PRIORITIES FOR DANISH PRESIDENCYThe implementation of reform measures, as decided upon by the Council and endorsed by the 7th Baltic Sea States Summit in Riga in June 2008, will take centre stage in all bodies chaired by Denmark during her Presidency.
In addition, the Presidency will make particular efforts towards substantive achievements by such bodies, as regards cooperation within the four priority sectors:
Energy & Climate
Safeguarding the Environment
Empowering Youth
Enhancing Civil Security
Energy and Climate
Tools
Baltic Sea Region Energy Cooperation - Ministers for Energy and the EU Commissioner (Chair: Mrs. Connie Hedegaard, Minister for Climate and Energy)
Group of Senior Energy Officials (Chair: Mr. Hans Jørgen Koch, Deputy State Secretary, hjk@ens.dk – tel +45 33926708)
Main aspirations
To continue and strengthen the long-lasting energy co-operation in the region with a view to sustaining the integration of the energy markets and the infrastructure as well as ensuring competitive, stable and secure energy supplies, while combating climate change.
To foster political discussion on energy perspectives related to climate issues with a view to meeting the key challenges of the current developments facing the region and beyond.
To maintain BASREC as an important forum for exchanging views and practical knowledge between the EU/EEA countries and Russia in the energy field.
To make BASREC play an active role in the EU-Russia dialogue and be a vehicle in the Northern Dimension policy.
Main events
The BASREC Conference of Ministers (Copenhagen, 9-10 September 2008).
Workshops, seminars etc. to follow up on decisions taken at the above conference.
Safeguarding the Environment
Tools
Baltic 21 Senior Officials Group (Chair: Mr. Carl Bjørn Rasmussen, Head of Section, cbr@mst.dk – tel. +45 32 66 01 00)
VASAB (“Visions and Strategies around the Baltic Sea 2010”) Committee for Spatial Development in the Baltic Sea Region (Chair: Mr. Peter Pouplier, Head of Division, ppo@blst.dk – tel. +45 72 54 47 82)
Main aspirations
To contribute to an organizational streamlining of the work on environmental protection within relevant CBSS bodies, taking into account efforts by other international bodies in the region.
To render support, as appropriate, to facilitate implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan in the light of requests received.
To develop a concept for intervention against illegal export of hazardous waste, involving both customs control and environmental protection authorities.
To establish a revised VASAB long-term perspective with a cross-sectoral view on the future development of the Baltic Sea region
To continue the dialogue with relevant VASAB stakeholders to qualify prioritized themes requiring joint actions.
Main events
Joint operation against illegal export of hazardous waste (1st half of 2009)
Empowering Youth
Tools
CBSS Working Group on Youth Affairs (Chair: Mr. Uffe Sveegaard, Head of Section, uffe.sveegaard@uvm.dk – tel. +45 32 92 53 45)
Main aspirations
To provide a forum for all countries of the Baltic Sea region to develop ideas and strategies for youth policy generally.
To connect the strategies for youth policy of these countries and to establish current projects.
Main events
Conference on youth under the theme “Turning young people into active citizens by integrating science and sustainable development into their everyday life” (venue and timing to be determined)
Annual meeting of the Working Group on Youth Affairs
Enhancing Civil Security
Tools
Annual meeting of Directors-General for Civil Protection (Chair: Mr. Frederik Schydt, Director-General. Contact person: Ms. Christina Djurhuus, cdj@brs.dk - tel. +45 45 90 62 25)
Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (Chair: Ms. Anne Katrine Tholstrup Bertelsen, Head of Section, ATB@lige.dk – tel. +45 72 26 97 82)
Working Group for Cooperation on Children at Risk (Deputy Chair: Mr. Bertil Mahs, Head of Department, bma@servicestyrelsen.dk – tel. +45 72 42 37 00)
Main aspirations
To counteract trafficking in human beings in the Baltic Sea Region through coordination, the exchange of best practices and the conduct of preventive and protective activities.
To establish an expert group of Senior Tax Officials
Main events
Meeting of Directors-General on the topic of “Holistic Civil Emergency Preparedness Planning” (Copenhagen, 26-27 March 2009).
5th Meeting of National Contact Points on Unaccompanied and Trafficked Children (November – December 2008).
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