Dear members and friends of the CPMR North Sea Commission,
I want to wish us all a happy anniversary! The North Sea Commission is turning 30 years this year and we do it in good spirit, with engaged and active members and with four vigorous thematic groups.
In the next few weeks, I will represent the NSC in a conference on maritime spatial planning in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, in an EU seminar on the issue of unexploded munitions at sea, in CPMR’s Political Bureau meeting where I will open the climate session, and in a conference on youth participation organized by the youth parliament of Rogaland county council in Norway.
One of this year’s major tasks for our Commission is to develop our strategy for the 2020s. The Executive Committee met in January to kick off a discussion about priorities in the strategy, and now there will be a round of consultations with members, thematic groups and stakeholders. The NSC has always worked for better coordination in the North Sea region – we have lobbied with success for an Interreg North Sea programme, for a fisheries advisory council and for strengthened energy cooperation. What is the next big area for increased cooperation in the North Sea basin? Which are the big challenges and where can we make a difference by working together? You are invited to feed in your comments and help us create a relevant strategy for the 2020’s.
Obviously, the climate is on everybody’s agenda now, and it is worth exploring how we can join forces and make the North Sea region the world leader in combatting climate change. This will be the theme for the annual joint North Sea conference in June. Welcome to a new exciting North Sea year!
Kerstin Brunnström
President
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NSC representatives met with Chief Negotiator for Brexit
NSC President Kerstin Brunnström, NSC Vice President Andreas Lervik and Chair of the NSC Brexit Task Force Michiel Rijsberman were part of a CPMR delegation meeting Michel Barnier, the European Commission’s Brexit Chief Negotiator, on December 19, in Brussels to discuss preparation for Brexit and impacts of the UK withdrawal.
The message from the NSC delegates was that the EU must work to minimise the damaging effects of Brexit on the regions in Northern Europe, the regions with the most exchange with the UK today.
Read more: "NSC representatives meet Barnier"
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MRG witnessing effects of lost containers
The Marine Resources Group met in Northern Netherlands, on January 9-10, and got a firsthand impression of the cleaning of the sea after a freight ship had lost almost 300 containers in the North Sea in a winter storm the week before.
Marine litter is a priority area for the NSC.
Read more: "MRG witnessing effects of lost containers at the sea"
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The Executive Committee has set the course for the next strategy...
The NSC Executive Committee (ExCom) met on January 11 in Groningen (NL). The meeting was mainly devoted to discussions on the North Sea Region strategy post-2020, which will be drafted during 2019.
The strategy will set the course for the North Sea Region in the coming years, identifying the most pressing challenges and how transnational cooperation can make a difference.
Read more: "79th ExCom Meeting"
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... and the strategy discussions enter a new phase - join us!
The work on the new North Sea Region strategy for the 2020’s is high on the agenda this year. It is coordinated by a strategy task force consisting of the secretariat, the thematic group advisors, some additional officers representing all countries and is supervised by the Executive Committee.
Now, in the spring of 2019, we will discuss priorities for the new strategy with members, thematic groups and stakeholders. At the Annual Business Meeting in Marstrand in June 2019, members will be asked to decide on a set of priorities for the new strategy, and in the autumn the new strategy will be drafted for consultations next winter and adoption at the ABM 2020.
Make sure to take part in the discussions on our new strategy which will guide our work in the coming years!
Read more: "NSC strategy discussions enter new phase"
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How can transnational cooperation in the North Sea region contribute to climate goals?
This joint event is organised by the NSC's thematic groups for Energy & Climate Change and Transport and will take place in Brussels on February 28. It will present the state of play and outlook on energy & climate performance and cooperation in the North Sea Region, as well as strategies, projects and practices. This seminar will also be an opportunity to provide input to the new North Sea Region strategy post 2020.
Read more: "Invitation and registration"
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Youth has a voice!
The NSC and Rogaland County Council's Youth Council is hosting a conference for youth parliaments around the North Sea on 21-22 March in Sandnes, Norway. The aim is to encourage and discuss how we can strenghten youth participation in the North Sea region, both in and between our member regions.
Read more: "Invitation and registration"
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Save the date!
The NSC's Annual Business Meeting will take place in Marstrand, Västra Götaland (SE), on June 24-25. This will be followed by the North Sea Conference on June 26.
More information and registration will follow soon.
For questions, contact the NSC Secretariat on nsc@crpm.org
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Elections and mergers in the North Sea Region
In 2019, new councils will be elected in several of our member regions. The Dutch provinces have elections in March and Bremen in May. In September Norway will elect the councils of the new merged regions which will be effective from 2020. In Denmark there is a national debate on the tasks of regions where some parties are questioning the need for a regional level. The issue is expected to be settled after the national elections taking place in June or earlier.
And let us not forget about the election to the European Parliament in May.
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Calendar
27 February: Transport Group meeting, Brussels (BE)
28 February: "How can transnational cooperation in the North Sea Region contribute to overall climate goals?", Brussels (BE)
28 February: Energy and Climate Change Group meeting, Brussels (BE)
19 March: NSC Strategy Task Force, Brussels (BE)
21-22 March: NSC Youth Conference, Sandnes, Rogaland (NO)
4-5 April: 80th NSC Executive Committee Meeting, Southend on Sea (UK)
9 April: Smart Regions Group meeting, Helsinki (FI)
11-12 April: Marine Resources Group meeting, Florø, Sogn og Fjordane (NO)
16-17 May: European Maritime Day, Lisboa (PO)
23-26 May: Election to the European Parliament
25 June: 28th NSC Annual Business Meeting, Marstrand, Västra Götaland (SE)
26 June: North Sea Conference, Marstrand, Västra Götaland (SE)
For more information, visit our webpage cpmr-northsea.org or contact the NSC Secretariat nsc@crpm.org
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