Baltic Stories Magazine Spring - Summer 2022

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B A L T I C S T O R I E S E u r o p e a n

U n i o n

S t r a t e g y

f o r

PHOTO: RICOK69

ROSTOCK, GERMANY

SPRING-SUMMER 2022 Rele a s e d in June 2022 Balt i c S t ories Magazine is devoted to p r o m o t i n g c o o p e r a t i o n arou n d t h e Baltic Sea, joint initiatives a n d p r o j e c t s of t h e E u ropean Union Strategy for th e B a l t i c S e a R e g i o n (EUS B S R )

t h e

B a l t i c

S e a

R e g i o n

Meet the Policy Area Coordinators

Connect the Region: success stories


TABLE OF CONTENTS saving the sea connecting the region increasing prosperity

3 Editorial

21 Connect the region: success stories

4 Get to know your EUSBSR Policy Area Coordinators

33 A quote at the end

Spring-Summer 2022 Baltic Stories / EUSBSR Editorial Team Małgorzata Matkowska and Rafał Rolka "Pomorskie in the European Union"' Association www.pomorskieregion.eu I partner of "Let's Communicate!" Project

HAMBURG, GERMANY PHOTO: KARSTEN BERGMANN


EDITORIAL By Małgorzata Matkowska & Rafał Rolka

The third issue of the Baltic Stories Magazine is here. This time let's focus on one of the three objectives of the EUSBSR Connect the Region. The Baltic Sea Region is very diverse and rich when it comes to it's varied and attractive geography, complex history, wealth of cultures and languages. Some BSR countries share common land borders, others are neighbours across the Baltic Sea. All those differences and distances constitute important challenges but also provide the opportunities to be exploited and forged into solutions for a more sustainable, inclusive and connected region.

Enjoy the reading!

PIER IN SCHARBEUTZ, GERMANY, PHOTO: BERND GUSTAV


GET TO KNOW YOUR EUSBSR POLICY AREA COORDINATORS PHOTO: CANVA


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2021

Meet the new Policy Area TOURISM Coordinators By Magda Leszczyna-Rzucidło, Pomorskie Tourist Board and Hanna Honkamäkilä, Manager of International Affairs at the Council of Oulu Region


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Policy Area (PA) ‘Tourism’ aims to reinforce the macro-region's cohesiveness through tourism. PA Tourism actions include facilitating networking and clustering of tourism stakeholders, strengthening their tourism-related project initatives and activities. PA Tourism also aims to mobilise the full potential for sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea region by facilitating coordination with stakeholders through joint workshops and communication. PA Tourism is coordinated by Poland (Pomorskie Tourist Board) and Finland (Oulu Region).

Pomorskie Tourist Board (Pomorska Regionalna Organizacja Turystyczna) is an association responsible for regional marketing, with 19 years of experience in BSR cooperation. The organisation includes local governments, businesses, chambers of commerce and local tourist organisations and universities. And we plan to bring all these stakeholders on board

PA

Tourism.

Our

advantage

is

a

long-term

cooperation with tourism industry business partners.

Ms. Marta Chełkowska, Director of Tourism Department, Marshal's Office of the Pomorskie Voivodeship President of Pomorskie Tourist Board

My name is Magda Leszczyna-Rzucidło, and I work as the EUSBSR Policy Area Tourism Coordinator representing the Pomorskie Tourist

Board.

I’ve

been

engaged

in

Baltic

Sea

regional

cooperation for more than ten years, actively implementing transnational projects in capacity building, innovation and blue growth. For the last three years, I worked in Euroregion Baltic, where I gained experience in collaboration with the key EUSBSR stakeholders and other pan-baltic organisations. In my new role, I wish to boost the sustainable tourism cooperation in the BSR, engage new stakeholders on board and create links and synergies beneficial to all tourism-related BSR actors. HISTORICAL BUILDINGS IN GDAŃSK OLD TOWN, POLAND PHOTO: ROMAN BABAKIN

Ms. Magda Leszczyna-Rzucidło, EUSBSR Policy Area Tourism Coordinator


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My name is Hanna Honkamäkilä. I work as a Manager of International Affairs at the Council of Oulu Region. The Council of Oulu Region is a regional development and planning organisation acting on behalf of its member municipalities. Tourism is a key sector in our Regional Strategic Plan. Networking and capacity building are ways to increase competencies and competitiveness and promote our region. I am interim PAC on tourism. We will open a position in May for Policy Area Co-ordinator. My responsibilities are overall co-ordinating the international co-operation at the Council of Oulu Region.

