Part II: Development of a Conversion Network in the Baltic Sea Region

Programme 2000 - 2006 Baltic Sea Region

Date of latest update: 2021-04-06

Description

Description (EN):

Conversion of former military sites is a pressing issue in the Baltic Sea Region. Not only municipalities and regions are still coping with the after-effects of around 3500 post-Cold War military base closures – several hundred facilities are currently being closed in restructuring processes of the respective national armed forces. These processes are set to continue and gain momentum in the future, given the changing security environment in the region. While the reduction of military sites is of course a welcome development, it does pose an immense challenge to the affected municipalities and regions. Currently, they are left more or less to their own devices in tackling this challenge. The difficult process of converting and redeveloping former military sites touches on social, economic, cultural and environmental issues, demanding a cross-sectoral approach to achieve the goals of sustainable regional development. The central objective was to create a strong transnational network of local, regional and national actors in the field of converting former military bases to civilian uses in the Baltic Sea Region. The network should: facilitate the flow of information and the exchange of know-how between the partners, define and document best practices, aid the partners in solving conversion-related problems and help the partners formulate a coherent conversion policy. The results and experiences of the network work were discussed and lead to the formulation of a Regional Conversion Action Plan, outlining policy goals and necessary support mechanisms, especially for the candidate countries The CONVERNET-project created a transnational network for - organising thematic workshops and seminars, - collecting, sharing and disseminating information, - acting as a "conversion lobby" vis-à-vis third parties and - helping the participating partners to develop innovative solutions by means of demonstration projects. The work of the network focuses on conversion in the fields of spatial planning, sustainable regional development and cross-border co-operation.

Achievements (EN):

CONVERNET, having proved successful in creating a conversion network, draws more and more attention to conversion issues not only in the Baltic Sea Region. Through lobbying activities out of CONVERNET and at meetings on project or work package level, concrete results could be achieved: - Guidelines for conversion of the State of Mecklenburg – Western Pomerania have been influenced by CONVERNET activities - the CONVERNET-launched “Signal of Stavenhagen” (see 3rd Progress Report), lead to an inquiry to the European Commission by a member of the European Parliament, that was answered by Mr. Barrot. The answer encourages the conversion community to anchor conversion issues in the new generation of convergence programmes during the planning phase - bilateral contacts between CONVERNET partners lead to concrete steps for special partnerships - additional need of co-operation could be identified, leading to the development of a project application “Baltic Culture and Tourism Route Fortresses”, meanwhile approved by the INTERREG IIIB BSR Steering Committee and to close contacts to other actors in the BSR confronted with conversion issues (e.g. City of Hamburg, Latvian Housing Agency) - activation of ministries interested in conversion from Russia, Belarus Other project results put the conversion process a step forward in concrete cases: - the marketing of former military assets has been addressed several times at partner and WP meetings; respective documents on marketing as support for CONVERNET partners have been worked out - the question of social and economic consequences of base closures has been discussed based upon a working paper - technical studies, feasibility studies, development visions and concepts have been elaborated by different partners supported by CONVERNET and forming an input for the various discussions. Publications: 3 newsletters containing information on news from the conversion community, the Conversion Handbook for the Baltic Sea Region, the Regional Action Plan for Conversion in the Baltic Sea Region. Approximately 90.000 EUR have been spent as small scale investments into infrastructural measures (e.g. Information boards and hiking path at the Oder island, refurbishment measures at Fort Gorgast, an information center at Farösund as well as refurbishment of destroyed parts of barracks buildings in Vaasa / Finland). This grades up facilities at former military sites and is important especially in initiating the development of those sites, providing infrastructure necessary for the better accessibility for visitors and investors.

Thematic information

Construction and renovation Labour market and employment Regional planning and development

Partners (21)

Lead Partner: Ministry for Economic Affairs of Brandenburg

Address: Heinrich-Mann-Allee 107, 14473 Potsdam, Germany

Legal status: n/a

Elimäki municipality

Name: Elimäki municipality

Address: PL 4, 47201 Elimäki, Finland

Legal status: n/a

Kotkan kaupunki

Name: Kotkan kaupunki

Address: PL 205, 48101 Kotka, Finland

Legal status: n/a

City of Vaasa

Name: City of Vaasa

Address: PL 3, 65101 Vaasa, Finland

Legal status: n/a

Riga City Council, Environment Department

Name: Riga City Council, Environment Department

Address: Krisjana Valdemara iela 3, 1539 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: n/a

Ministry of Defence

Name: Ministry of Defence

Address: PL 31, 131 Helsinki, Finland

Legal status: n/a

City of Tartu

Name: City of Tartu

Address: Raekoda, 50089 Tartu, Estonia

Legal status: n/a

Island Commission - Ministry of the Interior

Name: Island Commission - Ministry of the Interior

Address: PL 26, 23 Helsinki, Finland

Legal status: n/a

Nordregio

Name: Nordregio

Address: SE-11186 Stockholm, Sweden

Legal status: n/a

City of Kaunas

Name: City of Kaunas

Address: Laisves aleja 96, 3000 Kaunas, Lithuania

Legal status: n/a

City of Elblag

Name: City of Elblag

Address: ul. Lacznosci 1, 82300 Elblag, Poland

Legal status: n/a

Government Centre for Strategic Studies - Dept of Spatial and Regional Strategy

Name: Government Centre for Strategic Studies - Dept of Spatial and Regional Strategy

Address: Kollataja 1, 81332 Gdynia, Poland

Legal status: n/a

Swinoujscie Municipality

Name: Swinoujscie Municipality

Address: ul. Wojska Polskiego 1/5, 72600 Swinoujscie, Poland

Legal status: n/a

Paldiski municipality

Name: Paldiski municipality

Address: Sadama 9, 76806 Paldiski, Estonia

Legal status: n/a

Jaromer Municipality (CZ)

Name: Jaromer Municipality (CZ)

Address: Namesti CSA 16, 55133 Jaromer, Czech Republic

Legal status: public

Regional Development Agency Hradec Kralove KARR (CZ)

Name: Regional Development Agency Hradec Kralove KARR (CZ)

Address: Manesova 806, 50210 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, Czech Republic

Legal status: n/a

Terezin municipality (CZ)

Name: Terezin municipality (CZ)

Address: Namesti CSA 179, 41155 Terezin, Czech Republic, Czech Republic

Legal status: n/a

Association Fort Gorgast e.V.

Name: Association Fort Gorgast e.V.

Address: Im Fort Gorgast, OT Gorgast, 15328 Küstriner Vorland, Germany

Legal status: n/a

Vasallen

Name: Vasallen

Address: Trädgårdsgatan 14, 70212 Trädgårdsgatan, Sweden

Legal status: n/a

Brandenburgische Boden Ges. f. Grundstücksverwaltung u. -verwertung mbH

Name: Brandenburgische Boden Ges. f. Grundstücksverwaltung u. -verwertung mbH

Address: Hauptallee 116/6, 15838 Wünsdorf, Germany

Legal status: n/a

Stavenhagen municipality

Name: Stavenhagen municipality

Address: Schloss 1, 17153 Reuterstadt Stavenhagen, Germany

Legal status: n/a

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Part II: Development of a Conversion Network in the Baltic Sea Region

Project acronym: Convernet II

Project start date: 2005-03-17

Project end date: 2006-07-16

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 722 245.62

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 460 642.45

Co-financing sources:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2000 - 2006 Baltic Sea Region

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2019-07-08

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

136 / 136 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

3 143 / 3 143 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Part II: Development of a Conversion Network in the Baltic Sea Region

Description

Thematic information

Partners (21)

Partners map

Summary

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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