HELCOM countries to consider three new Recommendations on measures to prevent pollution in the Baltic Sea area

HELSINKI, 24^th February (HELCOM) – Representatives of the nine Baltic Sea countries and the EU will convene at HELCOM’s 26^th annual Commission Meeting in Helsinki, Finland on 1-2 March 2005 to review the organisations progress in the protection of the Baltic Sea marine environment and to set new objectives for future work.

The Commission Meeting is expected to adopt three new Recommendations on measures to prevent pollution in the Baltic Sea area. One of the Recommendations has been designed to support further efforts to protect the Baltic Sea against the possible harmful effects of radioactive substances by facilitating the compilation of reliable data on radionuclides in the different compartments of the marine environment. Another proposed Recommendation will require HELCOM countries to collect more reliable assessments of the waterborne loads of pollutants entering the Baltic Sea from land-based sources in order to facilitate concerted action to limit the pollution of the marine environment. The third HELCOM Recommendation has the dual purpose of encouraging ships to dispose of their waste ashore instead of into the sea, while also encouraging that the waste burden is suitably shared, thus avoiding undesirable waste streams between ports. 

One of the most important discussions at the Commission Meeting is expected to focus on the interlinkage between HELCOM and the new European Marine Strategy. Representatives of the coastal countries will look into the possibility to develop a regional Action Plan for the Baltic Sea, which is stipulated by the EU Strategy, to be based on Ecological Objectives set by HELCOM on the basis of regional environmental assessments and requirements. 

According to the agenda, the Commission Meeting will discuss Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures for planned activities that may cause significant adverse effects on the marine environment of Baltic Sea area in a transboundary context. The aim is to adopt guidance for a harmonised approach to conducting EIA’s in the HELCOM countries. 

The Meeting will consider how to enhance cooperation and coordination between the Helsinki Commission and the EU in order to ensure that hazardous substances threatening the Baltic Sea environment are adequately addressed at appropriate level. Representatives of the coastal countries will look into proposals for drawing the attention of the European Community to issues of specific concern to the Baltic Sea, such as dioxins. In addition, the Meeting will scrutinize whether proposed EU measures fully cover the needs of the unique Baltic Sea or if HELCOM’s more specific hand-tailored measures are required. 

Representatives of the Baltic Sea States will discuss further measures to reduce airborne nitrogen based on a report identifying sources and assessing the adequacy of requirements for these sources of airborne nitrogen. About a quarter of the total nitrogen input to the Baltic Sea is coming from airborne nitrogen deposited directly on the Baltic Sea. And, as a significant share of the pollution entering the Baltic Sea originates in non-Contracting Parties, the Meeting will also look into how to enhance the cooperation with Belarus, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.

The Annual Meeting of the Helsinki Commission will take place at the Marina Congress Center in Helsinki. It will be opened by the HELCOM Chair, Mr. Arturas Daubaras.

Note to Editors:

The Helsinki Commission, or HELCOM, works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution through intergovernmental co-operation between the countries bordering the sea - Denmark, Estonia, the European Community, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden.  

HELCOM is the governing body of the "Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area," more usually known as the Helsinki Convention.

Contact

HELCOM Secretariat

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