Baltic Metropoles Network
On 1 January 2009 Stockholm became the Chair City of the Baltic Metropoles Cooperation Network (BaltMet).
Riga was the Chair City of the Baltic Metropoles Cooperation Network (BaltMet) from 18 October 2005 and until the end of 2008.
The Baltic Metropoles Network (www.baltmet.org) was established on 22 October, 2002, in Copenhagen as a sustainable cooperation structure of the most significant cities of the Baltic Sea Region. The BaltMet member cities are Berlin, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Malmo, Oslo, Riga, Stockholm, Saint Petersburg, Tallinn, Vilnius and Warsaw.
The main goal of the network is to introduce the European Union Lisbon strategy locally, to promote competitiveness of the member cities and of the Baltic Sea Region as an integrated, subsistent and knowledge based sustainable region in protection of its interests on the international arena. The long-term goal of the network is to promote establishment of the Baltic Sea Region as one of the most competitive regions of the European Union.
In accordance with the main principles of the Baltic Metropoles Cooperation Network, the annual Mayors’ Meetings of the member cities is the main decision making body. The last meeting took place from 13 - 14 November 2008.
One of the chief objectives of the BaltMet Network is development and implementation of new international projects, by attracting investments to the region and promoting cooperation of the municipalities, entrepreneurs and scientists.
Up to now the city of Riga has participated in several projects within the framework of the BaltMet Network, for instance:
BaltMet Inno, within the framework of which a unified innovation strategy of partner cities was elaborated and the cooperation network between member cities was developed (Further information is available at http://www.inno.baltmet.org);
BaltMet Invest, within the framework of which a common strategy was elaborated for the coordinated attraction and planning of investments for the three capitals of the Baltic countries – Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius (Further information is available at www.invest.baltmet.org);
BaltMet Exchange, which was an exchange programme for representatives of the Culture Departments from Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius and Warsaw to promote cooperation and exchange of experience. Similar projects are planned to be implemented also for other specialists. (Further information is available at http://exchange.baltmet.org/)
BaltMet Infra, within the framework of which an agreement was reached on the infrastructure and transport projects in the Baltic Sea Region, which are important for the metropoles, with the aim of strengthening competitiveness of the Baltic Sea Region as a whole;
Baltic Challenge – the annual international competition, where an award is granted for the best innovative solution of the information and communication technologies intended for a wide range of users (Further information is available at www.balticchallenge.net).
At present several new initiatives of the cooperation projects are being developed in the areas determined by the Action Plan 2008 - 2010.
More comprehensive information is available on the BaltMet cooperation network home page: www.baltmet.org
Basic Principles of the Baltic Metropoles Cooperation Network (BaltMet)
1. Name
The network’s name is Baltic Metropoles.
2. Establishment
This network was established on 22 October 2002 in Copenhagen by the Mayors who signed the Copenhagen Resolution.
3. Participants
The network consists of capitals of the Baltic Sea Region, interstate regions of the metropoles and other significant cities. The network member cities are Berlin, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Malmo, Oslo, Riga, Stockholm, Saint Petersburg, Tallinn, Vilnius and Warsaw.
The member cities are encouraged to involve other cities, networks of cities and state bodies of their country into the Baltic Metropoles Cooperation Network events.
4. Tasks
The aim of the member cities is to strengthen the competitiveness through mutual cooperation and, by emphasising interests of the cities, to promote growth of the Baltic Sea Region as a unified, successful and sustainably competitive region.
5. Structure
It is a sustainable cooperation network formed of the largest cities of the Baltic Sea Region.
Operation of the network is based on regular Meetings of the Mayors and regular Meetings of the Officials.
The Mayors’ Meeting is the main decision making body of the network that defines Action Plans and elects the Chair City and the Vice Chair City or the Vice President. The Chairmanship lasts for two years and can be extended.
The Chair City’s duty is to ensure operation of the Secretariat of the Network. To prepare the Mayors’ Meeting and to implement decisions of the Mayors’ Meeting, the Chair City regularly calls the Officials’ Meeting which consists of representatives of the member cities.
The Vice Chair City or the Vice President supports the Chair City in preparation of the meetings.
Venue of the meetings changes according to the rotation principle.
6. Financing
There is no membership fee in the network and its participants finance the taken measures as special measures. Expenses of the network activities are covered by the member cities. The EU financing will be efficiently used for the projects.
Functioning of the Secretariat is financed by the Chair City.
7. Work methods and Cooperation with Other Partners
The networks operates by initiating and coordinating cooperation projects of the specific member cities and defending interests of the metropolises in the context of the Baltic Sea Region and the European Union.
As a result of the project cooperation, innovative solutions are elaborated by inviting other partners, especially from the areas of science, entrepreneurship and administration.
Observation of interests of the Baltic Sea Region will be promoted by direct cooperation with other networks of cities, as well as other regions and the European Union partners.
The chief areas, where attention is devoted to, are described in the Action Plan prepared every second year.
Baltic Metropoles Cooperation Network
ACTION PLAN
2008 – 2010
The eleven member cities of the Baltic Metropoles Network (BaltMet) will continue joint work for greater competitiveness and integration in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). 1) innovation promotion, 2) regional identity building and marketing, 3) infrastructure and sustainable development, and 4) integration and capitalisation of urban expertise. These focus areas constitute the core of the BaltMet cities’ vision of integrated, globally established and competitive Baltic Sea Region and represent the main directions for metropolitan cooperation in 2008 – 2010.
