15 Point Programme for the Baltic Sea Region

During May 23-24th 2008, the Centre Party of Sweden arranged a conference on environment,trade and transport around the Baltic Sea. Participants from the liberal parties of the BalticSea states were present in order to discuss future challenges. As liberals we see that there areseveral tools we can use to develop the region socially, environmentally and financially. Ouraim is to create an even more dynamic and flourishing Baltic Sea region. In order to reach thatgoal, the liberal parties of the Baltic Sea states present at the conference1 have adopted thefollowing conclusions.

1. The ambition of the liberal parties of the Baltic Sea states is to make the Baltic Sea apriority on the highest political level, both in the Baltic Sea states and in the EU.

2. The vision of the liberal parties of the Baltic Sea states is for the Baltic Sea region tobe the leading economic region within the EU. Therefore we strongly recommend thatfull functionality of the single market is completely introduced.

3. For a successful Baltic Sea region we believe that a holistic approach is essential.Therefore we need to combine environmental issues, competitive issues and labourissues for a dynamic and flourishing region.

4. The overall ambition for the liberal parties around the Baltic Sea is for the region to bea fore front runner and a role model within Europe when it comes to environmental,social and economic development.

5. In order to meet environmental, social and economic challenges we strongly urgeRussia to take a greater interest and become an active partner in the Baltic Sea region.

6. Our ambition is to create a business friendly environment and promote people to startand run businesses. Therefore we would like to cut administrative costs and create amore transparent and flexible regulatory framework on the European, regional andnational level.

7. The ambition of the liberal parties of the Baltic Sea states is to stimulate innovationand growth, especially within the green technology sector.

8. The ambition of the liberal parties of the Baltic Sea states is to deal with theenvironmental issues of the Baltic Sea with a cross-sectoral ecosystem-basedapproach.

1 Centre Party of Sweden, Centre Party of Finland, Centre Party of Estonia, Reform Party of Estonia, ReformParty Youth Organisation, Lithuanian Republic Liberal Movement of Lithuania, Freie Demokratische Partei ofGermany, Venstre of Denmark

9. The ambition of the liberal parties of the Baltic Sea states is to introduce emissiontrading scheme for shipping in the region. The revenue generated from the tradingscheme should mainly go to funding environmental improvements and efforts in theBaltic Sea.

10. In order to deal with eutrophication the liberal parties of the Baltic Sea states wouldlike to look into the possibility of introducing a trading scheme for nitrogen andphosphorus in the Baltic Sea. The revenue generated from the trading scheme shouldmainly go to funding environmental improvements and efforts in the Baltic Searegion.

11. The liberal parties of the Baltic Sea states have the ambition to introduce a zoningsystem to preserve, protect and administrate certain sensitive areas in the Baltic Sea.

12. To reduce the risk of shipping accidents the liberal parties of the Baltic Sea stateswould like to ban substandard ships in the Baltic Sea.

13. The liberal parties of the Baltic Sea states have the ambition to reduce oil dependency,cut the levels of CO2-emissions and promote renewable energy.

14. In order to increase knowledge and understanding within the Baltic Sea region westrongly support cooperation and continuous dialogue with and within civil societies.

15. The liberal parties of the Baltic Sea states have the ambition to improve knowledgeand strengthen a common identity through various educational exchange programmes.

Our common desire is for these conclusions to be adopted by the ELDR and eventually by theEU member states.