Government - Cooperation in the Baltic Sea region: strategy paper announced
According to European Affairs Minister Bettina Martin (SPD),Mecklenburg-Vorpommern wants to play a more active role in cooperation in the Baltic Sea region and thus also strengthen cohesion. "The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has also marked a turning point for cooperation between the countries bordering the Baltic Sea. In response to this, the democratic Baltic Sea states are moving closer together," said Martin in Schwerin. The state government will present its Baltic Sea strategy at the beginning of next year. Cooperation in the Baltic Sea region will also be one of the key topics at the conference of European ministers of the federal states on December 6 and 7 in Brussels.
As the "German gateway to the Baltic Sea", Mecklenburg-Vorpommern can build on structures that have developed over many years. This concerns areas such as business, science and culture, but increasingly also environmental protection and renewable energies. There are regular contacts in these areas. Martin recalled the state government's delegation trips last year, which took Minister President Manuela Schwesig and Economics Minister Reinhard Meyer (both SPD) to Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Sweden and Norway. The next Baltic Sea Business Day is planned for April 2024 in Rostock.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has also had good relations with its Polish partner regions of Pomerania and West Pomerania for a long time. "Our close, friendly neighbourhood with Poland is very important to us - the Minister President emphasized this very clearly in her inaugural speech as President of the Bundesrat," emphasized Martin. However, Schwesig's earlier support for the controversial Russian-German Nord Stream 2 pipeline project had put a lasting strain on relations with Poland's eastern neighbor.
The protection of the Baltic Sea also remains an important issue, partly because large quantities of munitions from the Second World War are still lying on the seabed. "Old munitions in the Baltic Sea are a ticking time bomb. We will only be able to solve this problem together with the other countries bordering the Baltic Sea," explained Martin. The German government is prepared to initially provide 100 million euros to tackle this task. With the Ocean Technology Campus in Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern could contribute special expertise. At the meeting in Brussels, a resolution co-initiated by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on cooperation in the disposal of old munitions and on strengthening democratic cohesion in the region is to be passed among the European ministers.
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- minister Bettina Martin (SPD) from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, especially in light of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
- The state government of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with its key sectors like business, science, culture, environmental protection, and renewable energies, aims to contribute more effectively to Baltic Sea cooperation.
- Following her visit to various Baltic Sea countries last year, along with Manuela Schwesig and Reinhard Meyer, Martin emphasized Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's role as a "German gateway to the Baltic Sea."
- Cooperation in environmental protection, particularly in dealing with the Second World War munitions still present in the Baltic Sea, will be a key topic at a conference of European ministers in Brussels this December.
- As part of this cooperation proposal, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern looks to offer its expertise through the Ocean Technology Campus in Rostock, aiming for a resolution to be passed by the European ministers on the disposal of old munitions and strengthening democratic cohesion.
- Furthermore, Martin emphasized the importance of maintaining good relations with Poland, especially given the previous strain caused by the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline support from the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state government.
Source: www.stern.de
