Standing Committee

The BSPC Standing Committee (SC) is the highest decision-making body of the BSPC between the annual Conferences. The Standing Committee considers and decides on strategic issues concerning the mission, political priorities, working modes, finances and administration of the BSPC. The Standing Committee has the overall responsibility for preparing the annual Conference and for overseeing the structures and functions of the BSPC. The Standing Committee consists of parliamentarians from all national parliaments, regional parliaments and parliamentary organizations throughout the Baltic Sea Region. The Standing Committee convenes at least four times per year (beginning of the year, spring/summer, in connection with the Conference, and in fall). The first SC meeting of the year should include a report from the CBSS and could also include progress reports on EU Northern Dimension, EU Baltic Sea Strategy, and EU Integrated Maritime Policy. The SC also serves as Drafting Committee during the annual Conference.

Previously, the BSPC Enlarged Standing Committee had been the BSPC’s highest decision-making body between the annual conferences. It was in operation 2008-2011. The Enlarged SC was discontinued at the 20^th BSPC in 2011, and replaced by the new Standing Committee. The provisions for the new SC are laid down in the Rules of Procedure for the BSPC, adopted by the 20^th BSPC.

The BSPC Standing Committee is chaired by the BSPC President. The digital 29^th BSPC unanimously appointed Mr Pyry Niemi, Sweden, as President of the BSPC in 2020-2021. As Vice-President of the BSPC for 2020-2021 was appointed Mr Johannes Schraps, German Bundestag.

September 5, 2022

The Renewed BSPC Continues to Take Shape

In a digital meeting, the Standing Committee of the BSPC continued to discuss revisions to its Statutes and Rules of Procedure in the follow-up of the Annual Conference. The future structure and financial basis of the organisation were considered, and the Strategy and Work Programme 2022 – 2023 was adopted. BSPC President Johannes Schraps voted […]

November 15, 2021

The Standing Committee Explores Deeper Collaboration, Climate Change and Takes a Stand on the Rapidly Deteriorating Humanitarian Situation Along the Belarusian Borderline

In its first in-person meeting for 20 months, the Standing Committee listened to expert presentations on NGO collaboration, the IPCC report on climate change and the host city of Hamburg’s intraregional activities. In light of the troubling situation at the Polish-Lithuanian–Belarus border, the Standing Committee called for urgent humanitarian relief to be provided to the […]

May 31, 2021

Exploring Demographic Change and How to Counter its Effects

The BSPC gathered an expert seminar to discuss the changing population composition in the Baltic Sea region, in particular the ageing population. A focus was placed on lifelong learning to develop skills suited to new demands in the labour market and keeping older people employed, active and healthy. The meeting included about 60 participants from the Åland […]

February 22, 2021

Health in the Baltic Sea Region: The Standing Committee Dealt With Priority Issues

The highest Executive Committee of the BSPC was informed in its online meeting on the activities of HELCOM in strengthening international cooperation to restore the health of the Baltic marine environment as well as efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by experts in the field. The most important strategies to contain the virus and protect […]

December 2, 2020

Joint Meeting of the BSPC and PABSEC Standing Committees

After a first joint meeting 2019 in Istanbul, the Standing Committees of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) held a second meeting on the topics of ‘Democracy and the COVID-19 Pandemic’ as well as ‘Safeguarding Our Seas’; ‘Climate Change and Biodiversity’ in a digital […]

June 17, 2020

BSPC Standing Committee Meets Online

Under the chairmanship of BSPC President Valerijus Simulik, the BSPC Standing Committee held its first Digital Meeting. Delegations from the Åland Islands, the Baltic Assembly, Denmark, the German Bundestag, Finland, Hamburg, Kaliningrad, Latvia, Lithuania, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Nordic Council, Norway, Poland and Sweden participated in the meeting. Current situation in the BSPC BSPC President Valerijus Simulik, […]

March 2, 2020

BSPC Standing Committee meets in Brussels

Under the Chairmanship of BSPC President Valerijus Simulik, the BSPC Standing Committee gathered at the European Parliament in Brussels on 2 March 2020 to exchange information about current common issues with the CBSS, to inquire about the developments in the field of the European maritime and regional policy, and to prepare the upcoming Baltic Sea […]

November 11, 2019

Valerijus Simulik chairs Standing Committee in Berlin

The highest Executive Committee of the BSPC, led by the new President of the BSPC, Valerijus Simulik, held its first meeting under the Lithuanian Presidency in the German Bundestag. Delegations from the Baltic Assembly, Finland, the German Bundestag, Hamburg, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Nordic Council, Norway, Poland, the Russian Federation and Sweden participated in the […]

April 2, 2019

Joint Meeting of the Standing Committees of the BSPC and the PABSEC on the topic “Safeguarding our Oceans and Marine Life” in Istanbul

The BSPC Standing Committee agreed to a joint meeting of delegations of the Standing Committees of both Parliamentary Assemblies On 2 April 2019, the Joint Meeting of the Standing Committees of the BSPC and the PABSEC on the topic “Safeguarding our Oceans and Marine Life” was held in Istanbul. The meeting was attended by parliamentarians […]

February 21, 2019

BSPC Standing Committee meets in Brussels

Under the Chairmanship of BSPC President Jorodd Asphjell, the BSPC Standing Committee gathered at the European Parliament in Brussels on 21 February 2019 to inquire about the developments in the field of the European regional and maritime policy, to exchange information about current common issues with partner organizations and to prepare the upcoming Baltic Sea […]

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