Ms. Hanna Honkamäkilä, Manager of International Affairs at the Council of Oulu

The tourism industry grew steadily from 2015–to 2020

Region, EUSBSR Policy Area Tourism interim

before

Coordinator

the

coronavirus

pandemic.

According

to

statistics, our region was Finland’s fastest-growing tourist region. The latest development strategy for the region’s tourism sector was drawn up last year. The Council of Oulu Region has a regional Development Committee for Tourism for cooperation in the region. Members of the Committee are development companies and municipalities that develop tourism in the region. Pomorskie Tourist Board and the Council of Oulu Region are highly motivated to jointly coordinate the Policy Area Tourism implementing the EUSBSR Action Plan. The Action Plan of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and its actions for the Policy Area Tourism are well planned. As a coordinator of the Policy Area Tourism, we could promote green growth in the Baltic Sea region based on knowledge, innovation, and cooperation. Tourism service providers’ customers include backpackers and visitors arriving via a tourism company. The different target groups have very different needs. These needs can be met by developing tourist services. In the Baltic Sea Region, with magnificent nature, the conditions for developing nature tourism are good. Tourism can be expanded into new areas, and through cooperation, more resources can be allocated to businesses and those working in the sector to develop their activities. In Policy Area Tourism, the current Action Plan was adopted in 2020 and reflected joint efforts of the Policy Area coordination team, the Steering Committee and DG Regio. It defines an overall objective and actions that contribute to achieving the overall goal. MODERN ARCHITECTURE OF OULU, FINLAND, THE CITY THEATRE BEHIND A SAIL BOAT PHOTO: HARRY FIN


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The four most relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals for PA Tourism are Decent Work and Economic Growth (Goal 8), Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11), Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12), and Life Below Water (Goal 14). PA Tourism also draws on various European policy frameworks, such as the Agenda for a Sustainable and Competitive European Tourism, the Blue Growth Agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Commission’s Communication on “Tourism and Transport in 2020 and Beyond” as well as other frameworks on cultural development. Furthermore, PA Tourism is closely linked to the European Green Deal.

BOG LAKE PHOTO: JAAN ROOSE


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The main goals for the PA TOURISM Actions foresaw for the Policy Area Tourism in 2020-2021 and beyond: Action 1: Transnational tourism development in remote and rural areas. Description: Sustainable Tourism development in remote areas (including remote regions, disconnected cities, archipelagos and islands), taking into account the protection of the environment and ecosystems, not only helps to spread the benefits of tourism in terms of expenditure by tourists, but it also helps to create employment, a well-functioning infrastructure, a suitable living environment and other local support services as a result, which can help to slow down rural-urban migration in the Baltic Sea region. This can help create more resilient and sustainable communities, both in remote/rural areas and urban cities. Action 2: Investing in people, skills and technology in the tourism industry Description: Training, modern labour markets, digital skills, and technological innovation are not only key drivers for socio-economic development and sustainable growth but also more equitable and inclusive societies and the well-being and personal fulfilment of its citizens. The Baltic Sea region needs to be prepared to enable new technologies and invest in people’s skills, competencies, and qualifications to work towards a sustainable future in the travel and tourism industry. Action 3: Protection and sustainable utilisation of cultural heritage and natural resources in tourism destinations Description: Tourism has a unique reason to be concerned about the sustainability of the cultural and natural environment. Thus, it is responsible for its protection, owing to its dependency on the appeal of unspoilt landscapes and accessible local heritage. Action 3 is to encourage green/authentic/sustainable, and environmentally friendly tourism and promote a kind of tourism that is respectful of local identities, host communities, and cultural heritage in the Baltic Sea region. The development of specific “green/sustainable” touristic offers and products and greater investment in greener infrastructures (more efficient transport facilities, reduced air pollution, reduction of water pollution and consumption, energy and waste, recycling of natural resources, conservation of heritage sites and open spaces, etc.) should result in smarter and greener places, from which residents and tourists, can benefit all year round.

