LATVIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL

OF THE BALTIC SEA STATES 2018–2019

A Selection of the Scheduled Presidency Events 2018–2019*19-30 June

Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, “Baltic International Summer School on media literacy and democratic processes”

Valmiera, Riga

18 - 20 August ReGeneration 2030 SummitMariehamn

Åland

26 – 28 August The 27th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference Mariehamn,

Åland

6,7 SeptemberVASAB Workshop “Smart urban governance in times of transition. Resilience of small and medium cities in the Baltic Sea Region” / VASAB CSPD / BSR meeting (tbc)

Liepaja

18 – 19 September

First CBSS Committee of Senior Officials meeting Riga

18 – 19 September

Operation Planning and Coordination meeting of the Baltic Sea Task Force (BSTF) on Organised Crime

Riga

September Baltic TRAM partner meeting Riga

September CBSS Expert Group on Sustainable Development (EGSD) meeting Riga

2 – 3 October International Conference on Decent Work Riga

3 – 5 October Baltic Region Heritage Committee (BRHC) meeting and conference Riga

October Second CBSS Committee of Senior Officials meeting / CBSS Secretariat’s 20th Anniversary celebration

Stockholm

October CBSS Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (TF-THB) meeting Riga

October 3rd Stakeholder meeting “Financing the Future of Energy” Riga

OctoberWorking Group on Strengthening the Transnational Capacity of the Management of CBRNE agents related Emergencies (STAC-CBRNE)

Riga

15 – 16 November

High-level Conference on the implementation of the legal prohibition of all corporal punishment of children

Stockholm

29 – 30 November

Baltic Sea Task Force on Organized Crime (BSTF) Annual Strategic meeting Riga

November Societal Security in the Baltic Sea Region: Challenges and Solutions Alumni conference Riga

November Underwater Cultural Heritage Working Group meeting Riga

November PA Secure Steering Committee meeting Riga

November Baltic Sea Region Climate Dialogue Platform 9th Round-Table (tbc) Riga

December Third CBSS Committee of Senior Officials meeting Riga

December CBSS Expert Group on Children at Risk (CAR) meeting / 20th Anniversary celebration Riga

January2nd VASAB Workshop on Smart urban governance in times of transition VASAB CSPD /BSR meeting (tbc)

Riga

February CBSS Baltic Sea Science Day 2019 / High-Level Session Concluding event of the Baltic Science Network (BSN)

Riga

February CBSS Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (TF-THB) meeting / Conference on Prosecution of THB Cases & Victim’s Rights in Legal proceedings

Riga

February Fourth CBSS Committee of Senior Officials meeting Brussels

February / March Civil Protection Network – Senior Expert meeting Riga

MarchCBSS Expert Group on Sustainable Maritime Economy (EGSME) meeting

Riga

4 April Baltic Sea Trade Union Network (BASTUN) Spring meeting Riga (tbc)

April Conference on the Future of Baltic Sea Regional Studies Riga

April Baltic Region Heritage Committee (BRHC) meeting Riga or Oslo

April CBSS Expert Group on Children at Risk (CAR) meeting Riga

April Fifth CBSS Committee of Senior Officials meeting Riga

April / MayConference “Baltic Pathway Towards Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Development” (tbc)

Riga

Spring Conference on digital approaches in cultural heritages towards a pan-Baltic cooperation network

Riga

May Seminar on Life cycle approach in project and procurement planning (tbc) Riga

May CBSS Expert Group on Sustainable Development (EGSD) 20th meeting Riga

May 17th Meeting of Directors General for Civil Protection in the Baltic Sea Region Riga

May CBSS Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (TF-THB) meeting Riga

May VASAB Conference on urban governance in times of transition (tbc) Riga

June Sixth CBSS Committee of Senior Officials meeting Riga

June Concluding High-Level event of the Latvian Presidency Riga

For more information about the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States: http://www.mfa.gov.lv/

General information throughout the year can be found on the Council of the Baltic Sea States website: http://www.cbss.org/

Photos: Ministry of Interior of Latvia, Indriķis Stūrmanis, Valts Vītums,

Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat

PRIORITIES:• INTEGRITY AND SOCIETAL SECURITY

• DIALOGUE

• RESPONSIBILITY

VISION FOR THE BALTIC SEA REGION BEYOND 2020

The Foreign Ministers and high-level representatives of the CBSS and European Union met in Reykjavik on 20 June 2017, and agreed on the need to maintain and strengthen the role of the CBSS towards 2020 and beyond. They invited the CBSS to appoint an independent group of experts (the CBSS Vision Group) to elaborate a report with recommendations for a vision for the Baltic Sea Region beyond 2020 and on the future role of the CBSS, as well as the means to expand its impact as a forum for political dialogue and practical cooperation in the region. The CBSS Vision Group includes representatives from the 11 CBSS Member countries plus the European Union.

During the Swedish CBSS Presidency 2017 – 2018 the CBSS Vision Group met in Stockholm three times to discuss the future role of the CBSS in the region. At the Reykjavik Meeting of Foreign Ministers it was envisaged that the CBSS Vision Group would present its report and recommendations to the CBSS at the High-Level meeting to culminate the Swedish CBSS Presidency. The reflections on im-plementation of the report with recommendations will take place during the Latvian CBSS Presidency.

