The 14th Baltic Development Forum Summit will be arranged jointly with the European Commission’s 3rd Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and takes place in Copenhagen 18-19 June 2012 under the auspices of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2012. The working title for this year’s event is Public-private co-operation for a smart and green infrastructure in the Baltic Sea Region. The meeting provides a unique platform for leaders from government, political parties, business, academia and civil society to discuss cooperation possibilities and growth initiatives in the Baltic Sea Region.

Programme

The agenda will focus on growth and competitiveness of the Baltic Sea Region with the spotlight on infrastructure development and investment projects, not least public-private co-operation. Public-private partnerships are an important means for the sustainability of long-term infrastructure assets. Investments in infrastructure are also important for improving the framework conditions sustainable economic growth in Europe and they can work to kick-star wider economic growth in Europe and in the Baltic Sea Region. In order to continue to develop and become a smarter and greener region, public private partnerships are highly needed and the Baltic Sea Region has had a long tradition for facilitation public-private cooperation. The meeting will also facilitate a clear link to Europe 2020 Strategy and proposal for Connecting Europe Facility.

As usual, the State of the Region Report will focus on relevant aspects of the Baltic Sea Region’s competitiveness and on infrastructure projects’ important for improving the framework conditions for business and the region’s competitiveness. Dr. Christian Ketels is responsible for the report together with relevant experts in the field. European Investment Bank and Nordic Investment Bank are the sponsors of the 2012 report.

As regard the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the European Commission (DG Regio) is preparing a Communication to the EU Council. This intends to develop a 2.0 version of the Strategy, which will be presented at the Summit/Annual Forum.

Networking and Project Village & Baltic Business Arena

The Summit and the Annual Forum will have a Networking and Project Village where companies and projects can display their regional involvement and business activities. Following the agenda, infrastructure projects are especially invited to organise a stand since the informal networking of the Summit and the Annual Forum will focus on infrastructure projects as well as projects under the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.

As a novelty a Baltic Business Arena for small and medium enterprises is going to be organised as a matchmaking event in parallel to the Summit/Annual Forum in order to foster greater cross-border trade and investment. This event will attract approximately 120 companies from all parts of the region.

You will soon be able to find more exact information on the programme, the speakers, the networking and the Baltic Business Arena on this website and the special website that will be developed in line with last year’s event (see www.bsr2011.eu).

Venue: The Academy of Fine Arts

The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation will host the event. The Academy is situated next to the new Opera house at Holmen island in downtown Copenhagen, and transport from the airport is convenient with the metro to Christianshavn station.

The Academy provides both lecture halls suitable for the different kinds of sessions that are arranged during the event, and a grand hall that is possible to remake into an exhibition area.

Contact Persons

Hans Brask, BDF
Tel: +45 70 20 93 94, Email: hb@bdforum.org

Catharina Sørensen, EU Commission
Tel: +32 2 29 57 136, Email: Catharina.SORENSEN@ec.europa.eu

Johan Friis, MFA of Denmark
Tel: +45 28 78 67 49, Email: johfri@um.dk

Jens Chr. Andersen, MFA of Denmark
Tel: +45 33 92 04 15, Email: jensan@um.dk

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Read the post: Welcome to BDF Summit / EUSBSR Annual Forum 2012 in Copenhagen 18-19 June / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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20th Anniversary of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)

Founder of Baltic Development Forum (BDF) and Honorary Chairman, Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, and BDF Director, Hans Brask, took part in the special celebrations of the 20th anniversary of CBSS at Plön Castle in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on 5 February 2012. The ceremony, which gathered Foreign Affairs Ministers of 12 member countries (Sweden and Russia was represented at vice-minister level), was one of the highlights of the German Presidency of CBSS 2011-2012.

