Thematic discussion on the Macro-regional strategy for the Baltic Sea Brussels, 19/05/2014 Exchange of views on the state of play of the macro-regional strategy for the Baltic Sea (researcher’s position) presented by Algirdas Šakalys EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea region (EUSBSR) and stronger regional cooperation was one of the priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council in 2013. Because it strengthens integration; it helps mobilizing financial and human sources for the commonly agreed goals, improves networking, gives extra push to existing strategic projects or gives live to the new ones. One of the central events organized in Lithuania during its presidency was 4th Annual Forum of EUSBSR . Annual Forum is the biggest event of the EUSBSR ga thering all Strategy’s stakeholders and giving them opportunity to discuss the status-quo and future of the macro- region strategy for the Baltic Sea. This event organised in Lithuania last year has attracted a lot of attention - more than 600 participants attended the forum. The main themes discussed in the forum: first of all, the ideas about the added value of the macro-regional strategies and the further steps to be made in realizing their full potential; secondly, the environmental challenges and their transfer to opportunities leading to more sustainable and competitive region and European Union. More profound discussions were held in 10 thematic workshops with the focus on integration of environmental issues into other policy fields such as sustainable agriculture, blue growth, green innovation, renewables and clean shipping. Thus, transport is an important issue in the EUSBSR since the distances are very long and the conditions for traffic are often difficult. This region, which is partly located on the periphery of the economic centre of Europe, depends strongly on foreign trade in goods and on the international exchange of knowledge and services. In order to increase competitiveness of the region, to remove bottlenecks, to increase accessibility and attractiveness of the region, the Priority Area of Transport was settled out in the framework of EUSBSR, chaired by Sweden and Lithuania. The geography of the Baltic Sea region makes transport particularly challenging. The improvement of internal and external transport links, increasing the efficiency and minimising the environmental impact of transport systems, should contribute to higher competitiveness of the Baltic Sea region, and increase its accessibility and attractiveness. One of the main elements of the EUSBSR is the potential to generate added value for the region through coordination of the activities aimed at facilitating border crossing. Of particular interest are activities related to border crossing infrastructure and procedures on the border between the EU and its neighbouring countries. The region benefits from transiting freight flows and from higher mobility among EU and non-EU citizens. Regional initiatives that aim to remove bottlenecks should receive adequate attention and support. The concept of transport corridors is marked by a concentration of freight traffic between major hubs and by relatively long distances of transport. Along these corridors industry will be encouraged to rely on co-modality and on the advanced technology in order to accommodate 1
increasing traffic volumes by promoting environmental sustainability and energy efficiency. Green transport corridors will reflect an integrated transport concept where short sea shipping, rail, inland waterways and road will complement each other to enable the choice of environmentally friendly transport. Speaking about transport corridors first of all it necessary to note that RailBaltica transport corridor is one of the priority projects not only in BSR but also in the entire European Union . The project is supposed to link Finland, the Baltic States and Poland and also improve the connection between Central and Northern Europe and Germany. Rail Baltica project aims at ensuring a safe, fast and high quality connection between the Baltic States and the major economic, administrative and cultural centres of Western Europe. Interoperability with Polish and German 1435mm gauge networks is an important aspect of the project because international traffic in the North-South direction with the present 1520mm gauge rail network in the Baltic States is very inefficient and not effective. The Rail Baltica Growth Corridor (RBGC) project is an initiative to promote the implementation of “Rail Baltica” mainly through application of non -infrastructural measures. RBGC project aims: To improve the competitiveness and accessibility of cities and regions in the Eastern Baltic Sea Region. To increase interaction and cooperation between Rail Baltica stakeholders → stakeholder decision maps of private and public sectors. To bring benefits for cities and regions, transport sector and citizens by improving the competitiveness and economic potential of the Region. EWTC II project provides a good example of a concept on placing the Green Corridor into logistic chain. The EWTC Association, which was formed in summer 2010, brings together various stakeholders from 13 countries (e.g. Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, Mongolia, and China), representing business associations, public administrative institutions, universities and other companies. One of the key aims of this initiative is to support the development of an effective Green Corridor through continuous economic and political dialogue as well as strong partnership between the states, government agencies, research centres and private partners. EastWestTransportCorridor (RegionalPerspective) EastWestTransportCorridor (Global Perspective) Source: EWTC II project, 2010 2
The strategic processes facilitated by the EU Baltic Sea Strategy have resulted in a number of stakeholder platforms and meeting places to jointly discuss solutions and transport development challenges in the area. The assumed thematic focus and established links between the above initiatives helped achieve certain stage of coordination and complementarity. Collaboration currently expanding (by TransBaltic project) However, fuller integration of the approaches, which would enable better development and alignment of transport policies at various governance tiers, faces a number of challenges. These include: Absence of a joint framework for national, regional and local transport policies in dynamically developing cross-border integration areas; No clear schemes how to absorb inputs from the past transnational projects implemented by public and private stakeholders from several countries - in the national transport planning process; Lack of mechanisms to embed results of jointly prepared strategic documents (programmes, action plans) in political and administrative structures at all reference scales (transnational corridors, cross-border areas, the entire functional macroregion) to avoid revisiting of the initiatives in effect of new political elections or organisational changes; 3
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