For five days Kaunas will become the centre for spreading the green tendency and promoting green economy, since on the 27^th of September the 12^th EU Baltic Sea Region Forum was opened here and the main focus of the forum will be upon the green trend of the cities, sustainability of the region as well as community, city and country partnerships enabled that sustainability. Even forty discussions and seminars will invite to discuss topics relevant for the entire Baltic Sea Region in the course of international broadcasts during the international event, which will last until the 1^st of October.

According to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė who opened the event and welcomed the participants of the Forum, “the goal of annual EUSBSR forum in 2021 is to promote green recovery of the Baltic Sea Region, by means of closer cooperation and pro-active involvement of various interested groups as well as civil society, especially the youth and local communities”.

The cities receive a prominent role

The EU Baltic Sea Region Forum reminds us the significance of the Baltic Sea within this region, inhabited by approximately 85 million people. The cities located within this region receive a prominent role in launching the sustainable solutions and contributing directly to cleaner environment as well as cleaner sea. In fact, all of us can contribute to cleaner sea, since sustainable environment is created by nothing else, but sustainable solutions: waste recycling, dissemination of environment-friendly household means and methods of farming, reducing consumption.

The significance of the Forum for Kaunas city

As it was observed by the Mayor of Kaunas City Visvaldas Matijošaitis, this week Kaunas became not only the platform for more active cooperation among the cities of the Baltic Sea Region, for bilateral or multilateral meetings, making connections, but also a place to share the good experience:

“It is at the same time a unique opportunity to enhance cooperation among the countries, cities, non-governmental organisations and local communities. We are very glad to be a part of this process, since we can promote positive changes within the region and sustainable city development trend only by working together”, – stated the Mayor of Kaunas City V. Matijošaitis.

Sessions for introductions, discussions and making the contacts of the cities participating at the Forum are scheduled for the 29^th and 30^th of September: the first day about the role of the cities in social transformation, while the second – about the leadership of the cities in the process of green recovery.

Focus on the recovery of the region after the pandemic, involvement of the youth, cities and local communities

Of course, another important topic of the Forum is the discussion on the problems caused by COVID-19 pandemic. The participants will discuss the social challenges faced by the young people due to COVID-19 pandemic. During the plenary session, on the 28^th of September, it will be discussed how to overcome the social problems faced by young people during the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of EU macro-regional strategies upon the agenda of the EU will also discussed and Interreg Baltic Sea Strategy Program for 2021-2027 will be presented.

Special focus during the Forum this year will be placed upon the young people and local communities – all the events on the 1^st of October will take place and will be broadcasted live from Klaipeda, which has been nominated the European Youth Capital this year.

Reactivate. Restore. Recharge

The motto of the Forum this year is “Reactivate. Restore. Recharge”. It also covers three strategic directions: to protect the Baltic Sea, which is of especial significance for the entire region, to connect countries and cities into efficiently-functioning cooperation network, as well as to ensure the contribution of each and every one into the prosperity of the region.

The discussions of the Forum on strategic projects, which will promote sustainable economy, green trend of the cities and the country, the application of new technologies and close cooperation with the public will be dedicated to these framework objectives.

Another important topic will also be presented at the closing events of the Forum on the 1^st of October: the initiative Kaunas – European Capital of Culture 2022.

The Forum is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, Kaunas City and Klaipėda City Municipalities, the Union of Baltic Cities, Kaunas IN.

The locations of the opening events of the Forum in Kaunas: business centre “BLC” and the cluster of information technology companies “Blaster”. Especially for this event, BLC and Blaster have opened their unique spaces so that audience of the remote event from all over Europe would be able to enjoy the breath-taking panoramas of Kaunas and Vienybės Square.

You can get acquainted with the detailed programme of the 12^th EU Baltic Sea Region Forum and join the remote discussions and seminars on the website of the event: https://eusbsr2021.eu/

Information provided by Business Department of public institution “Kaunas IN”