Baltic Leaders meet in Elblag

On 23rd May 2017 ‘Baltic Leaders’ joined the second ERB Executive meeting of this year. Baltic Leaders are 5 young people between 16 and 25 years old, selected as representatives of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodship to take part in the LB-EME project (Baltic Leaders- Energy of the Young Europe). The aim of this project, ideated by ERB to contribute to “European integration and development of contact and cooperation between societies”, is to increase the access to knowledge, related to the international cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region. The promotion of this plan has been going on in the Youth Leadership Council of Warmińsko- Mazurskie Voivodship Youth Council since April. (more…)

The Interreg Baltic Sea Region Monitoring Committee on 23-24 May 2017 decided that 39 new projects be approved in the frame of the Programme’s second call for proposals.
The 39 projects have been chosen among 71 projects submitted, and they can be considered as the continuation of 35 projects implemented in the first call.
EUR 87 million have been allocated from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to support these projects, whose well embeddedness in the thematic fields of innovation capacity, natural resources management, and sustainable transport, will contribute to a better innovative, connected and accessible Baltic Sea Region.

Here you can find the list of projects approved: List of approved projects in Baltic Sea Region 2nd call
More detailed information will follow at this link.

The kick-off conference of the South Coast Baltic project took place in Bansin, Germany on 16th May 2017.

Bansin, is situated in the eastern part of the Usedom Island and is part of the seaside resort town of Heingsdorf in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Together, they are two of the best and most popular resorts on the German Baltic seaside. Not by chance, the city has been chosen for the launch of this project, whose aim is to improve the tourist reception in the Baltic Sea.

The first day of the meeting, organised by the Economic Development Corporation Vorpommern for the project and associated partners, was divided into three parts. The first part was dedicated to the presentation of the South Coast Baltic project, to have an overlook of the background of this action, from the implementation of the Marriage project, to future perspective on the Baltic Sea. The second part was taken as a moment for sharing good practices in tourism implementation in other European Regions. The last part consisted in a World Cafe’ in order to allow all the participants, representing different associations, to brainstorm and discuss some specific enquiries.

The SOUTH COAST BALTIC project has been ideated in order to build a long term cross-border destination management through the improvement of boating services and infrastructure, on the basis of the MARRIAGE cooperation network. MARRIAGE project, implemented between 2012 and 2015, had the aim of promoting cross-border destinations on domestic markets, building cooperation and exchange in water tourism management and marketing, and creating a consolidated network in the southern Baltic regions of Vorpommern (Germany), Zachodniopomorskie and Pomorskie (Poland), Kaliningrad (Russia), Klaipeda region (Lithuania).

The scope of SOUTH COAST BALTIC is to provide this network with added value that can reach an extended market. The challenge in these regions, now, is not only to access new target markets, but to provide repeaters and followers with high quality boating facilities and services, that need to be harmonized across the south coast Baltic area, also by means of a joint promotion. As MARRIAGE project struggled to build management competence, now the challenge is to do a step forward in managing strategically the destinations, increasing the quality of infrastructures and services.

SOUTH COAST BALTIC is a very rare case of a tourism project that tries to reconcile recreation (water sports, development of marinas, inland tours) with important issues tackled by the cross-border cooperation, like meeting environmental standards but also encouraging the economic and social development. Thus, there will be the coexistence of actions addressed to protecting natural areas, managing waters, creating interactive loyalty measures (like ‘save the whales’); enforcing receptive and restoration activities, and the creation of a touristic route. It has been thought to promote also cultural and natural sites, cultural events, encourage the consumption of local products, in order to create an inland network and to promote the Baltic Sea Region as a unique touristic destination.

Moreover, with this project an attempt to reach younger generations and families as target groups has been made. The current South Coast Baltic region is experiencing a demographic change as regard to sailing tourism where middle age men seem to have no time for maintaining a boat, while the usual sailors are getting older and older.

Being financed by the INTERREG SOUTH BALTIC PROGRAM, the project can be placed in the priority 2.1- to increase the green and blue potential of the region. But, it is also well-embedded in the EUSBSR since the project aims at connecting the region trough the development of marinas; it works in the field of increasing the prosperity through tourism and cultural activities, and lastly, it contributes to save the sea adopting sustainable measures.

Here you can find the presentation of the conference:2017-05-16_SCB_Kick-off_Overview on project goals & activities

Klaipėda (Lithuania), is among the 5 shortlisted cities in the European Youth Capital (EYC) 2020 competition, that sees cities as protagonists of youth- related cultural, social, political and economic scenario all over Europe. (more…)

If you are interested in working in an international environment, you should seize this opportunity!

