The IV International Forum “ The Future of the Baltic Ports” will be held on September 19-20, 2002 in Tallinn. Arranging this event in the capital of Estonia already became a good, well-established tradition. Every two years leading maritime transport and international cargo shipping specialists gather here. During the two days of the Conference they will discuss the most crucial transport issues of the Baltic Region.

This year the Conference will be rather special. In the very near future Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will join the European Union. That is why it is not accidental that the Forum bears a subtitle: “Partnership in EU”. How will the accession to the European Union affect the Baltic Transport Sector, how will this influence its strategies in the sphere of international cargo shipping and passenger transportation?

The specialists from Germany, Poland, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, Lithuania, Russia, Denmark and other EU countries will discuss these issues at the Tallinn Conference. Director-General of Energy and Transport of European Commission will present the report on “EU transport strategy and interrelation of national transport networks of the Baltic Countries”.

Russia- the biggest country in the region- is quickly increasing its transport potential. Huge cargo flows are moving in the territory of Russia – import, export transit. How will this condition influence the transport sector of the Baltic Region? What should all the participants of the transportation process expect in the near and distant future?

Beyond any doubt, the report of Mr.V.M. Parfjonov, Vice-Director, International Relations Department, RF Ministry of Transport will be one of the key lectures. Mr. Parfjonov will be talking about “The development of the North-South Transport Corridor. Potential opportunities of participation for Baltic Region”. The report of Mr. Y. Tscherbanin, Vice-President of Euro-Asian Transport Union, Russia on “Transit container shipping by Transiberian Railways and the territories of the Baltic Countries. The impact of EU policies on cargo transportation to/from Europe and Asia” will also be of extreme importance.

The topic of international cooperation will be discussed in the report of Mr. S. Dobilinskas, Director-General of Port of Klaipeda, Lithuania. The main topic of the report will concentrate on “International Project “Initiative 2K. Kaliningrad and Klaipeda” The example of cooperation of ports and national transport systems”.

Mrs. A. Frisk, Consultant of Prisma Consulting Group, Belgium Mrs. A. Frisk will introduce to the Conference delegates the EU requirements in maritime transport as well as the main aspects of the White Book: port activities and the development of port services, concept of major sea thoroughfares, EU environmental requirements and control of their fulfillment.

The forum will also dwell on many other important issues – investment in the development of ports, port industry and the activities of port operators.

Unlike other times, the September Conference will be arranged by a somewhat different scenario. If on the first day the work will be conducted in the conference halls of Hotel “Olympia”, on the second day the delegates will be able to visit Tallinn Port and have a tour to Helsinki, Finland, on a new deluxe ferry “Romantica”. During this tour delegates will visit Finnish ports and take part in the Conference work sections. ■