AERIAL VIEW OF TRAKAI CASTLE, LITHUANIA PHOTO: GAGLIARDI PHOTOGRAPHY


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The biggest challenge The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented crisis for the travel and economy, with tangible impacts on people employed in the sector, tourism destinations, and the Baltic Sea region's tourism industry. Global tourism wad hit throughout 2020-21 and possibly beyond. The consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the transnational dimension of the tourism economy and the demand for a harmonised policy action at the local, national, regional and transnational levels to build a more sustainable and resilient tourism economy. It also stressed the need to support the transition toward a greener tourism economy in the nearest future. In the aftermath of the pandemic, international tourists will be interested in the reputation of their destination country as a safe tourist destination. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will affect the tourism sector too. It is estimated that the demand for tourism may recover from the pandemic in a few years, but its impact on the industry may be extensive and long-lasting in many ways. The international cooperation of tourism policy must take a fresh start and build partnerships to develop collaboration. The development of tourism requires strong partnerships of actors representing the Baltic Sea Region. RIVER RAFTING IN ÅRE, JÄMTLAND PHOTO: STAFFAN WIDSTRAND/IMAGEBANK.SWEDEN.SE


EUROVELO 10/13, PUCK, POLAND PHOTO: SZYMON NITKA, POMORSKIE.TRAVEL

Cooperation with other EUSBSR Policy Areas PA Tourism maintains close dialogue and collaboration with PA Education, PA Culture and PA Health. PA Tourism is also planning to create more substantial synergies with other PAs in developing new flagships (e.g. with PA Bio Economy, PA Transport, PA Innovation, PA Spatial Planning). PA Tourism has been engaged in the process of inter-macro regional strategy cooperation and coordination and aims to increase these interregional bonds in the future. In 2020 and 2021, Policy Area Tourism supported three seed money projects from different thematic fields of tourism approved for funding by the Interreg Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat in June 2020. Baltic DigiTour will provide connectivism massive open online courses for digitalisation in Baltic tourism attractions, whereas BalticBlueMarinas recognises and supports remote Baltic marinas as drivers for sustainable coastal tourism development. RESTinBSR aims at unlocking transformative ecotourism potential for sustainable regional development. We also look forward to the new tourism-related projects granted in the fall after the 1st call of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme 2021-2027, as the Call just ended on 26th April. We believe that the Policy Area Coordinator network is alive. This needs constant dialogue and willingness to work for the common good. Both PAC TOU coordinators are willing to share our networks and know-how for the tourism sector development in the Baltic Sea Region.