The joint lobbying efforts of the BaltMet cities will continue to advocate interests of the metropolitan cities in context of the BSR and the EU.
Development History of the BaltMet Action Plan
The founding document of BaltMet, the Copenhagen Resolution (2002), set the main objectives and the focus areas of the Network as: (1) innovation and mobility, and (2) identity building and marketing of metropolises in the BSR. From 2005 to 2007, these objectives have been successfully developed within the flagship project BaltMet Inno, as well as project initiatives BaltMet Invest and BaltMet Exchange. The recommendations of the BaltMet Inno show how the innovation synergies between BaltMet cities can be further exploited through joint actions in collaboration with universities and private sector.
The Mayors’ Meetings in Berlin and Stockholm (2005) emphasised how integrated and competitive BSR cannot exist without adequate infrastructure and that sustainable development and environment of the Baltic Sea cannot be left aside from metropolitan cooperation. The BaltMet Infra initiative, launched at the Mayors’ Meeting in Helsinki (2006), opened the discussion and joint work to advance key Pan-Baltic projects in transport infrastructure and environment.
The new Action Plan 2008-2010 follows the priorities set in the previous documents, adding a special focus on promotion of mobility and information exchange among the member-cities, in order to facilitate the diffusion of knowledge and greater integration among the Region’s metropolises.
The BaltMet policy objectives are actively supporting common European and Baltic strategies, especially the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs, EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, and the Northern Dimension Framework Document.
Action Plan Implementation
The objectives of the Network shall be realised through concrete cooperation initiatives among the member cities, summarised in the action points below. Each action point is backed by a coordinating city which assumes initiative for developing and implementing the actions in cooperation with other BaltMet partners. The overall coordination is provided by the Secretariat and the three Chair Cities (the current Chair City jointly with the previous and the next ones).
BaltMet is a voluntary network offering an umbrella structure for metropolitan cooperation. Each individual project or initiative shall be approved by the cities involved, especially with regard to costs that may arise. New projects and initiatives can be introduced by member cities during the Action Plan period, with an agreement of the other members of the network.
The delegated Officials representing member cities in the network shall continue playing a liaison role with their city administrations. The group of Officials shall be entrusted the task of development, monitoring, and overseeing the projects and initiatives and reporting the progress to the Mayors.
Baltic Metropoles Activity Areas 2008 – 2010
1. Innovation Promotion
BaltMet cities will build on the recommendations of the BaltMet Inno project in promoting the cohesive and competitive innovation environment in the Baltic Sea Region. The triple-helix partnerships, or partnership between public administration, business and research institutions, is seen as core approach in all actions to this aim.
1.1. BaltMet cities will undertake activities to facilitate joint cluster development and to support promotion of science-based entrepreneurship through cooperation between business incubators, transfer of tools, and exchange of expertise;
1.2. BaltMet cities will undertake joint actions to foster the development of creative industries in the metropoles;
1.3. BaltMet cities will promote strengthening of cooperation among cities and partners in the development of existing and establishment of new science and technology centres;
1.4. BaltMet cities will explore the possibilities of public procurement in introducing and using new, innovative products and services.
2. Regional Identity Building and Marketing
BaltMet cities will foster closer co-operation in marketing and branding of the Baltic Sea Region, actively working together with other key regional actors to promote the BSR in Europe and globally.
2.1. BaltMet will support the events building the identity of the Baltic Sea Region locally and internationally, as well as promote city cooperation in the area of marketing, including joint representation at international and global forums;
2.2. BaltMet will explore and launch activities for the unified Baltic Sea Region promotion project from a metropolitan perspective.
3. Infrastructure and Sustainable Development
BaltMet cities will promote the cooperation in sustainable planning of city infrastructure, incorporating the environmental concerns. In accordance with Mayors’ Resolution of 2006, BaltMet will continue taking an active part in the development of the common BSR transport strategies.
3.1. BaltMet cities will cooperate in field of innovative and sustainable city planning and development;
3.2. BaltMet cities will foster the improvement of the surface transport infrastructure (e.g. rail connections) in the Baltic Sea Region;
3.3. BaltMet cities will support the Baltic Sea Environmental Challenge and European Green Capital Award initiatives;
3.4. BaltMet cities will promote the exchange of experience in Private Public Partnership models in development of modern infrastructure in municipalities.
4. Integration and Capitalisation of Urban Expertise
BaltMet will promote cooperation and exchange of best practices among the city administrators. The Network shall also aim to facilitate mobility of city professionals as key ingredient in increasing competitiveness and regional integration, and to include academic institutions and enterprises in such exchange.
4.1. BaltMet cities will promote mutual information exchange and jointly improve the services in the information/communication field via the BaltMet InfoForum initiative;
4.2. BaltMet cities will explore to develop a model of exchanging the staff of the city administration departments, universities and enterprises established on the basis of the BaltMet Exchange pilot project;
4.3. BaltMet shall support the member-cities collaboration and experience exchange in the management of metropolitan health care.