MINUTES FROM THE 21st MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF
THE UNION OF THE BALTIC CITIES
Klaipėda, 26-27 June 1998
INTRODUCTION
The 21st meeting of the Executive Board of the Union of the Baltic Cities was held on the 26-27 June 1998 in the City of Klaipėda, Lithuania, upon the invitation of Mr Eugenijus Gentvilas, Mayor of Klaipėda.
The first day of the meeting was attended only by the members of the Executive Board. The second day was open for the representatives from all member cities.
FRIDAY, 26 June 1998
Opening of the meeting and adoption of the Agenda.
The 21st meeting of the UBC Executive Board was opened by Mr Anders Engström, the President of the Union. Mr Engström greeted all participants and wished them a successful meeting.
The welcome words were given by Mrs Audra Daujotiene, Deputy Mayor of Klaipėda, who wished all delegates the fruitful discussions and a pleasant stay in Klaipėda.
The meeting adopted the Agenda.
Election of two persons who, together with the President, will check the minutes.
UBC Vice-Presidents that is Mr Michael Bouteiller and Mr Bartłomiej Sochański were elected to check the minutes.
Proposal on the Commission on Education.
(This item was handled on the second day during the open session.)
The President reminded that during the last Board meeting in Kalmar two member cities ie. Norrtälje and Kärdla put forward the proposal to create the UBC Commission on Education. The Board considered the proposal as very interesting and authorised Norrtälje and Kärdla to make a survey to find out which member cities would be interested to cooperate within the new Commission.
Mr Erki Tamm, Deputy Mayor of Kärdla, reported that in response to the survey 21 member cities expressed an interest to participate in the work of the new Commission on Education. Mr Tamm asked the Board for the positive decision as regards the creation of the new Commission.
Decision:
The Board decided to create the Commission on Education with the cities of Kärdla and Norrtälje as leading cities. The Board encouraged all member cities to take active part in the Commission’s work.
UBC Strategy.
Mr Anders Engström reminded all participants that the Strategy has been already discussed during the last two Executive Board meetings. The strategy working group consisting of the Presidium and the cities of Copenhagen, Kaunas, Pori, Riga was appointed. The group appointed Mr Sochański to be responsible for drafting the Strategy document. The outline of the Strategy was presented during the last Board meeting in Kalmar.
Mr Bartłomiej Sochański presented the draft of the Strategy paper. Subsequently the draft was discussed in-depth by the Board members.
Decision:
The Board praised the working group for the work done so far. The Board authorised the city of Szczecin to send the revised draft of the Strategy to the Board members and the chairmen of the Commissions. The Board members have been instructed to send their comments on the revised draft of the Strategy directly to Szczecin latest three weeks before the next Board meeting.
5. UBC Internal Regulations.
Mr Paweł Żaboklicki, Secretary General, presented the latest draft of UBC Internal Regulations adjusted after comments made by the Board members during the last meeting in Kalmar. Subsequently the document was discussed in detail by the Board members.
Decision:
The Board authorised the Secretary General to include agreed changes and amendments into the document.
Questions raised.
No further questions have been raised.
SATURDAY, 27 June 1998
Report from the Board meeting of November 28.
President Anders Engström summarised the main issues discussed by the Board on the previous day.
New Member Cities.
President Anders Engström informed the Executive Board about new application for Union Membership submitted by the City of Silkeborg, Denmark.
Decision:
The Board decided to accept the City of Silkeborg as a Member of the Union of the Baltic Cities and wished Silkeborg a successful cooperation with other UBC members. The number of Union member cities reached the figure 80.
Introduction of CPMR BSC – possible areas for cooperation.
Mr Anders Engstrom informed that due to unexpected illness Mr Tommy Karlsson, Executive Secretary of CPMR BSC had to cancel his participation the day before the meeting. Mr Karlsson will be invited to the next Board meeting.
Introduction of Euroregion Baltic – possible areas for cooperation.
