UBC – 30 years of boosting cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region

Foreword from the UBC President Dear UBC Friends, Colleagues and Partners, Activating leadership of the future – was and will be the mission The 30th Jubilee of Union of the Baltic Cities is taking place at a significant time in history. The Covid-19 global pandemic has changed our lives, in some instances permanently, and we have been compelled to find solutions and innovations in an extremely exceptional situation.

Although there are thirty years in between, there are similarities to be found in the circumstances around the time the UBC was established and the present day: promoting a vision of UBC as peaceful and prosperous Baltic Sea Region, and learning from each other. In both times it was crucial to establish and promote advanced regional cooperation between Baltic Sea Region countries, cities and actors in order to find a way into a new common future.

Community of the international cooperation practice – to all our communities UBC’s achievements and developments include: UBC Strategy is being renewed in 2021 and will present the guidelines for UBC work until 2030. The process is dynamic and open to develop a flexible and modern new UBC Strategy. The new Strategy will be adopted at the XVI UBC General Conference in October 2021.

UBC Policy Positions Papers have been prepared: on Urban Agenda, Social Cohesion, Resilient Cities and Sustainability with a selection of projects and initiatives. They are a huge step forward for advocacy and lobby for the UBC and its member cities.

UBC has been proactive in terms of project engagement. It has been a partner and co-beneficiary in EU funded projects.

UBC is also a reliable partner in regional cooperation. It has been a coordinator of EUSBSR Horizontal Action “Capacity” together with Norden Association and Swedish Institute. We have been working to strengthen the involvement of the local actors in the EUSBSR implementation. UBC will be a partner of the next EUSBSR Annual Forum.

Our number of members has increased in 2021. We warmly welcome the cities of Hamburg, Valmiera, Rokiškis and Sejny and a returning member city of Haapsalu into the UBC family.

Sustainability of democracy and participation will keep us going forward Culture of all THE FAMILY ensures UBC transition from generation to generation. In 2021, we keep striving to turn obstacles into chances for something new and to develop our societies further, despite the current global situation. I am convinced we cannot just wait for the crisis to pass – instead we should continue with all our important work. Our cities and societies are challenged to become even more proactive, more unified, more resilient. This is why the theme of the XVI UBC General Conference is “Resilient Baltic Sea Cities. Tackling the challenges and creating the future(s)”.

Through this jubilee publication, I hope all UBC friends are able to glance back at our history and its stories but also to position ourselves towards the future. Thank you very much for the cooperation throughout these decades – looking forward to the next 30 years!

Mantas Jurgutis UBC President