New HELCOM Group to steer the implementation of the Baltic recovery plan

Helsinki, 23 January (HELCOM Information Service) – Issues related to the upcoming implementation of an ambitious HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan to reduce pollution and restore the health of the marine environment by 2021 topped the agenda of the two-day Meeting of the Heads of Delegation of the HELCOM Member States which ended today in Helsinki, Finland.

Among the key results of the Meeting was the establishment of the Baltic Sea Action Plan Implementation Group, as well as an agreement on its Terms of Reference. Its general purpose is to steer on a high level the process of successful implementation of the action plan which was adopted last year at the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting to meet the ecological objectives and achieve good ecological/environmental status of the Baltic Sea by 2021.

“The Implementation Group will address four priority areas of the plan: eutrophication, hazardous substances, biodiversity and maritime activities, and will work under the responsibility of the Heads of Delegation,” said Anne Christine Brusendorff, HELCOM’s Executive Secretary. “It will give guidance and ensure coordination of scientific and technical activities of HELCOM as well as facilitate exchange of information on related national activities and link the implementation of the action plan to activities under other international frameworks.”

The Implementation Group shall co-ordinate and guide the work of HELCOM subsidiary bodies for implementation of the plan. It will monitor, assess and review the implementation of the plan and follow up and further the revision of the provisional maximum allowable inputs and reduction requirements of nutrients by sub region and country. The Group will also consider financial issues, including the cost of non-action/benefits of a healthy sea, the financing possibilities of the agreed measures and national programmes, and the cost efficiency and economic incentives.

The Meeting approved the programme of the Third Stakeholder Conference on the Baltic Sea Action Plan, which will be held in March 2008. The financial aspects of the plan’s implementation and the cost-efficiency of measures will be one of the top themes of the Conference. Discussions will particularly focus on the sources of funding, involvement of the international financial institutions (IFIs) and the private sector in the implementation of the action plan and understanding their requirements for providing financing support, as well as how to prepare successful projects to ensure/increase the investments for marine environmental protection.

Additionally, the Meeting discussed the preparations for a Pledging Conference on the implementation of the action plan. The Conference will serve as a meeting point for IFIs and the HELCOM Members, committed to the implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan. Its aim is to put together political commitments, donors’ expectations and readiness of coastal countries to provide realistic, feasible and bankable projects.

“Assessment of measures, presumed by the plan to reach good ecological status of the Baltic Sea, have shown a clear need for additional funds to be invested into the region,” said Brusendorff. “For example, the least-cost estimate of achieving “clear water”, which is one of the main objectives of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, is almost EUR 2.9 billion, while elimination of major pollution Hot Spots in the Region is roughly estimated at around EUR 9-11 billion.”

The Heads of Delegation of the HELCOM Member States also reviewed the activities of HELCOM Subsidiary Groups, as well as working programmes and ongoing projects including the GEF/World Bank funded Baltic Sea Regional Project (BSRP), and the implementation of the Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme (JCP).

The continuing recovery of major pollution hot spots in the Baltic Sea coastal countries was one of the key issues. The Meeting considered the deletion of the Hot Spot No 22 – “St. Petersburg Metal Plating Industry/Heavy metals in wastewater and sludge” from the list of the Baltic Sea most significant pollution source hot spots. The local industry has made major investments in wastewater treatment techniques resulting in significant reduction of pollution. It was agreed that the final decision on the deletion will be made by March 2008. Currently, a total of 80 hot spots and sub-hot spots remain on the list, following the deletion of 82 of the earlier identified 162 hot spots/sub-hot spots.

The Meeting considered two new HELCOM Recommendations. The first one deals with reduction of emissions from crematoria, setting emission limits for mercury and other harmful substances to the air. Crematoria’s are considered as a significant point source for mercury emissions in many of the Baltic Sea countries. The coastal countries endorsed this Recommendation with a view of having it adopted by the annual HELCOM Meeting in March. The second Recommendation is on harmonization of methods of sampling and reporting the amount and type of marine litter on the beach within the Baltic Sea region as part of a global initiative to assess the impact of marine litter. It was agreed that following additional elaboration it will also be submitted for adoption by the annual HELCOM Meeting.

At the Meeting, Russia officially nominated Igor Maydanov of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation as the incoming Chairman and Anatoly Yanchuk of the Russian State Marine Pollution Control, Salvage and Rescue Administration as incoming Vice-Chairman of HELCOM. The chairmanship of HELCOM rotates between its members every two year. Russia will assume the chairmanship of HELCOM on 1 July 2008.  

The Meeting of the Heads of Delegation took place at the premises of the HELCOM Secretariat in Helsinki. It was conducted by the Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, Prof. Mieczyslaw S. Ostojski.

Note to Editors:

The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, more usually known as the Helsinki Commission, or HELCOM, is an intergovernmental organization of all the nine Baltic Sea countries and the EU which works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution. 

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

For more information, please contact:

Nikolay Vlasov

Information Secretary

HELCOM

Tel.: + 358 (0)207 412 635

Fax: +358 (0)207 412 639

E-mail: nikolay.vlasov@helcom.fi