The European Commission is inviting comments on the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).

The EUSBSR was launched in 2009.  It aims to make the Baltic Sea Region cleaner, more connected and more prosperous. The Strategy is a pilot initiative where the Macro-regional concept is tried and tested in a specific geographic area. The EUSBSR was followed by the introduction of a Strategy for the Danube Region.

Over the last couple of years, there has been continuous learning in respect of new and improved ways to ensure sustainable implementation. There are both very successful parts, and areas that can be improved.

The main lessons were outlined in the report written by the Commission in June 2011 and in the Communication of March 2012. These assessments have also been discussed in the Council during both the Polish and Danish Presidencies.

The EUSBSR Action Plan is also being reviewed, to be completed by the end of 2012.   The most important elements of this review are to introduce objectives, indicators and targets, at Strategy level and for each Priority Area of the Strategy. These should measure the success of the Strategy, but also focus efforts on the most urgent challenges.

There will also be an assessment of the number and content of the Priority Areas, to decide if they could be merged or reinforced. There is a need for greater focus, and to concentrate efforts on actions that respond to the indicators and targets selected. The end result should be a more compact Action Plan, with Flagship Projects and actions in more specific terms to increase impact.

In addition, there is a need to strengthen the capabilities of the key implementers of the Strategy. New and clarified descriptions of roles and expectations have been developed, as well as set out in a handbook with examples.

An overall analysis is currently being prepared by the Priority Area Coordinators and the Horizontal Action leaders. We also need input from other stakeholders for example at the Annual Forum in Copenhagen 17-19 June.

We therefore urge all stakeholders with views on the Action Plan to send us their comments, as well as to take the floor during the discussions at the Forum. There will be a plenary session and a break out session dealing specifically with the review process. Your ideas on focus, on efficiency and on added value would be particularly welcome. For written comments please send them to REGIO-EU-BALTIC-SEA-STRATEGY@ec.europa.eu. This stakeholder consultation on the new Action Plan will remain open until the end of July

Contact: Shawnna.ROBERT@ext.ec.europa.eu

Europen Commission DG Regio

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Carina Lahall

– “These sectors are of great interest and relevant for the whole world and not least for the Baltic Sea Region. We know from experience that match-making is a very time- and cost efficient way of finding new contacts for future business and when companies finally meet face-to-face you can feel the creativity and curiosity in the air when the conversations start. Internationalisation is important for companies interested in growth and that is why I believe that companies should make use of this kind of event and discuss business”, says Carina Lahall, ALMI Företagspartner, project leader for Baltic Business Arena 2012. – “We are receiving new registrations every day and the companies already registered are from all selected sectors but the dominating sectors are ICT and renewable energy.”

Business Stories

There is a great interest from especially Poland and Russia looking for partners in all sectors. Not only enterprises but also business associations from the Baltic countries, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Germany will attend the Baltic Business Arena for meetings. Among these associations are the BBA partners who kindly have committed themselves to assist the organisers in recruiting participants for Baltic Business Arena 2012. We recommend to book meetings with these representatives to discuss possibilities to enter new markets.

Increasing the level of innovation in any organisation need not be a costly affair. As a matter of fact an organisation’s innovation competence is much more a factor of the right organisational culture than the size of its wallet. What, however, to stay on track it is vital that you can measure the outcome and result of your innovation efforts in terms of return of investment.

Bobby Bogdan Mrozowski

The Swedish company BB Innovation & Co AB participated in last year’s event and will also take part this year: CEO Bobby Bogdan Mrozowski says: – “BBA in Stockholm was very interesting and fruitful for us. We had a couple of meetings which has now led to some interesting contacts in Poland.” With regard to what they hope to achieve in Copenhagen they say: – “Networking and knowledge transfer is important in order to run small and innovative companies like BB Innovation & Co AB, and this has given us the opportunity to develop a new generation of sustainable water sanitation system. Sustainable development for water and sewage topics is a highly prioritised area for the EU. Water sanitation and purification is a global issue and therefore an European forum for these questions is needed; something which BBA offers. We believe environmental adaptation contributes to a more sustainable development and creates eco-efficient companies and we hope our participation in Copenhagen will contribute to knowledge and information exchanges when it comes to these issues.”

