The 2007 BDF Summit’s energy panel called for regional initiatives/solutions that demanded public-private partnerships. It was concluded that BDF should draw up an analysis (White Paper) on the elements necessary to improve regional energy cooperation. BDF believes that such a paper could also contribute to branding the BSR as the world’s first-mover in renewable energy and sustainability.

The idea is that the analysis - that BDF has set as a goal for 2008-2009 - will deliver the rationale/opportunities for future regional cooperation on energy & climate change. It will explore existing barriers of regional cooperation and make concrete recommendations for governments and businesses on how to move forward through public-private partnerships. The first result will be presented at the BDF Summit in 2008 and later in 2009. As part of the 2008 Summit preparation, a conference is scheduled in Warsaw in cooperation with Demos/Europa on the regional dimension of energy.

The first result of the Interim report: Energy perspectives of the Baltic Sea Region developed by Baltic Development Forum together with Ea Energy Analysis was presented at the Summit in 2008. This report gives a brief overview of the energy situation in the Baltic Sea Region and presents two possible scenarios for the region’s future energy development, which will be further elaborated. Danfoss, The Nordic Council, Baltic Development Forum and the Nordic Council of Ministers financially supported the elaboration of the first phase of this report.

The process of developing the Report is an excellent opportunity to have an ongoing dialogue between the stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Region – politicians, civil servants, industry and the R&D community.Baltic Development Forum in cooperation with Ea Energy Analysis and other partners, in particular Eesti Energia, Gasunie and E.ON, actively involved in the process, will strengthen work on the energy scenarios with the objective of promoting broad consensus on a list of prioritised energy project that can improve energy security in the Baltic Sea Region, establish an efficient energy market, reduce CO2 emissions as well as promote renewable energies.

The project aims at providing and strengthening a common understanding of energy-related issues and at enhancing closer regional cooperation by identifying specific cooperation opportunities and projects within the energy and climate sector in the Baltic Sea Region. An open process, based on reliable and transparent data, multi stakeholders’ involvement and scenario-modelling, is chosen for promoting enhanced regional energy cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region.

This initiative ties well in with the European Council’s decision to develop an EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and in light with the October conclusions of the European Council, which support the Commission initiative of establishing a plan of action to speed up interconnections in the Baltic region, the development of the report for enhanced cooperation is becoming more then urgent.

The Baltic Sea Region has a significant potential for further developing regional projects, which could benefit the region as a showcase for sustainable energy development and contribute at becoming frontrunners in innovative solutions through regional cooperation.

As many national and regional organisations have energy as a topic on the agenda, there is a need to ensure proper coordination of the activities, to avoid unnecessary repetitions and to define joint priorities. BDF executes this task in cooperation with BSSSC under the recently formed Joint Platform on Energy, which is a network of BSR organisations focussing on energy & climate. BDF will work closely together with BASREC, which will organise a ministerial meeting in Copenhagen during Danish CBSS-presidency. BDF is also forming a partnership with Copenhagen Climate Solutions ensuring proper coordination of the informal initiatives leading up to the UN summit in 2009.

On 6 February nine Baltic Sea organisations endorsed the idea of joint coordination of activities in the field of energy. The newly formed platform on energy will help the organisations to move in one common direction and avoid duplications in their activities. All organisations agreed that more knowledge exchange and cooperation is needed in order to speak with one voice when it comes to the European and global challenges in the field of energy and climate change.

The initiative of the joint platform came from BSSSC and BDF by hosting the second coordination meeting. BDF is also pushing for an analysis on energy cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region, as very few analyses/reports exist on the regional dimension of energy challenges.  

The 3d meeting took place in Stockholm in June 2008. The 4th meeting was held on 22nd October 2008 in Nordic Council’s premises in Copenhagen. The 5th meeting was organised as back-to-back meeting during the BDF Summit on 2nd December. You can download bellow the minutes of those meetings.

The 6th meeting took place in February 2009 in Stockholm hosted by UBC Energy Commission, who took the initiative to be the coordinating body of the Joint Platform within the year 2009. 

Please read an interview with the BDF Director Hans Brask in the Latvian energy journal Energo Forums, where he outlines some preliminary thoughts on future BDF activities in the field of energy.

Click on the icon below to download the October 2007 issue of Energo Forums.