The conference volume was published by Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences during the Consultation about EU strategy of the Baltic Sea Region. The Strategy aims at coordinating action by Member States, regions, the EU, pan-Baltic organizations, financing institutions and non-governmental bodies to promote a more balanced development of the Region.
Conference proceedings contain articles and interventions of the conference participants, who represented a broad spectrum of occupations and interests. The editors of the volume were Marika Laizāne and Artis Pabriks. In his article professor Pabriks addressed the issues of Baltic Sea Region (BSR) integration. His article covered the linkages and cooperative aspects of the region, including political interactions, economic interdependence, energy, the shared history and current ambitions within EU and NATO. Lecturer of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences Jānis Kapustāns used the New Regionalism approach to compare BSR with another regional structure in Europe’s South – The Union for the Mediterranean. Associate Professor Feliciana Rajevska discussed the development of social policy in Latvia after it joined the EU in 2004, and pointed to discrepancies in employment, and income maintenance indicators in comparison with other EU member states. Other contributors included Valdis Krastiņš (“Cooperation around Baltic Sea: dreams and realities”), Steffen Weber (“Cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region – Development and the Need for an EU Strategy”), Glen Grant (“Baltic States Defence and Security From A Latvian Perspective. The Unhappy Reality”), Dace Melbārde (“The Cultural Dimension of the Baltic Sea Region: Identity, Framework and Future Challenges”), and Veiko Spolītis (“Civic culture and Europanization trends in the Baltic Sea region – the case of Latvia and Estonia”).
Volume editor Artis Pabriks emphasized that while there were prejudices and objections to closer integration on all sides of the Baltic Sea, integration instead of cooperation was the only way to guarantee sustainable economic growth and assist with the development of democracy, particularly, in three Baltic countries.
The Volume was published with financial support from Latvian Ministry of Education Science Grant Scheme and the Representation of European Commission to Latvia. Conference volume can be downloaded from the conference site.
