Baltikum-konferencen i Eigtveds Pakhus

Today is an important day. For Denmark. For Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. And for me personally. 
We are celebrating 100 years of diplomatic relations between our countries.
We are celebrating 30 years of close friendship since the restoration of our diplomatic relations. 
And we are celebrating a new shared vision for our future cooperation, which my three Baltic colleagues and I have agreed on today. 
I will speak more about the new vision during the panel discussion later. But for now, let me just say how proud I am of this vision. 

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30 years ago, Denmark played a special role in the Baltic countries’ fight for freedom and independence. 
The Danish policy was based on broad public support. 

The Danish people felt great sympathy with the people of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in their struggle for freedom. The Soviet occupation reminded us of our own occupation decades earlier.
I myself felt the same sympathy growing up on the island of Bornholm – in the middle of the Baltic Sea – from where I could see the events unfold.  

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The Baltic countries’ fight for freedom shaped me. 
As a high school student, I attended a camp for students from islands in the Baltic Sea. 
At the time, I was very concerned with overfishing in the Baltic Sea. 
But at the camp, I met an Estonian student who changed my perspective. 
He said: “How can you talk of all of your little problems when the Red Army is still occupying the streets of Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius?”
“Why is it that You are free countries and we are not?” 

Only a few hundred kilometres away, there were young people like me for whom freedom was not a given.
For the first time, I felt a clear responsibility of fighting for a more just world. 
This sense of responsibility laid the foundation for my political interest and my future political career. And it continues to be the foundation for my actions as Foreign Minister. 

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I am proud of the active role Denmark played during the Baltic fight for independence. 
It is a part of Danish foreign policy history, which we as Danes should be proud of. 
Therefore, I am pleased to see that you, Uffe, are here today. 
Let us also remember the important role of Prime Minister Poul Schlüter, who sadly passed away last week.

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Today, Denmark and the Baltic countries have excellent cooperation in multilateral fora. And strong cooperation on security and defence.
But the relationship between Denmark and the Baltic countries is not only based on governmental relations. 
It is based on cooperation between a broad range of actors.

Since 1990, the Danish Cultural Institute has played a significant role. The Cultural Institute has organised numerous art exhibitions, concerts and seminars. It has supported collaboration between schools and municipalities. And facilitated exchange programmes between our countries.

Danish civil society actors have also been key. One example from my own home island Bornholm is Baltisk Bro, which from its establishment in 1990 engaged young people in creating connections across the Baltic Sea. 

Still today, there is important cooperation among Danish and Baltic NGOs. 
The private sector has an important role. Both in a historical perspective today and not least in the future. 
The recent Memorandum of Understanding between Ørsted and Enefit on cooperation on offshore wind in the Baltic Sea is an important example of this. Another is European Energy’s windfarm that was opened this week in Lithuania. 
These are promising examples of the possibilities of cooperating to deliver renewable energy and green jobs. An agenda for the many years to come.

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I would like to thank all of you for your engagement and contributions to Danish-Baltic cooperation. And I encourage you to continue your commitment. Together we shape the relations between Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Today we are not only celebrating 100 years of formal diplomatic ties. 
We are celebrating 30 years of freedom. 
We are celebrating a deep friendship between our countries. 

Thank you.