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Baltic Sea States Vow to Boost Environmental Safety

Posted on: Thursday, 5 June 2008, 09:00 CDT

Leaders of 11 countries bordering the Baltic Sea on Wednesday agreed that environmental protection, economic growth and energy security would be top priorities for the Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS).

At a two-day summit that ended Wednesday, the Baltic Sea countries discussed the future strategy for development in the region and reform of the CBSS, which was created in 1992 to promote regional cooperation following the end of the Soviet Union.

A declaration was issued at the end of the summit, according to which environmental protection, economic growth, energy safety and enhanced cultural exchange as well as regional security would be the group's focus in the coming years.

"The vision is clear -- We want to make the Baltic Sea region the most dynamic region and fastest-growing economy in Europe," said Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, whose country is to hold the next rotating presidency of the CBSS.

Fogh Rasmussen said the Baltic Sea region needs to steadily enhance competitiveness and mobility by removing trade barriers and developing transport and other connections between member states.

He also proposed the creation of several strong "business clusters" in science and technology and urged the improvement of the knowledge-based economy in the region.

The Council of Baltic Sea States includes Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia. It holds a summit every two years.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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