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Supporting the development of tourism in the Baltic Sea Region Tourism contributes to the vitality of the region. Innovation and digitalisation will play a key role in revitalising tourism, harnessing local values and creating jobs, especially for young people, women and the most vulnerable. Transnational tourism is essential, and we can influence seasonal fluctuations by working together. Developing year-round tourism and increasing off-season tourism is a challenge for all. Oulu Region has a strong high-tech ecosystem, and they have been a forerunner of wireless technology in Finland. The use of technology and digitalisation is very natural for our region, and as PAC TOU, they can offer our expertise to the whole Baltic Sea Region. Also, the choice of the city of Oulu for the European Capital of Culture in 2026 supports as well the inclusion of cultural heritage in the development of tourism. The most visible example of the EUSBSR PA Tourism support works within the Baltic Sea Tourism Center, the EUSBSR PA TOU flagship project and support organising the Baltic Sea Tourism Foras. The Baltic Sea Tourism Center (BSTC), where Pomorskie Tourism Board was involved since the beginning, is a leading centre for improved communication and cooperation within the Baltic Sea region. With a focus on the Core Competencies of Partnerships, Insights and Skills, the BSTC aims to become the central contact point for tourism stakeholders in the BSR, providing services in the fields of Tourism Policies, Market Research, Training Offerings and Sustainable Tourism. In recent years, the Baltic Sea Tourism Forum has also become the communication and exchange platform for transnational initiatives in the BSR. It promotes dialogue, consensus building and a shared vision on the key challenges of tourism development around the Baltic Sea. Since 2012, the annual forum has been closely linked to the implementation process of Policy Area Tourism. BSTF attracts key tourism stakeholders from around the Baltic Sea and contributes significantly to transnational exchange and cooperation in the region. The 13th edition of the Forum took place in Palanga, Lithuania, in Nov 2020 and was an online event due to the pandemic situation. EUSBSR PA Tourism wishes to organise the next BSTF edition online in 2022 and return to regular, physical BSTF meetings in 2023.

EUROVELO 10/13, CHOCZEWO, POLAND PHOTO: TOMASZ LEGUTKO, POMORSKIE.TRAVEL


Let us introduce you to the Policy Area "Spatial planning"! By Elina Veidemane Deputy Head of VASAB Secretariat

ELBPHILHARMONIE, HAMBURG,GERMANY PHOTO: JONAS WEINITSCHKE


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Territorial cohesion on the land and on the sea Policy Area ‘Spatial Planning’ has two main areas - land-based spatial planning is coordinated by VASAB, and maritime spatial planning (MSP) is coordinated jointly by HELCOM and VASAB. Both are pan-Baltic organisations with long-standing macro-regional cooperation experience behind. VASAB (Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea) is regional intergovernmental multilateral co-operation in spatial planning and development. HELCOM (Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission – Helsinki Commission) is the governing body of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, known as the Helsinki Convention.

The PA aims for territorial cohesion in the Baltic Sea Region by 2030, when the Region shall be a better integrated and coherent macro-region that has reduced the socio-economic development divides between its individual parts and has turned the global challenges into assets. To achieve that, the PA increases the knowledge of land-based spatial planning in the Region and aims for coherent maritime spatial planning throughout the Baltic Sea, applying an ecosystem-based approach. In practical terms, the PA acts as a platform for knowledge exchange and macro-regional, trans-boundary and cross-sectoral dialogue, working together for transnational policy measures and joint actions, supporting methodological development and territorial observation processes, promoting cooperation projects, and facilitating thematic events and other activities on spatial planning. Spatial planning, whether on the land or the sea, is an integrative and continuous participatory process to analyse and influence the future spatial distribution of human activities. It aims to ensure functional integration across multiple scales (macro-regional, national, regional, local levels) and different sectors of public policy to balance demands for development with the need to protect the environment and achieve social and economic objectives. Spatial planning is, therefore, an essential tool for promoting sustainable development, connecting the Region, improving the quality of life, and reducing inequalities.


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Designing the Region of the future Baltic Sea Region is recognized as a European and even global front-runner in the development of maritime spatial plans. After drawing up maritime spatial plans throughout the Baltic Sea, the PA will prepare for a new planning cycle and will build a sound basis for an adaptive maritime spatial planning process by exploring further improvements for national, regional and EU policy coherence (e.g., European Green Deal). Since the spatial planning is a participatory process, the involvement of broad stakeholders’ community in the dialogue utilizing various regional platforms (e.g., MSP Planners Forum, VASAB Young Planners summer school) supported by the PA, is vital for the achievement of macro-regional coherence goals. Spatial visions are an important tool for forward-looking and evidence-based policymaking. Such visions define a desirable picture of the future, shared by people who wish to make a desirable change for the next generations. As a response to new challenges and trends that influence the territorial development in the Baltic Sea Region, VASAB has elaborated a new draft Vision 2040. It aims to set the tone for the desirable future in the Baltic Sea Region by 2040 and beyond and gives a framework for further discussions on how our Region would evolve and what actions should be taken on board to achieve the Vision more successfully. Currently, the draft Vision has been forwarded to stakeholder consultations.

