Green growth for a bluer Baltic Sea is the theme for the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) attended by parliamentarians from across the region in Helsinki from 28 to 30 August 2011. Green growth is a concept that captures one of the greatest challenges facing the future development of society: How do we promote economic growth and competitiveness while being socially and environmentally sustainable over the long term?"", says Christina Gestrin, Chairperson of BSPC and member of the Nordic Council Presidium. Gestrin emphasizes that it is important to find both political and practical strategies to achieve green growth, and there will be discussions at the conference on how to make this happen.
Line Barfod, Chairperson of the Working Group on Civil Security, especially trafficking in human beings, will present the group's final report on Monday 29 August with proposals on what the governments of the country's surrounding the Baltic Sea must do to fight human trafficking. Barfod is of a member of the Nordic Council Presidium. The final report from the Working Group on Integrated Maritime Policy will also be presented on the second day of the conference. The agenda will otherwise include topics such as green growth and energy efficiency, the EU's Baltic Sea Strategy and the Northern Dimension, and HELCOM's Baltic Sea Action Plan for the BSPC's 20th anniversary this year. The BSPC will be assembled in the Finnish Parliament.
More information about the conference: www.bspc.net
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