Special programme for BBA participants

Legal sparring and advice

In addition to the business meetings it is possible to pre-book an informal and confidential consultation with a top qualified and experienced law firm represented in all Baltic Sea countries: Magnusson. Please specify the topic you want to discuss with Magnusson when you book your meeting with them.

Thematic seminars: Boosting innovation in SME’s

Asger Daugbjerg, VP & Partner of Globe Eight, will demonstrate that successful innovation is a result of moving one’s focus from capital barriers to cultural attitude and management support. His presentation will include a number of real life cases from around the world and empirical data to prove his point. His key message is that any organisation can make a jump start in their innovation skills and success by implementing a systematic idea generation and constant measurement of innovation results.

GlobeEight is a consultancy specialising in helping companies create new value and profits by upgrading their focus on innovation and sustainability. GlobeEight has offices in Copenhagen and Singapore.

Part of a large European event

As participant in Baltic Business Arena 2012 you are also part of a large European conference: The 14th Baltic Development Forum Summit / European Commissions’’ Annual Forum for the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. EU Commissioners, Prime Ministers and other high level political and business leaders will discuss topics related to growth and competitiveness in Northern Europe.

We are looking forward to welcoming you at Baltic Business Arena 2012!

For more information about BBA 2012 read more on our website here and in order to register for match-making visit www.b2match.eu/balticbusiness2012. Deadline for registration: 8 June.

Download this update as a printable .pdf document.

Organisers

The 2012 Baltic Business Arena is organised by the Swedish Business Authority ALMI Företagspartner in cooperation with Baltic Development Forum.

• Carina de la Tajada Lahall, Business Adviser Internationalisation, ALMI Företagspartner Mälardalen AB /Enterprise Europe Network, Köpmangatan 23-25, SE-70223 Örebro, Sweden, Phone: + 46 19174882, mobile + 46 (0) 761474890, Email: carina.lahall@enterpriseeurope.almi.se
• Torben Aaberg, Head of Public Affairs, Baltic Development Forum, Copenhagen, Denmark, Phone: +45 70209394, +45 60218574 (direct), Email: ta@bdforum.org

Supported by

BBA 2012 Cooperation Partners

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Economic growth and competitiveness is the order of the day as an answer to the present economic crisis. Europe is, however, divided between the North and South on how to create growth. One question is whether the Baltic Sea Region countries are ready to act as a model and to present projects of common interest when new funds and opportunities are being released as part of a wider European compromise?

Hans Brask, director of Baltic Development Forum, looks forward to hear the discussions of the questions on the upcoming BDF Forum and Annual Forum on the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.

Is it possible to create growth without increasing the public debt and worsening the distrust of the financial markets? Latvia’s Prime Minister Dombrovskis framed this challenge very simply when he during the very successful Lennart Meri conference which took place in Tallinn, Estonia recently asked: “Who will finance growth initiatives that will deepen the debt burden of the economy? Will the financial markets buy the bonds? No. Will the taxpayer in Northern Europe pay the bill? No”, he said.

The Lennart Meri conference left a clear impression: There is very little political flexibility in Northern Europe towards the situation in Greece. Especially the Baltic States believe that Greece and other debt ridden countries have to bite the same bullet as the Baltic States had to when they were in serious economic trouble in 2009: reduce public spending and introduce structural reforms that will improve the competitiveness and trust in the economy! Prime Minister Dombrovskis has even written a book on the Latvian experience together with the economist Anders Åslund.

Is there a role for Baltic Sea region cooperation in this regard besides standing out as the good example on how to reform and control the economies?

Yes, the Baltic Sea Region should also be ready to exploit the new opportunities and help increase consumption and demand for goods and services. The upcoming BDF summit and the Annual Forum on the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region will be a good occasion to discuss this issue. Not least, it will be interesting to hear the new EIB President present the important role of the bank.

