BSLN at the BDF Summit and the 2nd Round Table of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

From 24 to 27 October BSLN was represented in Gdansk at the BDF Summit and the 2nd Round Table of the EUSBSR. Interesting sessions were accompanied by discussions and networking options. One of the topics for discussion was the inclusion of the social dimension in the Strategy. This is, of course, supported by BSLN. One ongoing goal is to include the future BSLF – Forum for Social Dialogue in the BSR – as flagship in the implementation of the strategy.

The event was framed by a project fair in which BSLN participated. There was opportunity to present BSLN on the fair stage. Many interested event participants visited the BSLN stand and took the opportunity to look at the materials presented.

Strong cooperation in the German-Polish border region

From 5th till 7th October 2011, Szczecin was the centre for cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region. The German and Polish social partners of BSLN met for the second successful expert- and round table meeting while the 19th BSSSC-conference took place in Szczecin too.

At the BSLN expert meeting the draft concept for a cross-border labour market monitor as well as the draft report on existing activities in border region was presented and discussed. The results will be taken into account in the final concept for a cross border information and competence centre (CBICC) and will be presented at the BSLN conference in November 2011 in Hamburg. Also two representatives of an information centre for polish workers in Berlin reported about the challenges of cross border mobility at the expert meeting.

The discussions of the social partners are reflected in the second statement of the round table meeting. The representatives underlined the importance of a transparent regional labour market, where the necessary information are available for employees and employers. A platform for cooperation is needed in order to prepare short term as well as long term solutions in the fields of:

•    Labour market monitoring, which enables the identification of problems and challenges at the labour market and in vocational training.
•    Information management about living and working conditions as well as about labour- and social law on both sides of the border.
•    Best practice monitoring and exchange of experiences in the fields of training, life long learning, vocational training as well as the recognition of occupational qualifications.

The development of the border region was also the central topic at the 19th BSSSC-conference, which was organised by the Western-Pomeranian Presidency under the title “The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the Cohesion Policy – expectations and the role of the regions in the BSR”. Opened by the Marshall of the region Olgierd Geblewicz and the Baltic Sea Ambassador for the German Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States Gerhard Almer, topics around cohesion policy were discussed in plenary sessions and workshops. Most interesting for BLSN were discussions around migration and demographic processes. In the workshop “Social cohesion and voluntary work” BSLN and especially the German-Polish pilot project on the CBICC were presented. Afterwards an interesting discussion took place and many contacts could be established to interested organisations.

The discussions from the BSLN meetings and the BSSSC – conference show, that the border regions play a decisive role in implementing the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Especially the development of social dialogue and deeper cooperation structures can be taken as a good example for other Baltic Sea Regions.

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Download 2nd Statement of the BSLN round table in the German-Polish border region

BSPC - resolution supports establishing Forum for Social Dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region

The 20th anniversary of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) took place in Helsinki from 29. – 30. August 2011. The adopted conference resolution supports “the transformation and follow-up of the Baltic Sea Labour Network (BSLN), by establishing a permanent Forum for Social Dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region”.

BSLN welcomes this strong political support and will organise a first round table of the “Forum for Social Dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region” in connection with the BSLN final conference in Hamburg (Link to the BSLN final conference)

The core aim of the forum is the promotion of social dialogue and tripartite structures and cooperation as a crucial element of sustainable economic growth and social development in the Baltic Sea Region. It will be an open cooperation platform for trade unions, employers’ organisations and governments.

Link to the BSPC resolution

Studies from Denmark, Sweden and Finland almost finished

Project partners in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland have carried out studies on different aspects of the working conditions of migrant workers. In Finland a qualitative interview study about social inclusion and the participation in trade unions and working life was carried out among Estonian and Russian speaking immigrants. The Swedish Trade Union Confederation LO carried out a project on the mobility of labour with the idea to try and analyse major infrastructure investments to give a picture of the procurement process, payment flows, contractors and staff agency chains, as well as the composition and conditions of the labour force. In another example of transnational cooperation, the United Federation of Danish Workers 3F in cooperation with the Swedish trade union Kommunal and the Norwegian trade union Fellesforbundet, conducted research on migrant workers’ living and working conditions, to investigate trade unions strategies towards securing proper working conditions.

