"Vision Baltic Sea 2010" is the title of the foundation document of the Baltic Sea Trade Union Network, and the participating unions decided to emphasise their cooperation, by the medium of this document, particularly in the issues of employment, social democracy and a common development perspective for the people in the Baltic Sea area. In addition to the trade union movement in the Nordic countries, the central trade union organisations of Germany, Poland, the Baltic countries and Russia are participating in this joint programme. All in all, this network covers something like 20 million trade union members.

In addition to the representatives of both national and international trade unions and trade union organisations, the Riga Conference was attended by representatives of the EU Commission, the Nordic Council, the European Employers Confederation UNICE and the Finnish Foreign Ministry. All three Finnish central trade union organisations, namely SAK, STTK and AKAVA, took part in the Conference with, among others, STTK being represented by Chairman Esa Swanljung, SAK by Director Tuulikki Kannisto and AKAVA by International Secretary Mona Hemmer. A total of some 70 participants attended this Conference.

Social Democracy and Employment at the top of the Agenda

It is recorded, in the Foundation Document, that the trade unions in the Baltic Sea countries have agreed to develop, and to substantially increase, trade union cooperation in the region and to implement those initiatives which relate to the Baltic Sea area. The most important objectives are the issues of employment and the need to strengthen the structures of social democracy. The further development of social dialogue and of tripartite cooperation are also on the Agenda.

The arrangements for the provision of trade union training, in all of the participating countries, were given emphasis at the Conference. It was also agreed that a special project, with the aim of both providing clarification of the issues which relate to the mobility of the workforce, and of planning innovative ventures for the creation of jobs, should be launched. Equal opportunities in the labour market, and the monitoring of the development of the Nordic dimension, were other issues which the Riga Conference decided to include in the Agenda for the Baltic Sea Trade Union Network.

Various networks active in the Baltic Sea Region

The foundation document, which was signed in Helsinki last summer, was given the title "Vision Baltic Sea 2010". It was decided at the Riga Conference that all practical cooperation will come under the title of the "Baltic Sea Trade Union Network". This network will bring the trade unions of the region together on a very wide basis, and the network will hold a "Baltic Sea Conference" in connection with the meetings of the Ministerial Council of the Baltic Sea States. The Chairs of the trade union confederations will participate in the Baltic Sea Conference, and the main aim of the Conference will be the formulation of joint political and trade union initiatives.

Baltic Sea trade union meetings will be held on an ad hoc basis. The national trade union centres, union branches, the ETUC and the ICFTU and other international trade union organisations may be invited to the meetings.

Trade union organisations in the Baltic Sea region work together at various levels, but this recently established network is the most comprehensive form of cooperation to date. The Baltic Trade Union Cooperation Body and the Council of Nordic Trade Unions (NFS) are active in the region. The Scandinavian central trade union organisations (LO), and the Social Democratic parties in the Scandinavian countries, have their own organisation for cooperation, known as SAMAK. In addition to these, the unions for white collar workers in the Nordic countries also cooperate with one another.

The Nordic countries cooperate, on a governmental level, via the Nordic Council. Cooperation between the Baltic Sea states is by means of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS).

It is the aim of the trade union movement to react, through the Baltic Sea Trade Union Network, to the challenges presented by the prospective enlargement of the EU, and to participate in the formulation of the new EU Northern Dimension Policy.

Social considerations must form a basic pillar  for the Northern Dimension

Tuulikki Kannisto, Director and the Head of the International Department of SAK, emphasised at the Riga Conference the significance of cooperation in the Baltic Sea region as being a part of the Northern Dimension policy. The Finnish trade union movement has strongly advocated that a wider approach to social issues should be taken within the Northern Dimension policy. The influence which is exerted by those trade unions which participate in the Baltic Sea cooperation scheme is, in this respect, also of importance.

- "In actual fact, the Nordic trade unions have already, and over a considerable time, promoted the issues which are relevant to the Northern Dimension", Tuulikki Kannisto said. "The Nordic unions have literally hundreds of joint development projects, in the Baltic and the Barents Sea regions, with trade unions of the Baltic countries and of Poland and Russia. These joint ventures had their beginnings a long time before the commencement of the EU enlargement process. And in particular, the Finnish trade unionists have a well established participatory relationship with the Russian trade union movement. "

Ms Kannisto also stated that social issues, and efforts on behalf of an improvement in democracy in support of the positive development of the labour market, and of the world of work in general, have always been in the lead in the joint trade union projects. The aim has always been the increase of social stability.

The area of northwestern Russia is larger  than that of France and Spain combined

Evgeny Makarov, the chairman of the St. Petersburg region trade union organisation, mentioned that the political and financial aims, of the Northern Dimension policy and of the Baltic Sea cooperation scheme, are high and that this will also produce problems.

- "Northwestern Russia has its own infrastructure. The region consists of several, quite different areas. Some of these have a Baltic Sea coastline whilst others may share a border with the EU or with countries which are currently involved in the EU enlargement process. Then, beyond these, there are the more distant areas. The total land area is larger than that of both France and Spain put together. The population of northwestern Russia is approximately 15 million."

- "The interests of both Russia and the EU should be harmonised within the EU's Russian policy. This policy should not be approached from an angle which supports only the interests of the EU", Mr Makarov said. "It will not be possible to build new structures when the majority of the population is living close to the poverty line. This is the reason for the previous Russian attitude towards the Northern Dimension being somewhat negative", added Evgeny Makarov.