The Baltic Sea Region countries should be ready to present joint infrastructure projects which have a high level of common interests due to their cross border nature and to make use of the frameworks for cooperation that have been established over the past three years.

One example is the BEMIP (Baltic Energy Market Implementation Plan) high level group which will meet in Copenhagen 18 June in connection with the BDF Summit. This group has discretely been working on prioritizing energy infrastructure projects in the region within both the electricity and gas sector. The group’s task is to define regional projects that have the highest return of investment and to work for better integration, especially of the Baltic States, into European energy networks. Wise projects are indeed needed in the gas sector because there are several competing projects, not least LNG terminals.

This situation could lead to suboptimal results. The main point is here, however, that this cooperation is working and should serve as a model for other policy fields. We need similar regional high-level groups within transport/logistic and ICT. It will put the Baltic Sea region in a much better position to help achieve growth, jobs and higher competitiveness. It will also improve the implementation of the Commission’s proposal for a Connecting Europe facility (also called the “CEF”) which is part of the negotiation for the new multiannual framework (the EU’s 7 year budget). In the present context this proposal is most probably gaining in importance. The CEF is on the agenda of the BDF Summit where regional stakeholders have a chance to voice their views on the project priorities.

The BEMIP set-up could serve as a model for other regions in Europe. Commission officials are often saying privately that it would be ideal to have similar high-level energy groups in other (macro) regions in Europe in order to define “projects of common interest”.

Therefore, I propose that the Baltic Sea Region countries ask the Commission to establish BEMIP-type high-level groups within transport and ICT.

Europe is getting increasingly heterogeneous and we need different and more targeted implementation of EU funds and programmes in different parts of Europe. With such regional groups we would be serving our own interests as well as helping the rest of Europe to get out of the present crisis.

A key question is whether we need classical infrastructure in terms of bridges and broadband networks or if we need more sophisticated support to research and innovation in Northern Europe? We probably need both, but if we are not careful we might end up with only the hardware which might not be the best stimulus of our economies.

Regional high-level groups would enable us to formulate the right balance between hard and soft infrastructure. It would also – as a needed side effect – Increase the substance of the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. We still need to have clearer priorities for the projects to pursue and the direction to take if the goal is to achieve growth in Europe.      

Hans Brask, director, Baltic Development Forum

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Read the post: Are we – in the Baltic Sea region – ready to actively play our part in achieving growth in Europe? / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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The aim of the award is to highlight the importance of innovation in a Baltic Sea Region context. It is an appreciation of dedicated work done by organisations, networks, projects or public bodies that have contributed to the innovative development of the region.

The BSR Innovation award is presented by BDF and BSR Stars.

Award ceremony

The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Copenhagen on June 18th with the presence of the EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn.

Selection criteria

The following criteria have been laid down for the Baltic Sea Region Innovation Award.

Preferably, the award winner should:

• have made an outstanding contribution to an innovative development of the Baltic Sea Region and its countries,
• draw on macro-regional cooperation in between business, research and policy-makers in the Baltic Sea Region, and/or
• support the objectives to promote green, smart and/or inclusive growth, set out in the Europe 2020 growth strategy.

Organisations, networks, projects or public bodies are eligible for nomination.

Jury

The selection committee to distribute the Baltic Sea Region Innovation Reward consists of the Danish EU Presidency represented by the Danish Business Authority, the European Commission’s Directorate General for Regional Policy, the chairman of Baltic Development Forum, CEO of BSR Stars high level group and one coordinator for the research and innovation priority area in the EUSBSR.

Prize

The winner will receive an award diploma signed by the jury members and 5,000 €.

Nomination Procedure and Deadline

Please send your nomination to the Baltic Development Forum Secretariat, by email to bdf[at]bdforum.org or by post to Nytorv 3, 1048 Copenhagen K, Denmark.

Nomination Deadline: 1 June 2012.

2011 Award to German BioCon Valley

German BioCon Valley was the winner when the best innovation improver in the Baltic Sea Region was awarded for the first time 2011. BioCon Valley was awarded for its outstanding work with linking the strongest innovation milieus in the Baltic Sea Region within the field of life science and health.

