Strategy & Activities

Read more about the activities of Baltic Development Forum. Below you will find is short versions of the BDF Strategies of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 as well as a catalog over the activities undertaken in 2008.

How can BDF’s activities in 2013 contribute to the overall objective of BDF in making the BSR the most dynamic and, innovative centre of economic growth in the World?

The board of Baltic Development Forum (BDF) met end February 2013 and adopted BDF’s strategy and priorities for 2013. As the list of the main activities shows below, it includes many sectors and different projects. They offer BDF the ability to stay in close contact with different stakeholders and decision-makers in all parts of the region and thereby improve the ability to reach out and know about the various integration processes. BDF looks forward to working with the many regional actors and not least BDF’s many members, partners and sponsors that all contribute in making the Baltic Sea Region a dynamic and interesting area in Europe.

BDF will continue to act as an independent platform that works for integration, dialogue and cooperation in the Baltic Sea region. BDF will carry out its role in four different ways: as a Summit organiser and facilitator for decision-makers; as an agenda setting think-tank that provides new data and information; as a communication and information platform that facilitates debate and the development of a stronger regional identity; and as a project implementer that carries out concrete cooperation projects.

The EU Strategy is particular important, and BDF will support it so that it does not lose momentum and political support since it represents a major opportunity for the region. BDF will work closely with the European Commission and regional partners on the updated EUSBSR including its new Action Plan. BDF will also go beyond the EUSBSR and work with Russian partners, not least through the CBSS and the Northern Dimension partnerships.

Increasingly, BDF’s role is to ensure that the private sector takes a more active part in setting the priorities for the region. Public-private cooperation is essential to making better use of the region’s potential and to improving the region’s economic growth, competitiveness and innovation capacity. Generally, the Baltic Sea Region is doing well in terms of economic performance and especially the economic growth of the Baltic States is impressive. In 2013 BDF will focus on their international “come back” and the role the states play in the region. It will be taken up at the 2013 BDF Summit in Riga, Latvia.

1) Activities

15th BDF Summit 29-30 May 2013 in Riga

The 2013 Summit will be organised together with the Latvian Government and in conjunction with a meeting of the Baltic Council of Ministers. As always the Summit represents the culmination of BDF’s work and it will bring together key decision-makers. The main topics will be competitiveness, business development and investment promotion, and we will try to have a clearer business related profile compared to the previous years. We will work with local business organisations, companies and institutions in order to bring out this focus which will also be directed mainly towards the Baltic States.

Baltic Business Arena – BBA

One way to improve the business networking is to continue developing a matchmaking event between companies in the region. It will be done together with Tillväxtverket and Swedish and Latvian partners. It will also be more integrated with the Networking and Exhibition Village. In Riga the Foreign Investors Council in Latvia (FICIL) will also be invited to take a more active part in the event.
Water: Green and Blue Growth for a Bluer Baltic Sea

Following the successful water conference 26 November 2012 in Copenhagen, BDF is now moving more actively in the water sector. BDF has proposed to the Danish Presidency of HELCOM to organise a stakeholder conference back-to-back to the HELCOM ministerial 2-3 October in Copenhagen. It will include both the Blue Growth sector, which has been promoted by the European Commission in the past year, and the Green Growth water sector.

2) Reports and publications

Throughout 2013, BDF will again deliver topical and thoughtful reports which will in turn provide a concrete base for discussion and research in different parts of the region. The following reports will be issued:

