Russia, Kaliningrad Oblast and the Baltic Sea Region - An Appeal for Enhanced Cooperation
Kaliningrad, 8-10 February, 2001

Over the past year, the Kaliningrad Oblast often made headlines in the context of stability and co-operation in the Baltic Sea region and EU enlargement. Against this background of increased attention, STETE together with Kaliningrad State University organized a Nordic Forum for Security Policy conference in Kaliningrad on 8-10 February 2001. Its main objective was to provide a platform for an open and concrete discussion of the possibilities for enhanced co-operation in the region and the place and role envisaged in this respect for Russia's exclave territory on the shores of the Baltic Sea.

Some 260 participants from 22 countries and international organisations attended the conference, making it probably the biggest event of its kind to be held in Kaliningrad in years. The discussion at the three-day conference (with an excursion to the Naval Base in Baltijsk) encompassed a wide array of questions, such as: What is to be done in the future when Poland and Lithuania join the EU? How could the Northern Dimension initiative really provide new possibilities for co-operation? How to encourage networking and co-operation between civic society actors? While the big decisions will obviously be taken in the framework of official negotiations between Russia and the EU, the conference provided a broad discussion forum for several key issues and came up with a lot of initiatives for the future.

The material of the conference has been edited into a publication Kaliningrad - Isolation or Co-operation.

Sweden at the Wheel
Visions of the Northern Dimension during Sweden's EU Presidency
9 May 2001, Parliament House

The seminar, organised 9 May, 2001 at the Parliament House, was dealing with Sweden's priorities and actions linked to the EU's Northern Dimension Action Plan during its EU Presidency. Also view for instance of Belgium, the Russian federation and the European Commission were represented. (80 participants)

Finnish seminar "Change and Mentality" (Muutos ja mentaliteetti)
13 August 2001, Laurentius Hall, Lohja

STETE continued its traditional and fruitful co-operation with the City of Lohja by inviting its own contacts and co-operation partners to Lohja, 13 August 2001, to the seminar that was organised in connection to the festive event where the Eeva Joenpelto Literary Prize was presented for the fifth time. This year the winner of the prise was the German author Bernhard Schlink.

Romanian Chairmanship of the OSCE:
A Comprehensive Security Agenda for the Beginning of the 21st Century
11 September 2001, Parliament House

STETE organised a discussion in English, 11 September 2001 during the visit of the Romanian Foreign Minister, CIO of the OSCE Mircea Dan Geoanan in co-operation with the Romanian Embassy in Helsinki. The aim of the event was to discuss prioroties and actions of Romania during its OSCE presidency. About 60 participants attended the seminar and for sure all of them will remember this seminar for a long time - not only thanks to the competent and charming Foreign Minister Geoana - but also because of the terrorist attacks in New York which happened during the seminar.

Roma Participation in Europe
22 October 2001, Parliament House

STETE organised an international seminar, 22 October 2002, on the situation of Roma in Europe, together with the Finnish Advisory Board on Romani Affairs (RONK). The aim of the seminar was to discuss the initiative made by the President of Finland Mrs Tarja Halonen on establishing the pan-European consultative body for Roma. The discussion about Roma issues continued on Tuesday and Wednesday at meetings of the Council of Europe's Specialist Group on Roma/Gypsies, which took a stand on the discussion of the seminar arranged the previous day concerning establishment of an international co-operation body for Roma. A draft Recommendation of the Council of Europe on Policies towards Roma/Gypsies is prepared.

The purpose of the pan-European consultative body for Roma would be to promote the participation of the Romani populations of different European countries in the decision-making concerning themselves. The objective of the recommendations on policies towards Roma is to create a basis for the clarification of policies and practices concerning the Romani communities in the member states of the Council of Europe. Recommendations are planned to be drawn up i.a. for administrative structures, principles of action, appropriations, and Roma participation.

The material of the seminar has been edited into a booklet.

Yugoslavia - A Year After Miloševic
23-24 November 2001, Parliament House

STETE organised, in co-operation with the Finnish Helsinki Committee and the Finnish Peace Research Association, an international seminar, 23-24 November at the Parliament House. During these two days were held four thematic sessions and a panel discussion dealing with conflict prevention and peace building on the conflict areas.