Minister Ek Visits the BONUS Offices

”BONUS is a good example of how Baltic Sea research cooperation can be done successfully. The coordination of the BONUS programme serves as a good role model for organising international cooperation”, said the Minister of Environment of Sweden, Lena Ek. Minister Ek visited the Secretariat of the Joint Baltic Sea research and development programme BONUS in Helsinki on Wednesday (11.1.2012).

Minister Ek has been following the development and activities of BONUS for years. In her earlier role as a Member of the European Parliament, Minister Ek had a pivotal role in the process that led to the European Parliament and European Council’s co-decision that launched BONUS in June 2010. According to Ms. Ek, protection of the Baltic Sea is one key area for joint vision and cooperation across the Baltic Sea countries. ”For example, we need to work together to ensure EU resources for funding the Baltic Sea protection. Competition for funding in the EU is severe and hence we need to be proactively securing the support necessary for the Baltic Sea protection action.” According to Minister Ek, spring 2012 is critical period to act when the multiannual financial planning is being negotiated in the EU.

Executive Director Kaisa Kononen introduced BONUS aims and activities highlighting as one important area the accessibility of knowledge and its use in political as well as wider societal decision making. ”Only by integrating science into institutional decision making, including policy creation, can we hope for a better future of the Baltic Sea”, added Kononen.

BONUS works closely with the Baltic Sea Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM). ” In HELCOM’s work, we have already made a good use of BONUS research that is available through the BONUS+ projects.  For example, ECOSUPPORT and HYPER projects have contributed to review of the ecological targets of eutrophication of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (TARGREV project), taking into account climate change and providing sound basis for the revision of the Baltic Sea Action Plan’s nutrient reduction scheme”, said the new Executive Secretary of HELCOM, Monika Stankiewicz, who will be commencing her work officially in February 2012.

BONUS+ project BEAST is interacting closely with HELCOM as noted by Monika Stankiewicz. BEAST has provided input to creating core indicators for hazardous substances related to biological effects needed by the HELCOM’s CORESET project to ensure up-to-date information on the Baltic Sea state. 

Minister Ek was interested to explore how research can be made more accessible for decision makers. “How can we reduce or avoid the gaps that are hindering the information flow to decision makers? “ Monika Stankiewicz noted that a key role here is with organising joint fora where scientific community and end-users such as decision makers can come together to discuss critical issues and share knowledge. HELCOM acts as such platform for meetings between scientists, decision makers and politicians. Kaisa Kononen noted that this is right in the  core of the ethos of the annual BONUS Forums. ”In the future we would welcome even closer collaboration and joint activities between the BONUS Forum and the HELCOM’s platforms to enhance the science-policy interlinkages to their full potential”, added Kononen.

BONUS News Room