      • State of the Region Report 2013
        Prof. Christian Ketels will again write the State of the Region Report, co-financed by EIB and NIB. The presentation will figure prominently on the BDF Summit agenda. One important hypothesis which the report will address is whether a new and attractive regional value chain has emerged after the economic and financial crisis. Also the role of SMEs in the region’s economic performance. The issue of access to financing is not least important to SMEs and the region’s opportunities to improve competitiveness. This year the report has been published in 10 years. It is a good occasion to reflect on the role of the State of the Region Report.
      • Political State of the Region Report 2013
        A third report of the research network will be presented at the Summit in Riga. Prof. Bernd Henningsen, Humbolt will the work and Tobias Etzold, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, will be editor of the report which will have app. 15 articles including a country chapter of the 12 countries in the Region. Nordic Council of Ministers is co-financing the report. Konrad Adenaur Stiftung in Riga will help financing a meeting of the researchers (the Deep Water research network) in Riga.
      • Report on Identity
        BDF will elaborate a report on regional identity as part of the formal role as Horizontal Action Leader of the EUSBSR. Thereby, BDF follow up on the report “On Identity – No Identity” that was presented in 2011. Prof. Bernd Henningsen will be BDF’s academic advisor and he will identify the co-writers of the report.
      • Financial models on energy efficiency projects in Russia
        BDF will present a study on this issues which has great potential: the market for energy efficiency in Russia is huge and the benefits to the Russian society and economy are very big. If the right financing models are found then a major obstacle will be removed.

3) Energy/Russia: Rensol

Within the Rensol energy efficiency project which is co-financed with the EU’s Northern Dimension Partnership on the Environment, BDF will primarily focus on financing mechanisms and modelling in 2013 as well as support the multiplication of the positive results found in Kaliningrad. Finding good financing tools, practices and models is extremely interesting issue, since rapidly expanding residential areas have a huge untapped potential for improvements in energy saving and energy efficiency. BDF will lead the implementation of activities aimed at identification of best available practices and technologies. The main focus is on the municipal level.

4) Communication and information – NewsWave

Under the umbrella of the EU-financed ONE BSR (WP6), BDF as editor-in-chief will launch a news website that will emphasise independent journalistic news on all levels – to the citizens, policy-makers, business, stakeholders, experts and the creative community of the region. The overall objective of the website is to improve information exchange and cross-border communication between the countries of the region, especially the countries that form part of the EU’s macro-region in the BSR. The main aim in 2013 is to get the website fully developed and known throughout the region.

5) Competitiveness, growth and public-private partnership

      • Investment Promotion Agencies
        BDF will convene 2-3 meetings on the BSR Investment Promotion Agencies (IPA) throughout 2013 in order to find common interests and shared priorities in their work of attracting more investments to the region. BSR IPAs initiative under the ONE BSR project will strive to strengthen the perception of the BSR as a coherent region, attractive to foreign investors. BSR IPAs enables active and interested public-sector organisations to meet regularly to discuss cooperation opportunities and ultimately attract more investments which will lead to higher competitiveness and prosperity in the region.
      • ICT/Digital agenda
        BDF intends to follow up on the “Priorities towards a Digital Single Market in the BSR” report from June 2012. BDF will enhance an already established connection with the European Commission about how the BDF initiative can be aligned with EU initiatives such as the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and EU Digital Agenda. Furthermore engage in joint activities and conferences with BDFs members and partners, such as Microsoft, Stockholm city, Investment Promotion Agencies BDF will focus on the Nordic/Baltic strength positions within ICT and how we can inspire the rest of Europe in bringing out the economic potential of the sector.
      • Transgovernance
        The EU co-financed transport project intends to demonstrate how multi-level governance models, tools and approaches can contribute to a better alignment of transport policies in the BSR. This is expected to increase commitment of public and private stakeholders to achieving greener and more efficient transport in the Baltic Sea Region, in line with the objectives of the EUSBSR. BDFs role is to facilitate the policy dialogue among stakeholders.

A stronger unifying role in a disintegrated region: The 2012 BDF strategy calls for more efforts to involve the private sector to take more active part in setting the priorities in the region – and for playing the role as honest broker for competing investment promotion agencies to co-operate to attract investments.

BDF wants to play an even stronger role in regional cooperation in 2012, making use of its think-tank activities, Summit meeting, project implementation and matchmaking activities. The Baltic Sea Region (BSR) represents today the most advanced regional co-operation in Europe. This was demonstrated by the review of the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (BSR), discussed at the BDF Summit 2011 in Gdansk, Poland. The BSR has profited greatly from the EU’s increased focus on the region – numerous cross border projects are under implementation.

