1 Report on the Implementation of the EUSBSR Anders Lindholm European Commission Directorate General for Regional Policy

2 AGENDA The Reports key elements: Main achievements Lessons learned Recommendations

3 MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS New projects New momentum to existing projects New and developing networks Policy development and coherence Alignment of funding and other financial initiatives Cooperation with non-EU Member States in the Baltic Sea Region

4 New projects Baltic Deal works with farmers across the Region to reduce nutrient run-off and eutrophication Clean Ship significantly reduces pollution from vessels LNG Feasibility study develops sustainable Short Sea Shipping BaltAdapt prepares a regional climate change adaptation plan BSR Stars increases the innovation capacity through its support for innovation, clusters and SME-Networks ScanBalt Health Port promotes the Baltic as a globally leading and prosperous Health Region Baltic Transport Outlook provides structured planning support for transport infrastructure in the Region

5 New momentum to existing projects Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan – greater integration of the three Baltic Sea States into the European energy market Sludge-trucks/ Oily water carriages – better technologies developed by the Baltic Master II project which involves 15 ports in the Region Sustainable agriculture – Baltic Compass; Baltic Manure; Baltic Deal Transport projects – TransBaltic; East West Transport Corridor II; Scandria

6 New and developing networks The EUSBSR provides: New framework for the maritime community: HELCOM; CBSS; BSSSC Better links for cooperation on sustainability issues with the CBSS Experts Group Baltic 21 Networks opportunities for the Nordic Council of Ministers New approach to foster the cooperation in the sectors of cross- border crime and transport New links for the Northern Dimension framework (NDPHS) Better development of the BONUS Programme (budget of EUR 100 million)

7 Policy development and coherence The EUSBSR: Encourages better policy development and alignment and a more efficient implementation of existing approaches Ensures that sectoral policies – including transport, education, energy and climate, environment, fisheries, industry, innovation, health and agriculture – are coherent and suited to the needs of the Baltic Sea Region as a whole Constitutes the regional implementation of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy

8 Alignment of funding and other financial initiatives European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – new selection criteria (SE); calls targeted to promote the EUSBSR (BSR Programme); European Fisheries Fund (EFF) – MS 2010 annual implementation reports include a specific chapter on contribution to the implementation of the EUSBSR European Social Fund (ESF) – priority of transnational activities in calls for project proposals (SE, DK, EE) Strategy approach adopted by other EU funding programmes: EAFRD, BONUS, European Parliament – EUR 2.5. million EIB/NIB – loans for flagship projects

9 Cooperation with non-EU Member States in the Baltic Sea Region Support from Belarus, Norway and Russia Cooperation with Russia pursued at several levels: - Northern Dimension - Regional bodies and partnerships: CBSS and HELCOM - EU-Russia bilateral cooperation on specific aspects - Cooperation between the regions

10 LESSONS LEARNED Importance of maintaining political momentum Need for a greater commitment Development of targets and evaluation process Improvement of communication Significance of cross-sectoral cooperation Importance of policy development Challenge of further alignment of funding and technical assistance

11 RECOMMENDATIONS To reinforce the integrated nature of the Strategy through closer alignment with the themes and flagships of Europe 2020 To assure the European nature of the Strategy through regular discussions of the Strategy at policy Councils To prioritise work on establishing targets to make the Strategy more focused and more concrete as regards to its main aims To maximise efforts to align Cohesion Policy and other funding sources in the Region with the objectives of the Strategy To strengthen implementation structures – financially and in terms of staff To develop a Communication initiative to ensure broader participation in the Strategy as well as understanding of its achievements

12 Thank you for your attention!