BioCon Valley has among other things developed the protein rich blue sweet lupine into a “soybean of the north”. The network has also mapped competences within the field of life sciences and health in the Baltic Sea Region. The outcome is a strategically important database of actors in economy and industry (yellow pages in life sciences and health).

Rima Putkiene, Ministry of Economy Lithuania, handing over the Baltic Sea Region Innovation Award 2011 to Wolfgang Blank, Managing Director of BioCon Valley

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Read the post: Nominate your Candidate for the BSR Innovation Award / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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BDF has a privileged observer status at the BASREC.

Read the communiqué from the meeting:

Communiqué adopted at the Baltic Sea Region Energy Co-operation (BASREC)

Meeting of Energy Ministers in Berlin 14-15 May 2012

The Ministers responsible for energy of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, the Russian Federation and Sweden, and the European Commissioner for Energy convened in Berlin on 14 and 15 May 2012. These countries and the European Commission (hereafter referred to as the Parties) are the members of BASREC. Delegations of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), the Energy Charter, the Federal Network Agency of Germany, the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Nordic Investment Bank and the World Bank attended the meeting.

BASREC is a part of the Intergovernmental Networks of the CBSS, and energy cooperation therefore also takes place within the Northern Dimension Policy Framework. In this context, BASREC may serve as a complement to the EU-Russia energy dialogue. The Ministers acknowledge the work of the Expert Group on Sustainable Development (Baltic 21) on energy issues as input to BASREC. The Parties took note of the information on their co-operation in the period 2009-2011 and adopted this communiqué, which defines the framework for the next co-operation period 2012-2015. Reference is made to previous BASREC Ministerial Conferences in Stavanger 1998, in Helsinki 1999, in Vilnius 2002, in Reykjavik 2005 and in Copenhagen 2009.

The Parties addressed the low-carbon energy policy issues and emphasised that continuation of their close co-operation is essential for efficient and sustainable growth in the Baltic Sea Region. Stable and secure energy supply and predictable demand, with respect for the interests of all members of BASREC and combined with efficient use of energy resources and low-carbon technologies are important for economic growth and welfare in the region. The Parties actively support the development of effective energy systems including reliable energy infrastructure, the promotion of energy efficiency (EE), the use of renewable energy (RE) and other sustainable supply sources, which are essential in meeting the challenges of both low-carbon energy policy strategies and energy security.

The Parties expressed their commitment to further develop and strengthen the energy co-operation in the next co-operation period 2012-2015, in order to sustain integration of the energy markets and the development of energy infrastructure as well as to ensure competitive, stable and secure energy supply and predictable demand in the Baltic Sea Region.

The Parties welcomed the accomplishment of the following BASREC project activities undertaken in the preceding co-operation period 2009-2011:

• Analysis of conditions for wind power in the Baltic Sea Region

• Energy policy strategies for the post-Kyoto period

• Baltic Rotating Energy Planning Academy

• Transportation and storage solution for CO2 in the Baltic Sea Region

• Study on Energy Efficiency investments for Street and other Public outside Lighting

• Partnership of the BASREC countries on clean energy.

The corresponding budget framework was agreed upon at the preceding ministerial meeting 2009 in Copenhagen. The findings of these project activities were acknowledged and endorsed. It was agreed that future work of BASREC will inter alia be based on the findings and insights of the accomplished project activities.

BASREC represents a unique and important regional forum for dialogue on energy policy and global climate change issues with important producers of fossil fuels alongside countries with limited domestic energy resources being members of BASREC. In this respect, BASREC is a natural facilitator of strengthened partnership.

