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About the Nordic Forum for Security PolicyThe
Nordic Forum for Security Policy has emerged as the leading discussion
platform on the Nordic-Baltic-Russian security dialogue. STETE
coordinates the work of the Forum. Replacing a previous network, the Working Group for a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone in the Nordic Area, the Nordic Forum has since 1987 gradually extended its influence as a centre for opinion moulding. From concentrating on purely Nordic security issues during the first period, the Forum has since the early 1990s increasingly embraced Baltic and Russian affairs in its programs. The next Nordic Forum for Security Policy: EMPOWERING THE NORDIC BALTIC RELATIONS - CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY Due to EU member state Lithuania´s important location as a Baltic Sea
state in the neighbor of Russia and Belarus, in 2012 the Nordic Forum for
Security Policy conference will be organized in Vilnius, Lithuania on
10.-11.5.2012. The two day international conference coordinated by STETE will take place
at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University,
in the heart of historical center of the Lithuanian capital. The Forum focuses on the broad security questions in the Baltic Sea
Region; in 2012 the particular themes to be discussed concern energy,
environment and tolerance. Twenty years ago the path for new cooperation was opened. After the
collapse of Soviet Union and the EU´s eastern enlargement, the development of
the Baltic Sea Region has been rapid. Many different policies have been drawn to
foster the dynamic Baltic Sea Region in the sphere of economy and environment,
regional cooperation, as well as in overall security and safety. The Nordic Baltic cooperation has been seen as one of the
well-functioning regional frameworks
between the countries. However, the prevailing economic crisis has affected the
most part of the region. Therefore, today it is crucial to ask how we can
tackle the current challenges the Nordic Baltic Region,
including its neighbour Belarus and Russia, faces in order to secure open,
tolerant and equal future for the region? In 2012, the Nordic Forum for Security Policy aims to take a closer
look on how Nordic and Baltic countries can support the Belarusian civil society
after the alarming developments which have taken place after the 2010 presidential
elections. The forum will also look at the different interests in energy
sector, especially after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, and how to
tackle the growing intolerance in the region. For more information, please contact STETE's office. The Nordic Forum for Security Policy 2012 is organised in cooperation with: Non-Governmental Organisations' Information and Support Centre
(NISC) *** NORDIC FORUM FOR SECURITY POLICY 2012 - KICK OFF The Nordic Forum for Security Policy 2012 was launched in Helsinki on 1.12.2011 in the Kick off seminar that took place in the Parliament House. Expert views were heard concerning the topics of the 2012 Forum. The presentations were followed by a panel that included Finnish parliamentarians discussing about energy, environment and growing intolerance issues currently facing the Baltic Sea Region. In addition, later on the year also pre-conference publication will be published on STETE’s website. The Kick off seminar´s programme can be found here. ................................................................................................................................. FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE - COMMON INTERESTS IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION, ST. PETERSBURG 26.–28.4.2010 Eight
EU countries – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia,
Lithuania, Poland and Sweden – now share the 8,000 kilometres of
Baltic Sea coastline with Russia. Home to nearly 100 million people,
the Baltic Sea region encompasses some of the wealthiest, but also some
of the least prosperous areas in Europe. Closing the development gap
and harnessing the full potential of the region is imperative,
particularly in the current economic climate. The region is also facing
a number of other pressing challenges. Whilst the environmental
degradation of the Baltic Sea grabs the headlines, faltering economic
development, a lack of energy interconnections and poor transport
accessibility also presents major concerns. This
was the fifth time the Nordic Forum for Security Policy took place in
Russia, and the second time it was held in St. Petersburg. The venue
was selected intentionally: St. Petersburg as a stance and Russia
as an actor are undoubtedly important for development of the fruitful
cooperation on economical, security and environmental issues. The
Nordic Forum for Security Policy has emphasized the importance of the
place by arranging its tenth international conference in St.
