Long-term priorities laid down by the CBSS itself:
Specific Norwegian presidency priorities:
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Maritime policy
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Fight against trafficking in human beings
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Further development of the CBSS as an organisation to become more efficient, relevant and operative.
Maritime policy
Maritime transport constitutes a large part of the trade in the Baltic Sea Region and represents up to 15 % of the world’s cargo traffic with a large expected increase. Shipping and related maritime activities are most central for the economic development of the region. However, there are also some negative environmental effects and challenges to be met: air emissions, discharge of oil and other waste and introduction of organisms through ballast water. The Norwegian Presidency will make use of the CBSS Expert Group on Maritime Policy to develop the sector and to meet the challenges.
Fight against trafficking in human beings
The CBSS is already heavily involved in the fight against trafficking in human beings in the region. This successful work needs to be carried on and given a high priority. The Norwegian Presidency will continue to implement the strategy and project activities that have been set for 2010 and will develop a strategy for 2011 based on further enhancing cooperation between law enforcement and the civil society. The CBSS Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings will be most central in this work.
Further development of the CBSS as an organisation
The CBSS decided in 2008, in its Declaration on the reform of the CBSS, to restructure its secretariat in order to better facilitate project identification, fund raising and project management. It also decided that full account should be taken of the work conducted in the Northern Dimension Policy framework and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region at that time under preparation in the European Union, on the understanding that the five long-term priorities of the CBSS will require a concerted effort by all relevant actors in the region. The Norwegian Presidency will continue to work for a restructuring of the secretariat, a further efficiency of the organisation and to seek consensus among all members in building a project portfolio with other actors.
During its Presidency Norway will be chairing a number of expert groups and other co-operation bodies within the priority areas:
Environment
· Make use of the Expert Group on Sustainable Development—Baltic 21 to contribute to a sustainable development in the region by co-ordinating goals and activities.
· Make use of the VASAB to promote a sustainable, balanced and harmonious spatial development in the region.
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Energy
· Make use the Baltic Sea Region Energy Cooperation, BASREC, to primarily continue the work initiated by the previous Danish and Lithuanian chairmanships with a special focus on responses to climate change, follow up of COP 15, energy efficiency, renewable energy and carbon capture and storage.
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Economic development
· Make use of the newly established Expert Group on Maritime Policy to help develop the most innovative and environmentally friendly solutions for the future maritime sector bearing in mind that shipping constitutes a large part of the trade in the Baltic Sea Region and is expected to increase in years to come.
· Make use of the Expert Group on Customs Cooperation and Border Crossing Aspects to encourage national efforts to be intensified in order to speed up the movement of goods at border crossings and thereby reducing obstacles to trade.
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Education and Culture
· Make use of the Expert Group on Youth Affairs to intensify the promotion of contacts and cooperation between the non-governmental child and youth organisations in the region.
· Make use of the Monitoring Group on Heritage Co-operation to promote closer cultural cooperation in the region.
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Civil Security
· Make use of the Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings to continue implementing its strategy for 2010 and to develop a new strategy for 2011, based on further enhancing cooperation between law enforcement and civil society.
· Make use of the Expert Group on Nuclear Radiation and Safety with focus on further promoting environmental monitoring in the CBSS area as a part of a more consistent and efficient environmental monitoring programme.
The Council of the Baltic Sea States
The CBSS was established in 1992. All the 11 countries in the region and the European Commission are members. The CBSS got its secretariat in Stockholm in 1998.
Norway has been a member of the CBSS since its establishment in 1992 and holds the Presidency from the first of July for one year in accordance with a rotation agreement between the members. Since the CBSS is a council of foreign ministers it follows that Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs will be the Chair of the CBSS during this period. A Committee of Senior Officials, with representation of all the members, functions as the governing body of the organisation, acting on behalf of the ministers.
During the Norwegian Presidency the Committee of Senior Officials will be chaired by Norway and 5 ordinary meetings are planned. One meeting will be combined with a separate meeting with the 10 observer countries of the CBSS.
In June 2011 the Norwegian Presidency will arrange a CBSS foreign ministers’ meeting in Norway. Germany will take over the Presidency after Norway.
Contacts
The Secretariat of the Norwegian Presidency of the CBSS
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
7. juniplassen 1
Victoria Terrasse 7,
0251 Oslo, Norway
Tel. + 47 22 24 36 00
Chair of the Committee of Senior Officials
Ambassador Dag Briseid
dag.briseid@mfa.no
Norway’s representative in the Committee of Senior Officials
Senior Adviser Merethe Luis
Merethe.Luis@mfa.no
Assistant
Adviser Viebecke Vraalsen
Viebecke.Vraalsen@mfa.no