The Parties acknowledged the statements from BASREC to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conferences held in Copenhagen in December 2009 (COP 15) and in Durban in December 2011 (COP 17) as well as the BASREC Side Event held at COP 17. The Parties confirmed their commitment to the negotiations on a future global climate agreement. TheParties look forward to a successful outcome of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

For well-functioning energy markets a common understanding of all aspects of efficient and secure energy supply is of high importance. Stable and secure supplies of energy as well as competitive energy markets require efficient transport routes for electricity and natural gas, which can be ensured by regional co-operation. The Parties recognized the progress in implementing the Baltic Energy Market and Interconnection Plan (BEMIP). The parties confirmed the need for continued work on identification of solutions for and removal of barriers of market integration and development of energy infrastructures in the Baltic Sea Region.

For many years to come fossil fuels are expected to continue to be part of the member countries’ electricity and heating sectors. Therefore, in parallel to sustained efforts to ensure optimal management of conventional resources in the member countries, it is also an option to continue efforts to invest into R&D on how to secure a sustainable exploitation of unconventional fossil fuels, such as shale gas and oil shale, which may contribute to increased energy security by diversifying the energy mix in some member countries. However, increasing use of RE, EE and common efforts on research and development of new energy technologies will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from energy use. In addition, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology can play an important role in reducing GHG emissions. The meeting welcomes the initiative and efforts taken by member countries and industry to promote the demonstration of CCS technology projects.

The Parties acknowledge that rehabilitation and development of existing district heating systems in combination with increased use of combined heat and power (CHP) are essential for widespread and efficient use of RE. There is great potential for increasing the effectiveness of the district heating and cooling systems and promoting CHP in the region. Countries and cities that already have efficient district heating and cooling systems and extensive experience in the use of RE in CHP plants could contribute to harnessing this potential through sharing of experience and knowledge.

The Parties confirmed that their co-operation in the upcoming co-operation period 2012-2015 will concentrate on the following energy topics in order to meet global energy policy challenges:

• Security of energy supply and predictability of energy demand

• Analysis of options for the development and integration of energy infrastructure in the region, in particular regional electricity and gas markets, including legal frameworks

• Increased energy efficiency and savings

• Increased use of renewable resources available in the region, including integration of fluctuating wind power into the electricity system

• Rehabilitation and development of district heating and cooling systems and CHP

• Demonstration of transportation and storage of CO2

• Low-carbon energy policies up to 2050

• Capacity building in the energy sector of the region.

The Parties are committed to engaging in reviews, (feasibility) studies, workshops, joint pilot projects and other activities carried out inter alia within these fields and recognised the need for financial contributions from each member country in order to carry out the work.

The Parties agreed to renew the BASREC budget framework for carrying out activities of EUR 1 million for the co-operation period 2012-2015. Member countries are encouraged to participate in raising the funds and to pay their contribution in cash in accordance with the CBSS key. Decisions on the use of the budget are taken by contributing countries. The settlements can be paid by one or two instalments between 2012 and 2014 in order to ensure a smooth realisation of the activities. Funds not spent in the co-operation period 2012-2015 should be refunded to contributing countries in accordance with the CBSS key if not decided otherwise. The Parties welcomed the willingness to contribute to the new budget framework expressed by all member countries.

The funds will be directed to the specific BASREC account, which is to be administered by the Danish Energy Agency in the co-operation period 2012-2015. The BASREC budget framework can only be used after decision and approval by the Group of Senior Energy Officials (GSEO).

Each presidency must finance and undertake the secretarial function during its presidency. The Executive Committee is to assist the presidency in its work and ensure continuation of the work during the yearly rotating presidencies of BASREC. The Executive Committee consists of the previous, the current and the following chairmanship as of July after the ministerial meeting (its composition alternating each year accordingly). The holder of the BASREC account (in the cooperation period 2012-2015: Denmark) in its function is a permanent member of the Executive Committee. The account holder is aimed to change every co-operation period and be appointed by the GSEO no later than one year in advance of the next ministerial meeting.

GSEO is appointed to organise the work of implementing the recommendations and decisions agreed upon, to seek financing for task fulfilment and to secure proper and adequate reporting, as well as sound co-ordination of the work, also with other international energy or financial organisations, where appropriate. BASREC members at ministerial level will meet when necessary, but no later than in 2015.

