The EU initiative for the Baltic sea region

as an instrument of regional policy

Galina Gavrilko

From the middle of 70th years of the XX century the European Union pays great attention to the regional policy. The most important phases of realization of this policy are: the establishment in 1973, the European regional development fund; the implementation of radical reforms of the Structural funds in 1989; the establishment according to the Maastricht treaty in 1993, the cohesion Fund and, in 1994, the Committee of the regions.

Important role in the implementation of regional policy plays a new initiative of the EU Baltic sea "Northern dimension" (SI). The initiative of the SI, aimed at the expansion and strengthening of bilateral relations in the European north in the sphere of ecology, economy, health and transport, served as the basis for the creation and the beginning of implementation of the first EU strategy on the level of "macro" - strategy for the Baltic sea.

EU programmes are of great importance for the Baltic region. In the period from 2007 to 2013 region will receive more than 50 billion euros of investments. This includes, including 27 billion to improve access to the region, almost 10 billion on environmental protection, 6.7 billion for the development of competitiveness and 697 million for security and risk prevention.

The planned measures are grouped in four blocks in accordance with the main directions of the strategy.

The first block of environmental sustainability in the Baltic region. Adopted in this field documents are aimed at the provision of the environmental impact. Action plan on environment provides for the conservation of natural habitats and biodiversity; reduction of the use and discharge of hazardous substances; turning the region into a model for environmentally safe navigation; mitigation of climate change impact and adaptation to them.

The second block - thriving economy, as well as the common agricultural policy. Today the Baltic sea region can be clearly divided into prosperous, innovative north and the west and developing the east and the south. In the post-crisis period it is necessary to use the benefits of the single market, on the one hand, and maximize the benefits of innovation, on the other.

To achieve high productivity, high levels of innovation and sustainable economic growth of the Baltic sea region it is also necessary to strengthen the integration of the labour market.

The movements in the framework of this unit give you an idea of such projects as:

- cooperation of the universities: the Swedish program Östra Mellansverige (2007-2013), financed project called "PRIM" (processes and relations in innovative environments). It develops the relations between universities and business-incubators. Its aggregate value of 6.5 million euro;

- JOSEFIN - co - financing of innovative programs of the enterprises of small and medium business. Is a european territorial cooperation project (from January 2009 to December 2011). The aggregate value of 3.9 million euros;

- pomeranian technopark in Poland - the total value of 48 million euro.

The third block is dedicated to increasing the accessibility and attractiveness of the Baltic sea region. Trans-european transport and energy networks are the main component of its development. In addition, the European economic recovery plan to exit from the crisis requires additional financial support to many energy infrastructure projects in the region.

The fourth block of the strategy is dedicated to security in the region. Its implementation will be achieved in light of the significant changes in the next few years: according to expert estimates shipping will increase significantly, therefore, will increase the risk of pollution of the Baltic sea. Cooperation in this field already exists but needs to be significantly strengthened to ensure that the region has become a world leader in the field of ensuring maritime security. It is also necessary to prepare the region to increasing extreme conditions associated with climate change.

The EU Strategy for the Baltic sea region is a key tool for ensuring the territorial unity of the macro-region, as for the sea, as well as for the continental territories. It aims at ensuring competitiveness, integration and sustainable development of the region.

Es shows the experience of european countries, participating in euroregions allows you to more quickly solve border problems at the local level, to create flexible business structure (joint stock companies, consortia, etc.) with the attraction of foreign investments for the construction or expansion of cross-border and transport infrastructure; to establish cross-border trade, tourism; to enhance cooperation in the cultural, social, environmental and other areas.

The Council of Europe attaches great importance to cross-border cooperation in the framework of the euroregions, which is regarded as a factor stabilising Europe.

At present on the borders with the EU with the participation of Belarus established four euroregions: "the Bug", "Neman", "Belovezhskaya pushcha" and "Lake district". Euroregion "Dnepr", combines the Gomel region and border regions of Russia and Ukraine.

The mechanism of the euroregions is very important not only for the decision of actual problems of the territories, but also with broader objectives. And not only by the belarusian. The fight against illegal migration, drug trafficking, human trafficking, organized crime, not in the least dependent on the equipment of the checkpoints at the borders, close cooperation of the border guard, police and administrative authorities. Euroregions are one of the forms of cooperation of regional and local authorities, but at the same time and the means of harmonious integration of Belarus into the structure of modern Europe.

An important role in the activity of the belarusian euroregions is allotted to the implementation of environmental projects, which so far are primarily of educational and educational character. Euroregions contribute to the dialogue of cultures at the regional level, their mutual enrichment, conservation of cultural diversity. In their part of the implemented programme of cultural exchanges, festivals of national cultures, folklore festivals, exhibitions.

One of the main priorities in the work of the euroregions is discussed economic cooperation. The programs of all euroregions contain projects for the support of entrepreneurship and creation of conditions for the labor activity of the population of border areas, the development of tourism. In the conditions, when the global financial crisis began to exert a negative impact on the economy of the republic, which has pronounced the export nature and depends on the conjuncture of the markets outside of our country, euroregions can contribute to the increase of exports of goods and especially services, improvement of the investment and business climate, strengthening and development of the economic potential of the small and medium-sized towns and settlements.

But the activity of the belarusian participants of the euroregions is low. Most probably inadequate institutional support cross-border cooperation on the part of bodies of executive power. There are no normative-legal base, regulating the activity of the euroregions, the relevant body of state management, coordinating their activities, the concept of development of euroregions.

In this connection it would be desirable to study the feasibility of the adoption of a legislative act, which would regulate the cross-border cooperation in Belarus. Among its basic standards should be singled out norms for the regulation of the activities of euroregions and state management, state support and financial provision of cross-border cooperation.

The regional policy of the EU and its eastern partners contributes to the integration and strengthening of the competitiveness of regions for a number of reasons.

Firstly, euroregions strengthen the practice of delegating responsibilities and powers of local authorities, contribute to the economic development.

Secondly, the euroregion is an innovative structure in the field of management of regional development and serves as a platform to attract investment and development centres.