The two founding fathers of the Council of Baltic Sea States, former Foreign Ministers Uffe Ellemann-Jensen and Hans-Dietrich Genscher. Photo: Björn Schaller, NDR

CBSS co-founding fathers, Mr. Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Mr. Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, were especially invited and together with the German and Danish Foreign Ministers of the two regional presidencies, Guido Westerwelle (CBSS) and Villy Søvndal (EU), they took part in a televised debate where the theme was “Between vision and reality: 20 years of the Council of the Baltic Sea States – trends and prospects”.

The panel of the session was asked whether there was still a need for CBSS and regional cooperation. Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Willy Søvndal, answered affirmatively: Europe was presently witnessing strong tendencies of disintegration and, in light thereof, the wish for closer cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region was the best answer to the crisis in Europe. Cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region was in many ways a role model for Europe.

Uffe Ellemann-Jensen’s comment to the present situation in the Baltic Sea Region was in line with the speech of Poland’s Foreign Minister Sikorski when he spoke in Berlin last autumn (commenting on the wider European crisis of the EU): “he feared more German inaction than action”. For Mr. Ellemann-Jensen, German involvement – at federal and regional level – was important today as it was 20 years ago, thereby complementing the present German CBSS Presidency.

Photographs, videos, and further information about CBSS 20th Anniversary at Plön Castle at Norddeutsche Rundfunk’s website (in German)

Baltic Media Forum 2012 5-7 February

The Plön celebration also marked the opening of the Baltic Media Forum 2012.  BDF participated in the conference, which took place at the Chamber of Commerce of Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany, 5-7 February. The Forum was organised by Norddeutsche Rundfunk and Academia Baltica, and representatives from  many Baltic Sea Region organizations  took part in the event that celebrated the 20th anniversary of the CBSS.

On 6 February, Head of Public Affairs, Torben Aaberg took part in a round table discussion on “Opportunities of a Common Economic and Energy Policy in the Baltic Sea Region”. The main focus of the discussion was on the perspectives of closer energy cooperation at national level. BDF stressed the importance of practically oriented cross-regional initiatives at the local level to investigate new public-private solutions in the energy sector if the Baltic Sea Region should release its potential to become a pilot region for green growth and competitiveness. BDF-lead project Regional Energy Solutions in Kaliningrad was mentioned as such a practical example of energy efficiency cooperation at the local level.

Program and further information about the Baltic Media Forum at Academia Baltica’s website

For further information, contact Head of Public Affairs, Torben Aaberg, +45 60 21 85 74, ta@bdforum.org

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Read the post: 20th Anniversary of CBSS and Baltic Media Forum 2012 / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the policy environment in the Baltic Sea region (BSR) was to a large degree geared towards ensuring basic security and political stability in the region. The creation of institutions and partnerships focusing on security and political dialogue and military and “soft security” aid assistance from the Nordic countries and Germany to the Baltic states as well as preparations for membership of the Baltic states and Poland in NATO and the EU to a large extent characterised this phase. After the three Baltic states and Poland and joined the EU in 2004, decision makers in the region began looking for a new raison d’être for the region-building project. Soon, internal integration and economic competitiveness – and policy issues such as trade and investments relations, transport infrastructure and research and innovation – moved to the very forefront of regional policy discussions.

At the same time, a realisation among decision makers emerged: the BSR seemed to lack a clear profile and image. Despite many successful efforts aimed at building a new region, the BSR had remained indistinct. It was argued that the low visibility came at a price – at a time when the global competition between countries and regions was heating up, being unknown or having a weak image became a serious handicap. The BSR had to be put on the global map, it was argued.

One of the first times this issue was discussed in an official setting was at the 2000 Baltic Development Forum (BDF) Summit in Malmö. The year after, at the BDF Summit in Sankt Petersburg, BDF chose to dedicate one plenary session to the topic of “Branding the Baltic Sea Region”, where branding experts and policy makers discussed how branding could be used to improve the image of the region. One of the speakers was Toomas Hendrik Ilves, then Foreign Minister and currently President of Estonia, who drew parallels with Estonia’s efforts to brand itself as an IT-nation, and suggested this theme as a possible core element for marketing of the entire BSR.