A BOAT, A PLANE AND AN OFFSHORE WINDFARM NEAR ORESUND PHOTO: VVOEVALE


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In order to ensure close linkages between the EU Strategy of the Baltic Sea Region and the PA`s work, VASAB initiated bilateral meetings with other Policy Areas of the EUSBSR throughout this spring. Bilateral meetings allowed to get acquainted with each other on a personal level, and better understand the thematic scope and mutual interlinkages with each Policy Area, altogether contributing to common understanding, building mutual trust, and indicating potential synergies for future work. Stakeholders who are interested and have a say in the territorial development of the Baltic Sea Region, are invited to share their feedback with PA ‘Spatial Planning’ by mid-July. The feedback will be considered in further development and refinement of the draft VASAB Vision 2040 and its implementation framework.

Contact www.vasab.org and www.helcom.fi for further inquires.

VIEW OF THE KLAIPEDA HARBOUR WITH SHIPS AND CRANES, LITHUANIA PHOTO: ANITA BONITA


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Meet the new Policy Area TRANSPORT Coordinators By Inga Ablingienė, Lithuanian Transport Innovation Association

PHOTO: KARL MELANDER/IMAGEBANK.SWEDEN.SE

and Mr Tarmo Ots, Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications

Ms. Inga Ablingienė, Policy Area Coordinator, Association of Transport Innovations, Lithuania e-mail: inga.ablingiene@tiasoc.eu

Mr. Tarmo Ots Policy Area Coordinator, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Estonia e-mail: Tarmo.Ots@mkm.ee


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Newcomers in the Policy Area- their expectations and wishes The PA Transport, one of the Policy Areas of the EU Baltic Sea Strategy, has faced organizational changes. At the beginning of this year, both coordinators retired at the same time, giving an opportunity to take the lead over two newcomers Ms. Inga Ablingienė from Lithuania and Mr. Tarmo Ots from Estonia. Inga and Tarmo have not been involved in the daily work of Policy Area Transport before. Therefore, it is a new experience for both. However, they do not see it as a problem as both of them have worked with transport issues for years - Inga currently works for the Lithuanian Transport Innovation Association and Tarmo is employed by the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. Rather opposite, it is a challenge which gives them an opportunity to introduce new ideas, test new approaches and see how these fit into the policy coordination. One thing Tarmo wants to do is to raise awareness of the existence of the Policy Area Transport among the transport industry or organisations that represent them.

“I

know

that

underestimate

it the

is

wrong

to

importance

of

communication and publicity, therefore I will put lots of effort into it. I believe we will be frequent visitors in the “PR office” of the Baltic Sea Strategy.

I

wish communication people help us to prepare a communication plan”, said Tarmo. “Another step to increase awareness of our existence is via active networking. Networking and capacity building are the key tools to cooperate with possible stakeholders from different professional organisations

and

entities

at

the

national and cross-border level, also outside the Policy Area” is his firm opinion. FERRY AND CARS IN SAAREMAA ISLAND, ESTONIA PHOTO: E_RASMUS


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PAC’s vision is to create a platform for stakeholders where they can exchange views, see what kind of projects already exist, develop new ideas about possible common projects and find project partners. Thinking ambitiously, one day the PA Transport could use its knowledge and experience in the process of developing the EU transport policy. The European Commission has established this kind of possibility via public consultation processes, and why not to use this opportunity. Inga is planning to contribute to the digitalisation of transport logistics chains. “Via creating groups of stakeholders on a governmental and business level, we could prototype and test platforms, which implement paperless transport concept”, says Inga. More than that, Transport Innovation Association put a lot of effort to work on the greening of the transport sector. Stay tuned with the news from PACs on the forthcoming initiatives and events. “We have not yet decided how we divide tasks and priorities between us. We need a little bit more time to see what are our personal strengths and areas of expertise, and after that, we decide what is the most efficient way to share duties ”, added Tarmo.

