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!

Main page > Plenaries

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