Finland Times

 

Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn (left) met with Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja at Turku on Wednesday. Photo – Lehtikuva.

European Union Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn on Wednesday urged the Baltic states in the EU to invest more in human resources towards the development of the region. 

 

Hahn was addressing the 5th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region in Turku. He said the Baltic Sea ecosystem as well the region’s economy could benefit from green technology.

 

Finland will receive 1.5 billion euros in development funding from EU by 2020.

 

The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is the first regional strategy adopted by the union five years ago aimed at aligning sustainable development and economic growth.

 

The commissioner called on the Baltic states to take more responsibility in the region’s development.

 

“We still need to do more to make this approach reach its full potential. Although there is support at the political level, that support doesn’t always translate into top-level decision-making or follow up to initiatives decided under the strategy,” said Hahn in his speech.

 

The Baltic Sea region strategy was formed on the need to save the Baltic Sea ecosystem.

 

The strategy emphasises innovation, research and development of green technology. Hahn looks at this aspect as an opportunity. “For example, in China there is an opening for a huge market for green technology. On the other hand, green energy increases self-sufficiency, which is specifically important for this region,” said Hahn.