This statement was given today by Ms. Charlina Vitcheva, Director for Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission in a meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. Ms. Vitcheva said that everyone should use the possibility to change of the mind set. When EUSBSR was initiated there were no possibilities to adopt ERDF and other funding, today the situation is totally different.

- When we now are looking at the programming for the next period, it is everyone’s duty to plan common actions so it benefits not only the own nation but the whole Baltic Sea Region. The Baltic Region has shown the path way up to now. I do hope the actors in this region can show how we also develop the programming actions jointly as a successful example also for other regions.

Ms. Vitcheva opening speech was held today in a joint meeting for leading officials on the partnership agreements between all member states in the EUSBSR area.