Address by Foreign Minister Urmas Paet at the 16th Council of the Baltic Sea States Ministerial Meeting

"Charting a course for future cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region"

Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen


I am pleased to begin my remarks here today by stating that the CBSS Reform, as agreed in the Reform Declaration, has had a successful launch. Thus we can hope that the organisation, which was founded 17 years ago under completely different circumstances, is able to adapt and revitalise itself. The reform process, which commenced during the Swedish and Latvian chairmanships and was approved by the Prime Ministers in Riga, is still in the initial phase. However, during the last 12 months the process has advanced under the efficient guidance of Denmark and we hope that the next chair, Lithuania, will continue with this praiseworthy work.

Trust in the future of the CBSS has also been confirmed through defining our long-term priorities, which provide us with guidelines for the coming years. However, the implementation of these priorities largely depends on our readiness to modernise the functioning of the CBSS and its Secretariat. Restructuring with a view to enhanced flexibility, pro-activity and project orientation is the only true path for the further development of the CBSS. Estonia is convinced that more project-based activities contribute to both the effectiveness of the organisation and its political influence. We are talking about the children of one family, where one person’s successful development and positive example will in turn duplicate.

However, it is important not to get too pre-occupied with renewing and neglect the further promotion of the areas in which the CBSS has achieved valuable experience and knowledge through the years. Estonia acknowledges the work of the CBSS in the sphere of civil security, especially in Children at Risk and the Fight against Trafficking of Human Beings, as well as in the sphere of Radiation and Nuclear Safety. As for new areas, Estonia sees the highest added value in launching the Expert Groups on Labour Markets and Integration as well as on Maritime Policy. At the same time, it is essential to ensure that the Expert Groups are established in accordance with CBSS reform principles, i.e., with clear and time-limited mandates and tasks.

The successful launch of the Pskov EuroFaculty project is a remarkable example of the fruitfulness of our result-orientated policy in one of our priority areas, and it is also an outstanding example of co-operation with the Nordic Council of Ministers.

It is essential to further enhance the co-operation not only with regional organisations, but also with our strategic partners and observing countries. Estonia welcomes three new observers of the CBSS - Belarus, Romania and Spain as of 1st July - and looks forward to results-based co-operation with all observing members.

Dear colleagues,

Six hundred years ago, all ships traveling near Elsinore from the Danish Straits to the Baltic Sea or in the opposite direction had to pay dues to the King of Denmark. Among other things, the magnificent Kronborg Castle, which we had the opportunity to visit last night, thanks to the hospitality of our hosts, was built from these dues.

As late as in 1857, the Copenhagen Convention opened access to the Baltic Sea for all ships. Now we have the Helsinki Convention, which is governed by the Helsinki Committee (Helcom), the first co-operation body in the Baltic Sea area. Therefore, it can be argued that in his own way, King Eric of Pomerania set Baltic Sea co-operation in motion.

It is quite clear even without knowing history that the future of all the countries in the region as well as the regional organisations depends on the future of the Baltic Sea. It is generally known that the Baltic Sea is an extremely sensitive and shallow maritime area, but it also has some of the busiest maritime traffic in the world. Currently, there are on average 2 000 ships daily sailing through the Danish Straits, the Gulf of Bothnia, and the Gulf of Finland, and about 200 of them are tankers. According to the forecast, the growth of maritime traffic in the Baltic Sea is expected to be 93% by 2020, whilst the average growth of the EU is deemed to be only 66%.

Several projects and action plans have been launched to date for the safety and environmental protection of the Baltic Sea. I am pleased that the aim of the CBSS’ new Expert Group on Maritime Policy is to co-ordinate maritime activities in the region and to achieve balance between economic, social, and ecological aspects. An example of well-functioning co-operation on the Baltic Sea is GOFREP (The Gulf of Finland Mandatory Reporting System), a system for monitoring the ships traveling in the Gulf of Finland. Thanks to that, we can more efficiently avoid marine accidents and react when required. But the continuously increased traffic volume calls for more efficient measures. Further implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan, together with the forthcoming Baltic Summit in Helsinki next year are important steps in this regard.

But the welfare of the environment around the Baltic Sea region depends on many other factors, f.e energy production and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This also affects the entire region, since polluted air, like clean air, cannot be limited by any borders. To risk long-term environmental pollution for the sake of temporary economic success is a crime against today’s generation and future generations. The natural environment is of priceless value and cannot be assigned a price tag.

Speaking of the common challenges facing our region, we must strive for improved cross-border, cross-sectoral and sub-regional co-operation. “We already have all the details for assembling a powerful and effective engine; but it has not yet been assembled.” These words were spoken in 1992 by the late President Lennart Meri. Although the words were said in connection with another organisation, their meaning perfectly suits the present regional context.

We have the CBSS, the emerging EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the Northern Dimension, and other regional actors. None of them is perfect on its own. But what about in unison? Let me hereby stress three key-elements: synergy arising from co-operation; mutual co-ordination; and avoiding overlap. Only by sticking to these principles the future success of both CBSS and other regional co-operation formats can be ensured.

One of the biggest challenges we confront in the region today is to remove all hindrances that do not allow us to maximise our growth potential. Although the Baltic Sea has actually become an inland sea of the European Union with mobility and open borders, there are still both visible and invisible barriers and restrictions limiting the functioning of the inner market. Without these limits the competitiveness of our region could be essentially greater. As it was discussed at this morning’s energy seminar, there is a necessity for further integration of the energy market and energy-related infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region. The same applies to the transport connections, infrastructure networks, free movement of services and many other areas. Here, as well, we are talking about one family, where the success of one member/country contributes to the whole region and vice versa.

Micro-level co-operation between the Baltic Sea islands, friendship towns and border regions, as well as people-to-people contacts, are essential sources of inspiration for the further development of the region. Stating that, I am sure that a direct shipping line between Tallinn and Copenhagen and why not even Elsinore; a common currency; and last but not least, a dioxin-free Baltic herring don’t have to remain an unachievable dream for the countries around the same sea, sharing the same values.

Dear colleagues, Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me conclude my speech on the future of the CBSS by looking back, because our future success largely depends on remembering the past and avoiding the repetition of yesterday’s mistakes. Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, one of the founders of the CBSS and a great supporter of the Baltic countries, has stated the following: “When the Cold War ended, it seemed clever to say that this was ‘the end of History’. But if we believe that – if we put a lid on history and leave it behind us – we run a risk that history will resurrect itself with all its horrors. Therefore, we must come to terms with history, particularly in the Baltic Sea region, where such a reckoning is a fundamental precondition for building mutual confidence and co-operation.”

Thank you for your attention!