The EU Enters the Debate

The issue lay fallow until 2005, when BDF organised a series of seminars and meetings aimed at bringing the issue forward. The same year, the Baltic Strategy Working Group of the “Baltic Europe” Intergroup of the European Parliament, a working group of seven MEPs issued a report on “Europe’s Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region”, which formed the basis for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea region (EUBSR). This report contained a chapter on “image and identity”, pointing out the need for marketing of the region, not only to raise its political profile, but also to open up for considerable mutual economic benefits. It also called for measures that can restore the region’s identity.

The Identity Issue

Precisely the identity issue has been a contentious one in the discussion on branding of the region. It has been argued that any branding effort in the region needs to tackle two specific challenges faced by the BSR: there is a lack of one single decision-making authority and a lack of unity of purpose among potential stakeholders stemming from the fact that the region is heterogeneous in many aspects; language, culture, religion, political traditions and level of economic development etc.

To compensate for this, one approach might be to build different sub-brands either in the sense that each sub-brand aims at covering the whole region, or that each sub-brand aims at covering smaller regions of the larger macro-region, and then coordinating them in an alliance. In both cases, some kind of unity of purpose — a core idea or a brand story — building on common denominators and a sense of a common identity or “we-feeling” is needed. This sense of common identity must be strong enough to act as a coordinating element, so stakeholders in the brand-building process want to pursue it. However, many observers agree that the BSR lacks a coherent, common identity, making brand building a difficult endeavour.

One project that did take its starting point in the idea of a common identity was the Balticness project during the Latvian presidency of the CBSS in 2007-2008. This was the first time that a project, aimed at discussing identity and brand, had been initiated by one of the governments in the region. The purpose of the project was to highlight and discuss a common Baltic Sea identity. According to the Latvian presidency, the BSR possesses an environment of common values and objectives, and it was claimed that regional integration cannot be just a bureaucratic concept; it requires a feeling of belonging to a common set of values.

Prof. Bernd Henningsen argues in the essay “the Constructions, possibilities and necessities for understanding a European Macro Region: the Baltic Sea“, that was published at the Baltic Development Forum Summit in October 2011, that it is not possible in any substantial manner to speak about a common identity in the strict meaning of the word. This conclusion is reached after having analysed most features of the region – the landscapes, climate, the sea, the history, the architecture, the literature, the music, the food etc. At the same time he leaves it open that the “we-feeling” might be developing presently, not least through the many common projects.

The BaltMet Promo Project

Indeed, the project BaltMet Promo or “Creating promotional Baltic Sea Regional products for tourists, talents and investors in the global markets” (planned in 2007-2009 and implemented in 2010-2011) is based on the underlying assumption that as the region cannot be said to have a widely held common identity, it is not feasible to aim to build an overall brand for the region, but rather to promote different parts or sectors of the region. In doing so, it assumed that such an exercise will help build both an identity internally and an image externally. In that sense, it echoes the line of thinking that is described above; that a plausible strategy would be to market a range of sub-brands in an alliance, without striving to build an overall umbrella brand.

Many countries and cities in the region have seen branding the BSR as a competitor to their own city or nation branding, and BaltMet Promo has strived to shift the focus from competition to cooperation between cities and countries. Initial results from the project show that supra-national branding benefits from a bottom-up approach that tries to develop concrete products and services as the core of the brand identity that one wish to project. Nevertheless, the project has faced difficulties in engaging the national-level government agencies, both in product development and policy deliberations, especially in the field of tourism promotion. BaltMet Promo is based on the collaboration of the Baltic Metropoles Network and the BDF. The overall aim is to join forces in marketing the entire BSR, with a special focus on its metropolitan areas, on a global scale.

