Helsinki, Finland

04.03.2008

Opening Speech by Prof. Mieczysław S. Ostojski, Chairman of HELCOM,

at the 3rd Stakeholder Conference on the Baltic Sea Action Plan,

4 March 2008, Helsinki, Finland

Dear Ladies and Gentleman,

I warmly welcome you to the third HELCOM Stakeholder Conference organized to commence the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan. I am pleased to see that for the third year in a row this event attracts so many different stakeholder groups with a vital interest in joining and contributing to the discussions on how to improve the state of the Baltic Sea.

The HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, adopted on 15 November 2007 in Krakow, Poland, created a detailed agenda for the work needed to reduce pollution and achieve a good environmental / ecological status of the Baltic Sea marine environment by 2021. This agenda is an outcome of long and intensive consultations between, and within, the Contracting Parties, industrial interest groups, scientific community, non-governmental organizations and other major stakeholders. At this point I would like to thank all of you who actively participated in the process of the development of the HELCOM Action Plan for your ideas, input and constructive criticism.

The HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan commits, first and foremost, the governments of the Baltic Sea States and the European Community to act within their capacity to achieve a healthy Baltic Sea. This is a challenging goal, indeed, and it cannot be reached without a similar commitment on the part of the industry, the public and other interest groups.

Such a commitment can only be truly made if the needs of all major users of the Baltic Sea are considered and balanced in a fair and transparent way. This is where spatial planning comes into the picture, a tool which, similarly to its use on land, is becoming one of the key means for cross-sectoral management of human activities in the sea and coastal areas, based on an ecosystem approach.

Having said that, it is no longer a surprise that marine spatial planning has been chosen as one of the two major topics for this conference. We would like to initiate today the discussion with you on how broad-scale marine spatial planning can be used within the HELCOM framework.

We will conduct a simple exercise which, through visual tools, will illustrate the problems attached to marine spatial planning when balancing conservation needs and other interests and uses of the marine environment. Before the exercise starts we will listen to three introductory presentations by representatives of organizations involved in the field.

There are few examples, so far, on how marine spatial planning can be put into practice. The seeds of a planning system can be seen in existing spatial controls such as routing measures for maritime traffic, various protected areas and fisheries closures. HELCOM wishes to contribute with her expertise, scientific advice and networks of operational professionals to development of a practical, regional scale, marine spatial planning process.

Not least important, is the second topic of the conference – financing of the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan – reflecting HELCOM’s ambition to have available financial resources streamlined into financing needed projects. 

We perceive this as absolutely crucial to ensure success of the Action Plan.

HELCOM has already managed to influence some of the financial programmes, in which projects implementing HELCOM requirements, including the Baltic Sea Action Plan, are given a priority. We can observe a great interest in building such projects, both within the HELCOM community and outside our own networks. We do our best to guide the projects preparation to ensure that priority environmental problems are addressed and practical results are delivered.

But much more needs to, and can be, done. 

Today we have managed to bring together distinguished speakers representing different international financial institutions, EC and private organizations who will share with us their knowledge and give their valuable advice on how to prepare successful projects to ensure investments for marine environmental protection. We will also learn about what kinds of programmes and funds could be used for the purpose.

On the other hand, in the audience we have potential beneficiaries looking for advice, but also having down-to-earth knowledge on difficulties faced when seeking financing.

I am aware that during this conference we are able only to outline the existing possibilities and signal possible bottlenecks. However, this work by HELCOM will continue and will be steered on a high level by the newly established Implementation Group. The Implementation Group will give guidance and ensure the coordination of scientific and technical activities of HELCOM as well as link the implementation of the Action Plan to activities under other international frameworks. The Group will also consider financial issues, including the financing possibilities of the agreed measures, the cost efficiency and economic incentives.

With this last remark let me wish you all and myself interesting and fruitful discussions and a good outcome of the conference.

Thank you for your attention.