Dear UBC Friends,  This year for the tenth time we will meet at the UBC General Conference. The city of Kristiansand, Norway, will be playing host to our conference on 24 – 25 September. Recently, the main focus of the UBC interest has been the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. The Union welcomed the EU initiative expecting realistic policy, ambitious in its objectives and responsive to the needs of inhabitants of the Region. However, the real test for the EU Strategy will be its implementation. 100 mayors of Baltic Sea cities, representatives of governments and international organisations, many key actors active in Europe will meet at the UBC General Conference to discuss the cities’ role in the implementation of the EU Strategy for the BSR. Cities play a crucial role in the process of creation and implementation of the Strategy. Their particular strength is the closeness to the inhabitants. The cities can perform as a vital link with regard to the European Union’s aim to be closer to its citizens. Understanding the problems of the urban areas is a foundation of the Baltic Sea governance. UBC is of the opinion that the cities can play an important role also in enhancing accountability and transparency of the Strategy. The speeches delivered during the fi rst day of the conference will present different perspectives and points of view painting the broad picture of the process of the Strategy implementation. Moreover, the four thematic workshops corresponding to the main objectives of the EU Strategy will be organised during the conference. The UBC sees the value of the approach of the Commission to work in four main themes (to improve the environmental state of the Baltic Sea Region, to make the Baltic Sea Region a more prosperous place by supporting balanced economic development across the Region; to make the Baltic Sea Region a more accessible and attractive place and to make the Baltic Sea Region a safer and more secure place). The second day of the Conference will be devoted to the UBC internal matters, such as reports, elections, fi nances and meetings of the UBC Commissions. Welcome to the X UBC General Conference! Per Bødker Andersen
President of UBC | 