Links:
About the Finnish study
About the Swedish study
About the Danish study

Three pilot projects ongoing

There are updates available on our website to the 3 pilot projects in the Baltic States, all dealing with Social Dialogue. The Estonian and Lithuanian partners organise trainings and seminars for future leaders and young people entering the labour markets while in Latvia regional activities take place to strengthen the Social Dialogue.

 

 

Links:
About the Estonian pilot project
About the Latvian pilot project
About the Lithuanian pilot project

The Stralsund round table

For the first time a round table with representatives from German and Polish Trade Union Confederations and Employers’ organisations from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the Western Pomeranian Voivodeship took place on 30 May 2011 in Stralsund. Among the themes discussed were differences between education systems and the comparability of data, and topics for the German-Polish Competence and Information Centre were agreed. The round table participants agreed a statement on future cooperation regarding the information centre and a labour market monitor.  All parties want an exchange of information to be able to learn from each others. The procedure will be a big step forward in naming labour market challenges in the region and in looking for common solutions.

Statement of the BSLN round table in the German-Polish boarder region (written in German)

Statement of the BSLN round table in the German-Polish boarder region (written in Polish)

Promoting BSLN future forum

The BSLN lead partner, Ministry of Science and Research Hamburg, had the great opportunity to present the BSLN results so far and the future plans for the Forum for Social Dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region in Berlin at a Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation conference. The conference was a preparatory conference for the 20^th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference and discussed proposed topics for the conference resolution 2011. One recommendation given will be to continue the BSLN project in the form of the Forum for Social Dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region.

Discussions with DG Regio in St. Petersburg

During week of events hosted by the City of Turku, Dirk Ahner, Director-General of the European Commission, Directorate General for Regional Policy attended a meeting on 27 May 2011 in St. Petersburg at which participants looked for ways in which Russia and the EU Baltic Sea States could cooperate.  A key theme in our view was how social dialogue could be included in the renewed EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). This is very much appreciated by BSLN as Social Dialogue is the basis for functioning labour markets.

The BSLN has already held one meeting with Russian participation and the next BSLN Steering Committee meeting is planned for St. Petersburg with the aim of defining Russian participation in the future Forum for Social Dialogue in the BSR.

Link to the Turku Days

Link to the Turku Process

DEFLECT Project Expert Conference: Forced Labour Exploitation and Counter Trafficking in the Baltic Sea Region

The Council of the Baltic Sea States Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (CBSS TF-THB), the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police as well as the European Institute for crime prevention and control (heuni) had invited experts to discuss problems and findings in the field of forced labour exploitation and counter trafficking in the Baltic Sea region from 7 – 8 June 2011 in Oslo, Norway. During the conference the transnational DEFLECT project was launched in which the BSLN is associated partner. The project aims at enhancing local capacity to counter trafficking in human beings for forced labour and collecting comparable data in the eleven CBSS Member States.

The contributes of many different experts made clear that the topic of Forced Labour Exploitation and Counter Trafficking is strongly connected to many other aspects like for example Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In order to increase the knowledge about trafficking and to create a base for political action, the Task Force against trafficking in human beings has carried out the study “Hard Data: Data Collection Mechanisms on Human Trafficking in the Baltic Sea Region”. It lines out cross border problems in data availability, transparency and comparability and recommends collecting publishing and exchanging the respective information. The proposal to amplify the data collection in order to include also qualitative data was generally accepted but also stated that the responsible NGOs have often only limited resources.  Referring to this findings, the DEFLECT project will focus on collecting the respective data.

