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The German Presidency of the CBSS for the year 2011-2012 starts on the 1 July 2011
The German Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Council and of numerous other fora for cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region. Over this time, the Council has done a great deal towards achieving the aim it set itself: “to recreate a genuine democratic community around the Baltic Sea”.
The Baltic Sea Sates Summit on 30/31 May 2012 will provide an opportunity to acknowledge these developments.
The German Presidency is committed to the decisions of the 2008 Baltic Sea States Summit in Riga on the reform of the Council and of the 2010 Baltic Sea States Summit in Vilnius on “Vision 2020 for the Baltic Sea Region”.
It is determined to make progress on the five agreed long-term priorities:
economic development,
energy,
environment and sustainability,
education and culture,
civil security and the human dimension
We want to make further progress on developing the ability of the CBSS and its Secretariat to design and implement concrete projects. The aim is a “coherent framework for cooperation” in the Baltic Sea Region which links the various fora for cooperation and promotes the emerging division of labour among the major actors. In this context, greater use is to be made of the Council’s potential in implementing the EU’s Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Germany intends to work closely with the EU and with Poland and Denmark, which will hold the EU Presidency during Germany’s Presidency of the CBSS. It is intended to bring together all players in Baltic cooperation, including the northern German Länder, at a “Baltic Day” in Berlin in spring 2012.
One particular focus of the German presidency will be the development of the Kaliningrad region and the surrounding area, which have special potential. A joint initiative to promote public-private partnerships is to provide incentives for the development of the Baltic Sea Region and for private investment.
The CBSS has played a key role in the formation of the large number of networks that exist in the Baltic Sea Region. It must continue in this role. It is better suited than any other format to strengthening the Baltic region’s shared identity and increasing the people’s identification with the region, its history and its culture. Germany intends to contribute to these efforts.
The previous Norwegian Presidency of the CBSS for the year 2010-2011 was initiated on the 1 July 2010.
The Norwegian Presidency had three specific priorities.
Specific Norwegian Presidency priorities:
- Maritime policy
- Fight against trafficking in human beings
- Further development of the CBSS as an organization to become more efficient, relevant
and operative.
Maritime policy
Shipping and related maritime activities are most central for the economic development of the region. There are also several negative environmental effects and challenges to be met: air emissions, discharge of oil and other waste and introduction of organisms through ballast water. The Norwegian Presidency will make use of the CBSS Expert Group on Maritime Policy to develop the sector and to meet the challenges.
Fight against trafficking in human beings
The Norwegian Presidency continued to implement the strategy and project activities that had been set for 2010 and developed a strategy for 2011 based on further enhancing cooperation between law enforcement and the civil society. The CBSS Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings was most central in this work.
Further development of the CBSS as an organization.
The Norwegian Presidency continued to work for a restructuring of the secretariat, afurther efficiency of the organization and to seek consensus among all members in building a project portfolio with other actors.
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CBSS Presidencies
2010-2011 - Norway
2009-2010 - Lithuania
2008-2009 - Denmark
2007-2008 - Latvia
2006-2007 - Sweden
2005-2006 - Iceland
2004-2005 - Poland
2003-2004 - Estonia
2002-2003 - Finland
2001-2002 - Russia
2000-2001 - Germany
1999-2000 - Norway
1998-1999 - Lithuania
1997-1998 - Denmark
1996-1997 - Latvia
1995-1996 - Sweden
1994-1995 - Poland
1993-1994 - Estonia
1992-1993 - Finland
To get to the Summits and Council Ministerial documents please click here
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