MAIN AND SUB PLENARIES
High level opening plenary and six different sub-plenaries that go deeper in the content of the strategy, closing panel puts the Strategy’s “doers” on stage!
Plenaries and parallel sessions
The programme will be updated as speakers are confirmed
Wednesday, September 28th
10.10 – 12.00 Opening plenary
In this session high level speakers will set the stage for the Forum by examining the state of the region, describing the most pressing issues in BSR and exploring ways in which EUSBSR community can tackle them.
Welcoming words
Kimmo Jarva, Mayor of the City of Lappeenranta
Grzegorz Poznański, Director General of the Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat
Helena Tuuri, Ambassador for Baltic Sea Affairs at Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Keynote speakers and panellists:
Pekka Haavisto, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Finland
Jyrki Katainen, President, Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra
Bettina Martin, Minister of science, culture, Federal and European Affairs, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Krista Mikkonen, Minister of the Interior of Finland
Silva Laure, spokesperson of the Baltic Sea Youth Camp 2022
13.30 – 15.00 (three parallel sessions)
1. New plans and visions for Seas, Oceans and Waters
Objective: The aim of this session is to present the new initiatives and plans around the Baltic Sea that contribute to save the Sea, increase the prosperity and connect the Region. The European Commission will introduce the EU Mission ”Restore our Oceans and waters by 2030”. After its Mission Charter was launched in summer, the EC is inviting all Members States, regions and relevant stakeholders to adhere to the Mission Charter and engage by submitting actions for a successful implementation of the Mission and its lighthouses. The Baltic and North Sea Lighthouse will work as the Mission site focused on climate neutrality, circularity, and economic prosperity of our sea. The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, HELCOM, will introduce its strategic programme of measures for achieving good environmental status of the Baltic Sea by 2030 and the 2021 update of the Baltic Sea Action Plan. Spatial planning cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region, VASAB, will introduce its new Vision 2040 – a forward-looking document presenting the desirable spatial future of the region, respecting its diversities and specificities and embracing sustainability and integration throughout, as well as proposing possible future actions that would help to implement the Vision 2040.
Agenda
Moderator: Kestutis Sadauskas, Mission Manager
13:30-14:00 | Welcome & Opening
Baltic Sea government representative
Rüdiger Strempel, Executive Secretary of the HELCOM Secretariat
Kestutis Sadauskas, Deputy Director General of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), European Commission
Dr.Daniel Meltzian, Chair of the VASAB Committee on Spatial Planning and Development of the Baltic Sea Region (CSPD/BSR) / German Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building.
14:00-14:30 | Panel Discussion – The role of the macro-regional frameworks, the Regional Sea Conventions and the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters in restoring the Baltic Sea
A Panel discussion will follow on the synergies between the initiatives
14:30 -14:50 | Q&A (with backup questions on actions to submit under the Mission Charter for the Baltic that are implementing at the same time HELCOM’s Action Plan and fulfil VASAB Vision 2040)
14:50-15:00 | Closing
Rüdiger Strempel, Executive Secretary of the HELCOM Secretariat
Kestutis Sadauskas, Deputy Director General of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), European Commission
Dr.Daniel Meltzian, Chair of the VASAB Committee on Spatial Planning and Development of the Baltic Sea Region (CSPD/BSR) / German Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building.
2. New (and Persistent) Challenges for Societal Security
A fresh look at the Baltic Sea Region’s societal security challenges: from regional to individual perspective. Feeling secure vs being secure. Prevention and preparedness.
Speakers:
Sten Widmalm, Professor in political science at the Department of Government, Uppsala University, Sweden
Adrian Bucałowski, Deputy Director, Civil Protection Department, National Headquarters of the State Fire Service, Poland (moderator)
Prof. Zbigniew Lasocik, Human Trafficking Studies Center, University of Warsaw
Līga Raita Rozentāle, Senior Director, European Governmental Affairs, CELA| Corporate, External and Legal Affairs, Microsoft
Jari Honkanen, Senior Specialist, EU and International Affairs Unit Department for Rescue Services, Ministry of Interior, Finland
3. Innovations for the digital and green transition and sustainable growth
Our region is a home for many innovative approaches. How do they help bring us to a sustainable future?