PUBLIC BUS IN VILNIUS, LITHUANIA PHOTO: LEO PATRIZI

Tarmo and Inga acknowledge the importance and steady growth of all modes of transport air, sea, and land. They have decided not to concentrate on one transport mode but treat them as equally important. Another issue is the establishment of long-term priorities. “This kind of approach that we only concentrate on one issue and after some period abandons it and take another one, is not sustainable. You just cannot get any good result”. New PACs appreciate the work done by the previous policy team. The three activity areas (Actions) defined by them are varied and all of them are very relevant to the transport sector: Action 1: Improve connectivity of the regions and cooperation with third countries Action 2: Development of measures towards climate-neutral and zero pollution transport Action 3: Facilitate innovative technologies & solutions in the Baltic Sea Region


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PACs have thought a lot about what the PA Transport could contribute to the Baltic Sea Region. They wish to create something which is useful and helps the transport sector (for instance some digital transport documents). In the field of Green Policy, they would not think how to make technology greener but rather concentrate on how to put green solutions to work in favour of the transport industry. In other words, they do not think how to make an airplane more environmentally friendly. They are trying to find ways to put the environmentally friendly airplane to work for the benefit of the Baltic Sea Region. There is one more issue which needs extra attention - cooperation with other macroregional policy areas. In Inga’s words, it would be really interesting to hear about their priorities, how they have organised their tasks and how is the cooperation arranged with stakeholders. The first pilot meeting was arranged in the format of traditional Coffee with the Presidency meeting with the EU Strategy for the Danube Region in May 2022. The meeting was organised jointly by the “Let’s Communicate!” project and the Danube Strategy Point. Tarmo and Inga felt very proud their Policy Area was invited and they could meet virtually their counterparts face to face. This is much better than just exchanging e-mails. And the best surprise was that one PAC from Danube Region was Tarmo’s colleague from Slovenia whom he knew very well but unfortunately has lost contact with ten years ago. To sum up, both newcomers are full of enthusiasm and energy. They hope for good luck in implementing their plans.

COPENHAGEN AIRPORT, DENMARK PHOTO: ANYA BERKUT


CONNECT THE REGION SUCCESS STORIES PHOTO: CANVA


A CBSS INITIATIVE, THE PROMISE BARNAHUS NETWORK, SEEKS TO INCREASE THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN AT RISK IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION In a bid to increase the safety of children at risk in the Baltic Sea region, the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) is involved in and coordinating the PROMISE Barnahus Network. The initiative promotes the Barnahus model, which is a multidisciplinary and interagency collaboration organised under one roof. By working together, the professionals at Barnahus ensure child victims and witnesses of violence benefit from a child-friendly, professional, and effective response in a safe environment which prevents (re)traumatisation. By Gloria Zhang, Communications Team, CBSS


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The children's safety and rights in focus Children at Risk is a flagship priority under the CBSS’s priority area of the Save & Secure region, implemented by the Children at Risk Expert Group with the support of the Children at Risk Unit at the CBSS Secretariat in Stockholm. The CBSS Expert Group on Children at Risk embraces the two fundamental pillars of CBSS – political dialogue between States and practical cooperation based on tangible projects. It supports awareness-raising to promote positive attitudes, norms, and values to safeguard the rights of children. The PROMISE Barnahus network, hosted by the CBSS, was established on the heels of a series of EU co-funded projects in order to formalise the sustainable continuation of the international exchange, capacity building, and awareness-raising that states require when evaluating the Barnahus model and adapting it to their contexts.

“In 2021, we had the privilege of training more than 100 professionals from 14 countries, covering key topics such as teamwork, forensic interviews, and therapeutic interventions,” said Shawnna von Blixen, PROMISE Barnahus Network Coordinator. “Beyond delivering the essential knowledge and skills these professionals need for their work, each new contact we make expands our own knowledge of policies and practices,” she added. “The team at the CBSS has become a go-to resource for guidance on adapting the Barnahus model internationally, and for supporting existing Barnahus projects to continually develop their services in line with international law and bestpractice examples.”

