoT business models in collaboration with Danfoss Drives. Apart from his passion for politics, he is interested in business and digitalization. Former chairmen of the state students board of vocational schools and former board member of the Baltic Sea States Subregional Cooperation. Loves jogging, taking photos and cooking with friends. Photo by Paula Graetke
Want to know more about the BSSSC Sporing Youth Event supported by the Euroregion Baltic and Union of the Baltic Cities?
In these difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic, which has already changed our lives and mindsets, we believe that maintaining communication is even more important than before. We, in the Baltic Sea Region, want to speak across generations on the most important issues. On our fears and ambitions, on the problems we face and the solutions that can be undertaken.
Therefore, on behalf of the Baltic Sea States Sub-regional Cooperation, Mieczyslaw Struk – Pomorskie Region Marshal and the BSSSC Chairman, together with the Union of the Baltic Cities, Euroregion Baltic, Pomorskie youth and climate activists invite you to the very first online BSSSC Spring Youth Event to take place on June 2nd-5th 2020.
We already know that the Corona crisis is with us for longer and influences a lot of aspects of our lives. It affects, among others, the ambitions we have had to make our planet clean and safe, and the society caring and prosperous. So we want to discuss what will be the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on:
the climate crisis;
digital world;
education;
modern democracy.
There are lots of challenges around us, which we can try to face together! We believe that we all need to think about how to critically react to information flow selecting facts from fakes and getting to know the whole picture. And how every one of us can contribute to a better life.
Working together and across the Baltic Sea, we can be more effective. Our voice will be much stronger, so decision-makers will have to listen. It will be important to take your voice to the EUSBSR AF in Turku, the Conference on the Future of Europe launched by the European Commission and other fora dealing with the state of our Earth and condition of our lives. Acting in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals we have to find solutions.
Let’s do this together!
Programme
Date: 2nd – 5th of June 2020
Online sessions on ZOOM
Please join ZOOM via link before 15:00 PM
June 2nd, 15:00 -18:00 CET
Welcome and opening of the BSSSC Spring Youth Event 2020 meeting – Mr. Mieczysław Struk, BSSSC Chairman
General introduction to the idea of the BSSSC Spring Youth Event 2020 meeting
Expert debate/Introduction to the thematic area Green Deal to Fight Climate Crisis in Corona Times
Mr Kamil Wyszkowski – Global Compact Network Poland
Ms Katarzyna Bałucka – Dębska – European Commission
Mr Marcin Gerwin – University of Gdańsk, Sopot Development Initiative
Ms Marta Wróblewska – Youth Climate Strike (Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia local group)
Discussion
Summary of day 1
June 3rd, 15:00 -17:00 CET
Expert debate/ Introduction to the thematic area Digital World in Post – Corona Times
Ms Aleksandra Przegalińska – Skierkowska – Koźmiński University
Mr Timo Väliharju – The Finnish Centre for Open Systems and Solutions
Mr Krzysztof Stachura – University of Gdańsk, The Foundation Center for Social Research and Analysis
Mr Darius Šoparas – Creative Partner
Mr Martin Rümmelein – former BSSSC Board Member
Discussion
Summary of day 2
June 4th, 15:00 – 17:00 CET
Expert debate /Introduction to the thematic area Education for the New World
Ms Małgorzata Bukowska – Ulatowska – Teachers Education Centre in Gdańsk
Mr Timo Väliharju – The Finnish Centre for Open Systems and Solutions
Ms Indre Razbadauskaite – Venske – Globalkey.lt and Nepaleisk svajones
Mr Przemysław Staroń – psychologist, cultural expert and teacher
Discussion
Summary of day 3
June 5th, 15:00 – 18:00 CET
Expert debate/ Introduction to the thematic area Democracy in the Post – Corona World
Mr Marius Ulozas – Institute for Policy Research and Analysis
Mr Wietse Van Ransbeeck – CitizenLab
Mr Dominik Ringler – Children and Youth Participation in Brandenburg
Ms Ewelina Górecka – the Polish Robert Schuman Foundation
Ms Daniela Vanić – Democracy International
Discussion
Introduction of the BSYP project
Ms Kaarina Williams – Council of the Baltic Sea States
Ms Aline Mayr – Council of Baltic the Sea States
Presentation of the results to the politicians/decision – makers, debate and summing up
Make sure you send us the motivation letter (not too long! max 1 page A4 format:-)) – tell us what drives your activities in the BSR. Add graphics, a collage, a film, or a photo if you wish – be creative!
Follow the instructions in the registration form. If you need more information, contact the BSSSC Secretariat:
Do you have a concrete project idea that you would like to submit in upcoming call for proposals? Umbrella project gives you the opportunity to “Rent-an-Expert”!
How does it work?
A pre-selected Expert will support you in assessing and developing a complete project application in your organisation:
Providing information on the application procedure
Tailoring project ideas
Helping to find partners
Developing part of the application- Budget
Developing part of the application- Description of the activities
All you have to do to apply for this service is to fill in the project framework we prepared for you (you can download it below). Your project ideas will be collected and categorized; later on, the most suitable expert from our “Pool of experts” will be assigned to your organization and single meetings for project development will be scheduled.
N.B. We do not substitute the EU Programme’s Contact Points. We do not only provide consultations, but we aim at transferring knowledge to help our stakeholders to become independent in future cross-border cooperation.
establishment of the ERB EGTC
Region Blekinge vision and potential to grow