Organised and carried out by EUSBSR Policy Area Innovation and Policy Area Bioeconomy
Moderator: Mr. Esa Kokkonen, Director, The Baltic Institute of Finland (EUSBSR Policy Area Innovation)
Room: Lappeenranta Hall
Link for online speaker participation
13.30 Introduction
Mr. Esa Kokkonen, Director, The Baltic Institute of Finland (EUSBSR Policy Area Innovation)
13.35 BSR innovation journey and path to twin transition
Dr. Christian Ketels, Faculty Member, Harvard Business School faculty at Professor Michael E. Porter’s Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness
13.55 From climate challenge to sustainable growth
Ms. Sirpa Pietikäinen, Member of European Parliament, (video speech)
14.05 Digital transformation in the Baltic Sea region: The Estonian model
Ms. Sandra Särav, Deputy Secretary General for Entrepreneurship and the Consumer Environment, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of Estonia, (participates online)
14.20 Macro-regional cooperation for twin transition: Polish perspective
Mr. Łukasz Wawer, Deputy Director of the Digital Transformation Center, Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Poland, (participates online)
14.35 Smart specialisation for sustainable blue economy and the newly launched S3 thematic platform: Added value for the sea-basin and macro regional strategies
Ms. Patrizia Busolini, Policy Officer – Sea-basin Strategies, Maritime Regional Cooperation and Maritime Security, European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, (participates online)
14.50 Questions from the audience
15.00 Closing
16:00-17:30 (three parallel sessions)
4. Contribution of EUSBSR cities and regions to combating climate change
The impact of climate change is obvious in the BSR: from increased water temperature to unpredictable weather events. How is our Strategy contributing to solving these challenges? Presentations of the EU Missions “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030” and “Adaptation to Climate Change”. Examples of adaptation measures and actions towards climate-neutrality in BSR cities and regions.
Moderator: Olga Zuin, Program Manager, CBSS
Johannes Klumpers, Senior Expert DG CLIMA, Head of Secretariat for Climate Adaptation Mission, EU Mission Adaptation to Climate Change
Ilkka Räsanen, Environment Director of Lappenranta Municipality
Valdur Lahtvee, Advisor, CBSS
Lene Bonde, Dissemination Officer, Climate and Coastal Protection, Danish Coastal Authority
Antti Roose, Tartu Regional Energy Agency
Esther Kreutz, Special Advisor, UBC Sustainable Cities Commission
Niina Pautola-Mol, Regional Mayor of Päijät-Häme Regional Council
Dr. Markus Meier, Leibniz-Institute for Baltic Sea Research (IOW)/Baltic Earth
5. Energy and connectivity of the region
Expert views on energy independency, alternative fuels, new green technologies, sustainable and competitive transportation and more.
Selected confirmed speakers:
Moderator: Managing director of Lappeenranta Energy Company, Mr. Arto Nikkanen
Chief specialist Juho Korteniemi, The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland
Torbjørn Hoffstad, Senior Specialist Director, Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB), Norway
Esa Vakkilainen, professor, LUT University
Karen Marie Sandgren, Nordic Energy Connection
6. Recovery after shocks
How can the Strategy help BSR communities become more resilient, stronger and sustainable, better at bouncing back after economic, political, social and health crises?
Moderator:
Damian Szacawa, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, Faculty of Political Science and Journalism, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University
Speakers:
Simonas Šatūnas, Head of Cabinet, Cabinet of Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, European Commission
Dr Ulla-Karin Nurm, Director, Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being (NDPHS), Policy Area Health Coordinator
Dr Tomasz Studzieniecki, Gdynia Maritime University, Member of Management Committee of The European Non-Territorial Autonomy Network (ENTAN)
Slawomir Tokarski, Director for the European Territorial Cooperation, Macro-regions, Interreg and Programmes Implementation I, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy
Simona Jakaite, representative of the Baltic Sea Youth Camp
Thursday, September 29th
09:10-10:40 Funding EUSBSR: Shared experiences inspire to continue shaping the future of the region
In the first part of the session, Interreg Baltic Sea Region team will explain how Interreg projects help implement the EUSBSR Action Plan and the potential for future cooperation. In the second part – brief presentation of the other funding sources and instruments.
First part
Moderator: Elena Kolosova, Adviser for external cooperation, Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat of Interreg Baltic Sea Region
Speakers:
Sebastian Hentsch, Project Officer, Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat of Interreg Baltic Sea Region
Elīna Veidemane, Coordinator of the EUSBSR policy area Spatial Planning, VASAB Secretariat
Esa Kokkonen, Coordinator of the EUSBSR policy area Innovation, the Baltic Institute of Finland
Edvarts Emersons, Coordinator of the EUSBSR policy area Energy, Ministry of Economics of Latvia
Viktoria Nilsson, Communication Officer, Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat of Interreg Baltic Sea Region
Download full agenda of Interreg Baltic Sea Region plenary session
Second part
Johan Magnusson, Team Leader at Directorate General Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission
11.00-12.45 Closing plenary session
Multi-level governance –put on the stage!
Representatives of all EUSBSR levels of implementation from PAC to NCG to ministries share their challengers, give their perspective on the implementation.
Speakers
Elina Hakonen-Meddings, Deputy Head of Unit, Macro-regions, Transnational/Interregional cooperation, IPA, Enlargement, DG REGIO
Magda Leszczyna-Rzucidło, Policy Area Coordinator, PA Tourism, Pomorskie Tourist Board
Helena Tuuri, Ambassador for Baltic Sea Affairs at Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, EUSBSR National Coordinator
Elena Kolosova, Adviser for external cooperation, Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat of Interreg Baltic Sea Region
Grzegorz Poznański, Director General of the Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat
Jürgen Krempin, Hamburg Fire and Rescue Service, Department for International Cooperation, Head of Unit – PA Secure Steering Group member
Kirsi Ahlman, Deputy Director / Centrum Balticum Foundation, Project Manager / Let’s Communicate! project, Baltic Strategy Point