MS.SHAWNNA VON BLIXEN, PROMISE BARNAHUS NETWORK COORDINATOR


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“The CBSS Expert Group has a long history of promoting promising practices from the region, both among its own member states, but also internationally,” said Olivia Lind Haldorsson, Head of the Children at Risk Unit. “Barnahus is just one example of this. Our forthcoming registry of good practices will bring forward additional promising practices from the region, giving evidence of how to

build

strong,

sustainable

child

protection systems, and how to quickly respond to the dynamic needs of children during challenging times.” MS. OLIVIA LIND HALDORSSON, HEAD OF THE CHILDREN AT RISK UNIT


PAGE 25 BALTIC STORIES |SPRING - SUMMER 2022


PHOTO: THE FINNISH BORDER GUARD

RESQU2 STANDS FOR “ENHANCING THE DURABILITY OF LEARNING EXPERIENCES GAINED IN CHEMSAR, HAZARD, DIVESMART BALTIC AND MIRG-EX PROJECTS ON GUIDELINES, OPERATIONAL PLANS AND PROCEDURES AND EXERCISES RELATED TO INCIDENTS AT SEA AND IN PORTS”

RESQU2 – INCREASING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ResQU2 project platform brought together emergency professionals from rescue authorities and services, knowledge partners, seaports and other relevant authorities from four projects. These experts aimed at better preparedness, coordination and co-operation related to rescue operations in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea regions. The ultimate goal was to have more efficient and safe operations to reduce harm and loss of life in emergencies. By Kirsi Laitio, Education Manager, Centre for Maritime Studies, University of Turku


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Why ResQU2? The Baltic Sea is a sea of frequent traffic. At any given minute, approximately 2000 vessels operate, year in and year out. This increases the risk of a major incident at sea or in ports, especially if dangerous substances are involved. In the worst-case scenario, a chemical tanker collides with a passenger ship. Also, hazardous materials stored and handled in ports form a high-risk, particularly, when they coexist next to residential areas. An accident in a port would expose a large number of people to different airborne substances, such as toxic clouds. Both collisions and land-based accidents may well grow to be large-scale incidents requiring rescue capacities from several countries. Thus, a clear need to increase emergency handling capacity and exchange of knowledge on maritime and port-related incident response and search and rescue (SAR) operations exists. Joint rescue operations can be successful only if authorities have the capacity to work together.

A project platform is greater than the sum of its parts ResQU2 was not a typical project. It was built on the collaboration of four successful projects, three of which EUSBSR Flagships, all having the same aim, albeit the beneficiaries were slightly different. Each project involved respective authorities and services and provided tangible tools and solutions to handle large-scale incidents. Despite dissimilarities, synergies were evident as the ultimate goal was shared and common to all: improving emergency preparedness. By joining forces, these projects substantially strengthened the networking capacity, exchange of knowledge and the reach of results and discovered best-practices.

THE RESQU2 TEAM IN THE KICK-OFF MEETING IN OCTOBER 2018 IN TURKU PHOTO: MINDAUGAS KRUOPYS


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RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The ResQU2 partners communicated and demonstrated learning experiences and best practices discovered in a number of workshops, seminars, webinars and high-level events. They enabled peer-to-peer discussions and gave opportunities for some regions to take stock of their own potential and needs. The topics of the events covered, for example, capitalizing experiences gained on emergency preparedness, building up maritime incident response capacity, preparing for emergencies at sea and in ports, and crisis communication. Professional networks were enhanced, recommendations to improve rescue operations were prepared, and the international coordination group on emergency preparedness was set in motion.