At the same time, the BSR is disunited in the EU – in terms of membership in the EU, the euro, military cooperation, infrastructure, languages etc., which is an obvious paradox. Regional cooperation and wider European integration are not competing or conflicting processes. On the contrary, BSR integration is strongly embedded in the wider European cooperation at a moment when disintegrating forces are stronger than ever before.

BDF wants to ensure that regional and European integration goes hand-in-hand and that the level of ambition continues to be high. The internal market needs further deepening, not least in the field of ICT and the digital agenda as well as in the field of energy.

Neighbouring Russia also adds to the special character of the region. It is both a challenge and an opportunity. BDF wants to build bridges to all parts of the region.

The EU strategy is an opportunity that must not be missed. However, the review of the strategy revealed many weak points. It is BDF’s role to highlight the deficiencies and to propose solutions. The strategy should also include the involvement and outreach to groups and sectors that are not fully engaged yet. In this regard, BDF’s role is to ensure that the private sector takes a more active part in setting the priorities for the region. Public-private cooperation is essential to make better use of the region’s potential and to improve the region’s capacity for economic growth, competitiveness, and innovation.

 

1. BDF Summit 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark (17-19 June)

Again this year, the Baltic Development Forum Summit will be organised together with the European Commission’s Annual Forum on the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. BDF will also work closely together with the Danish EU Presidency, Danish regions, other international partners and its many members, partner and sponsors. The EU strategy will once more be the focal point, and BDF will do its best to promote the Action Plan of the strategy.

The main theme of the 2012 Summit will be infrastructure development and investment projects in the region, not least public-private co-operation (“Connecting Europe – Smart and Green Partnerships in the Baltic Sea Region”). Public-private partnerships are not only important for investments in infrastructure (including transport, energy, ICT/digital agenda/water etc.), which are necessary to kick-start economic growth, they are also essential for improving the framework conditions for the long-term sustainable development of the Region. In addition to promoting a smarter and greener Region, the meeting will also address the Europe 2020 Strategy and the proposals for the Connecting Europe facility.

This year more efforts will be done to involve the private sector in the form of a matchmaking event for small and medium-size enterprises – Baltic Business Arena – which will be organised in parallel. As always, the Summit will include a broad range of seminars relevant for public-private partners.

 

2. Sustainable growth, investment promotion and branding

BDF should continue evaluating its role and options within the EU strategy. BDF has already several roles in connection with aspects such as competitiveness, branding, place and investment promotion, and regional identity. Also the water sector needs more attention in order to highlight the business opportunities in addressing the challenges that the region is faced with in terms of pollution and integrated water management systems.

3. Reports and conferences

Throughout 2012, BDF will continue to organise topical conferences and seminars in different parts of the region as well as actively participate in conferences and networks.

BDF is increasingly being recognised as one of the best think-tanks in the world in the field of regional economic development. This position should be further established, improved, and strengthened during 2012, not least with the second Political State of the Region Report, which is built upon contributions and recommendations of the Deep Water think-tank (a wide network of academics from all parts of the BSR).

The following reports will be issued:

          • State of the Region Report
            BDF’s annual benchmark report for addressing topical questions on competitiveness, economic performance, and regional development and cooperation. The State of the Region Report is continuing to gain more international appreciation and recognition, and it will set the framework for the 2012 Summit and Annual Forum.
          • Political State of the Region Report
            The report was launched at the 2011 Summit and is being presented and discussed during various seminars and conferences during the first half of 2012 (Brussels, Vilnius, Warsaw). The second edition of the report will be ready for the 2012 Summit in Copenhagen and will focus on regional events since August 2011.
          • Digital Agenda for the Baltic Sea Region
            How can regional cooperation contribute to furthering the internal market in the digital area? Which barriers could be tackled and what are the possible drivers for new opportunities? These are some of the issues that this report will take up. A Policy Advisory Group will come up with recommendations.

