“Solidarity and cooperation is needed to revive the European economy as a whole. The economic recession has struck Europe hard, and the crisis has not fully abated”, said Ryszard Górecki, President of the BSPC, in his address at the 43rd PABSEC General Assembly in Athens 13 May. “The economic crisis has caused a decline in industrial activity and a rise in unemployment. Social cohesion has been fractured. The sinister undercurrent of the crisis is that it is also a fertile breeding ground for populism, national extremism and xenophobia. Strong and committed measures are necessary to combat such trends. The open and tolerant society must be safeguarded”, Górecki declared. ”The Baltic States were badly battered by the economic recession”, he continued. “However, stern and determined measures, with sometimes painful consequences for the citizens, have managed to turn the tide, and the Baltic Sea Region States now show among the highest growth rates in the EU. This confirms that concerted and earnest measures are necessary to rebuild economic policies and structures in a way that prevents the emergence of new crises. Creative initiatives are needed to modernize industry and to secure competitiveness in a globalized marketplace”. “In this context”, Górecki concluded, “I would like to stress the huge potentials for innovation in emerging markets for cleantech, energy efficiency, green and blue growth, and ecological and cultural tourism. This presents an opportunity to build cutting-edge industrial competence and competitiveness. This will bring jobs, a sounder environment and better health.”