Labour mobility in the Baltic Sea Region has increased remarkably during the past decade. Labour mobility has many benefits both for workers and enterprises, but it also poses challenges. Therefore, it is necessary to further improve cooperation between the Social Partners, governmental institutions and the Baltic Sea States regarding mobility of labour. Such cooperation is facilitated by the Baltic Sea Labour Forum – a flagship project within the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region – where Euroregion Baltic is an observer.
On 1 November 2013, the Baltic Sea Labour Forum Round Table took place in Helsinki where Euroregion Baltic President, Mr Per Ole Petersen, as well as members of Euroregion Baltic Task Force on Labour Cooperation: Diana Unander Nordle and Johnny Winther Holbech participated. The Round Table adopted an Action Plan on Cross Border Mobility. The main purpose of the Action Plan is to convey background information and analyses on cross border mobility; to encourage and support practical cooperation activities among the BSLF members; and to present recommendations to the governments of the Baltic Sea Region and the CBSS concerning cross-border mobility. Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja received the Action Plan at the Round Table and welcomed the concrete co-operation plans of the BSLF. In addition to mobility, the BSLF Round Table devoted extensive attention to the pressing issue of youth unemployment. This is a serious and persistent challenge in the Baltic Sea Region, and the Round Table stressed that it must be tackled with concrete actions by the Social Partners and the governments. The joint and consolidated recommendations of the BSLF members regarding cross-border mobility and youth employment can be found in the unanimously adopted Round Table Resolution.