 

4. Building bridges to Russia

BDF will continue to ensure closer links with Russia not least at a moment when the Russian Federation is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States 1 July 2012. BDF will propose projects and activities which could be useful and of help to the Russian CBSS Presidency. Also BDF will be more active within the Northern Dimension framework and the Northern Dimension Institute and the Business Council.

        • Co-operation and cross-border projects with North-West Russia
          BDF will take active part in the Russian cross-border conference, which will be organized in Pskov region during the autumn. BDF will also propose to elaborate a report on topical issues.
        • Russia’s accession to the WTO – regional consequences
          Russia’s accession to WTO is a topical issue and many partners support the idea. Furthermore, this would be a very relevant topic in view of the upcoming Russian CBSS Presidency. It is also important for business in terms of the possibly changing framework conditions. BDF hopes to find sponsors for a study.
        • Kaliningrad energy project
          In December 2011, the European Commission approved BDF’s proposal for an energy efficiency project in Kaliningrad entitled Rensol. The project begins in early 2012 and is included in the framework of the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership.

5. BDF’s outreach and administration

        • Members, partners and sponsor
          BDF will continue working closely with its close members, partners and sponsors whose support is essential for playing a key role in the region. Also BDF has developed a close and trustful relationship with the European Commission, which is a privilege.
        • Communication and information exchange
          Last year BDF was significantly engaged in improving its communication efforts and proposals were developed to the EU and regional partners on how communication and information exchange could be improved through an independent media platform. These efforts will continue in 2012 not least in connection with the Summit.
        • Administration/boards/staff
          BDF will need to continue attracting international advisors, decision-makers and experts as part of its administrative capacity and agenda setting role. It includes the ambition to set up a regional competitiveness council with representatives of CEO and business representatives.

 

Balancing Regional and European Integration and promoting Green and Smart growth in the Baltic Sea Region will be the main focus of BDF’s 2011 activities.

Following a meeting of the BDF Board, an agreement has been reached on BDF’s role and activities in the Region during this year. Here is a short version of the BDF Strategy 2010.

Baltic Development Forum 2011 Strategy

In 2011, all the countries of the Baltic Sea Region are expected to exit the economic crisis and to present sustainable growth rates. The future competitiveness of the region will be related to smart and green growth, which generally represents the headline of BDF’s other activities throughout 2011. For BDF smart growth includes issues such as innovation, research, mobilization of talents and the digital internal market. Green growth covers issues related to energy and water in particular, and clean tech in general. The Green, Smart and Inclusive growth agenda are the headlines of the new Europe 2020 strategy of the EU, which was adopted earlier this year.

As in the previous years, BDF will still be deeply involved in the EU strategy and the discussion on the macro-regional strategy in Europe. The strategy represents and provides a unique opportunity to make new leaps forward in regional integration and in promoting the Baltic Sea Region in the EU and globally. Now the European Council has asked for a review of the EU Strategy for the BSR in 2011, and this together with the Annual Forum and BDF’s Summit, will take place during the EU Presidency of Poland, in the second half of the year.

Since the BDF Summit will take place in Poland, there will be particular attention on regional cooperation with Poland, which is an important regional partner who represents a promising and attractive market. The role as a neutral stakeholder forum for business and politics should be further strengthened in connection with the major BDF events and everyday tasks. BDF seen as a facilitator of the inclusion of the private sector widens business related networking, which could entail new possibilities and play an important role in regional growth.
Priorities for 2011

Based on a close dialogue with close members and partners of BDF during the last months, the following concrete priorities and actions have been identified and should be highlighted:

1. BDF Summit 2011 in Gdansk, Poland (24-26 October)

For the first time, Baltic Development Forum Summit will be organized together with Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. The joined event will take place on the 24-26 October in Gdansk, Poland. BDF will therefore be working in close cooperation with the Polish Government, the Polish EU Presidency, regional authorities in Poland and the European Commission, DG region. This provides great meeting opportunities for BDF and all regional stakeholders since the summit will receive wide and high-level attention. Moreover, as a part of the evaluation process, the regional stakeholders will be invited to the 2nd Annual Forum of the strategy in order to voice their views on the earlier adopted strategy.