More recently, place-branding expert Jeremy Hildreth proposed a set of ideas for how the region could work with branding. Taking a pragmatic approach in terms of identity, he suggests that instead of developing a brand story for the whole region, creating a simple and smart identification of the mission for and benefits of branding the region is sufficient. He also asserts that the region does not need a complicated brand strategy, but rather a coordinating team or network that can help highlight all the ongoing initiatives that are working to promote the region, and thereby help making the BSR as a concept more relevant to more people.

Is there a change in sight? Can one somehow discern a change over time, i.e. is the region becoming more known and visible? Have the activities aimed at profiling the region since 2004 had any impact? The short answer is – we do not know. It is sometimes said that creating or changing an image of a place through systematic branding, unless one has extraordinary tools and resources at hand, takes up to a decade. In addition, an overall perception and image analysis of the region remains to be done. Until then we can only speculate about the developments of the BSR image.

Trends: Macro-Regionalisation of the EU and Globalisation

There are, however, some European and global trends that works in the direction of regionalisation where the Baltic Sea region might become more distinct internationally.

First of all, within the EU, the very launch of the EUSBSR has given new impetus to and a framework for the discussions about not only the marketing of the BSR but also creating a stronger sense of “we”. The EUSBSR reflects that the EU has become too complex and heterogeneous and that macro-regions and a regionalisation of Europe are beginning to materialise. There is need for groups of countries to work closer together since they have common priorities and economic characteristics. The present debt-crisis in Southern Europe has in some sense demonstrated the trend – this European region has certain problems that need specially targeted policies.

One thing is also clear from the strategy and its action plan; there is no lack in initiatives and interest. The projects and activities described above only account for a small part of all the different initiatives that tries to market the BSR. Several projects are underway, too; for example as a part of the EUSBSR to create collaboration platforms for joint attraction of tourists and for investment promotion in global markets. Other priority areas of the EUSBSR that include components of region marketing are also found in policy areas such as cluster, research and innovation policy. In addition, one can also claim that the strategy in itself has given the region an unprecedented political identity – and hence image – in a European context. It will of course take time before this identity trickles down to the citizens, and it remains to be seen what the longer-term image effects may be.

Secondly, globalisation has contradictory trends. One the one hand, markets and communication are levelled out. On the other hand, economic activity becomes increasingly concentrated to growth centres and cities; a trend that for example the World Bank has documented in its World Development report 2009. Consisting of smaller countries and markets in the Baltic Sea region, it is increasingly necessary to pool resources together and to promote markets and places jointly. For example, the Danish market is being branded as the gateway to the Baltic Sea region since the Danish market in itself is too small to impress international investors and traders.

If all these trends continue, the efforts to market the region continue and work well and the region continues its endeavours to become an integrated area, the BSR may be a recognised and attractive region in the public mind in a few decades. Perhaps we will then refer to the BSR as a place in the same way we today refer to the Mediterranean region, the Caribbean or Scandinavia.

About the Authors

Marcus Andersson worked at Baltic Development Forum until end of 2011. He is currently Partner and Head of Research and International Markets at Tendensor AB and Executive Member of the Board of the Association for Place Branding and Public Diplomacy. He holds two MSc degrees, one in Business, Marketing and Economics (Stockholm University School of Business) and the other in Political Science (Uppsala University).

Hans Brask has been director of Baltic Development Forum since August 2007. His background is in international affairs since he began working in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1990. He holds a MA in Political Science from the University of Aarhus (1990) and a MA in History and Philosophy from the University of Essex, UK (1990).

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Read the post: Branding the Baltic Sea Region – In between Global and European Trends / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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Juhan Parts, Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications of Estonia

On 2 February, Baltic Development Forum (BDF) hosted an informal roundtable discussion with Juhan Parts, Estonia’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications, who, together with selected CEOs and Executives from the public and private sector, discussed the subject of digital agenda and energy. Minister Parts was in Copenhagen to participate in the informal meeting of the European Competitive Council where the Ministers of Economy of the EU will discuss digital agenda issues. The meeting was chaired by Hans Skov Christensen, Chairman of BDF.