One of the main problems in fighting trafficking in human beings is the identification of the victims - which is essential for political action. Since forced labour exploitation is happening in a cross border context, the problem calls for transnational strategies. The experts underlined the need to address with prevention policies the countries of origin as well as of destination. Although an exchange of national experiences is important, the specific prevention strategies are not directly transferable from one community to another.

The CBSS Task force will evaluate the results of the conference and take them into account in their further project work. The presentations of the experts will be available soon on the CBSS webpage: http://www.cbss.org

We would like to inform you of the final conference of the Baltic Sea Labour Network (BSLN) on 15 to 16 November 2011 in Hamburg, Germany. BSLN is a flagship project in the frame of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and is partly financed by the EU Baltic Sea Region Programme.

Mobility of labour and social dialogue are central focus areas of the project. During the project’s lifetime studies and pilot projects have been carried out on national and transnational level. The tripartite Steering Committee has adopted 4 Statements to labour market policy in the Baltic Sea Region. The BSLN’s work will be continued by the “Forum for Social Dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region” that will hold its first annual round table during the conference.

Main conference topics
The main topics of the conference are social dialogue, migration and mobility as well as demographic and labour market development and education and training.

Speeches will be made by representatives from trade union organisations, employers’ organisations, parliaments and EU institutions. The speakers and Michael Smyth from the European Economic and Social Committee will discuss the topics of the key note speeches and the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region in a round table session. In different working groups and plenary sessions the results of the action under the framework of BSLN will be presented and discussed with other experts.

The conference will be under the patronage of the German Foreign Ministry as president of the Council of the Baltic Sea States and it will be opened by State Minister Dr. Werner Hoyer.

A conference resolution will be adopted by the participants. The conference is accompanied by a project fair organised by the project Best Agers.

Please save the date and discuss labour market policy with us! Registration will be opened soon.

Download the draft programme

Baltic Sea Region - a forerunner in the promotion of Social Dialogue

The BSLN Steering Committee, a high-level body for strategic and political decision making of the Baltic Sea Labour Network project, met for the fourth time on 31 March 2011 in Helsinki. The senior representatives of trade unions, employer organisations, parliaments and governmental organisations adopted a statement that aims at the establishment of a Forum for Social Dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region on 15 November 2011 in Hamburg.

The Forum will assemble tripartite representatives from the countries in the Baltic Sea Region once a year in an Annual Round Table meeting. The Forum and the Annual Round Table meetings will be open for all committed employer and trade union confederations and governments and parliaments in the region. Stakeholders from all the Baltic Sea countries would be invited in the Forum. The BSLN Steering Committee had also a joint session with Russian stakeholders to discuss the EU-Russian relations and their involvement in the Forum.

Uwe Polkaehn, President of DGB Nord, the Confederation of German Trade Unions in the Northern Region, stated: “The Baltic Sea Region must become a forerunner in the promotion of social dialogue. This is the way how the Baltic Sea Region can become the most prosperous and socially sustainable area in Europe. The new Forum should discuss growth, competitiveness, education, and solutions to achieve high employment rates. The challenges related to free movement of labour should also be addressed. Social dialogue is a precondition for a sustainable labour market. It should play a key role and be respected in implementing the EU2020 strategy and especially the macroeconomic governance scheme.”

Dr. Thomas Klischan, General Manager of Nordmetall, Employers Association of the Metal and Electronic Industry, underlined the aims of the cooperation: “Through the tripartite Forum we aim at influencing policy- and decision-making in the field of labour market relations by issuing joint opinions and recommendations. The Forum is about transnational social dialogue, based on the responsibility of social partners for the development of labour market policies in the Baltic Sea Region. It will also facilitate networking and exchange of experience between the social partners and political institutions in the Baltic Sea Region.”