* According to the information on 1 June 2018

INTEGRITY AND SOCIETAL SECURITY

Today more than ever the population and government agencies in the Baltic Sea Region, especially the law enforcement and civil protection authorities, all have one joint need and responsibility – to work together to establish a common societal security culture. Latvia aims to increase macro-regional coherence in approaching societal security threats.

Based on the positive results, achieved by previous presidencies, and in order to advance this process, the Latvian Presidency will focus on the following issues:

• Enhancing cooperation in civil protection area to strengthen resilience in the region against major emergencies and disasters.

• Fighting against trafficking in human beings to prevent and mitigate consequences of this severe crime.

• Combating organised crime and strengthening border management.

In 2017, the CBSS Civil Protection Network (CPN) adopted the Joint Position on Enhancing Cooperation in Civil Protection Area that defines eight priority areas for the upcoming years. The Latvian Presidency will ensure the advancement in implementation of two of the strategic actions, and in particular: build-ing a common societal security culture and combining national efforts in implementing the UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Moreover, Latvia in cooperation with academia will organise the conference “Societal Security in the Baltic Sea Region: Challenges and Solutions”, aiming to keep the network of enlightened decision-makers active. All these endeavours will contribute to making the Baltic Sea Region safer and more secure for all people living here.

DIALOGUE

We share a common value – the Baltic Sea coast with its special character and cultural heritage. One that is enriched by the many diverse contributions from each of the countries along its shores.

There is a tendency towards a broader understanding of cultural heritage as an important element in the development of a democratic, law-based and culture oriented society. Cultural heritage plays a role both in shaping regional identity and ensuring sustainable growth – the long term CBSS priorities.

The notion of cultural heritage has expanded. It is no longer something exclusive to be revered, it is becoming an integral part of our societal living space. This space is constantly evolving which means that heritage systems should be flexible and able to adapt to these changes. The preservation of cultural heritage calls for an interdisciplinary approach which looks at the wider context beyond a particular ob-ject or sector. A dialogue among experts and other stakeholders is necessary in order to discuss heritage preservation systems, including systems for recent cultural heritage, as well as, the use of contemporary methods and technologies to find models that best serve these contexts.

Human trafficking remains a topical issue for the countries in the Baltic Sea Region. Effective prevention depends on mutual trust between all stakeholders involved in counteracting these crimes and providing timely assistance to victims. Integrity and ability to establish mutual trust between all actors involved are the most important issues that need to be promoted by joint efforts. Further steps are necessary to increase an understanding of victims’ rights, to strengthen investigation and prosecution, and effective handling of trafficking cases by the judiciary. Strengthening the role of local actors, in particular mass media, in prevention of trafficking in human beings and work on the development of a TRM (Transna-tional Referral Mechanism) for the Baltic Sea Region will be continued by the CBSS Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (TF-THB) in cooperation with the CBSS Children at Risk Group (CAR). The Expert Group has special expertise relevant to the exploitation and trafficking of children below 18.

Regional cooperation is also required to tackle such supranational phenomena like the smuggling of drugs and weapons, irregular migration, crimes against property and crimes threatening economic in-terests and state budget revenue, as well as the use of the internet for unlawful activities. Latvia will support all efforts aimed at building a comprehensive mechanism for operational cooperation between law enforcement agencies in the Baltic Sea Region, in particular, based on the achievements of two networks: the Baltic Sea Task Force against Organised Crime (BSTF) and the Baltic Sea Region Border Control Cooperation (BSRBCC). Law enforcement agencies of the Baltic Sea Region will benefit from in-creased day-to-day cooperation founded on a multidisciplinary approach, integrity and trust, confidence in justice as well as a common understanding of major threats.

RESPONSIBILITY

The Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the “Baltic 2030 Action Plan – a Shared Vision”, depends on a responsible approach both on national and regional level. Re-sponsibility is multifaceted – it has political, administrative, environmental, economic, social, cultural and moral aspects. For the CBSS as a regional organisation it comes naturally – to take care of our common house and its future. The proposals for an implementation framework, elaborated during the Swedish Presidency, will serve as a basis for the new mandate of the CBSS Expert Group of Sustaina-ble Development to be approved during the Latvian Presidency.

SDGs in action during the Latvian Presidency will mean focusing on circular economy and responsible consumption and production that is practically interlinked with aspects of green procurement. Smart governance of our cities is something that unites the interests of urban planners in the countries of the region with very different background and approaches. The Latvian Presidency of the VASAB Commit-tee on Spatial Planning and Development of the Baltic Sea Region (CSPD/BSR) will address gaps in the development of various types of urban areas.

During the first half of the Latvian Presidency of the CBSS 24th Conference of the Parties to the Unit-ed Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will convene in Katowice, Poland, where at what is informally known as COP24 countries will adopt the necessary decisions for effective implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change. Climate change is a transboundary issue that concerns many areas on which work is undertaken by the CBSS – mitigation and adaptation to climate change, especially finding practical solutions is a common responsibility at municipal, national, regional, as well as international level. Moreover the CBSS is the Coordinator of the Climate Action of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and its Flagship “BSR Climate Dialogue Platform”.