Since the Baltic Sea Region re-established itself 20 years ago, regional cooperation has been driven by high political and economic ambitions. The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Re-gion was introduced in 2009 to address key challenges and untapped potential of this large region, covering about one third of the total area of the EU. To ensure that the Strategy succeeds in taking cooperation in the Region to higher levels, new ambitions and targets now need to be discussed. The place and time for this deliberation is Gdansk, the 24-26 Octo-ber 2011, during the 13th Baltic Development Forum Summit and the European Commission’s 2nd Annual Forum on the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, also co-organised by the Polish EU-Presidency, Pomorskie Region and the City of Gdansk. This regional gathering will take place close to the

NEW AMBITIONS FOR THE BALTIC SEA REGION

PROGRAMME, JULY VERSION

13th Baltic Development Forum Summit2nd Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea RegionGdansk, 24-26 October 2011

Monday 24 October

14.00 – 15.30

15.15 – 16.00

16.00 – 17.30

18.00

19.00 – 22.00

famous shipyard where the political re-birth of the Baltic Sea Region began, spearheaded by the Solidarnosc movement.

The new regional ambitions will also play into Europe’s wider ambitions for 2020 under the headline of Sustainable, Smart and Inclusive Growth. Stakeholders are invited to take an active part in the discussions that will provide input to the Polish EU-Presidency and to wider reflections on the future development of the Region. Growth strategies need close partnerships with the private sector. This is the reason why we extend a special invitation to the private sector and re-gional businesses, including from Russia and other non-EU Member States, to participate in setting the agenda. We look forward to seeing you in Gdansk!

Guided tour in Gdansk(open for all registered participants)

Registration Venue: the Polish Baltic Frédéric Chopin Philharmonic, Gdánsk

Business Networking on Top of EuropeJohannes Hahn, Commissioner for Regional Policy, European Commission (tbc)Hans Skov Christensen, Fmr. CEO, Confederation of Danish IndustryStephan Müchler, President, Baltic Chamber of Commerce AssociationMatthias Kollatz-Ahnen, Vice-President, European Investment Bank

Departure to Gala Dinner

Gala Dinner hosted by Baltic Development Forum (upon invitation only)Venue: Sheraton Hotel in the picturesque seaside city of SopotSpecial Dinner Address:Hans Dalborg, Honorary Chairman, Nordea Bank AB

Baltic Sea Award CeremonyEntertainment

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Tuesday 25 October

Venue

08.00 – 09.30

09.30 – 10.00

10.00 – 10.45

10.45 – 12.00

12.00 – 14.00

14.00 – 15.00

15.00 – 16.00

16.00 – 17.30

19.30 – 22.30

Registration

Official OpeningJohannes Hahn, Commissioner for Regional Policy, European Commission (tbc)Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, Chairman, Baltic Development Forum Donald Tusk, Prime Minister, Poland (tbc)Mieczysław Struk, Marshal of Pomorskie RegionPaweł Adamowicz, Mayor of Gdánsk

Plenary Session 1Economic performance: the State of the Region Presented by:Christian Ketels, Principal Associate, Harvard Business School Commented by:Christina Gestrin, Finnish MP, Chairman of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (tbc)Bozidar Djelic, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia (tbc)

Plenary Session 2Business Perspective on Regional Development Prof. Dr. Hans-Jörg Schmidt-Trenz, CEO, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce (tbc)Jürgen R. Thumann, President, Business Europe (tbc)Maciej Dobrzyniecki, Chancellor of the Gdánsk Chapter of the Business Centre Club (tbc)

Lunch and Networking Village ActivitiesPresentations of Flagship Projects under the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea RegionWorkshops:State of the Region Report Political State of the Region ReportKnowledge Management and Communication

Plenary Session 3New Ambitions for Baltic Sea Region CooperationAngela Merkel, Chancellor, Germany (tbc)Jyrki Katainen, Prime Minister, Finland (tbc)Andrus Ansip, Prime Minister, Estonia Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Prime Minister, Denmark (tbc)Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden (tbc)

Coffee break and Networking Village Activities Presentations of Flagship Projects under the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

Parallel SessionsDigital Agenda for the Baltic Sea RegionGreen Growth: WaterNorthern DimensionConnectivityInternational Financial Institutions and Project FundingFostering Innovation in the Baltic Sea RegionRegional Identity

DinnerVenue: Business and Cultural Centre, The Gdansk Shipyard

Innovation Award Entertainment

The Polish Baltic Frédéric Chopin PhilharmonicSummit Moderator: Verner Kristiansen, Communication Advisor

Dirk Ahner Director General for Regional Policy, European Commission

Donald Tusk Prime Minister of Poland

Uffe Ellemann-JensenChairman, Baltic Development Forum

Johannes HahnCommissioner for Regional Policy, European Commission

Venue

09.00 – 09.30

09.30 – 11.00

11.00 – 11.30

Wednesday 26 October

11.30 – 13.00

13.00 – 14.00

14.00 – 15.00

The Polish Baltic Frédéric Chopin Philharmonic, GdanskSummit Moderator: Verner Kristiansen, Communication Advisor

Plenary Session 4Setting Targets for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea RegionPresented by:Dirk Ahner, Director-General, European Commission (tbc)Commented by:Halldor Asgrimsson, Secretary General, Nordic Council of Ministers (tbc)Henryka Moscicka-Dendys, Deputy Director, European Policy Department, Polish Ministry of Foreign AffairsMercedes Bresso, President, Committee of the Regions (tbc)Michael Smyth, President, ECO Section, European Economic and Social Committee (tbc)

Sum-up of Day 1

Coffee break and Networking Village ActivitiesPresentations of Flagship Projects under the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea RegionPresentation of BONUS

Parallel SessionsSustainable DevelopmentGreen Growth: EnergyCBSS: Celebrating 20 years of active engagement in the RegionDoing Business in PolandBlue GrowthMulti-level GovernanceFuture Perspectives on the Alignment of Funding

Lunch and Networking Village ActivitiesPresentations of the Flagship Projects under the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Workshops

Closing Plenary Session 5 Olgierd Geblewicz, Marshal of the Westpomeranian Region, Chairman of Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation (tbc)Hans Brask, Director, Baltic Development ForumDirk Ahner, Director-General, European Commission (tbc)

PROGRAMME, JULY VERSION