1. EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
BSPC Standing Committee Meeting
Brussels, 23 January 2017
Peter Schenk
European Commission
Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy

2. Macro-regional strategies – the concept
An integrated territorial development framework,
Addressing common challenges and opportunities in a specific geographical area,
Challenges/opportunities for which the Member State is too small and EU-28 is too large
To achieve economic, social and territorial cohesion through strengthened cooperation.

3. Four macro-regional strategies
EUSBSR in 2009
EUSDR in 2010
EUSAIR in 2014
EUSALP in 2015

4. EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region – key facts
First macro-regional strategy in the EU (launched 2009)
8 EU Member States; 80 million people (16% of EU population)
Joint challenges/opportunities
Three objectives: 'Save the Sea', 'Connect the region', 'Increase Prosperity'
13 Policy Areas, 4 Horizontal Actions
Better and more effective use of existing policies, funding, institutions and legislation

5. Commission report on the implementation of all four macro- regional strategies published on 16 December (COM(2016)805)
Achievements:
Increased political awareness of challenges and opportunities specific for the Baltic Sea Region
Mobilisation of projects across borders (more than 120 Flagships)
Increased knowledge and joint initiatives
Better coordination of existing networks: Strategy as reference point
Participation of neighbouring non-EU countries
Challenges:
Maintain commitment, mobilise funding, communicate results

6. Issues raised in the COM report
How can the synergies and complementarities between MRS and relevant national or regional programmes supported by the ESIF be strengthened to maximise impact?
Should transnational programmes be (functionally) further aligned with MRS or other transnational cooperation frameworks and initiatives?
How the governance system of MRS, including the respective roles of all relevant actors, could be further improved?

7. Other ongoing developments
Communication: Implementation of the Communication Strategy for the EUSBSR (adopted in December 2015).
Funding: 'Pilot' European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Managing Authorities’ (MA) Network in the Baltic Sea region in support of the EUSBSR
Second call for projects of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme; 'Seed money projects' and 'targeted support' to the implementation of the EUSBSR
EUSBSR funding portal:
Study ‘Macro-regional strategies and their links with cohesion policy’ (findings expected to be available in 2017).
8th EUSBSR Annual Forum: 13/14 June 2017 in Berlin

8. Annual Forum of the EUSBSR
8th EUSBSR Annual Forum on 13/14 June 2017 in Berlin (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Hosted by Germany together with the CPMR - Baltic Sea Commission and in close cooperation with the European Commission
Overall topic: "Connectivity"
More information: : strategy.eu/8th-annual-forum
7th Forum was on 8/9 November 2016 in Stockholm: "One Region, One Future - Vision for the Baltic Sea Region"
High political commitment; More than 50 seminars with more than 1200 participants
The main theme of the 8th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is "Connectivity". In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Connectivity in a broad political sense highlights the necessity to further intensify contacts in the Baltic Sea region and to develop a better awareness of each other’s perspectives and sensitivities. It includes the totality of the Baltic Sea region. It is a prerequisite to enable confidence building with neighbouring regions. It also concerns an efficient and comprehensive collaboration between all levels of government. Connectivity is essential for today’s research activities as well as for cultural exchange including tourism. Connectivity has an important infrastructural dimension - be it in the area of transport, energy or communication. It is the basis for modern business, which is network based and outward looking.

9. Thank you for your attention!
Thank you for your attention!