Icelandic reservation due to the economic situation in Iceland.

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Interesting report about energy efficiency on European Energy Review by Sonja van Renssen

www.europeanenergyreview.eu

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Read the post: Good intentions on energy cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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The first event of this kind was arranged in Stockholm in June last year where 70 companies from 11 countries performed over 350 meetings.

The main business areas of the 2012 matchmaking event are clean-tech, renewable energy, sustainable construction, life science and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

The Baltic Business Arena 2012 is supported by Enterprise Europe Network, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and the Swedish Institute.

What is the Baltic Business Arena?

In the Baltic Business Arena we offer you the opportunity to pre-book face-to-face meetings with other companies, research/innovation and financial institutions in a specially designed meeting arena. This is a cost and time-effective way to discover new business and cooperation opportunities while expanding your international contact network.

When participating in the business matchmaking at the Baltic Business Arena you have full access to the BDF Summit and European Commission’s Annual Forum on the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.

Why Participate?

Main Matchmaking Areas

As participant in the Baltic Business Arena you will get

Registration and More Information

For more information about the Baltic Business Arena and for registration to this matchmaking event, visit the BBA special website.

Please note that as participant in the Baltic Business Arena you shall not register for the BDF Summit/EUSBSR Annual Forum as well, but only for the Baltic Business Arena via the business matchmaking website. This is because the scheduling of your meetings requires a special registration platform. BDF will take care of the administration, so that you anyhow will be included in the Summit/Annual Forum.

For companies/organisations who wish to participate only in the matchmaking a fee of 200 EUR/ person will be charged.

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I have more hopes now than before. Simply because that the protectionist tendencies within the European Union which only will harm Europe`s development. We should as an area open up even more. Our region is the most dynamic area and has been for many years should be more open. And it is my firm belief that with even more dynamic projects – for instant in it sector – and using that we are the most advanced on innovation and have a very open attitude towards trade – we can enhance the integration of the region – even if there are these protectionist tendencies elsewhere. Countries around the Baltic Rim should continue with all kind of projects – I think that these countries are willing to do it and  are interested to go on integrating.

What is your opinion on the new EU budget?

I would have liked to see even much more reform coming up inside the EU budget. And I think it is maybe a little embarrassing for the Danish Presidency that – on the common agricultural direct supports -  Denmark´s and Holland´s farmers will get 6 times higher subsidies pr. acre than in Estonian farmers. That’s certainly a market distorsion. That’s not a functioning internal market.

Instead of pumping more money in there you should be opening up the internal market- for instant on services. We clearly are looking for something to get the European economy going then you need to liberalize the services as was guaranteed back in 1956. I have not seen anything giong in that direction. Now that would be a good relief.

Give an example on future integrating measures?

The outlines from the EU task force on E-health I have attended here in Denmark are all durable both laterally and bilaterally in most of the Baltic countries.

For instant – both Estonia and Denmark have digital prescriptions, so one of the first things we should do is making them mutually acceptable, so when Danes come to Estonia – and Estonians come to Denmark and get sick they just can go and get their prescriptions. And when so many more people are travelling in the Nordic and Baltic area, all kinds of integration of this sort will only make life better for the citizen and decrease the friction of doing business.

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Read the post: Estonian President Ilves: Baltic Sea integration to overrule protectionist tendencies i EU / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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With major focus on infrastructure development as a precondition for enhanced competitiveness and growth in the Region, we are setting up discussions that will allow the audience to follow-up the topic through different sectors – transport and logistics, energy, science, water, financing.

In the anticipation of today’s inauguration of Putin as President of Russia, two thematic sessions on Russia were launched aimed at providing a general outlook and analysis of the situation in Russia as well as demonstrating successful stories of regional cooperation with Russia.

Please note that early arrival programme 17 June will take place in Sweden where you will get opportunity to learn more about the major regional facilities in science connecting Scandinavia with the rest of Europe.

Please consult the programme outline on the conference website for the most recent updates of the programme.

A printer-friendly .pdf version of the programme is available for download here.