Petersburg. However, the Nordic Forum for Security Policy 2010 has its
long history of a series of the conferences previously held in other
cities like Kyiv (2008), Pskov (2006), Gdansk (2004), Murmansk (2003),
Kaliningrad (2001), and Warsaw (1998).These and some other challenges related to security in its broader concept have brought a number of international experts to take part in the Nordic Forum 2010. The forum aimed to explore how best to ensure best practices by all countries of the Baltic Sea region in addressing challenges and finding possible solutions, as well as different models for cooperation. The forum has also provided an opportunity to present the ongoing cross-border projects and share experiences. Please see the programme for more detailed list of the discussed issues. The summary of the Forum is available here. Pictures from the forum can be found from here. The Nordic Forum for Security Policy also offers you the pre-conference publication on the topical issues which were included into the Forum programme. EXPERIENCE SHARING BETWEEN BALTIC & BLACK SEA REGIONS - UKRAINE´S EUROPEAN VISION IN FOCUS, KYIV 10.-12.9.2008 10.-12.9.2008 Due
to Ukraine's important standing, as well as its role and relations with
and within the European neighbourhood, in 2008 the Nordic Forum
conference was organized in Kyiv, Ukraine. ............................................................................................................................................................................Ukraine belongs to one of the target countries of European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and has recently been appointed as a new WTO Member State. The overall purpose of the Kyiv conference was to share practices and thoughts between different countries, organisations and regions. The idea was to exchange experiences and best practices between the Baltic Sea and Black Sea regions on how to support stability and societal development, civil society collaboration and human security into wider discussion. The opening plenary looked into Baltic and Black Sea regions and also focused on issues touching upon Ukraine's European "aspirations". The core political and expert-level topics dealed with traditional security politics, regional cooperation, environmental and energy issues, human dimension/security issues and frozen conflicts in Ukraine's neighbourhood. Here you will find the programme of the conference and as well as some of the speeches and photos. The conference
was organised in cooperation with: MODELS FOR CROSS-BORDER CO-OPERATION - FOCUS ON THE PSKOV REGION, PSKOV 19.-20.5.2006 19.-20.5.2006 STETE organised a broad-based discussion
forum in Pskov in-co-operation with the local
partners (NGO Pskov & CIRP,
St. Petersburg). The conference in Pskov continued the conference
series organised by the Nordic Forum around the Baltic Sea Rim. The purpose of the conference was to support the stability and democratic societal development of the Baltic Sea region. The project was seen crucial for developing broad security, economic development and civil society collaboration. The border between the EU (Estonia and Latvia) and Russia is a challenging border where more closer international co-operation and dialogue is needed for the stability and security of the whole Baltic Sea region. The purpose was also to present already on-going cross-border projects and areas, and to learn from their good practises. The EU policies of the Northern Dimension as well as the New Neighbourhood Policy and Instrument were the wider framework for the event. The conference itself consisted of two plenary sessions and three working groups dealing with the human and social security issues, environmental questions and the business co-operation. The conference
was organised in cooperation with: ............................................................................................................................................................................PREVIOUS FORUMS The latest three broad-based discussion forums before Pskov were organized in 10.-12.9.2004 in Gdansk, Poland and in 24.-25.1.2003 in Murmansk. The conference "Russia, Kaliningrad Oblast and the Baltic Sea Region - An Appeal for Enhanced Cooperation" organized in Kaliningrad, 8.-10.2.2001, gathered together 260 participants from 21 countries and international organizations. In November 1991, the Nordic Forum organized its first seminar of extended dialogue in Lohusalo, near Tallinn, Estonia, with participation from the Nordic countries, the newly independent Baltic states and Russia. The seminar was combined with a fact-finding mission to the then Soviet naval base at Paldiski on the Estonian coast. This was the first time people who were not attached to the Russian military were allowed to visit the nuclear submarine base. Later, the base was handed over to Estonia. The Nordic Forum has also been involved in Arctic issues. In December 1992 the Nordic Forum and the University of Lapland held a press seminar in Rovaniemi in Northern Finland on the Arctic and its environmental problems (nuclear tests, nuclear waste). In June 1993 the Nordic Forum organized another press seminar in Andineeme, Estonia, which focused on bilateral Estonian-Russian matters within the contexts of the Baltic Sea Region and Europe. The seminar was followed by a study tour to Narva, in East Estonia close to the Russian border, to get acquainted with the conditions of the Russian majority and the Estonian minority populations in this region. In November 1994 over 160 people from 11 countries gathered in Vilnius, Lithuania, for a think-tank style of conference on the theme Ideas on Cooperative Security in the Baltic Sea Region. This was followed by a fact-finding visit to Kaliningrad, the neighbouring enclave of the Russian Federation. In the spring of' 1996, the Nordic Forum held a conference in St Petersburg to discuss and debate the situation of St Petersburg, the Baltic Sea and European security. A similar conference was held in Warsaw 1998 on "21st Century Challenges for the Baltic Sea Region and European Security" with emphasis on Polish issues.
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