      • Building bridges to Russia
        BDF should work to ensure closer links with Russia. This dimension was clearly identified as a priority area during the meeting of BDF’s advisory board in June 2010. Also BDF will place relations with Russia higher on the agenda and follow up on the activities in Kaliningrad in 2010 and expand the network and projects to other parts of the Russian Baltic Sea region. All parts of the BSR have improved relations with Russia and the new approach should be exploited.
      • Report on cooperation with North-West Russia
        A new project that regards cooperation with Russia has seen a first breakthrough. Authors have been found and the timing of the project is planned to be October 2011. Partners in North-West district of Russia have also shown interest as well as researchers within the Northern Dimension Institute.
        Just like last year, the regional integration of Kaliningrad is highly relevant in terms of energy planning. Follow-up activities to the Kaliningrad report on sustainable energy scenarios for the region will be made under the Northern Dimension Framework. An introductory proposal project has been presented to the European Commission delegation in Moscow and currently engages partners from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, NCM and Kaliningrad. BDF will continue cooperating with members on identifying future actions in the area of energy and will follow closely on that sector to work on the further integration in the Baltic Sea area and Europe.
      • Energy: Kaliningrad report


2. Regional Growth & Branding
BDF should continue evaluating its role and options within the EU strategy. BDF has already several roles in connection with competitiveness, branding, place promotion, regional identity.

      • Water
        The topic is an obvious importance to the cooperation on the Baltic Sea area and the business perspective to the efforts on improving the marine environment in the Baltic Sea is needed. Presently, the possible ways of contributing to the agenda are being explored by BDF and the members. The starting-point is planned to be the Oresund-region with the ambition to expand the perspective to the Baltic Sea Region and the global level.
      • BaltMet Promo
        BDF plays a role as a horizontal coordinator of the strategy in relation to building a regional identity and place branding. In 2011 BDF will organize two additional policy round-tables as well as will elaborate a database and an ambassadors’ network. The project aims at improving cooperation in the field of Talents, Investment promotion and Tourism.
      • Mobility of talents and knowledge
        BDF has been involved in this area for some time and held a conference on the topic on 23 November 2010 in CopenhageniIn cooperation with the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Danish Presidency of Nordic Council of Ministers. The issue of mobility is very important in order to improve the conditions for knowledge-workers: students, researchers, teachers and entrepreneurs and BDF will continue to have a focus on this area.
      • Think-Tank
        At the last two Summits, BDF has hosted sessions with Baltic Sea region researchers with a view to establish a network and to improve the political dialogue on key political developments in the region. The aim is to have a semi-permanent regional think-tank that can animate the debate and make input to the EU strategy for the region. The Think-Tank will present its first report in October 2011.

3. Digital Action Plan for the Baltic Sea Region

      • Digital Internal Market
        During the 2010 Summit, the digital agenda was highly promoted. It reflects the EUs ambitions to profit more on Europe World-leadership in the area. If barriers are removed, this sector could make huge contributions to growth in Europe. Since Northern Europe has strong clusters in this field, the Baltic Sea region could press hard on this agenda and BDF could make a contribution to this process. That topic will be high on the 2011 BDF Summit. Together with the Copenhagen Economics and the Estonian Government the idea of creating a BSR Digital Action Programme has been formulated. The aim is to present proposals in the field at the BDF Summit in Gdansk.

Following a meeting of the BDF Board, an agreement has been reached on BDF’s role and activities in the Region during this year. Here is a short version of the BDF Strategy 2010.

