Dear Friends,
The PA Secure team at the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) Secretariat presents the first issue of the Newsletter in 2021. We would like to share some news with you on important developments in the EUSBSR Policy Secure Area (co-coordinated by the CBSS Secretariat and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, MSB). This newsletter also provides a broader overview of key events (meetings, conferences, seminars and exercises), projects and developments within the fields of civil protection and law enforcement in the Baltic Sea Region.
We, people working in international cooperation, did not have an easy year: we could not travel, many of our projects were postponed, some of us did not meet our colleagues face-to-face for a very long time. However, we see that the cooperation did not stop during the pandemic. In fact, in some cases it even intensified: for example, the Finnish initiative to organise the PA Secure cooperation into sub-groups resulted in three pilot meetings, appreciated by the experts involved. Another initiative - by the Polish colleagues - resulted in a project BALTinnoSEC, which will investigate the possibility to create a multidisciplinary, problem-solving, innovation forum for civil security actors in the Baltic Sea Region. The project just received the funding from the Swedish Institute and we hope it will grow into a true Flagship. So, despite the pandemic, PA Secure is very much alive and functioning. Stay tuned and, hopefully, the autumn will bring more cooperation, this time - face-to-face!
Have a safe and secure summer
PA Secure Team
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Successful international cooperation always depends on champions! One of such champions is Katie Goldie-Ryder, our dear colleague and friend, who has been an indispensable member of the PA Secure coordinating team at the CBSS Secretariat for 3 years. Katie went on to pursue her international career further, working with water diplomacy at Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). Thank you for all these years and best of luck, Katie!
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CBSS Civil Protection Network Senior Experts met online to discuss Covid-19 challenges
On 17 March 2021, the CBSS Civil Protection Network (CPN) Senior Experts Meeting was organised and led by Lithuania, then the current CBSS Presidency country and chair of the Civil Protection Network. The theme of the meeting was ‘Covid-19 outbreak: challenges for civil protection and lessons learned’. The participants shared experiences regarding the initial response to the pandemic; information on organisational and administrative structures; communication to the public; the importance of maintaining critical infrastructures as well as learning how to continue carrying out civil protection tasks during a prolonged pandemic. Read more
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Directors General for Civil Protection in BSR met online to exchange experiences
On 2 June, the Lithuanian chairmanship of the CBSS Civil Protection Network (CPN) hosted the 19th Meeting of the Directors General for Civil Protection in the Baltic Sea Region. This online gathering concluded the yearlong Lithuanian chairmanship, which was dedicated to preparedness and prevention, actions against nuclear risk as well as the lessons learned from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Directors General and senior officials from 10 CBSS Member States participated in the meeting. Read more
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PA Secure Steering Group Interactive Session
On 3 February 2021 the Policy Area Secure Steering Group met in an interactive online session. The meeting included participants from seven Member States in the region. The aim of the session was to facilitate the everyday work within international cooperation for all Steering Group members through group answers to individual questions. This format allows for more impromptu, non-formalised discussions – an aspect of interaction which is often missed in today’s pandemic-adapted online meetings. Read more
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PA Secure Steering Group gathered for its 15th meeting
On 4th May 2021, the Steering Group of PA Secure gathered for its 15th meeting, which, due to the pandemic, was held online. Participants from 9 Baltic Sea Region countries were present at the meeting. Read more
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Finland's initiative brings new structure to BSR cooperation
PA Secure is testing a new format of work: in subgroups. Finland, which initiated this format already called three meetings: on CBRN issues, interaction between research and practitioners and involvement of the local authorities and civil society organisations. The participants: experts from the Baltic Sea Region in each topic. Contact us if you would like to be invited in the next subgroup meetings. Read more here
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Overview of volunteerism in the Baltic Sea Region
Project ReSit -Situational Picture of Volunteerism for Societal Resilience in the Baltic Sea Region, published its final report, which paints the situational picture of volunteerism in the field of civil protection in ten Baltic Sea countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and Russia. Read the report here
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Mall-CBRN project
Project, coordinated by the University of Lodz, started with a gap analysis in shopping mall security systems and identification of most likely scenarios of terrorist acts. At further stage the project will elaborate recommendation for prevention and response to CBRNe terrorist acts and comprehensive food safety/security mechanism. Trainings will be organized at the end of the project. Read more
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Project FASTER: protecting first responders with high-tech
Due to the nature of their work, first responders are often operating in risky and hazardous conditions disaster sites, like demolished, burnt or flooded districts, being exposed to non-visible threats such as very high temperatures and dangerous gases. FASTER addresses the challenges associated with the protection of first responders in hazardous environments, while at the same time enhancing their capabilities in terms of situational awareness and communication. First pilot drill was carried out in Kajaani (Finland) Read more
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CBSS Member States adopt “Joint statement of commitment to work against human trafficking for labour exploitation”
The joint statement was just launched at the CAPE project conference on the same topic. Building on the achievements made to combat trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation nationally and internationally, the Member States of the Council of the Baltic Sea States declared their strong determination to eradicate this crime and signed a Joint Statement of Commitment to work against human trafficking for labour exploitation in the Baltic Sea Region. The Baltic Sea Region, together as a team, is committed to build our economies and lives free from exploitation and based on fundamental values such as freedom, equality and dignity.
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