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November 6, 2020

Pyry Niemi Underlines the Need for Close Parliamentary Cooperation at the Baltic Assembly

During the Digital 39th Baltic Assembly, BSPC President Pyry Niemi argued for using the close ties of long-standing and intensive cooperation between the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference to advance common parliamentary goals, to strengthen sustainable democracy and to face common challenges in a changing world.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 39th Baltic Assembly took place in digital format.

One of the main topics had been the impact of COVID-19 on economies, health and employment as well as education and research. The Baltic Assembly presented its “Comprehensive analysis on cooperation of the Baltic states during the COVID-19 crisis” as well as crisis mitigation measures and a strategic vision for the recovery of the region, both discussed jointly with respective ministers of the Baltic states. 

BSPC President Pyry Niemi addressed the Baltic Assembly in a video message this time. He particularly pointed out that there was a need to address not only the preservation of our livelihoods but also the fundamental issues of democratic coexistence.

In detail, he underscored that, as face-to-face meetings were not currently possible, it was all the more vital for the two organisations to continue exchanging information digitally despite all the restrictions, to continue their cross-border parliamentary cooperation unabated at this very moment, to look for joint solutions to better cope with the burdens and challenges caused by the pandemic and to keep pursuing their shared goals for a better future together.

The president said that the close ties of long-standing and intensive cooperation between the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference – based on friendship and trust – had to be used intensively in these times as well, to advance common parliamentary goals, to strengthen prosperity and to protect the environment.

During the current Swedish BSPC Presidency, he explained that the BSPC would focus on sustainable democracy and how to face common challenges in a changing world. The BSPC saw the more than urgent need to address not only the preservation of their livelihoods but also the fundamental issues of democratic coexistence. On every single day of these months, it had become clear how crucial and fundamental that was. 

The BSPC wished that all those fighting for democracy and more democratic structures in their countries would find peaceful success. President Niemi pointed out that the people in the Baltic states had demonstrated to the world with the Baltic Way and their human chain 31 years earlier how powerful peaceful demonstrations could be and how they could change the world.

Furthermore, the BSPC wanted to continue finding solutions for the protection of their joint environmental foundations. Therefore, the BSPC had established a working group on the issue of climate change and biodiversity.

The president called on the Baltic Assembly to continue to work on their common goals with all their energy, to make the Baltic Sea region an increasingly attractive place to live. He wished the meeting good health and fruitful deliberations, adding that he was looking forward to the results of this year’s Baltic Assembly which would also enrich the work of the BSPC.

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BSPC Secretary General Bodo Bahr | Schlossgartenallee 15 | 19061 Schwerin | Germany | +49 171 5512557 | bodo.bahr@bspcmail.net

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