Commission staff working document
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- Sub-objective: Good transport conditions
- Sub-objective: Reliable energy markets
- Sub-objective: Connecting people in the region
- Sub-objective: Better cooperation in fighting cross-border crime
- Targets and indicators for the objective ‘Connect the Region’
Connect the RegionThe geography of the Baltic Sea region, the very long distances by European standards (especially to the Northern parts, which are very remote), the extent of the sea that links but also divides the sub-regions, the long external borders, all pose special challenges to communication and physical accessibility in the region. In particular, the historical and geographical position of the Eastern Baltic Member States, with their internal networks largely oriented East-West, makes substantial investment in communication, transport and energy infrastructures particularly important. As well as being costly and energy inefficient, these missing links are obstacles to the Internal Market and to the goal of territorial cohesion. In addition, the very extent and variety of the region creates particular attractions for visitors and residents. The wealth of languages and cultures that have survived through centuries of interaction of various types, the range of urban heritage, landscapes, seascapes and cultural landmarks available, provide great potential to create a region that will be a magnet to internal and external visitors. The priority areas in this section therefore seek to address the risks and challenges, while also exploiting and enhancing the opportunities within the region. The priority areas contributing to the Strategy’s ‘Connect the Region’ objective can use the renewed Strategy framework to provide territorial solutions that are smart, sustainable and inclusive, and help connect the region both physically and culturally. The main priorities under this objective are: 1) to improve internal and external transport links; 2) to improve the access to, and the efficiency and security of energy markets; 3) to connect people in the region.
Sub-objective: Good transport conditionsIn the Baltic Sea region, transport is particularly important as the distances – internally, to the rest of Europe and to the wider world – are great and the conditions for traffic are often difficult (forests, lakes, snow and ice in the winter, etc.). The region, which is located on the periphery of the economic centre of Europe, depends strongly on foreign trade in goods and needs well-functioning transport infrastructure to achieve economic growth. As the region is made up of many relatively small countries, national actions are not enough, and even bi-lateral cooperation does not provide the necessary solutions. Wider regional cooperation is needed to overcome the transport bottlenecks. Many of the planned major infrastructure projects only make sense if you look at them from a macro-regional perspective. Regional collaboration structures need to reflect these benefits to make sure that sufficient investment in infrastructure is made. Moreover, the Baltic Sea is a sensitive ecosystem, and this makes environmental issues important when developing transport infrastructures. The designation of the Baltic Sea as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) allows the development of particular and specific measures for the Baltic Sea to ensure the sustainability of maritime transport. The main challenge regarding transport development in the Baltic Sea region is to reduce its remoteness by improving links within the region and to the rest of the EU. Without jeopardising the work under the strategy’s first objective, ‘Save the Sea’. East-West links are needed to overcome the infrastructure shortfalls of the eastern and south-eastern sides of the sea. The North is very remote and therefore dependent on efficient transport. Better connections to Russia and other neighbours are needed. Further connections to Asia, to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean regions should be developed. This could increase the region’s potential as EU’s gateway to Asia. The geography of the Baltic Sea region makes transport particularly challenging. Improving internal and external transport links, increasing efficiency and minimising the environmental impact of transport systems and increasing the resilience of infrastructure to natural and man-made disasters (including the accompanying coastal development and infrastructure), should help boost the competitiveness of the Baltic Sea region, and increase its accessibility and attractiveness. Links to islands and remote communities are a specific issue. Sub-objective: Reliable energy marketsDespite common European objectives in energy, affirmed in European Council Conclusions in 2011 and 2012 (calling for the completion of ‘the internal energy market by 2014’ and stating that ‘no EU Member State should remain isolated from the European networks after 2015’), the three Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) are not yet properly integrated into the wider energy networks of the rest of the EU. At present, the only power connection is the Estlink between Finland and Estonia. However, the planned second connection – Estlink 2 – between Finland and Estonia will improve connectivity. The cable between Sweden and Lithuania (NordBalt) and the new link between Lithuania and Poland (LitPol Link I) are expected to improve connectivity with the Nordic and Continental European electricity markets by the end of 2015. Decisions on gas interconnections and the regional LNG terminal are still pending. This hampers proper gas integration or other ways to diversify gas supply in the Baltic States (although a LNG terminal will be operational in Lithuania by the end of 2014 to satisfy a part of its gas needs). As a result, the Baltic States are practically isolated in terms of gas supply and therefore are ‘energy island’ in the EU. Consequently, further actions for creation a fully interconnected and integrated regional energy market should still remain the goal for all EUSBSR states. The development and integration of energy markets is therefore a key goal, aiming to: 1) improve the security of energy supply, particularly in the eastern Baltic Sea region; 2) facilitate the diversification of energy sources; 3) contribute to economic growth by improving the competitiveness of the region and encourage investments in renewable energy; 4) contribute to the overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through more efficient energy distribution, increased use of renewable energies, and action to reduce energy demand. In addition, attention must be paid to the resilience of infrastructure to natural and man-made disasters. The EUSBSR, promoting regional cooperation among the EU Member States, would strongly contribute to the implementation of common European objectives in the energy sector, creating an integrated energy market. The timely implementation of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP), an extension of the Nordic electricity market model to the three Baltic States, and demonstration of coordinated offshore wind farm connection solutions and other options to increase the use of renewable energy, monitored by EUSBSR, would facilitate the work in this area. As with all proposed investments, this should come under an ISUM approach, including the use of environmental impact assessments (EIAs) to ensure that the potential costs do not outweigh the benefits. Sub-objective: Connecting people in the regionThe objectives of the Strategy will be achieved by improving cooperation between the actors involved. Therefore, in almost all priorities and horizontal actions, one of the effects of the strategy will be to better connect the people in the region, either by setting-up new networks and new platforms of cooperation, or by strengthening the existing ones. Connecting the region also includes improved access to communications networks and the internet as basis for seamless flow of information and closer and more instantaneous cooperation and exchange. In this respect, the upcoming programmes, cooperation or coordination organisations, and all the instruments made available to carry out the activities, actions and projects of the Strategy will have to be used in a way to create a wide feeling of ownership of the Strategy, for all people concerned. Depending on the priorities and horizontal actions concerned, this connection may be physical, such as by access to communications networks, cultural, intellectual or economic. Sub-objective: Better cooperation in fighting cross-border crimeIt is widely acknowledged that, without a sense of security and confidence, it is extremely difficult, if not possible, to achieve development of any kind. The EUSBSR therefore includes actions that address the specific challenges of the region in this field. The Baltic Sea region has long external EU borders which, due to geographical conditions, are easy to cross. This places responsibilities on many Member States to take action to protect the safety and security of the Union as a whole. A number of related actions need to be highlighted. Actions to combat cross-border crime aim to bring regional cooperative focus to assessment and prevention, strengthen protection of external borders, and further develop long-term cooperation between Member States on law enforcement. The Baltic Sea Task Force on Organised Crime in the Baltic Sea region (BSTF OPC) is the only platform where all the EU Member States from the region, as well as Iceland, Norway, Russia, the European Commission, Europol and Interpol co-operate. The heads of Governments of the Baltic Sea states decides on the mandate of the BSTF OPC. Targets and indicators for the objective ‘Connect the Region’
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