The South Baltic JS is looking for reliable, committed and creative Communication and Capitalisation Officer.

Located in the dynamic agglomeration of Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia, at the South Baltic shores, the Joint Secretariat (JS) is responsible for the day-to-day management of the South Baltic Programme 2014-2020, whose aim is to unlock the potential for blue and green growth through cross-border cooperation between the coastal regions of Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden.
The team of the Secretariat provides advice to applicants, organises calls for project proposals, assesses submitted funding applications, monitors the progress of running operations and assists the decision-making bodies of the Programme. Aimed at spreading the word about the benefits of cross-border cooperation, the JS furthermore coordinates the work of the Regional Contact Points and ensures the implementation of Programme-wide promotion, communication, dissemination and capitalisation activities.

The Communication and Capitalisation Officer will be responsible for: communication strategy, advice and guidance to programme beneficiaries, organization of workshops, meetings, conferences, external communication (website and social media management, press releases, newsletter) and internal one providing support in the Programme Contact Points network.
The ideal profile for a candidate is an enthusiastic, motivated and positive person who has already got at least two years of experience in the area of communication, and strategic communication planning. Proficient English skills are required.

Applications must be submitted in English by email till 19 May 2017, 24:00 CET to the Center of European Projects/ Joint Secretariat:

rekrutacja@cpe.gov.pl and jakub.fedorowicz@southbaltic.eu

If you are interested, you can find complete information here:

South Baltic Programme – vacancy announcement

Contact:

‘Leadership for the future – Cities as Leaders for Glocal Sustainable Development’ is the topic of the Conference that will be held in Växjö- Sweden– on 24-27th October 2017. The event will take place to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of UBC – Union of the Baltic Cities,  in the, not by chance, ‘Greenest City in Europe’. (more…)

This is the title of the back-to-back Baltic Sea Region Youth Conference that will take place in Berlin on 12th-14th June, in the framework of the 8th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) Forum (13th-14th June). (more…)

In a year that will be significant for the future of the European integration, you are invited to elaborate on the question “Regain or Retreat? European Youth in an Age of Uncertainty”, during the event that will take place in Gdańsk, on 24th-26 July 2017.
The conference is organized by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, sited in Warsaw, in collaboration with the European Solidarity Centre (Gdańsk) and the Green European Foundation (Brussels).
The Heinrich Böll Foundation is a German association based on a worldwide network that counts on a cooperation with 16 state-level Böll Foundations in each of Germany’s federal states, on a worldwide network that encompasses 30 international offices worldwide, and on over 100 partner projects in approximately 60 countries. The foundation aims at fostering democracy and upholding human rights, taking action to prevent the destruction of the global ecosystem, advancing equality between women and men, securing peace through conflict prevention in crisis zones, and defending the freedom of individuals against excessive state and economic power.
Since the foundation aims also to support talented, socio-politically engaged undergraduate and graduate students in Germany and abroad, the three-day Conference in Gdańsk, will be open to young people aged 18-35.
European Green Party co-chair Reinhard Bütikofer, will open the event that will address issues including globalization and European and nationalist answers to it. Topics like the current challenges to open societies and inclusive democracies will be explored, reflecting upon people’s risk of being divided along lines of integration and identity. Important points of reference and processes that are shaping the world view of engaged young Europeans will be also discussed. Causes of and reactions to growing feelings of uncertainty, injustice and fear in EU member states will be taken into account, discussing on ways to make Europe be more socially responsible, just and sustainable.
The program of the event foresees practical workshops and ample space for youth networking.
For more detailed information on the conference:

2017_Gdansk_concept note

conference2017_programme

call for applications
Candidates will be requested to state briefly their motivation and ideas regarding their personal contribution to the conference in a short CV. Possible participants will be selected among different countries of origins and different backgrounds, to have a wider exchange of points of view.
Costs for accommodation and board will be covered by the organizers and travel costs reimbursed.
If you wish to participate, please send your application to the coordinator Gert Röhrborn at: eyc2017@pl.boell.org
Deadline: 30th April 2017

Cohesion in the Baltic Sea Area! is the title of a seminar tackling new ideas for successful rural and urban growth (also known as the rurban growth). The seminar is organised by the Informal Baltic Sea Group, a network representing circa 55 regional offices and organisations of the Baltic Sea Region in Brussels. (more…)