Foundation for Education and Social Dialogue Pro Civis took part in the 10th Annual Forum of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) which was held in Gdańsk on 12-13 June 2019. Hundreds participants mainly from: academia, business, EU institutions, internationals organizations, local government institutions, NGOs, regional government institutions met together to discuss the challenges of the Baltic Sea Region. The meeting was attended by representatives of: Poland, Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Russia and others.
The two-day forum has been held annually since 2010 and it is the most important event gathering stakeholders of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and also institutions interested in cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region. This year, the main organizer was the Marshal’s Office of Pomorskie Voivodeship in cooperation with the Baltic Sea Subregional Co-operation. The strategic partners were: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Commission. Entities working for the implementation of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, through specific projects, jointly solve problems particularly affecting the Baltic Sea Region. The essence of the Strategy is the implementation of transnational flagship projects to protect the ecosystem and improve the condition of the Baltic Sea waters, creating favorable conditions for the growth of prosperity and the development of regional infrastructure (e.g. combating environmental pollution, developing modern solutions for maritime navigation). This activity reflects the 3 main objectives of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, which are as follows:
- Save the Sea
- Connect the Region
- Increase Prosperity
The cooperation takes place on many levels: governmental, regional and local, with the participation of the scientific community, research centers, non-governmental organizations, institutions managing operational programs, as well as the private sector.
The Annual Forum 2019 was a focus on circular and sharing economy, the theme of the Forum was “Circular and sharing economy as an answer to demographic changes and environmental challenges in the Baltic Sea Region”.
The 3 main thematic sessions of the Forum included:
- ‘Going circular – a pathway to well-being in the Baltic Sea Region’
- ‘Business-driven approach to circular economy in the Baltic Sea Region’
- ‘Demography and circularity in the Baltic Sea Region: interdependent or disconnected?’
During the event, the EUSBSR stakeholders and entitles from the bioeconomy sector could meet together and discuss the challenges and environmental problems in the Baltic Sea Region. The speakers very often emphasized, that the raising awareness in the society is important, people should know that the small changes of everyday behavior and attitudes will influence and bring huge changes for the planet.
