On Thursday, 25 April, the Union of the Baltic Cities (UBC) held its annual board meeting in Riga to discuss ways to promote Ukraine’s integration in Europe, potential activities to support the country’s cities and their reconstruction after the war, and the role of the Baltic Sea region’s digital transformation in strengthening regional security.
‘Riga has proven to be a resilient city, capable of adapting and overcoming various challenges. We have emerged from every crisis stronger and more independent than before, and the entire Baltic Sea region must work hard together to do this again. Nordic countries once provided important support for our European integration, so now we can help Ukraine the same way,’ Linda Ozola, Riga City Council deputy chair, re-elected to the UBC board in 2021 and 2023, said.
The heads of the military administrations of Rubizhne and Chernihivka, as well as the Rivne Oblast, presented their applications at the UBC board meeting. The UBC board supported the admission of these candidates as associate members, which them to join various UBC events and activities as non-voting participants and to be eligible for European Union co-funding in joint projects with UBC.
The event also included working group and commission meetings and discussions on renewable security, sustainability, and urban planning, as well as on the role of engaging the youth and digital transformation in strengthening the region’s security.
The participants of the event visited various topic-related sites: ‘Urban Environment and Mobility Zone’ — VEFRESH quarter and VERDE office complex; ‘Start-ups, Biomedicine’ — ‘SAF tehnika’ and Cell Box Labs; ‘Innovation, Architecture, and Education’ — the LU House of Science and Ola foundation.
The Union of the Baltic Cities brings together 69 cities from nine Baltic Sea Region countries. It was founded in 1991 in Gdansk (with 32 founding members, including Riga) to promote cooperation between Western (Germany, Nordics) and Eastern European cities.
The work of UBC is organised through seven commissions: Cultural Cities, Inclusive and Healthy Cities, Learning Cities, Planning Cities, Safe Cities, Smart and Prospering Cities, Sustainable Cities, Youthful Cities. Riga participates in the following commissions: Cultural Cities, Planning Cities, Safe Cities, Sustainable Cities, Youthful Cities.
The UBC local safety and public order working group was officially approved during the first meeting in Riga, in 2010. The Safe Cities Commission was created on the basis of that working group.
Information was prepared by: Mārtiņš Vilemsons, Project Coordinator at External Communication Division of Riga City Council, email: martins.vilemsons@riga.lv