To “E-stonia” this policy area is of particular importance. Being one of the most advanced countries in the world within e-governance, Estonia has taken a leading role in the development of a Digital Agenda of Europe and strongly supports the development of a regional Digital Action Plan for the Baltic Sea Region. Not least the issue of trust in e-commerce and digital security, including the security of payments, were taken up as important barriers for a successful deepening of the digital single market. Concrete obstacles for e-trade in cross-border services were also addressed.

BDF is presently setting up a regional expert panel on the Digital Agenda. The aim is to define how the Baltic Sea Region can support EU’s growth agenda in this field and take its own initiatives to reduce barriers for an internal market in this sector which has a high growth potential. Together with BCCA, the Baltic Chamber of Commerce Association, BDF will present in June 2012 the result of a study carried out by Copenhagen Economics, financed by a grant from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth. The objective is to develop the regional dimension of the EU’s Digital Agenda. One of the expert meetings will take place in Estonia in cooperation with an Estonian expert in the group.

The Minister also presented the economic situation in Estonia. The country has returned to high growth rates, and even though they are not at the same levels as before the crisis, they are now based on much healthier economic grounds – more on exports and less on domestic consumption and demand.

The meeting also touched upon the issue on energy, which Minister Parts is also responsibile for.  The question of further Baltic integration in the energy networks of the region and the Nordic countries  was addressed. The two different power systems that exist in the Baltic Sea Region (Nordic countries are part of the NORDEL system and the Baltic States are part of the IPS/UPS system of Russia) was discussed as one practical barrier. Despite a common frequency of 50 Hz, the two systems are not synchronously interconnected. This has now become a real obstacle in improving the Baltic countries’ energy security.

Juhan Parts is a close friend of BDF and the Minister has participated in several BDF Summits. Juhan Parts has been Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications since 2007. He was Prime Minister of Estonia 2003-2005. Juhan Parts is a member of the Conservative Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica party.

BDF Contact Person: Chief Advisor, Torben Aaberg, +45 60 21 85 74, ta@bdforum.org

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Read the post: BDF hosts Digital Agenda meeting with Estonian Minister Juhan Parts / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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The annual Global Go-To Think Tank Index ranks the world’s leading think tanks with the help of a panel of over 1500 peer institutions and  experts from the print and electronic media, academia, public and private donor institutions and policymakers.

To see the full report, visit www.gotothinktank.com

BDF’s annual State of the Region Report has become an appreciated and respected institution of competitiveness, economic performance and prosperity in the Baltic Sea Region used by governments, organisations, financial institutions, and private actors. The report is written by leading researchers from Harvard Business School and the Stockholm School of Economics.

The 2011 State of the Region report, subtitled Top of Europe’s Quest for Resilience: A Competitive Region Facing a Fragile Global Economy, was sponsored by the European Investment Bank and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

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Read the post: BDF ranks 27th among International Economic Policy Think Tanks / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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About 50 guests participated, enjoying a drink while listening to speeches by the new BDF Chairman Hans Skov Christensen and Director Hans Brask.

Before the reception started, an informal roundtable discussion on Baltic Sea Region affairs was held with specially invited participants as a follow up to a  conference organized on the Danish island Bornholm during the autumn 2011 as celebration of the 20 years anniversary of the regaining of independence of the three Baltic States. Furthermore the Union of the Baltic Cities’ Business Commission also joined the event, being in town for a separate meeting of theirs.

Below are some photos from the event. They are available for download and free usage via our account on Flickr.

