The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Multilevel governance in action? Gerhard Stahl

1. The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Multilevel governance in action? Gerhard Stahl Secretary General Annual Conference Ringsted, 14 October 2009

2. G20 dynamics, EU with reform Treaty, which place for BSR? Source: WTO, International Trade Statistics, 2007 New governance of globalization and of the EU: preserving common assets, e.g. the Single Market + EUR while developing multiple powerhouses: e.g. BSR 2

3. Europe’s success, key to Baltic 20y/5y... 2009... 5y/20y Baltic’s success, key to Europe 3

4. Once upon a time… 4

5. Today’s BRS strategy. A Vision re-launched 20y ago. At a moment in time when - Europe was separated by the Iron-Curtain - numerous BSR countries could not cooperate with each other - the Scandinavian countries had not yet entered the EU Some had a Vision on developingthe BSR Identity and Cooperation (cfr. Think tank on Baltic Sea cooperationestablished by Schwlesig-Holstein in 1988) 5

6. A long path. A grassroots cooperation. 1971 – Nordic Council of Ministers 1974 – Helsinki Commission 1991 – Union of the Baltic Cities 1991 – Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference 1991 – Baltic Assembly 1992 – Council of the Baltic Sea States 1992 – Baltic Sea Chambers of Commers Association 1993 – BSSSC 1995 – CRPM – Baltic Sea Commission (established on a ferry boat between Sweden and Finland) 1994 – VASAB 2010 (Tallin Report) 1998 – Agenda21 for the BSR 2001 – VASAB 2010+ (Warsaw decl.) 6

7. Councils, associations, platforms, networks:levers for common identity building and cooperation

8. Baltic Sea Region cooperation gains EU recognition 2006 – European Parliament – Initiative Report 2007 – Council, Presidency Conclusion – mandate to EC for a Strategy 2008 – CoR, Baltic Sea Group – position paper 2008 – CoR Opinion: “Role of LRAs within Baltic Sea Strategy” 2009 – European Commission – EU Strategy for BSR + Action Plan 2009 – Ministerial Meeting – EUSBSR as pilot for other Macro-region 2009 – Adoption expected by European Council, end October 8

9. «There are many goals which we cannot achieve on our own, but only in concert. Tasks are shared between the European Union, the Member States and their regions and local authorities» Berlin Declaration, 25 March 2007 European Heads of State on the occasion of 50th anniversary of the signature of the Treaties of Rome

10. Baltic Sea Region: ongoing reform(s) of sub-state level (1) Finland has two regions, one is experimental (Kainuu) and the other autonomous (Åland). They are not considered regional level(2) Sweden: includes the two counties currently exprimenting with regional statusSource: Dexia (2008), Subnational Governments in the European Union

11. EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region ... ... a case of multilevel governance?

12. During preparation, efforts have been made In the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region …preparation founded on wide consultation. …political commitment to action has beenemerging at all levels (EU, national, regional, local). Vision and leadership. …strong cross-policy integrated approach has been adopted  Keep the momentum to lever on this political capital. Wide ownership and engagement when implementing/reviewing, while defining clear roles and responsibilities

13. However, implementation is still open question In the suggested Action Plan (Commission Staff working doc SEC(2009)712/2) Out of 78 Flagship Projects … 41 are assigned according to Member States (National or sub-national level ?) 10 are assigned to Intergov. organisations, 4 are assigned to EC … 22 are still to be assigned 13

14. Some hope, before final Council adoption Joint Ministerial Declaration, Stockholm 18 Sept 09: “…recognise that existing national and regional authorities and organisations are of decisive importance for the implementation of the Strategy…” “welcome the contributions of national and regional authorities, NGOs, pan-Baltic organisations and other stakeholders to the formulation of the Strategy and underline the importance of maintaining a high level of involvement and broad ownership among all the stakeholders in the region, and their utmost importance for and key role in the implementation of concrete actions” 14

15. Baltic Sea macro-region: win-win ? a) Renew interinst. partnership and dynamics b) Reinforce efficiency of community action c) Experiment, test and consolidate d) Link up with citizens European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region a) Encourage participation and ownership b) Decline territorially major EU policiesc) Deliver real benefits. From words to action d) Build EU /regional identity of neighbourhood 15

16. A pilot experience with spill-over effects? EU Strategy for Baltic Sea Region as pilot = successes and failures Value of experimentation, lessons learnt and shared at EU level(see COM doc “Macro-regional strategies in the EU”) Raising the game outside the macro-region: EU/world leader in e.g. ship safety, clean shipping, no «beg thy neighbour» recovery plan, «regional ERA», fight to climate change, etc. Baltic: from enhanced enforcement of EU law into the Region to initiator of practices/standards/laws for the whole EU

17. Territorial cohesion and governance in practice? • Places and territorial assets (land, sea, rivers, etc.) • as a subject of matter and active policy making within EU • Functional macro-regions and upgraded territorial cooperation • as cornerstone for integrated policies and pooling of resources • Enhanced and innovative working ways • - between EU Institutions (EC role / Council formats / EP role / CoR) • between Commission and national and regional actors • within the Commission (e.g. new REGIO role and inter-DGs) • at macro-regional level

18. Macro-regions, which place for these “places”? by Esko Antola No new internal borders, how to cooperate with adjacent EU regions? «Internal strategy», how to nurture a built-in (hidden?) ext. coop? Subsidiarity, macro-region as a new testing-level? Territorial cohesion, macro-regions for territorial impact assessment? Open Method of Coordination, also between macro-regions? European Budget, flashing cohesion resources to macro-regions?

19. CoR, macro-regional cooperation and governance The EU’s Assembly of local and regional representatives Interregional Groups(Baltic Sea, Danube, Inter-Mediterranean, North-Sea, etc.)emerging and coordinating their agendas on similar dossiers(e.g. maritime package: maritime transport strategy 2018, maritime spatial planning, revision of Port Directive, etc.)CoR working with “Regional Cooperation” initiativese.g. Declaration of Common Interest CoR BSSSC, Feb 2007 EGTC Expert Group 19

20. CoR (2009), White Book on Multilevel GovernanceBuilding Europe in Partnership: shared responsibility and interaction 13 main recommendations on partnership and functional cooperation in EU policy making (e.g. territorial action plans, experimentation, participatory OMC, etc.) 10 examples where MLG’s added value is emerging(integrated Maritime Policy, EUSBSR, EGTC, Covenant of Mayors, etc.) Need to keep MLG on EU agenda. Political debate and open process. The CoR launches an open consultation governance@cor.europa.eu until 30 Nov 2009 ...and a hands-on follow up process  Action Plan Give yoursay ! 20

21. Committee of the Regions www.cor.europa.eu governance@cor.europa.eu