Baltic Development Forum 2010 Strategy

Working with Regional Presidencies on Project Implementation and Economic Recovery

With the adoption of the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the Heads of Government of the EU have made strong commitments. It is time to deliver. The Baltic Sea Region is a test case for new European integration initiatives and multi-level governance structures. If results are not produced, it will be difficult to argue that regions in Europe are the new platform for innovative solutions that combines regional and European integration. A lot is at stake for the EU Member States in the region and for the European Commission.

The EU strategy needs to perform on a practical level and to demonstrate to the private sector that the conditions for doing business and creating wealth are improving. There is still work to be done in convincing the business sector that the strategy is a tool for real improvements. At the same time, the business sector needs to make its voice stronger in the stakeholder process.

Economic recovery is also significant and the search for a new formula for achieving sustainable growth, jobs and international competitiveness for Europe. A new post-Lisbon strategy has to be defined. Ideally, the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region can serve as a useful regional application that goes closer and deeper into local and regional characteristics, opportunities and problems. It has the potential to become a role model.

Priorities for 2010

Based on a close dialogue with close members and partners of BDF during the last months, the following concrete priorities and actions have been identified and should be highlighted:

        • Implementing the EU Strategy

BDF will work together with the Commission in keeping the EU Strategy high on the regional agenda during the implementation phase. The political commitment needs to be constantly renewed in order to provide guidance and support. In times of economic crisis, the best solutions frequently lie in closer cooperation with neighbours that have the biggest influence on the national economy but often focus is on national rather than regional solutions. This issue will be on the agenda at the BDF 2010 Summit in Vilnius and at the BSSSC-conference in Tallinn during the autumn. The State of the Region report will bring articles on the process and on the situation of important flagship projects under the EU strategy.

        • Summit 2010

For the first time, the BDF Summit coincides with the Baltic Sea States Summit (Two Summits – One City) – and thereby provides exceptional meeting opportunities for all high-level stakeholders in the region. BDF is proud to be working closely together with the Lithuanian Government, the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and the confederations of industries of the region.

The Summit will focus on making the Baltic Sea Region a wider European model for sustainable growth, green jobs, innovation and a global leader in competitiveness. Regions are the new platform for policy innovation in Europe and for providing inspiration on how to design sustainable growth and jobs – hence the title “European challenges – regional solutions: An agenda for sustainable Growth, Investments and Jobs”.

        • State of the Region Report

The 2010 edition will focus on the economic situation in and the competitiveness of the three Baltic States and Poland. The report will give a general overview of the current economic climate and the competitiveness of the Region in general as well as an update on the Baltic Sea Region institutions that are active in regional cooperation. This year’s sponsors will be European Investment Bank and Nordic Council of Ministers.

        • Regional Strategy for Jobs, Growth and Innovation

The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region has the potential of developing into a regional application of the EU’s jobs and growth strategy (EU2020). BDF should take initiatives to inspire regions and governments to look at jobs and growth initiatives from a regional perspective and to take into consideration the views of the region’s private sector. BDF will work with industry and business representatives in order to produce a policy document that can be part of the decision-making of the EU and the European Council in June 2010. Roundtable discussions with leading economists, experts and universities will be part of the process.

        • Energy

The report on energy scenarios for the Baltic Sea Region provided new input to the regional agenda setting. BDF will continue high-lighting the advantages of a more integrated approach to energy planning and BDF will continue its close contact with the Lithuanian BASREC-cooperation.

Work should be initiated on elaborating a future vision for energy cooperation in the BSR in parallel with the European Commission’s strategic energy reviews and roadmap for Europe in 2050. Similarly, it is a deficiency that there is no strong chapter on energy efficiency in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. The BSR has very favourable opportunities to improve energy efficiency due to the technological advances and the many low-hanging fruits in Russia, the Baltic countries and Poland. Last but not least, BDF will follow up on the energy seminar in Kaliningrad in 2009 together with Nordic Council of Ministers. The regional integration of Kaliningrad is highly relevant in terms of energy planning.

