Northern Dimension - Human
Dimension ?
III Baltic Sea NGO Forum
Keynote address by Mr. Erkki
Tuomioja, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Ladies and Gentlemen,
An
active civil society is a necessary requirement for further democratic development
in the region of the Baltic Sea States. One of our priorities during Finland's Presidency in the CBSS has been to
support the work of the non-governmental organizations. By stimulating dialogue between the
governments and the civil society this forum plays an important part in
supporting this priority. It is a pleasure for me to be able to address this
III Baltic Sea NGO Forum today.
Governance and
participation
Policy-making
is essential in achieving sustainable human development. At a core of
policy-making is meaningful participation of a country’s inhabitants in public
affairs, permitting them to be genuine decision-makers in the development
process. A key finding of the UNDP Regional Human Development Report is that
the willingness of citizens to participate in the country’s governance is much
greater than their actual participation would indicate. The main obstacle is
people’s doubt as to the real impact they can have on the decision-making
process. Overcoming the isolation of citizens and creating conditions for their
effective interaction with the government is necessary to achieve consensual
governance and hence sustainable development.
The
CBSS has, since its foundation, focused on supporting democratic organizations
and safeguarding human and civil rights in the region. The Working Group on
Democratic Institutions held a major seminar on local administrations this
spring. The CBSS Commissioner on Democratic Development, Ms Helle Degn, who
will speak at today's plenary session, is our regional watchdog who works to
ensure that human rights and civil liberties will be protected and strengthened
and that democartic institutions function well in our member states.
For
the citizens of all the CBSS countries a vibrant NGO community can provide an
important channel to express their interests through an active participation in
the NGO activities. By acting as intermediaries between the the society and
decision-makers NGOs can also lower the threshold for people to become actively
involved with issues relevant to their lives. If needed the civil society's
role is also to hold the decision makers accountable for the given promises. At
best the NGOs function as agents of democratic change by participating in a
collective decision-making to determine the future policy priorities.
Economic
development and people participation
Another
very important area in which the CBSS has engaged its efforts is economic
development. Our region has the potential to become one of the most dynamic
growth areas of Europe. We still have a lot of work to do to ensure that all of
the conditions for sustained growth are met. We also need to make sure that the
opportunities created by the enlargement of the EU will be realized fully. To
this end, a new Northern Dimension Action Plan for the years 2004-06 will
hopefully provide a road map for all the players in our region as how to
co-operate effectively to ensure that the new borders of the EU unite the
region - players such as the European Commission, the member states, partner
countries, regional bodies and local governments, civil society, business and
NGO communities.
Global
markets, global technology, global ideas and global solidarity can enrich the
lives of people in the Baltic Sea Region. However, there is no automatic link
between economic growth and human development. But when these links are forged
with policy and determination, they can be mutually reinforcing and economic
growth will effectively and rapidly improve human development. The challenge is
to ensure that the benefits are shared equitably and that the increasing
interdependence caused by the globalization works for people—not just for
profits.
Every
citizen including those in the most vulnerable positions across the Baltic Sea
Region should be able to benefit from the economic growth. It is therefore
essential that the new Northern Dimension Action Plan will not only contribute
towards economic growth but also towards reducing poverty. To this end labour
force and labour market issues should be given due emphasis in the new Action
Plan and be treated as a cross-cutting theme with relevance to several sectors
in society. Concerted action to overcome the serious social and health problems
in the region can be addressed through the Partnership in Public Health and
Social Wellbeing.
Gender and
participation
True
democracy is a process of enlargeing choises for all people, not just for one
part of society. Such a process becomes unjust and discriminatory if most women
are excluded from its benefits. The continuing exclusion of women from many
economic and political opportunities is a continuing hindrance of progress in
the region. There is not one single country in the world that has reached the
goal of gender equality. For too long, it was assumed that economic growth was
a process that lifts all boats, that its benefits tricled down to all and that
it was gender-neutral in its impact. Experience has taught us otherwise. I
should like to emphasize that moving towards gender equality is not a technocratic
goal - it is a political and social
process. It requires a new way of thinking
in which the stereotyping of women and men gives way to a new philosophy
that regards all people, irrespective of sex, as essential agents of change.
CBSS
has tried to work as such an agent by proposing the Northern Dimension Action
Plan 2004-06 to be gender mainstreamed so that both women and men are equal
participants and beneficiaries in its programmes.
Environment and
participation
Today's
needs can not be met by sacrificing the possibilities of the future
generations. The concept of sustainable development
has established
itself also in the Baltic Sea region. Yet much needs
to be done to integrate the environmental, social, economic and cultural
dimensions of sustainable development into the sector policies of the Baltic
States. The Baltic 21 process is an important tool in meeting this goal where
the NGOs have an active role to play. Further development of the Northern
Dimension Environmental Partnership and making it operational is a key priority
of the new Northern Dimension Action Plan.
The
Baltic Sea is our common and shared sea. When tackling environmental problems
of the heavily polluted sea, co-operation is an essential tool. However, not
only co-operation between governments but also with and between the
non-governmental bodies. In this context I would like to mention the increased
algae-growth during the past warm summers, which has affected our lives all
around the Baltic Sea. This has awaken us to realize the severe state of the
sea and to urge to unite the fronts of government, non-government as well as
citizenry level.
NGOs and
authorities
In
order to be successful partnerships need to be based on shared responsibilities
and on mutual respect between all the parties. Governments should practise
inclusiveness and responsiveness. In return civil society must interact with
the rest of the society in a constructive manner. The credibility that
thousands of NGOs have created over many years must not be lost because of
action by groups whose real aims are not related to enhancing the global or
regional agenda, but rather to their own self-promotion. Participation of the
civil society is not only a matter of involvement in promoting democratic governance
but also a matter of participation in the social integration and in the fight
against social exclusion. It is also important in fighting corruption.
Co-operation
between governments and non-governmental organizations should be based on
mutual understanding and respect. In the Baltic Sea Region obvious theme
covered by such co-operation could be the promotion of human rights including
social and cultural rights. This Forum will make an important contribution
towards exploring new areas of co-operation between governments and NGOs in the
Baltic Sea Region. I am looking forward to the results.
I
would like to conclude by quoting Ms. Jane Addams, an American who won the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. She was a true fighter for equality, peace and civil
rights in the USA at the beginning of the 20th century. On receiving
the Nobel Peace Prize for her hard work to get the USA government to agree on
the founding of the League of Nations she said: "Just because there are so
few of us that are working towards a more just world we must unite in our
efforts to do so." Dear friends,
you are doing just that. I wish you a successful and forward-looking
conference.