Franz Thönnes, German MP and the Chairman of the Working Group on Labour Market and Social Affairs of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC), emphasised the importance of the future cooperation. “Well-functioning and fair labour markets are a key element in developing our welfare models in a fair and sustainable direction. We have to bring stakeholders together to tackle this. North-West Russia is a very important part of the Baltic Sea Region – this is why representatives from Russia have been invited to Helsinki to plan the future cooperation with us and to take part in the upcoming Forum for Social Dialogue.”

For more information please contact:
Katariina Röbbelen-Voigt, BSLN Project Manager, Hamburg/ Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 40 484010-150
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Marianne Muona, BSLN Communication Manager, Stockholm/ Sweden
Phone +46 (0) 722 53 69 79
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Download the statement of the BSLN Steering Committee (ENG)
Download the statement of the BSLN Steering Committee (GER)
Download press release of the BSLN Steering Committee Meeting (ENG)
Download press release of the BSLN Steering Committee Meeting (GER)

 

 

Working Together for Stronger Social Dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region

Statement of the BSLN Steering Committee
10 November 2010, Hamburg

The Baltic Sea Labour Network (BSLN) project’s Steering Committee, a high-level tripartite body for strategic and political decision-making, has agreed on the following thematic priorities: Finding solutions for the economic crisis fallout and for labour mobility within the Baltic Sea Region through social dialogue and active labour market policy development. This statement concentrates on defining the role of social dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region and the next possible steps in developing it.

One of the BSLN’s most important results so far is that it has enabled the creation of permanent cooperation structures for trans-national social dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region for the first time. Trans-national social dialogue is taking shape within the BSLN through the tripartite structures where trade union, employer organisation, parliament and governmental organisation representatives work together to create sustainable regional labour markets within Europe.

The BSLN’s starting point is to promote social dialogue and tripartite structures and cooperation as a crucial element of sustainable economic growth and social development in the Baltic Sea Region. Social partners have a shared interest in this: well-functioning labour markets are the backbone of economic growth. Thus, the BSLN will develop cooperation between trade unions, employer organisations and governments in the Baltic Sea Region to advocate joint solutions.

Social partners are the foremost experts on issues concerning the labour market and working conditions; therefore, Social dialogue plays a key role in achieving decent and productive working conditions. It also promotes democratic involvement, advances social and industrial peace and stability and boosts economic progress. Social dialogue strengthens the mutual feeling of trust and the social capital in our societies, which is beneficial to all. Well-functioning social dialogue is based on mutual agreements, joint goals and is an effective tool for solving problems together.

Models of social dialogue differ from country to country and are therefore not directly transferable from one country to another. However, high organisational density leads to high social dialogue representation and in the civil society as a whole. Thus it is of crucial for social dialogue to increase the organisational density and to organise employers and employees in the entire Baltic Sea Region. We call for a strengthened, institutionalised social dialogue at local and national levels in all countries in the Baltic Sea Region.

We are committed to the development of a Forum for Social Dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region (BSLN Forum), a cooperation platform for the social partners, governments and politicians in the Baltic Sea Region. The Steering Committee together with the BSLN Facilitator and Research Teams will serve as the founding platform for the Forum. It should be a platform for social dialogue on jointly identified problems and challenges, a knowledge pool for labour market policy issues of the region and a facilitating body for further activities needed in these areas.

The Forum’s agenda will concentrate on discussing and developing proposals to create sustainable labour markets, growth, competitiveness, high employment rates, and on addressing the labour mobility and service challenges in the Baltic Sea Region. We need widespread cooperation between employers, trade unions and governments.

We call for close cooperation between the Forum and the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) and the European Union, especially the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Synergies with the Civil Society Forum, the broad initiative that is under development in the EESC, should be researched. The Forum for Social Dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region should be recognised as an important horizontal element in implementing the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. This recognition should translate into a guarantee for adequate resources in the future. The Forum should be seen as a key element in developing a sustainable, prosperous and inclusive Baltic Sea Region during the next Program Period 2014-2020.

