E-Interview with Mr Kurt Bodewig about the Baltic Sea Region

Deutsches Maritimes Kompetenz Netz Baltic Sea E-Interview with Mr Kurt Bodewig Titel of Interviews: Baltic Sea Name: Kurt Bodewig Functional Area: Chairman of the Board Organisation: Baltic Sea Forum e.V. Date of Interview August 2007 The Baltic Sea Region has developped considerably since the end of the East-West Confrontation. Although touristic activities seem to prevail the region also is well known for ist shipbuilding industry and general trade activities. Dear Mister Bodewig, Question 1: What led to the installation of the Baltic Sea Forum and which are the most pressing subjects of discussion at present? Which future goals does the forum envision? Answer: The BALTIC SEA FORUM was founded in 1992 in Helsinki as a German-Finnish organisation called PRO BALTICA FORUM. Initially, the aim was to support the cooperation within the Baltic Sea region, especially the three Baltic states Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Since 1995, the BALTIC SEA FORUM has had its headquarters in Hamburg. The whole Baltic Sea region has seen enormous developments since the foundation of the organisation. This is why the BALTIC SEA FORUM decided to support the entire Baltic Sea region. Since then, it has become a community of interest which fosters the economic, political and cultural coalescence of all Baltic states. Today trade across the Baltic Sea is the driving force for the integration of the states bordering the Baltic Sea and the economic dynamism of the whole region. But vitality and integration of the Baltic Sea are not supported by economy alone. Politics and the arts define the living space of the Baltic Sea and provide orientation for the people. At the same time, they provide the foundation for further expanding relations to neighbouring Russia or to Southern Europe, the Mediterranean or even to Asia. Thus the most pressing subjects of the BALTIC SEA FORUM represent mostly the current status and further development of the Baltic Sea region. At the events organised by the BALTIC SEA FORUM several topics are on the agenda, such as transportation, maritime safety, Motorways of the Sea, short-sea-shipping and hinterland connections of Baltic Sea ports. Besides the emphasis on transport and logistics we also commit to the policies of EU, e.g. BALTIC SEA FORUM Statement to the Green Book on EU Maritime Policy. As a matter of fact, the Green Book does not address only transport issues but regards the whole palette of topics: environment, safety, law, labour, infrastructure development. In 2006 the Baltic Strategy Working Group of seven Members of the European Parliament has published an EU Strategy or the Baltic Sea Region. This paper points out the main topics on which such organisations as BALTIC SEA FORUM should be working today and in the near future. So we go in line with the Strategy on some specific topics which are at present on our agenda and will surely be Seite 1 von 3 Deutsches Maritimes Kompetenz Netz Baltic Sea future goals of our work, e.g. improving cross border infrastructure, supply of safe and clean energy, fostering the Baltic Sea region as the most innovative region of Europe, improving the healthcare infrastructure in the regions, especially in the eastern countries. We will stay also with the image and identity of the Baltic Sea region issue which we already discussed this year at the conference in Kiel during the Baltic Sea Forum annual meeting. Question 2: Who are the co-operating partners of the Baltic Sea Forum? Please elaborate also on the aspects of international co-operation. Answer The FORUM has an extended network of members, representatives and partners who work in the field of business as well as in politics, culture and science and continues to establish new contacts. Furthermore, the organisation cooperates closely with governments as well as state, regional and local authorities and institutions in the Baltic states. The BALTIC SEA FORUM is chaired by an international executive board with members from politics, economy, science and culture. The executive board is supported by advisory board including high-ranking personalities such as Valdas Adamkus, President of the Republic of Lithuania, and chaired by former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari and the former state minister Prof. Dr. Jürgen Gramke. Among the BALTIC SEA FORUM members there are a number of companies from different branches of business, national and international, as well as personal memberships – people who have especial individual interests in the Baltic Sea region. Our partners are also several networks, international organisations, institutions, and associations. On the national level I would like to mention the German Association of Middle-sized Enterprises, East-West Association, Centre of Maritime Technologies Association, and Academia Baltica. Strong co-operation ties connect us also with e.g. TuTech, Haus Rissen, and European Academy in Berlin. On the local level we closely cooperate with the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and Hamburg Senate office. Looking at the international level I would like to emphasise our very good relations to our members German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce in the Baltic States, the Baltic Development Forum and the Baltic Sea Chambers of Commerce Association. Recently we gained observer status within the Council of the Baltic Sea States; with a number of Baltic Sea organisations we have an extensive information exchange, e.g. Baltic Sea States Subregional Cooperation, Baltic Sea Ports Organisations, Union of the Baltic Sea Cities, Helsinki Commission. In the last two years we were co-organisers of the HELCOM Youth Forum – event for students from Baltic Sea bordering states where they discuss environmental issues and future development of environmental protection of this unique European inland sea. Question 3: Which subjects do you exspect to emerge most likely during the next 3 years? Which challenges underway do you consider to be most important? Answer Considering the current climate change debate the environmental topics will become more important during the next years. The Baltic Sea is shallow thus also extremely vulnerable. Eutrophication, persistent organic pollution, oil discharges and increasing oil transport are the main problems we have to deal with. In line with the Baltic Strategy Working Group we propose strong co-operation between EU and Russia, including funding from EU and the member states and from European financial Seite 2 von 3 Deutsches Maritimes Kompetenz Netz Baltic Sea institutions which is needed to reduce the load reaching the Baltic Sea. The other non-EU members of the region support this objectives. Another group of subjects represent the transport development. The Baltic Sea is already now the one of most trafficked waterways in the world. The growing economies in the Baltic States and in Russia will produce still more cargo to be transported between West and East. Elaboration and establishment of sound concepts for short sea shipping, Motorways of the Sea as well as usage of environmental friendly fuels on the ships crossing the Baltic Sea or landing at its harbours will be also one of focal points on the agendas of Baltic Sea organisations. With the start of the North European Gas Pipeline project which should ensure stable gas supply to the Western Europe from Russia a number of controversial topics has arisen including international cooperation on political, economical and environmental level. Therefore I dare say that energy issues as umbrella topic will be the most discussed during the next 3 years. I accentuate once more, as umbrella topic, because it will be split to several subjects in detail relating specific areas of action. Question 4: Where do you wish to establish a better networking within and outside your organization? Answer: As a membership based organization we should work on improvement of our own network the primary aim of which is to connect and to integrate every member allowing it to use each others knowledge and experience. Looking at the considerable number of international organizations in the Baltic Sea neighboring countries I should suggest better coordination and closer cooperation as well as information exchange. The missing link is comprehensive network of all organizations uniting all fields of activity. However, a uniquely European cooperation is not sufficient. Hence the BALTIC SEA FORUM is currently in the process of certification to be recognized as a non-governmental organization at the United Nations. I am pleased that the BALTIC SEA FORUM is strategic partner of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. Question 5: Concluding our questionnaire, Mr Bodewig, we would like to know: Which was the main reason for you to engage yourself in the Baltic Sea Forum? Answer: Since 2003 I am the BALTIC SEA FORUM Chairman of the Board. This is an honorary assignment and I made it with pleasure. Actually I have a lot of contacts to Baltic Sea region countries as Member of Bundestag, as Member of the Baltic Sea Parliamentarian Conference, as Vice Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs of the Bundestag, and I know the current topics concerning the future development of the region very well. Of course I share this professional experience, even though more on political level, with the BALTIC SEA FORUM. The Baltic sea region is the most dynamic international region.