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International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Friday, 29.03.2024, 09:01

Successful 15 years in Baltic States’ cooperation

Eugene Eteris, BC, Copenhagen, 02.12.2013.Print version
The idea of promoting deep integration and intensive regional cooperation in the Baltic Sea Area was the main reason of establishing BDF -Baltic Development Forum. These days the organisation is celebrating its 15th anniversary. The Baltic Course Magazine was invited to the event and its international editor took part in the celebration in Copenhagen.

Baltic Development Forum was established in November 1998, with the then Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs Uffe Ellemann-Jensen as its chairman. Baltic Development Forum was established in the light of a perceived need for a platform for decision makers to discuss strategies for the development of the Baltic Sea Region. Baltic Development Forum distinguished itself by being an organisation that gathers not only politicians, but also business, academia and media.


Stable agenda for cooperation

Already at the first major event organised by Baltic Development Forum (the 1st Annual Summit held in Copenhagen in May 1999), which attracted almost 300 participants, the trade ministers of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) recognized Baltic Development Forum as a timely and constructive initiative”.

 

Very quick BDF has developed into an organisation with partners and member, i.e. companies, governments, public as well as non-governmental organisations and cities wanting to contribute to the development of the Baltic Sea region. They actively supported the cooperative role and work of Baltic Development Forum.

 

At the 15th summit in May 2013 in Riga, the three Baltic Prime Ministers recognised that the Baltic States had overcome the economic crisis. In particular, Latvia was seen as achieving the highest growth rates in Europe and was acting as a model for structural reforms paired with political stability. As in 2007, the Baltic Sea region was again the best performing part of Europe. The State of the Region Report was presented for the 10th time, giving again substance to the deliberations. Business networking had grown in size with the successful Baltic Business Arena.  


Latvian Ambassador to Denmark Kaspars Ozoliņš honored BDF’s activity by presenting a Certificate of Recognition from the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers, signed by Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis.

 

The main part of the event was the “talk-show” by Mrs. Ellemann and Lykketoft with BDF’s Director, Hans Brask as a moderator.  

 

Former Danish Foreign Minister and Honorary Chairman of BDF Uffe Ellemann-Jensen and Danish Speaker of the Parliament Mogens Lykketoft commented on the cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region, as well as on main challenges and opportunities (above photo provided by Dan Axél, BDF’s Head of Communication and Media). 


They also answered questions from the event’s participants, who added interesting thoughts to the very lively and interesting debate.


For example, the BC’s international editor, Eugene Eteris asked the panelists about the main outcomes of the BDF work I n the last years. Both Mr. Ellemann-Jensen and Mr. Lykketoft were unanimous of the positive efforts in the Baltic States towards environmentally sustainable, economically stable, advanced and dynamic societies. 

 

The Lithuanian Ambassador Vytautas Pinkus and the Polish Ambassador Rafał Wiśniewski also took part in the discussions.

 

The main conclusion of the celebration event was that there were still many issues, problems and opportunities for BDF to address in the years to come. The Baltic Sea Region is still very young and the cooperation needs further expansion. The participants underlined the importance of the main fact that basic political stability in the region had been achieved. It was regarded as the most important political outcome of cooperation in the Baltic Sea region; it was also regarded as a precondition for further closer economic, social and cultural integration among the Baltic States.


The BDF guests, friends and supporters participating in the cozy celebration of the organisation’s 15 prosperous years wished BDF “very many happy returns” and expressed their desire to look forward to the upcoming years of fruitful cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region assisted by BDF.

 

Reference: http://www.bdforum.org/15th-anniversary-recepton/


Pictures are made by E.Eteris.







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