On behalf of the Baltic Sea Labour Network,
Elīna Egle, General Director, Employers' Confederation of Latvia LDDK
Dr. Thomas Klischan, General Manager of Nordmetall, the employers association of the metal and electronics industry, Germany
Jan Lundin, Director General of the CBSS Secretariat
Mikko Mäenpää, President of the Finnish Confederation of Professionals STTK, Finland, Member in the Steering Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
Uwe Polkaehn, President of the Confederation of German Trade Unions Northern Region (DGB-Nord), Germany
Harri Taliga, President of the Confederations of Estonian Trade Unions EAKL, Estonia
Franz Thönnes, Member of Parliament, former Parliamentary State Secretary, Member of the Standing Committee of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference

Download the whole statement of the BSLN Steering Committee

Third BSLN Steering Committee Meeting on 10th November in Hamburg

The BSLN Steering Committe, a high-level strategic and decision making body in the Baltic Sea Labout Network project, met for the third time on 10 November 2010 in Hamburg. The senior trade union, employer organisation, parliament and governmental organisation representatives adopted a resolution for stronger social dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region that emphasises the importance of social dialogue while creating sustainable regional labour markets within Europe. In its statement, the Steering Committee agreed to develop a Forum for social dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region (BSLN Forum) enabling a permanent cooperation platform for the social partners, governments and politicians within this area.

read the whole statement

Download the whole statement of the BSLN Steering Committee
Download press release of the BSLN Steering Committee Meeting

 

 

Education policy strategies were discussed in Hamburg on the 5^th Hanse-Tagung from 21 to 23 October

The Ministry of School and Vocational Training, the Hanse-Parlament and the Baltic Sea Academy hosted  the 5^th Hanse-Tagung to discuss education policy strategies now and in the future around the Baltic Sea. BSLN took part and attended a stand where the project was presented to many very interested people.

The German BSLN partner “Education and Training Service for Hamburg Businesses” (Bildungswerk der Wirtschaft Hamburg e. V. – BWH e. V.) was invited to take part in the final panel discussion. Mrs. Wenzel O’Connor, Vice Director of the BWH e. V., underlined the importance of cooperation between vocational schools and companies in the field of occupational orientation. She stated as well that particularly the lack of apprenticeships entry maturities and unrealistic job expectations by our youth leads to more and more difficulties in transition from school to economy or school to university in Germany. The results are mainly the participation in training measures and/or discontinuities in the curriculum vitas. Therefore occupational orientation plays a decisive role in Hamburg, involving the schools, economy, family and other relative participants.

As well, many interesting presentations were given by experts from around the Baltic Sea area focussing mainly on the different education and vocational education systems. Other main topics presented were new political strategies, the future of the education and labour markets, and goals and strategies in the vocational education. For BSLN it was especially interesting to learn about some new statistics in the labour market and demographic tendencies within the region. Dr. Silvia Stiller from the Hamburg Institute of International Economics stated that there is a big divergence between the Scandinavian countries and the Baltic States. As well the society is ageing quickly and there are big structural changes. She showed the options such as the use of women’s potential, the strengthening of the education system and the fostering of mobility. As well institutional frame conditions should be established as there are cross border acceptance of training qualifications, fostering the mobility of young people and frame conditions for the ageing society.

 

Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference – Standing Committee meeting on 19 October in Berlin

The BSPC as associated partner in BSLN invited project manager Katariina Röbbelen-Voigt and research network coordinator Silke Lorenz to their Standing Committee meeting to update on the status of the project work and especially to present the concept for the German-Polish cross border competence centre. The question about comparable data and statistics was raised by one Estonian Member of Parliament. This is indeed one of the most important questions regarding the collection of labour market data and especially data about labour mobility. BSLN will use available EURES data, create indicators and cooperate with other information centres to approach this challenge.