Below are photos of some speakers that were added to the programme recently. Find the full speakers photo gallery here.

BDF Contact Person: Viktoria Nilsson, vn[at]bdforum.org

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Read the post: Updated Summit Programme available for download / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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One of these is a roundtable meeting organised by the Swedish Institute and CBSS with a focus on CSR and SMEs in the Baltic Sea Region. In the spring of 2012 Swedish Institute and CBSS have conducted a desk-top analysis of eight BSR countries which provides recommendations on how to promote CSR practices among SME’s in these countries. At the roundtable, where CSR experts from the survey countries are participating, the results of the analysis will be presented and discussed.

Furthermore, the priority area 5 and priority area 10 under the EUSBSR, represented by the Danish Nature Agency and the Danish Energy Agency, are organising a seminar on climate change adaption, energy markets and networks of visionary sustainable cities. The seminar gathers around 70 stakeholders, mainly from cities and municipalities in the Baltic Sea Region.

Apart from these two bigger meetings a number of smaller meetings are taking place. UBC’s Commission on Business Cooperation is meeting and taking a field trip, eight national and city investment agencies are meeting to discuss ongoing cooperation, BEMIP is having their high-level group meeting and BDF Advisory Board and Digital Agenda Advisory Group are gathering.

BDF Contact Person: Ditte Folke Henriksen, dh[at]bdforum.org

Go to BDF Summit and EUSBSR Annual Forum 2012 Website.

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It is absolutely essential to have more coherent, structured, well-framed relations between the EU and Russia, said Thierry de Montbrial, founder and Director General of the French Institute for International Relations IFRI, in an exclusive with EurActiv, on the occasion of Putin’s coming inauguration on 7 May for a new mandate as president.

De Montbrial, who just published a new book, Journal de Russie 1977-2011, spoke as a connoisseur of Russian political life and the country’s leaders, many of whom, including Putin, he has met repeatedly.

He said that Putin’s decade (from 2000 to 2010) had been a “quite positive one”, but expressed doubts as to the success of the new term in office of the Russian leader.

Putin served as President from 2000 to 2008, after having been re-elected in 2004. Under the Russian Constitution, he was barred from a third consecutive term and served from May 2008 as Prime Minister, maintaining his political dominance. Amendments to the Russian constitution changed the term of duty of the President from four to six years, implying that if re-elected in 2018, Putin could lead the country until 2024.

De Montbrial said it was “extremely unlikely” that Putin would do a second term and it might even be quite difficult for him to end this first term.

He said that in spite of his positive record, Putin had recently made a number of mistakes, by failing to anticipate Russians’ surge for freedom and democracy, initiated by those who achieved “a certain social status and certain economic level” thanks to his governance.

But the biggest mistake, De Montbrial said, was the deal with the outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev, with whom Putin’s decided to switch roles.

Indeed, during a choreographed congress of the ruling United Russia party on 24 September, Medvedev agreed to lead a list of candidates for a parliamentary election on 4 December in view of becoming the next premier, and won a standing ovation for Putin by proposing that he run for president in the 4 March 2012 elections.

“My […] conclusion is that it is extremely unlikely that [Putin] will do a second term and it might even be quite difficult for him to end the first term. Because the next six years will I think see a continuation of huge social changes in Russia. Especially if Russia is developing well economically,” De Montbrial said.

Asked about the geopolitical future of a declining Europe with or without Russia, De Montbrial said to reverse such trends the EU must be capable to put its house in order following the eurozone crisis, and that Russia “continues to develop gradually in its own way in a democratic direction”.

“It is absolutely essential to have a more coherent, structured, well-framed policy between the EU and Russia. And this of course is directed against nobody,” De Montbrial insisted.

He also expressed his conviction that the French Socialist candidate François Hollande would win the milestone French presidential elections on 6 May, just one day ahead of Putin’s inauguration.

Read the full interview here:

http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/thierry-de-montbrial-putin-may-finish-mandate-interview-512415

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Read the post: More consistent EU-Russia relationship ‘absolutely essential’ / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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