RESQU2 IN ONE PICTURE, DESIGN: MARIIKKA WHITEMAN


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Common guidelines, procedures, and joint exercises – the importance of swift rescue operations The projects had created guidelines, operational plans and procedures and performed exercises to improve incident handling. The platform consortium was to increase rescue authorities’ and services’ emergency preparedness and reduce the effects of possible largescale incidents. Any large incident at the Baltic Sea usually touches more than one country as no country alone has the resources to tackle major incidents on its own. Thus, it is of the utmost importance to share best practices and to plan and exercise the procedures in a transnational context already in advance. All four projects had concluded that the capability to handle maritime emergency situations improves if one knows available competencies and resources, and performs regular joint exercises in international constellations, using the common guidelines and procedures.

MARITIME RESCUE OPERATIONS ARE DEMANDING, ESPECIALLY IN ROUGH WEATHER, NIGHT TIME OR WHEN HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS ARE INVOLVED PHOTO: SAFETY REGION ZEELAND


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International coordination group for emergency preparedness set in motion It is a great challenge to increase rescue capacity to work in a transnational environment, and the improvement takes place solely in case there is co-operation and knowledge of other organizations as well. To enhance the coordination of scarce resources, ResQU2 undertook to formalize the co-operation and constituted an International coordination group for emergency preparedness to maintain this capacity. To enable this, it introduced a policy paper to improve further safety at sea within the Baltic Sea area by co-operation in order to share and transfer knowledge of each other’s competencies and resources. The policy paper is applicable to the long-term management of any chosen area within emergency preparedness. It was piloted in the diving community to facilitate the setting up. However, it would be only natural to include other SAR functions as well, so the paper is adaptable to emergency preparedness in general.

The most valued outcome was getting to know one’s peers ResQU2 events reached hundreds of professionals in several countries, even beyond the Baltic Sea Region. In addition to rescue authorities and services, officials from such international actors as EMSA, HELCOM, EC, NATO and IMRF were involved in ResQU2 events. This resulted in that gained knowledge, skills and expertise spreading further increasing awareness, the level of know-how and capacities in maritime SAR operations and large-scale international exercises. Still, one of the most valuable results was the possibility to get to know one’s peers and resources in other countries. By knowing your peers and by having joint exercises, one is able to exchange views, learn to “speak the same language”, and build trust. This is the kind of knowledge that needs to be maintained and it is the knowledge that may help save lives one day.

HAZARD PROJECT'S LARGE-SCALE EXERCISE IN THE KLAIPEDA SEAPORT IN 2018 PHOTO: JARMO MALMSTEN


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ResQU2 initiated joint management of rescue resources in the Baltic Sea Region. The developed management model was piloted with search and rescue (SAR) divers but it can be applied to any kind of SAR operations PHOTO: SWEDISH COAST GUARD


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Introduction of the ResQU2 project platform Name: ResQU2 (Enhancing the durability of learning experiences gained in ChemSAR, HAZARD, DiveSmart Baltic and Mirg-Ex projects on guidelines, operational plans and procedures and exercises related to incidents at sea and in ports) Funding programme: Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme Priority: Sustainable transport Specific objective: Maritime safety Duration: October 2018 – March 2021 Lead partner: University of Turku/Centre for Maritime Studies ResQU2 was a EUSBSR Flagship project under Policy Area Secure

Strong international ResQU2 consortium ResQU2 project platform consortium comprised 10 partners from eight countries: Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, and The Netherlands. These partners were in a key role in their respective projects and they represent three Interreg BSR projects, ChemSAR, HAZARD and DiveSMART Baltic, all of which are EUSBSR Flagship projects (PA SAFE and PA SECURE), and one project funded by DG ECHO, the MIRG-EX project.

ResQU2 projects ChemSAR – created operational plans and procedures for maritime search and rescue in hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) incidents. DiveSMART Baltic – diving with state maritime resources in the Baltic increased preparedness and efficiency in underwater operations. HAZARD – aimed at mitigating the effects of emergencies in the Baltic Sea Region Ports. MIRG-EX – brought together four maritime incident response groups, i.e., firefighter teams trained especially to respond to incidents on board ships.

MORE ON THE RESQU2 PROJECT PLATFORM AT BLOGIT.UTU.FI/RESQU2


A QUOTE AT THE END

BALTIC STORIES | SPRING - SUMMER 2022


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