There was also opportunity to discuss BSLN future questions with BSPC members and to take part in a very informative tour through the Reichstag building. It is always interesting to listen to experienced politicians’ discussions, and to follow their substantial interests in our common region.

1^st annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region from 14 to 15 October in Tallinn, Estonia

As one of the flagship projects within the action plan for implementation of the EU Baltic Sea Strategy, BSLN took part in the Forum. The forum, attended by 500 participants, was opened by Estonian President Toomas Ilves. The large participant numbers along with the attendance of high level representatives shows  how significant the establishment of this strategy really is. Also, the Estonian President was one of the fundamental initiators of this very first regional EU strategy. Besides the very interesting presentations about the priority areas, some flagship projects and summary and evaluation of the first years work, it was also an excellent opportunity to network and discuss the strategy’s topics. Despite the number of flagship projects with funding from different EU programmes, it was stressed that there is no budget e.g. for the task leaders in the priority areas for the coordination and cooperation. Another point brought out was the importance of inclusion of social dialogue.

Conference website

18th BSSSC Annual Conference from 12 to 14 October 2010 in Tallinn, Estonia

BSLN was invited to participate in the 18^th Baltic Sea States Subregional Cooperation (BSSSC) conference and to present the project’s work in a working group. This was an excellent opportunity to present and discuss the project’s activities as well as to learn more about other initiatives.

At the beginning of the conference Mr Uno Aldegren, representative of the Committee of the Regions, stated that mobility within the region has increased and that sustainable development and more jobs are needed. As there are bottlenecks in the communication system, structures for cross-border communication in the region have to be developed. The EU Strategy for the BSR has already created more cooperation.

Questions surrounding general and vocational education as well as the mobility and unemployment of young people were mentioned and discussed in many presentations. Gerd Tarand, Youth Representative from Estonia, e.g. asked for more information about programmes, more attractive education, possibilities to combine work and study, the inclusion of youth in the social dialogue and for budgets for youth events.

Dag Brised, Ambassador and Coordinator of the Norwegian Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) mentioned five long-term, broad priority areas that the CBBS has defined for itself and where it hopes to make a difference or at least pull its own weight. These areas are: Environment, Economic Development, Energy, Education and Culture, Civil Security and the Human Dimension.

He mentioned that the BSLN is one good common initiative in the region: “I would also shortly like to mention our participation in a most important project, which at the same time touches on one of the basic factors of regional competitiveness and is a good example of how different actors in the region can work together, combining their forces. I speak about the Baltic Sea Labour Network, which is one of the EU Baltic Sea Strategy flagship projects, with the CBSS as a partner. We are very happy that the project is efficiently led and coordinated from Hamburg, the current BSSSC Chairmanship region. The specific value of this project, in the context of my speech, is exactly in its network character, namely that it brings, for the first time on regional level in Europe, the employers’ organisations, trade unions, politicians and governments together to discuss labour market and especially labour mobility issues. We see this as an excellent example of how to combine knowledge and ideas in order to come up with joint and balanced regional strategies, policies and practical solutions.”

In the Mobility of the Work Force workshop three presentations were given. Katariina Röbbelen-Voigt, project manager of BSLN, started with an overview about BSLN and its activities. She introduced the project idea as well as the pilot projects within BSLN, e.g. the concept for a German-Polish competence centre for employers and employees within the border region.

Per Bech Grønning, Head of Employment Centre Guldborgsund, Region Zealand in Denmark, introduced their work and projects and provided some interesting statistical information. E.g. There is a survey of the labour market in the Fehmarn region -  a project about vocational education and training systems. He stated that many barriers remain for the cross-border labour movements and mentioned that cross country knowledge on labour markets and educational systems are the biggest challenge for the future.

