Helsinki Summit 2006

Competing on Top of Europe -  the Baltic Sea Region in the Global Playing Field

SUMMIT CONCLUSIONS

The 8th Annual Baltic Development Forum Summit took place in Helsinki as part of the Finnish EU Presidency on 29–31 October 2006. The Summit attracted 500 influential decision makers from business, government, the public sector, research institutions, and the media from the Baltic Sea Region and beyond. These were the conclusions from the comprehensive discussions.

General:  The Baltic Sea Region has established itself as a global leader in growth, competitiveness and innovation. But this position is threatened. Despite its challenging geographical position north of Europe’s central economic zone, the Baltic Sea Region and its 11 countries have benefited strongly from globalization due to its stable institutions, well-developed infrastructure, highly skilled labour force, international networks, and sound macro economic policies. However, other regions throughout the world are catching up and a number of issues need to be addressed, and concrete action must be taken to stay ahead in the global economy.

Competitiveness and Business Environment Upgrading:  To maintain its lead in the global competition, the Baltic Sea Region must be competent rather than comfortable. The Region should therefore strive for true scientific leadership, pushing its universities’ rankings and making sure that the innovations created in the Region can be turned into new products, services, and ways of serving the market. In parallel, a stronger focus is needed on cluster development and on creating more efficient transport and logistics systems. Furthermore, to strengthening the Baltic Sea Region’s and Europe’s competitive potential and ful- filling the Lisbon Agenda, full and compromising
implementation of all four basic freedoms throughout the EU Member States in the Region is strongly called for.

Energy Safety:  Sustainable energy safety is a key regional priority and political leaders should enhance their dialogue at all levels as to the crucial link between future prosperity and energy safety. Developing a common EU policy on energy safety is essential and a prerequisite for a balanced economic development in Europe and Russia at large. Within this framework the input by the Baltic Sea Region Energy Co-operation (BASREC) and its efforts to create increased higher energy efficiency and renewable energy resources is important. The overall EU-Russia relations should be actively supported by the Baltic Sea Region countries with a view, among other things, to ensure a pragmatic and reciprocal energy dialogue supplementing the Northern Dimension.

Russia and the Baltic Sea Region:  The New Northern Dimension is an important instrument for the EU – Russia, and Baltic Sea Region relations, and all parties are called upon to ensure its successful implementation. Furthermore, Russian membership of the WTO is strongly encouraged to establish open markets and freedom of investments for all parties. An enhanced Russian involvement in the Baltic Sea Region – with a focus on its North-western parts such as St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad – is warmly welcomed.

EU and the Baltic Sea Region:  The countries that constitute the Baltic Sea Region should make it more visible and operational within the EU institutions. The European Commission is called upon to develop an EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region supported by relevant budget lines. As Baltic Sea co-operation has transitioned to a stronger emphasis on economic, business and innovation issues, existing regional councils and pan-Baltic organizations should optimize and coordinate their roles and activities more effectively to have a stronger influence on the regional and European agenda.

Regional Values:  A key characteristic for the Baltic Sea Region is its full and non-compromising support for human rights values and democratic freedom of its citizens. In this regard, recent physical attacks on people and democratic institutions in the Region are deeply worrying. Open societies and economies, civic security, respect for minorities, social protection, transparency in decision making and sustainable development are other important values with which the Region is strongly associated.

Building a Baltic Sea Region Brand:  In the increasing competition among locations, the creation of a distinct and reputable Baltic Sea Region identity – a brand – is of highest importance. Leaders in government, businesses, regional organizations, labour market parties etc are urged to engage in a comprehensive approach to move this process forward and thereby creating a clear and competitive footprint for the Baltic Sea Region.

See Session Summaries here.