Draft proposal (#3) for the joint statement of the 3rd Joint meeting between Baltic Assembly and and Nordic Council

Draft proposal (#3) for the joint statement of the 3rd Joint meeting between Baltic Assembly and and Nordic Council Joint statement of the 3rd Joint meeting between the Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council May 31- June 1, 2001, Riga Parliamentary co-operation · Co-operation among the eight Baltic and Nordic countries has gradually assumed a continuous, productive and mutually beneficial mode, and will continue to develop new perspectives and integrated approaches of co-operation; · The Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council will continue facilitating people-to-people contacts and promoting a broad spectrum of political contacts between parties, politicians, and parliamentarians. EU enlargement · The Nordic countries are actively supporting a swift, thorough, democratic and qualified accession process for the Baltic States that will lead to their full EU membership. The current Swedish EU presidency and the forthcoming Danish EU presidency in the second half of 2002 are particularly important for the Baltic States; · Environmental protection, justice and home affairs, and the development of administrative capacities are just some of the areas in which co-operation between the Baltic States and the Nordic countries in the context of EU enlargement has proven fruitful and efficient; · The current co-operation between the Baltic States and the Nordic countries in the context of EU enlargement will continue to develop after the enlargement has taken place. Regional and cross-border co-operation · Members of the Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council have emphasised the importance of establishing a common energy market and harmonising the e-business environment of the region. The creation of an information society is an important challenge; · Parliamentarians have expressed support for the initiative of establishing a common Baltic—Nordic area of higher education; · Cultural exchange and cooperation are of fundamental value. The Baltic States have invited the Nordic countries to take part in the forthcoming Baltic Culture Festival to be held later this year in all the Nordic countries; · Joint efforts to combat organised crime and trans-border crime in the Baltic—Nordic region must be intensified; · Promotion of youth exchange should be a high priority for the Baltic States and the Nordic countries. Parliamentary involvement in the EU Northern Dimension · Members of the Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council have agreed to make joint efforts in promoting the implementation of the Action Plan of the EU Northern Dimension; · Parliamentarians will continuously act to ensure that open dialogue and consistent co-operation between the Baltic States and the Nordic countries are maintained on the basis of a fair acknowledgment of the varying conditions, potentials and prospects of each country. Security policy · Parliamentarians welcome the strengthening of the dialogue among the Baltic States and the Nordic countries in the area of security and defence policy; · The EU and NATO enlargements are important in securing stability, freedom, peace and welfare in Europe. Parliamentarians recognise the right of each country to adopt or enter into arrangements, organisations or alliances that are considered to serve their security interests best; · Participants of the meeting will encourage co-operation aimed at strengthening the security in the Baltic Sea region, thereby contributing to the overall enhancement of European security. 1 June 2001, Riga