Statement by the European Commission on behalf of the European Community
Ministerial Segment of Helcom (15 November 2007, Krakow)
Mr. Peter Gammeltoft
Head of the Water and Marine Unit
Directorate General for Environment
European Commission
Mr Chairman, your Excellencies,
Firstly allow me to present the apologies of Commissioner Dimas who can not be present as he has to appear in Strasbourg in the European Parliament.
On this important occasion, the European Commission is very satisfied to be here in Krakow to represent the European Community, which is a Party to the Helsinki Convention, together with the Russian Federation and eight Member States of the European Union sharing the shores of the Baltic Sea.
Let me start by expressing on behalf of Mr Dimas the full support of the European Commission to the important political step being taken today at Krakow. I would also like to convey on his behalf his appreciation to the Polish authorities for their efforts in preparing this meeting in the past two years through the Chair of Helcom.
Let me also stress our recognition to the very efficient Helcom Secretariat for their contribution to the success of this meeting. Helcom is the international organisation which is the key player that has clearly taken the lead in the protection of the Baltic Sea.
Also thanks to the EU Member States and the Russian Federation for their contributions to the process without which this meeting would not have been possible. The European Commission values this cooperation and looks forward to its continuation in Helcom as well as bilaterally with the Russian Federation in the framework of the EU-Russia environmental dialogue.
The adoption of the Baltic Sea Action Plan is an initiative of the highest political importance for the protection of the Baltic Sea. Compared to previous initiatives, it implies a new orientation by making a strong commitment to reaching good environmental status by 2021, by focusing on specific actions in four key areas: eutrophication, biodiversity, hazardous substances and maritime transport.
As you are all aware, this is an objective to which the European Commission is also committed for the Baltic Sea, and for the other seas around Europe, in the context of the Thematic Strategy for the marine environment, which is the environmental pillar of the Maritime Policy of the European Union.
The proposed EU Marine Strategy Directive, which we expect to be adopted in its second reading by the end of this year, recognises a central role to regional seas conventions as the privileged forum where our Member States will coordinate among themselves, and cooperate with our privileged partners such as the Russian Federation, to achieve its ambitious environmental objectives.
Let me on behalf of the European Commission extend to the families concerned and to the Russian Federation our sympathy for victims of the environmental disaster in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The European Commission has proposed to the Russian authorities to intensify cooperation in the area of combating such environmental disasters and has suggested to mobilise the expertise and equipment of the EU and its Member States should the Russian Federation see fit.
The Baltic Sea Action Plan which will now be adopted will certainly be a central reference for the future efforts of the EU in all the regional seas surrounding Europe, and in the other regional seas conventions.
We are particularly delighted of the positive cooperation with the Russian Federation in the context of Helcom. I would like to add that, after the latest enlargement of the European Union, two new Member States have joined having shores in the Black Sea, another important sea where cooperation with Russia will be fundamental to reach our common environmental objectives. I am confident that the high standards being agreed here today for the Baltic Sea, and the excellent cooperation with Russia in this successful forum, will provide a model also for our improved cooperation in the Black Sea in the years to come.
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Apart from these broader considerations on the linkages between the Baltic Sea Action Plan and the ongoing EU policy developments, and on the importance of our environmental relations with our Russian neighbours, please let me highlight some central elements of the Baltic Sea Action Plan itself.
In many respects the Baltic Sea Action Plan is clearly a model for what the future programmes of action might look like under the coming EU Marine strategy Directive and with it the Baltic Sea has established itself as a forerunner in the implementation of the Directive.
The Action Plan includes ambitious targets and new measures in the four key segments. On eutrophication, in particular, we are pleased to see that there are new important innovations and measures on several issues such as urban waste water treatment or phosphorus in detergents. In some cases, there is a gradual convergence with existing EU policies, but in other cases all the Helcom Parties, including the European Community, the Russian Federation and the EU Member States, have committed themselves to objectives beyond such standards. This is because the serious concerns in the Baltic Sea in relation to eutrophication, which require determined action.
In this respect, the European Community is also pleased to take part in the adoption of the amendment of Annex III on land-base pollution from agricultural sources, which addresses the specific eutrophication concerns of this specific semi-closed sea, and we are confident that the EU Member States will take the necessary measures to implement the measures which have been adopted.
As far as the EU and its Member States are concerned, it is clear that for areas like fisheries which are the exclusive competence of the European Community, there is a clear political will in the EU and its Member States to ensure the sustainability of the activities and to ensure in this context that legitimate environmental targets are respected although - as in other areas - time may in many cases be needed to carry out any necessary adjustment of policies and change practices on the ground.
On biodiversity, we have also agreed on important objectives, not least in relation to the network of marine protected areas in the Baltic Sea and integrated spatial planning. We have also agreed to strong recommendations to the competent authorities in charge of fisheries in the Baltic, with a view to support the achievement of the environmental objectives of the Black Sea.
Progress is also made in other issues agreed in the Baltic Sea, including maritime transport and hazardous substances. Again, it is necessary to implement all these new measures with a view to protect the fragile Baltic Sea environment.
And in this respect, please let me finish by stressing this single concept: implementation. This should be our only concern in the next years. The Baltic Sea Action Plan will be a long-term process, and it will be important not to lose momentum.
The European Community delegation therefore supports all the necessary efforts being undertaken to adapt the functioning of Helcom with a view to prioritise the implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan in the years to come. While provisional targets and indicators have been agreed to monitor future progress on implementation, we would like to express our commitment to update them, and to keep strengthening our efforts in defining objectives and all operational tools that may be needed to achieve good environmental status by 2021.
Thank you for your attention.