Stefan Musiolik, Head of Unit Baltic & North Sea Affairs, State Chancellery of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, introduced the cross-border labour market in Schleswig-Holstein and Southern Denmark and the Padborg Information Centre. In a project called “Pontifex”, disparities in the systems are identified and solutions developed. In 2007 a German-Danish Labour Market Forum was established. All relevant players in the cross border labour market field come together to share information. He mentioned the comparability of vocational qualifications and the involvement of young people as two of the biggest challenges in the future.

Based on the presentations and the following active discussions, the group participants agreed that there were still some basic barriers to be worked on: Legal barriers, different cultural and social traditions, different languages and different acknowledgement of qualifications. More common policies are needed.

In another workshop about demographic change and migration, Talis Linkaits from VASAB (Visions & Strategies around the Baltic Sea 2010) presented data and statistics about the region’s territorial development and introduced some VASAB projects. In the summary of outcomes of the VASAB meeting on demographic trends and labour market development the main conclusions are stated as :“the awareness of politicians and general public should be raised… to interrelations between aging of the population and migration of younger age employees from rural and peripheral regions to the metropolitan labour markets … (and) to increasing out migration from the Baltic Sea Region. ...There is a need for long term policies in all planning levels based on long term development strategies. … There is also a need for new structures and instruments to solve coming challenges of a post-industrial era. … Exchange of knowledge will be one of the most important issues. The existing potential of labour force in the Baltic Sea Region is underused. …”

It seems that the common barriers and challenges have been identified from all players and involved parties; now is the time to begin more practical common and cooperative activities. The BSLN is one of these activities and aims to define policy recommendations and to establish a knowledge pool.

BSSSC 18th annual conference webiste

Jan Lundin is the new head of the CBSS Secretariat
The new Director General of the CBSS Secretariat, Jan Lundin, has started his work on 1 September 2010. He is the successor of Gabriele Kötschau also in the BSLN Steering Committee. At the 19th BSPC in Mariehamn, Aland Islands, the BSLN lead partner had the opportunity to meet him. We welcome Jan Lundin in the BSLN Steering Committee and wish him a pleasant start in the new job.

As well we thank Gabriele Kötschau for the one and a half years cooperation, the great support she gave the project and the "beeline" we had to her! We wish her all the best for her future plans.

BSLN as observer at the 19th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Mariehamn
As last year, the BSLN project was invited to participate in the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference as observer. The conference took place from 29 to 31 August in Mariehamn (Aland Isalnds). This year`s main topic was cooperation on environment and security. It was great to see that politicians around the Baltic Sea take the environmental and safety problems seriously.

Besides of the environmental and maritime safety focus in the sessions and speeches, the cooperation in the Baltic Sea region was discussed. The BSLN project was mentioned as good example within already established cooperation projects in general and also in the frame of the EU Baltic Sea Strategy and the partnership of the BSPC in the project. In the conference resolution a paragraph calls on to "continue to work towards dismantling obstacles to mobility for workers in the border regions and ensure the availabilitiy of a range of high-quality information centres ensuring social security for cross-border worker". This is a great support for the BSLN work, espacially for the German-Polish pilot project where the trade union and employer partners plan to establish a competence centre for employers anmd employees in the German-Polish border region. The resolution will be communicated to the governmernts of all Baltic Sea States.

19th Baltic Sea Parliament Conference - resolution

19th Baltich Ses Parliament Confernce - homepage

The 2nd BSLN Steering Committee meeting was held on 7 April 2010 in Gdansk, Poland.

The members have already come to an agreement on a second common statement, which is a part of the political strategy that will be adopted by the tripartite Steering Committee and published by the end of the project. This political strategy itself shall serve as a best-practice orientation. In this declaration, the chairmen of trade unions, the directors of employers’ organisations, CBSS and BSPC campaign for the development of a social dialogue in the particular countries and in the region as a whole, as the social partners are the experts with respect to the labour markets. Furthermore, they promote fair competition as the prerequisite for a successful and sustainable economic situation and mobility of the labour force, which is beneficial for employees as well as employers. Read the whole statement document here.