Baltic Sea to become a pilot area under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Helsinki, 5 December (HELCOM Information Service) – The Member States of HELCOM, including Russia as the only non-EU Member of HELCOM, have agreed to push for the designation of the Baltic Sea as a pilot area under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The overarching HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan to drastically reduce pollution to the marine environment and restore its good ecological status, which was adopted last year, will serve as a locomotive for the successful and speedy implementation of the Directive in the region. The decision for this pragmatic move was adopted at the meeting of the Heads of Delegation of the HELCOM countries, held on 3-4 December in Helsinki. 

“The HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan provides a strong basis for the implementation of the Directive. Due to the critical state of the Baltic marine environment and the need for urgent measures, our strategic programme includes an earlier entry into operation of the required set of actions as well as stricter protective measures,” says Anne Christine Brusendorff, HELCOM’s Executive Secretary. “At the same time, a MSFD pilot project designation will provide support from the European Commission for enhanced efforts to improve the Baltic marine environment.”  

The HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan has already been widely heralded as a pioneer scheme for European seas in the context of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The European Community has described HELCOM’s plan as a cornerstone for further action in the Baltic Sea region, emphasizing that the plan is instrumental to the successful implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the region.

The Directive foresees a plan of actions with an earlier entry into operation of a programme of measures for a marine region. HELCOM is in a unique position to deliver such a coordinated plan, given its embracing of all the countries in the Baltic Sea catchment area, including Russia. Close cooperation with Russia is vital for any further progress to be made in restoring the Baltic marine environment. HELCOM is also in a unique position to ensure that the special characteristics of the Baltic Sea are fully accounted for in European policies.

As a pioneer in the application of the ecosystem approach, the innovative HELCOM action plan also serves as a model example to be followed by other European seas.

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, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and also the European Community.  

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.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Nikolay Vlasov

Information Secretary

HELCOM

Tel: +358 (0)207 412 635

Fax: +358 (0)207 412 639

E-mail: nikolay.vlasov@helcom.fi