"Exclusive Insight to the Baltic Sea Region: The Future Growth Centre of Europe”
Organised by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, London office, in co-operation with Baltic Development Forum
Friday 14 March
19.30 Welcome dinner in “Villa La Collina”, Via Roma 11, I-22011 Cadenabbia
Saturday 15 March
9.00 Welcome remarks by Thomas Bernd Stehling, Director, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, London
Opening remarks by Professor Dr. Günter Rinsche, Board member, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Germany
Address by Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, Chairman, Baltic Development Forum
10.00-12.00 “Is the Baltic Sea region Europe’s new growth zone? Current trends and visions”
Introduction: Pekka Sutela, Bank of Finland, Institute of Economies in Transition
Reactor: Alfred Vanags, Baltic International Centre for Economic Policy Studies, Latvia
Chairperson: Samuel Rachlin, TV2/Denmark
The Baltic Sea region has the potential of becoming a globally significant growth area. In terms of the number of consumers, the region corresponds to more than one-third of the US market and the economies involved correspond to one-eighth of the total GDP of Western Europe. The region's population includes well-educated people with an advanced knowledge base and an internationally reputable level of research and development, including new sectors such as biotech, energy and ITC. These factors create necessary conditions for positioning the Baltic Sea region as a competitive region in the fields of technology and science.
Further gratifying to business climate is the coming enlargement of the EU with the three Baltic countries and Poland. Recent development in Russia adds a positive contribution to the overall picture. The country has at long last been accepted as a market economy by the EU and USA.
However, large differences regarding for example GDP, foreign investments, competences and competitiveness remain. Is it relevant to talk about the Baltic Sea region as such as a coming leading actor in the global economy?
12.30 Lunch, followed by boat trip on Lake Como
16.30 Coffee/tea
17.00-19.00 “Is there a common regional identity in the Baltic Sea area? Identifying common regional characteristics”
Introduction: Bernd Henningsen, BaltSeaNet, Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg Greifswald
Reactor: Ugnius Trumpa, Lithuanian Free Market Institute
Chairperson: Ole Frijs-Madsen, Baltic Development Forum
It is often boasted that the countries in the Baltic Sea region share common history, values, goals and destiny. Even so it is evident that the region does not lack internal diversities - generations and different political systems have shaped the lands differently. However, no region can form an entity without sharing some degree of common identity. The question of common identity must therefore be addressed if the vision of the Baltic Sea region as a leading growth centre on the European scene is to be fulfilled.
In that light, we ask if a broad awareness of community is present in the region - a feeling of belonging together? Or are the talks of common values, goals and destiny in fact wishful thinking? Does a Pole for instance feel he has more in common with a German or Finn than with a Frenchman or an Englishman? Can we talk about common regional characteristics?
What draws us together? Which components have impact on creating or strengthening a common regional identity?
And finally, is it at all relevant in the age of globalisation to build a marketable regional identity?
19.30 Dinner in the dining room next to the conference centre
20.30 “How to promote the Baltic Sea region?” A panel discussion.
Panel: Michael Ehrenreich, Berlingske Tidende, Denmark
Sirje Rank, Estonian Business Daily, Äripäev, Estonia
Michal Kacewicz, Newsweek Polska, Poland
Chairman: Giles Merritt, Forum Europe, Belgium
Sunday 16 March
9.30-11.30 “Is there a shared role for the Baltic Sea region in the new world order?
Looking beyond accession of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania in NATO”
Introduction: Per Carlsen, Danish Institute of International Studies
Reactor: Dr. Axel Krohn, Federal Armed Forces Command and General Staff College, Germany
Chairperson: Michael Ehrenreich, Berlingske Tidende, Denmark
With the accession of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to NATO in 2002 and Poland's accession in 1999, the Baltic Sea countries today stand a unique chance to influence the direction, which NATO will take in the years to come. The enlargement of NATO is an opportunity but also a challenge.
It is widely recognised that NATO must make a transition from an organization that was formed to meet the threats from a Warsaw Pact to an alliance structured to meet the new global threats in the new world order. However, it is not yet known what it will take to make sure that the ten Baltic Sea countries will become influential players in the new world order. What should the region's strategy be within NATO? Furthermore, we need to know how we can use the new partnership between US and Russia to benefit both members and non-members.
11.30 Coffee/tea
11.45-12.30 Informal networking
Lunch
Followed by departure for Milan Malpansa Airport
