3-4 May Baltic Sea States Summit

Date: 09/05/1996

HEADS of state of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden, meeting in Visby, Sweden, promised to reinforce cooperation between their police, customs, immigration and coast guard authorities. They also agreed to work together on maritime and nuclear safety.

IN their joint declaration, the governments pledged to respect human rights. The promises were significant for Russia - which still receives complaints about the treatment of Russian minorities in the Baltic republics - and for the republics themselves, where the presence of Russian troops has caused tension.

THE leaders also approved an 'agenda for action' in cooperation, civic security, economic integration and environmental protection. They agreed to support Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland as they prepare for membership of the Union and to back early ratification of the EU's partnership and cooperation agreement with Russia.

SUMMITEERS agreed to support Russia and the Baltics in their bids for membership of the World Trade Organisation. Until they join, their partners agreed that all the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea would give each other most favoured nation status for trading. The leaders also agreed to push for a free trade zone between the three republics and to link them to Poland through free trade.

COMMISSION President Jacques Santer presented the EU's Baltic strategy, which includes integrating some of the area's transport routes into the Union's own transport networks (TENs) and interconnecting gas, oil and electricity networks.

ENVIRONMENTAL concerns were high on the agenda at the summit. The leaders agreed to work to restore and maintain the Baltic Sea's ecological balance and to update the Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Environment Action Programme. They also agreed on the need to assess risks to the environment caused by transporting oil.

SUMMIT participants avoided discussing NATO membership for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. But, speaking in Stockholm on his way to the summit, Russian Premier Viktor Chernomyrdin reiterated his government's opposition to NATO taking in the three Baltic states as members. However, he said Russia would not take military action against them if they join the alliance.