Introduction 5 Chapter 1: a description of the organisational structure set up for the implementation of the Strategy 6
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1.1. At European Union levelIn the Commission, DG Regional Policy is in charge of the overall coordination, monitoring and reporting to the Council, in close partnership with the other Commission services on topics falling under their competence. An Inter-Service Working Group has been established and meets regularly to ensure coherent and broad support for the Strategy. Officials from various DGs participate actively in meetings, thus providing a link between the Strategy and their policy areas and funding sources. The Commission's delegations in the Region are also instrumental in communication the activities of the Strategy. The Commission facilitates on-going work on the alignment of funding with the Strategy, in close dialogue with the Managing Authorities of relevant Operational Programmes. In order to support the programmes in identifying their role in the Strategy implementation and define operational responsibilities, management challenges and potentials, the INTERACT Programme established the EUSBSR Laboratory Group in January 2009, which is an informal working group consisting mainly of programme practitioners from the Member States involved. The group is set up to seek operative solutions to identified challenges with consequences for practical programme management. The Commission has made communication about the Strategy widely available through a targeted website and a bimonthly Newsletter that sets out the latest developments and is disseminated to several thousand subscribers. An Annual Forum is organised to present the Strategy and its achievement to the greater stakeholder community. Input from the Annual Forum feeds into the Commission's annual reporting on the implementation process. The Council is in charge of the broader policy development.
1.2. At EU Member States levelThe Pan-European nature of the Strategy is ensured by continuous contact with the EU institutions and advisory bodies and in particular by the use, by the Commission, of a High Level Group of expert advisers on the Strategy, nominated by all Member States. This group regularly consults the Commission on all major developments. The European Investment Bank is also invited to participate in meetings. 1.3. At Baltic Sea Region levelIn the States of the Baltic Sea Region, National Contact Points have been appointed by all participating Member States to assist the implementation of the Strategy at the national level. As part of this process, the Strategy has served to strengthen cooperation mechanisms for Baltic Sea affairs within the participating countries. In Sweden, a unit has been established within the Prime Minister's Office to coordinate the Swedish contribution. All concerned agencies and implementation authorities have been given specific tasks relating to Sweden's contribution to the Strategy and are required to report on progress once a year. In Estonia, an inter-ministerial working group headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs meets four times a year and a core group of four line ministries communicates on a daily basis. Twice a year, a report is presented by the national contact point to the European affairs committee in Estonian Parliament. In Lithuania, the Parliament has requested the government to present a national action plan related to EUSBSR that has been adopted for the years 2012-2013. The Danish national coordination group has been praised by local stakeholders for being a good forum for exchanging information and ideas about the implementation of the Strategy.
As regards other funds or instruments, such as the European Social Fund, the Rural Development fund and the European Fisheries Fund, but also BONUS programme1, they also bring a significant contribution to the Strategy. 1.4. At regional and local levelThe partnership aspect has encouraged an active involvement of a wide range of stakeholders, including EU institutions, international financial institutions, political institutions and organisations2; macro-regional organisations specialised in various policy areas,3 regional organisations and NGOs4, and individual regions and cities.5 Such organisations provide much expertise. Many, such as the CBSS expert group Baltic 21, BDF, HELCOM and VASAB, are directly responsible for the implementation of various projects and actions listed in the Action Plan. International institutions such as the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Council of the Baltic Sea States significantly give prominence to the Strategy on their political agenda, organising common events and contributing to Flagship Projects. Individual euro-regions, regions, counties and cities also show strong commitment; many are leaders of Priority Areas, Horizontal Actions and/or Flagship Projects The public representative aspects are facilitated by e.g. the informal Baltic Intergroup, composed of Members of the European Parliament from the Baltic Sea Region and Regional Policy Committee members. This group supports and promotes the work of the Strategy, and was for instance instrumental in allocating MIO 2.5 EUR6 for everyday organisational assistance. Loans have also been given to various flagship projects by the European and Nordic Investment Banks. The assistance of the INTERACT office in Turku has proven to be an essential resource for the Strategy.
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