Project opening: Kick-off meeting, Helsinki

Partners of the Cities for a Healthier Sea gathered to set the project going in Helsinki, October 7-8, 2010. Around twenty representatives from Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Sweden met each other and discussed general issues on the project implementation, aims and expectations, and outlined timetables, work plan and resources. In addition, the project steering group convened for the first time.

The 2-day event started with welcome words by Päivi Kippo-Edlund, Director of Environmental Protection and Research, City of Helsinki Environment Centre. These were followed by three key note lectures elucidating the governance palette and international covenants in the field of Baltic Sea protection, the role of local actors and societal factors behind water protection work in the different countries.

Before lunch, the partners had a guided tour in the tropical garden of Gardenia, and lunch was served in the garden. The afternoon session began with two key note presentations highlighting the experiences and good practices from Finland and Sweden. The subsequent workshop was realised as moving round table discussions covering various topics concerning the project activities. The first day was closed by a kick-off dinner, hosted by Pekka Kansanen, Director General of the City of Helsinki Environment Centre.

The second day composed of a steering group meeting in the morning, followed by a project meeting, covering practicalities concerning the project implementation. Overall, the meeting was succesful. The project personnel agreed upon the next steps and a monthly meeting schedule to maintain frequent contacts among the partners.

Programme

Day 1, Gardenia

10.00-13.30

OPENING AND WELCOME

Päivi Kippo-Edlund
Director of Environmental Protection and Research
City of Helsinki Environment Centre

KEY NOTE: European Union strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the  governance palette - the different roles of municipalities, towns and cities

Annukka Mäkinen
Senior Adviser
Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities

KEY NOTE: International water protection covenants and agreements in the Baltic Sea Region

Leea Salminen
Special Counsel, Attorney at Law
Procopé & Hornborg

KEY NOTE: Societal factors of more effective Baltic Sea protection - different starting points of Estonia, Latvia and Finland

Maria Jokela
Researcher
Finnish Institute of International Affairs

GUIDED TOUR IN THE GARDEN

LUNCH

13.30-15.00

Different actors have different starting points - best practices from Finland

Lotta Nummerlin
Coordinator of the Baltic Sea Challenge
City of Helsinki Environment Centre

Action plan for the Municipality of Nyköping - an example from Sweden

Anneli Carlén
Senior Environmental Officer
Municipality of Nyköping

COFFEE AND SWEETS

15.00-17.00

WORKSHOP: MOVING ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS

Topic 1: Challenging and action plans

Led by Kajsa Rosqvist, City of Helsinki Environment Centre

Topic 2: Awareness raising material for the private citizens and civil servants, competition on Baltic Sea knowledge etc.

Led by Anne Kivinukk, REC Estonia

Topic 3: Awareness raising events of the project; local seminars for cities, summer school for civil servants etc.

Led by Jaan Loonik, ERKAS

19.00-

KICK-OFF DINNER

Hosted by Pekka Kansanen
Director General
City of Helsinki Environment Centre

 

Day 2, City of Helsinki Environment Centre

9.00-12.00 STEERING GROUP MEETING

12.00-13.00 PROJECT MEETING

13.00-14.00 LUNCH

14.00-16.00 PROJECT MEETING CONTINUES

16.00 CLOSING