“We view the Council of the Baltic Sea States as the principal format of regional integration in the Baltic Sea region, complementing our involvement with the Visegrad Group,” said Undersecretary of State Mościcka-Dendys. She went on to thank Estonia for its fruitful 2014-15 presidency, which is now coming to an end. As the Polish deputy minister underscored, the past year has been difficult mainly due to the developments in eastern Ukraine, and their impact on the Baltic Sea region’s security.
Poland’s one-year presidency will pursue three priorities: sustainable development, culture as a driving force for social and economic development, and civil protection.
Deputy Minister Henryka Mościcka-Dendys stressed that during its CBSS presidency “Poland will promote energy efficiency, green technologies, better use of Baltic resources, and environmental protection. We have a lot to show for it,” said the deputy minister. She recalled some Polish achievements in creative industries from the past quarter century, especially in design, industrial design and art. Referring to civil protection, Deputy Minister Mościcka-Dendys said that Poland “wants to tap into its past experience and make civil services more interested in regional cooperation.”
Jan Lundin, Director General of the Council’s Secretariat, noted the achievements of Polish transition over the last twenty-five years, notably the successful transformation and the dynamic economic growth. He added that our country is well prepared for the presidency. Moreover, Deputy Minister Henryka Mościcka-Dendys and Jan Lundin met on Tuesday with the diplomatic corps from CBSS countries, observer countries, and EU member states. The participants were presented with the priorities of the Polish presidency.
CBSS brings together all the countries situated on the Baltic Sea (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden), plus Iceland, Norway and the EU. The Polish presidency’s logo was also unveiled.
For more information about the Polish presidency, go to: Baltic
Source: Press Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Poland
Photo © M. Jasiulewicz, K. Siemion-Bielska/MFA