The BSPC Standing Committee assembled at the European Parliament in Brussels on 31 January 2013. The meeting was chaired by Ms Laine Randjärv, Estonia, BSPC President in 2012-2013. Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher, MEP, welcomed the participants to the European Parliament. The meeting included briefings an progress reports on CBSS by Mr Sergey Petrovich, Chair of the CBSS Committee of Senior Officials; on the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EU SBSR) by Ms Joanna Kiryllo, European Commission, DG REGIO; on the Northern Dimension by Mr Kalle Kankaanpää, European External Action Service (EEAS); and on EU Integrated Maritime Policy by Mr Haitze Siemers, European Commission, DG MARE. The meeting also deliberated over the modalities for the follow-up of the BSPC Resolutions, and commenced preparing the structure and substance of the 22nd BSPC in Pärnu in August 2013.