Hanseatic Parliament

The Hanseatic Parliament is an association of more than 50 Chambers ( chambers of handicrafts, chambers of commerce and similar facilities ) around the Baltic Sea region. Common goal is to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The central office was based in Copenhagen and now in Hamburg, where the registered association is also registered. It is an organization with a strictly non-commercial character. The cooperation of the members began in the early 1990s, since 1994 concrete ( EU ) funded projects are carried out. Cooperation with the Eastern countries in the region has been greatly intensified by the EU enlargement of 2004. The organization has members from 11 countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, White Russia, Poland, Denmark and Germany. Chairman of the association is Jürgen Hogeforster.

It was named after the Hanseatic League, which was historically successful network in the Baltic region. However, the Hanseatic Parliament focused on the countries around the Baltic Sea (Denmark, Germany, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Finland, Sweden and Norway) and does not extend as far west like the classic Hanseatic League, the z. B. was also active in Bruges (Belgium ) or England.

In order to achieve greater cooperation between the SME sector and academic institutions in the field of qualification and research, the Hanseatic Parliament, the Baltic Sea Academy initiated in 2010, a network of 15 universities and colleges from nine countries.

Hanseatic meetings

Although the Hanseatic Parliament focused on the economic development of SMEs, it also supports cultural cooperation and macro-regional development of the Baltic Sea region. For this purpose the example yearly rather the Hanseatic Conference, come together on the science, politics and medium-sized businesses and of two days together. At the conference, lecture next business representatives, scientists and politicians, such as the conference " Renewable Energy and SMEs in the Baltic Sea Region" 2011 EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger or on "Innovation and Regional Development " 2012 EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn. Following papers will be discussed at the conference limited to 120 participants at round tables. The presentations and outcomes of the discussions will be published in a publication series of the Baltic Sea Academy.