Baltic Metropoles Network (BaltMet) represents a forum for capitals and large metropolitan cities around the Baltic Sea. It brings together the cities of Berlin, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Malmö, Oslo, Riga, Stockholm, St.Petersburg, Tallinn, Vilnius and Warsaw. The main goal of the network is to promote innovativeness and competitiveness in the Baltic Sea Region by engaging cities, as well as academic and business partners, into close cooperation. Another focus area is identity building and marketing of the Baltic Sea Region. The European Union is striving to be a role model for competitive knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010. Metropolises play a central role in the realization of the Lisbon agenda.
The Copenhagen resolution accepted during the BaltMet founding conference in 2002 highlighted that direct metropolis-to-metropolis contacts are vital for the Europe of the future. Baltic Metropolises aim at further co-ordination of viewpoints and initiatives between the metropolises and at communicating joint views to political decision-makers. Baltic Metropolises are also interested in providing substantial contribution into the Northern Dimension actions. In October 2006 in Helsinki BaltMet Mayors presented a priority list on the most important investment projects in environment and infrastructure in the Baltic Sea Region. In parallel, due to regular contacts among the participating cities, the network has promoted a great deal of learning and experience exchange in different areas and levels of city administrations.
The current directions of joint work are summarised in the BaltMet Action Plan 2008 – 2010, accepted at the Mayors’ meeting in Tallinn on 6 November 2007.
The work of the BaltMet is based on regular Mayors’ Meetings – the main decision making body, supported by the regular Officials’ Meetings. The Network is coordinated and administratively run by the Chair City in cooperation with two Vice Chair Cities, elected by the Mayors for two years.
For 2006-2008 the city of Riga is the Chair of Baltic Metropoles, hosting the Secretariat of the Network. On 20 October 2008, the Chairmanship of the Network was officially handed over to the city of Stockholm, who will chair the network in 2009. More on the latest Chairmanship news, see here.
