Energy Issues a Priority in Iceland´s Chairmanship Program in CBSS
Iceland will be in Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) for one year, from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006. This is the first time Iceland takes over the Chair, since joining CBSS in 1995. H.E. Mr. Davíð Oddsson, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Iceland, addressed the 13th Ministerial Session of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in Stettin, Poland, on June 10, 2005.
During the Presidency, Iceland will put energy issues on its list of priorities, especially the use of new and renewable energy sources and sustainable use of energy in the region. In this connection Mrs. Valgerður Sverrisdóttir, Minister of Industry and Commerce, is hosting a meeting for Energy Ministers of the member states in Reykjavik in October. Protection of the environment will be high on the agenda, in particular the maritime environment, as well as cooperation on nuclear and radiation safety. Iceland places great value on cooperation with the regional organizations in Northern Europe and the European Union on the basis of the Northern Dimension. Other issues that will feature high on the agenda during the Icelandic Presidency will be enhanced cooperation with Ukraine, promotion of trade, investment, and children’s issues.
In his speech, Mr. Oddsson stated that the CBSS has made a significant contribution towards maintaining transparency and stability in the Baltic Sea Region and that the region has developed into one of the most dynamic regions in Europe in both political and economic terms. The Minister emphasized that despite the fact that Iceland is in not adjoining the Baltic Sea, it belongs to Northern Europe and has contributed to democratic development, trade and investment in the Baltic Sea area since the early nineties. The Minister noted that there have been great changes in the last decade and the CBSS continues to play an important role, especially in regards to the cooperation with north-west Russia.
