Annual Forum 2015 of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

EUSBSR: facts and figures First macro-regional strategy in the EU adopted in 2009 Action Plan with 13 (17) priorities and 5 horizontal actions (to be approved by June, 2015) Aims to identify and address the most immediate problems and joint shortcomings in the Region Major stakeholder meeting –Annual Forum EUSBSR aims at reinforcing cooperation within the region in order to face several challenges by working together as well as promoting a more balanced development in the area. The EU member states involved in the EUSBSR are Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. EUSBSR is divided into three objectives which represent the three key challenges of the Strategy: saving the sea, connecting the region and increasing prosperity. Alongside with the Strategy, a detailed Action Plan was prepared that comprises 17 priority areas and 5 horizontal actions, which represent the main areas where the EUSBSR can contribute to improvements. The main stakeholder conference each year is the Annual Forum of the EUSBSR which is the most effective way of promoting the Strategy, reviewing it, as well as bringing together and involving all possible stakeholders and civil society. In 2015 it will be the sixth such forum. Reference: EUSBSR, 2014 http://www.balticsea-region.eu/

Annual Forum 2015 Date: (14),15-16 June 2015 Venue: Dzintari Concert Hall, Jūrmala, Latvia Participants: Up to 550 participants Registration: April – June 1, 2015 Organizers: MFA of Latvia European Commission (DG Regio) Secretariat of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU Partners: INTERACT Point Turku VASAB Secretariat Jūrmala City Council The forum will come as a major gathering of regional experts, stakeholders, government and non-governmental organization (NGO) representatives, students and academics, and other interested parties. The tentative title of the VI Annual Forum is: “Achieving E-Quality by Connecting Region(s).” The potential subtitle is: “e-culture, e-health, e-science; energy efficiency and spatial planning.”

Achieving e-Quality by Connecting the Region CONCEPT: “e-quality”- a play on word with a double meaning: e-quality as in digital quality (digital single market, regional connectivity), etc.; equality as in better connections and exchange of best practices to achieve an overall balanced development of the Baltic Sea Region. Main plenary and workshop themes: Future of the EUSBSR Competitiveness Digital Connectivity Other topics: inclusion, energy, mobility, communication, tourism, culture, funding & programme, spatial planning, health, science, etc.

The Annual Forum will be accompanied by: Networking Village (including the Speaker’s Corner) Back-to-Back Meetings June 14: walking tours and welcome event for early arrivals Events in cooperation with non-governmental organizations (campaign “My Sea”, “Nature Concert Hall”)

Welcome to Jūrmala in June 2015. k More information: http://www Welcome to Jūrmala in June 2015! k More information: http://www.balticsea-region.eu/forum2015 Contact E-mail: arturs.saburovs@mfa.gov.lv