Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
7th Strategy Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region - Vision 2030 Seminar Report Title of Seminar: Perspectives for EU-Russia cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region Name of Seminar Organiser: HAC Neighbours Name of Seminar Rapporteur: Fatima Sow Date: 09th November, 2016 Time: 10:40 to 12:30hrs Venue: Riddarsalen, The Brewery conference Centre, Stockholm. SUMMARY: Nowadays, neighbours are becoming more important than relatives, and Russia is the biggest neighbour to the European Union (EU). The cooperation of all partners in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) is needed to tap the full potential of the region. The BSR wants to remain a wealthy region but globalisation is chipping in. Right now there is the Asian century and there will be an African century. Cooperation is needed if the BSR is to remain competitive. The BSR must be kept as a region of peace. It is imperative to solve conflict in the region and reach agreements. Dialogue, which leads to concrete actions that facilitate a more integrated approach, has to be embraced because there exists mixed opinions on different things. For this reason, military buildup, among other things, should be held in check to avoid tension in the region. A favourable environment is being created when BSR goals that are common to both Russia and the EU are implemented. Russia and the EU countries do not only have similar interests but face similar challenges. There is the common problem of climate change (such as the omission of black carbon in the arctic sea) and having an aging population. Concrete action is needed because areas where the problem lies are known. The best most proven way is cooperation between the EU and the Northern regions. Migration means open and less open economies in the region are becoming more and more interrelated and better dialogue on this should be done. There are many areas of cooperation including: logistics (such as investment in infrastructure for electricity), transport and communication; research, especially one that requires huge resources; cooperation between educational institutions; people-to-people contact, especially among the youth and across the boarders; and business development within the possibilities that exist today, due to geopolitics. Due to the sanctions present, there is need to find alternatives. There is need for better dialogue, cooperation in a pragmatic manner and ensuring the participation of different actors such as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Many other areas of cooperation exist using the BSR strategy, Russian strategies such as the All Russia Forum Strategy 2017 and the European Neighbourhood which is a great way to achieve success with great Nordic runners in the region. The North-Western Strategy and the EU Strategy are in line with some of Russia’s strategies. The Council of the Baltic Sea should implement common flagships/ strategies in cooperation with Russia. Suffice to say that Russia, just like the EU, is already working towards some of the priorities of the BSR as they appear and/or fit into its own strategic plans. There is need to have a common view of implementation. This can be achieved through: having joint action plans as there are a lot of resources on both the EU and Russian side to facilitate the coordination of strategies; coordination of action plans; the creation of sectorial programmes; content formation for RussiaEU partnership; and the selection of preferred projects. Many opportunities and instruments are already in place, they just have to ‘be used’! For instance, cooperation already exists between different universities. Before 2010, there were strong cooperations between the EU and Russia. Despite the crisis (but then ‘because of the crisis’) there is need to intensify that cooperation again. Common interests and challenges create a platform for cooperation between the EU and Russia. We should, however, not use cooperation to change societies. Let Russia work on its own strategies that relate to the BSR Strategy and vice versa for the EU. Desired results can be achieved through different indicators if mutual interests and benefits are explored. Macro economic strategies must be linked in this cooperation, as the EU and Russia plan common programmes. Trust has to be built and feature more prominently than it does now. We do not need to wait for a better time, we can create the better times. One region, one future. A future that is shared with all mankind.