Mr Sarunas Reikalas, Deputy Governor of Klaipėda County and Vice President of Euroregion “Baltic”, gave introduction on the aims and structure of newly established (in February 1998) Euroregion “Baltic”.
The Board thanked Mr Reikalas for his introduction and expressed hope for good cooperation between both organisations in the areas of mutual interest.
Information on Baltic Agenda 21 process.
Mr Mikko Jokinen, chairman of UBC Commission on Environment, reminded that Baltic 21 (Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region) process was launched by the Baltic Ministers of Environment in Saltsjobaden, Sweden, in 1996. The Baltic 21 process is carried out by the Senior Officials Group (SOG) of which UBC (through the Commission on Environment) is an official member. The Commission actively contributes to the SOG work.
Mr Jokinen informed that the Baltic 21 final Document was officially adopted by the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) at the recent meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs held in Nyborg on 22 June 1998. UBC is mentioned several times in the final document.
Mr Jokinen warmly invited all member cities to participate in the Baltic Local Agenda 21 Health and Sustainable Cities Conference to be held in Turku on 3-5 September 1998.
The Board expressed its appreciation to the Commission on Environment for its active contribution to the elaboration of “Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region” document and encouraged all member cities to take part in Turku conference.
Report from the Women’s Network.
Mrs Hjördis Höglund, Leader of the Women’s Network reported on Network’s activities in the first half of 1998. Mrs Höglund visited 12 member cities and represented UBC in three women’s conferences.
The Board took note of the report and wished the Network a success in further activities.
Report from the Task Force meeting in Szczecin.
Ms Sonja Hilavuo, chairman of the Task Force for Public Relations and Communication, reported from the third TF meeting held in Szczecin on 25-27 May 1998, attended by 35 participants.
Furthermore Ms Hilavuo announced that due to the change of the job she decided to terminate her work for the Task Force and thanked the Board members for successful cooperation in the past years.
The Board took note of the report and expressed cordial thanks to Ms Hilavuo for her outstanding contribution to the Union’s work and wished her good luck in the future.
Reports from the conferences attended by Union’s representatives.
The following delegates submitted reports from the conferences where they represented the Union of the Baltic Cities:
- Baltic Sea Youth Minister Conference, Visby, 5-6 June 1998 – reported by Mr Anders Engström on behalf of Ms Lena Hallengren.
- 18th International Hanseatic Days, Visby, 11-14 June 1998 – reported by Mr Michael Bouteiller
- Baltic Meeting Point, Uppsala, 15-16 June 1998 – reported by Mr Paweł Żaboklicki
- International City Forum, Kiel, 20 June 1998 – reported by Mr Michael Bouteiller
- CBSS Ministerial Session, Nyborg, 22 June 1998 – reported by Mr Anders Engström
Matters raised at the meeting.
Mr Anders Engström informed that the Union received an invitation to the conference of Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea (ACOPS) to be held in Lisbon on 28 June – 1 July 1998. Because the conference is held at the same time as the Board meeting, the President authorised Mr Juhan Janusson, UBC Project Manager, to represent UBC at this conference.
Mr Risto Veivo, UBC Environmental Coordinator, informed that the Commission on Environment received a grant of 300.000 DKK from the Nordic Council of Ministers for the continuation of the project Municipal Environmental Auditing.
Next Meeting of the Executive Board.
Mr Anders Engström informed about the proposal of Mr Bartłomiej Sochański to hold the next (22nd) meeting of the UBC Executive Board in Szczecin on 16-17 October 1998.
Decision:
The Board accepted the proposal.
Closing of the Meeting.
Mr Anders Engström expressed his thanks to all participants for the fruitful meeting and closed the XXI Meeting of the Executive Board of the Union of the Baltic Cities.
Mr Anders Engström Mr Paweł Żaboklicki
Chairman Secretary
Mr Michael Bouteiller Mr Bartłomiej Sochański
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