        • Water

The Baltic Sea Region has all the chances of establishing itself as the international hub or centre for water management and clean tech due to the many competences and the many problems related to the polluted Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is a real time laboratory for finding solutions applicable in many other areas in the world. Funds for addressing the issue of pollution need to be found to match the high-level political commitments that have been made, not least at the Baltic Sea States summit in February 2010 in Helsinki.

        • Think Tank

Efforts to establish a regional think-tank will continue by applying for funding and enlarging the existing network of researchers and research institutions in the Baltic Sea Region. The proposal has been favourably received by Commission representatives and it is regarded as a positive contribution to the regional debate on regional cooperation dynamics, political/economic problems and priorities. The ambitions should be to publish a yearly Political State of the Region Report in the BDF publication Baltic Sea Agenda.

        • Femern Belt

The Femern Belt construction between Germany and Denmark will for many years be the biggest infrastructure development in Europe and it will provide better transport and logistics facilities for Northern Europe, strengthening the growth potential of several metropolises in the Baltic Sea Region. Since many of BDF’s public/private members and strategic partners are placed on the Hamburg-Copenhagen-Stockholm/Oslo dimension, BDF is well placed to work as a catalyst for the project and its potential to a larger regional network.

        • Northern Dimension Cooperation

The Northern Dimension is being extended with a business dimension (Northern Dimension Business Council). The BDF proposes to support this development by producing an economic report on North-West Russia focusing on trade and investment links with the other Baltic Sea and Northern Dimension countries. The BDF’s annual State of the Region Report could serve as a model for an economic analysis. The purpose is to create a solid basis for a debate on priorities and problems in economic cooperation between Russia and her EU neighbours (and Norway).

      • BaltMet Net and Balt Met Promo
        For BDF it is important to work closely with the metropolises of the Region since most of the big cities are members of BDF: Copenhagen, Hamburg, Helsinki, Oslo and Stockholm city and Stockholm region. Also, the dynamic Øresund region is member of BDF (Malmø, Region Skåne, Region Sjælland and Region Hovedstaden). Therefore, BDF has also invited the Swedish BaltMet Presidency to meet in Vilnius 1-2 June back-to-back.
        BDF has also happily joined the EU-financed BaltMet Promo project that endeavours to establish a way to do collaborative promotion for the BSR in the global markets by establishing a transnational and multi-sector marketing community with the aim of attracting investors, tourists, and skilled professionals to the Baltic Sea Region. The starting point of this perspective is the Baltic Sea Region’s metropolises.

Baltic Development Forum, April 2010

Following a meeting of the BDF Board, an agreement has been reached on BDF’s role and activities in the Region during this year. Here is a short version of the BDF Strategy 2010.

Short Presentation of the Baltic Development Forum Strategy 2009

The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) has created a positive atmosphere towards regional cooperation and new optimism in the area. The Strategy represents presently the very best chance to realise many of the objectives that BDF has worked for throughout the last 10 years.

This despite the fact that the Region has been severely hit by the current financial and economic crisis, which has also disclosed problems related to political governance in some of the countries. The financial sector – that has almost been a symbol of recent years’ dynamic integration – is also in crisis and a phase of evaluation is taking place.

Vision and Mission

BDF’s existing vision, mission and values remain highly relevant in 2009, although the regional context and structures are changing. Our vision is to make the Baltic Sea Region the most dynamic, innovative and sustainable economic growth centre in the World. Our mission is to position the Baltic Sea Region in the EU and on the global map by advancing the growth and competitive potential through partnership between business, government and academia. We initiate and facilitate the creation of strategies, provide thematic analyses and offer a wide networking arena for high-level decision-makers to meet.

BDF’s yearly Summit remains the primary occasion to combine the mission and vision and to play an important role in region for all stakeholders. It is a strategic objective to constantly improve and develop the BDF’s Top of Europe Summit and to ensure that it remains relevant in the future and not least in context of the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and relations with Russia. BDF remains a networking organisation with ambitions to develop substantial documentation (think-tank) as background documentation for the issues that are taken up.