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Read the post: New Year’s Reception / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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The Political State of the Region Report 2011, to which 23 authors from the entire BSR have contributed, provides an overview of political and economic developments in the region and its countries over the period from January 2010 until July 2011. Its country chapters focus on the respective policies towards the BSR and stance on the newly established EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). The report further analyzes concrete issues which are of relevance for the BSR and regional co-operation, in particular within the framework of the EUSBSR: security, energy, environment, migration/demography, labour mobility, transport and communication as well as region branding.

The Political State of the Region Report 2011 has been sponsored by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and Baltic Development Forum.

Programme

The report will be presented by:

• Professor Bernd Henningsen, Nordeuropa-Institut at Humboldt University Berlin
• Dr Tobias Etzold, German Institute for International and Security Affairs Berlin
• Dr Kimmo Elo, University of Turku

Comments on behalf of the European Commission:

• Colin Wolfe, Head of Unit REGIO E1, European Transnational and Interregional Co-operation

Practical Details

25 January 2012 – 12 am to 2 pm at Hanse-Office, Brussels. The event will be held in English, a light lunch will be provided.
RSVP until 20 January 2012. Venue: Joint Representation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the
State of Schleswig-Holstein to the EU, Avenue Palmerston 20, B – 1000 Brussels

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Read the post: Invitation to Presentation of Political State of the Region Report 2011 in Brussels / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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Internship description
You will be working full-time at the Secretariat in Copenhagen, Denmark. Your tasks shall include:

• Assisting the Secretariat in preparing the BDF Summit:
-  Venue
-  Registration
-  Handbook
-  Volunteers
• General research and preparation of materials for newsletters, conferences, seminars, meetings, etc.
• Updating the database, power point presentations, etc.
• Diverse practical assignments at the Secretariat

The internship is not salaried. However, during your internship you will have the possibility to establish a wide network and to attend different meetings and roundtables with stakeholders from business, academia and governmental authorities.

Qualifications
You have completed minimum 2 years of your studies in social sciences or business administration, sales and marketing. You are interested in international relations as well as regional development, especially within the Baltic Sea Region and its 11 countries. Please note that all interns must have relevant documentation for being able to take up an internship in Denmark.

We are looking for interns who are:
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written (knowledge of Danish is an asset)
• Flexible and open-minded, creative and has good communication skills
• Not afraid of challenges and can work constructively with several tasks at the same time
• Able to work individually as well as in a team
• Competent in MS Office (experience in web-based graphical design and social media is an asset)

If you are interested in having your internship with us, please send an application to Zane Razane, zr@bdforum.org, as soon as possible and before 23 January 2012. Interviews will be conducted beginning of February 2012.

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Read the post: Baltic Development Forum Seeks Committed Intern / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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We cordially invite you to a New Year’s reception on 17 January 2012 at 16.00 to bid farewell to Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, who has stepped down as Chairman of Baltic Development Forum as of 1 November.

The event will take place in the premises of BDF, Nygade 3, 5th Floor.

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Hans Brask         Hans Skov Christensen
Director              Chairman

Please RSVP by 13 January 2012 to bdf@bdforum.org

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Read the post: Welcome to New Year’s Reception / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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Uffe Ellemann-Jensen during BDF Summit 2011 in Gdansk

BDF founder and Honorary Chairman Uffe Ellemann-Jensen will participate in the special ceremony that will be held to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Council of the Baltic Sea States.

The ceremony will be part of the Baltic Media Forum organized by Norddeutscher Rundfunk and Academia Baltica and will take place at Plön Castle in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on 5 February 2012.

The anniversary will be celebrated by Mr. Ellemann-Jensen and Hans-Dietrich Genscher as CBSS founding fathers in the presence of the foreign ministers of the countries in the CBSS area. There will be a discussion related to a look back at the genesis of CBSS and its impact to date. The event will be followed by a CBSS foreign ministers meeting 6-7 February. It is arranged by the German Presidency of CBSS 2011-2012.

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Read the post: CBSS 20 Years Anniversary / Read the blog: Baltic Development Forum
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