Priority Areas:

Taking into account the political and economic context of the BSR and BDF’s traditional role in regional co-operation, the following areas will have priority during 2009:

      1. EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
        Through consultation with European Institutions and regional partners, BDF will be actively involved in formulating and channelling input to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and ensure that the Strategy will be at the centre of regional integration initiatives. The EU Strategy will be an important framework for the 2009 BDF Summit in Stockholm in order to mobilise general and broad political support for the Strategy.
      2. Energy Co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region
        The objective of BDF’s activities is to succeed in making the Baltic Sea Region a “Green Valley of Europe”- an innovative, strong energy cluster. In 2009 an important instrument for mobilizing different stakeholders in order to link the existing knowledge on energy solution will be the on-going study on enhanced regional energy cooperation developed in co-operation with the consultancy firm Ea Energy Analysis.
      3. Northern European Knowledge Market
        BDF will continue working on the creation of a single Northern European Knowledge Market. The project will be a survey among stakeholders uncovering potentials and barriers.
      4. Branding and Baltic Metropoles Network (BaltMet)
        In order to promote the BSR in global markets and to attract investors, tourists, and skilled professionals BDF is taking part in BaltMet Promo Project. BDF aligns the activities and objectives of the Project with those of other institutions and initiatives aimed at promoting a common identity in and visibility of the Baltic Sea Region, and to try to ensure that the different initiatives support and reinforce each other.
      5. Baltic Sea Region (virtual) Think Tank
        BDF supports the initiative of establishing a virtual BSR Think Tank and a common IT platform. In order to promote the idea, the BDF 2009 Summit could serve as a meeting place to discuss the political State of the Region and the need to coordinate and strengthen the research community on the BSR.
      6. State of the Region Report 2009
        The State of the Region Report, which has obtained widespread recognition throughout the Baltic Sea Region and in the European Union, will be the backbone of BDF’s analytical work. An editorial committee is setting the priorities on the topics chosen in the report.
      7. 11th BDF Summit
        The 2009 BDF Summit takes place in Stockholm on 5-6 October and is organised in association with the Swedish EU Presidency. The programme will be elaborated covering the Business, Security, Energy and Climate agenda.
      8. Increased co-operation with Russia
        Better connections with Russian business sector as well as a deeper understanding of its political developments are continuingly one of the goals for BDF. To underline the importance of co-operation with Russia a seminar on energy will be held in Kaliningrad in the first half of June.

* * * * *

Besides the above mentioned activities, BDF will as hitherto participate and contribute in many different networks, seminars and conferences in order to improve the regional dialogue, strengthen cohesion, promote sustainable economic development and the region’s international competitiveness.

Following a meeting of the BDF Board, an agreement has been reached on BDF’s role and activities in the Region during this year. Here is a short version of the BDF Strategy 2009.

Summary of BDF Strategy 2008

      1. EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Th e development of the European Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is the most important and concrete step forward for the Region since the EU-enlargement in 2004. BDF will play an active role in formulating and channelling the Region’s own policy contribution to the EU Strategy.
      2. Energy Co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region Through enhanced regional cooperation and coordination BDF will strive to give input and momentum to the creation of a regional energy policy and impetus to the establishment of an integrated energy sector in the Baltic Sea Region. A report on the elements necessary to improve regional energy co-operation will be elaborated under the auspices of BDF.
      3. Labour Market Demands for Talents The Region is presently performing well economically but a vital component in further strengthening the economies is to attract, develop and retain the best and the brightest. BDF will continue to focus on these areas with selected partners and members also by analysing whether regional solutions could be found.
      4. Increased geographical co-operation with Poland and Russia. In order to strengthen the geographical diff erentiation of our activities and to underline the key role played by Poland in the Baltic Sea Region co-operation, a seminar is planned by BDF in co-operation with the think tank Demos/Europa. It is also our ambition to organize a BDF event in Russia in the course of the year.

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