HELCOM Heads of Delegations to meet in Helsinki, Finland, 14-15 June

Heads of Delegation to the Helsinki Commission will gather in Helsinki, Finland, 14-15 June for their regular 15th meeting to discuss working programmes, intersessional work and ongoing projects.

One of the main focuses of the meeting will be the environmental impacts of fisheries in the Baltic Sea. Heads of delegations are to discuss the role and possible actions of HELCOM in addressing fisheries related environmental problems.

Among important topics on the agenda will be the issue of environmental Impact assessment. Representatives of the Baltic Sea States will look into the problem of an increase of activities in the coastal and marine area of the Baltic Sea, some of which have a significant impact to the marine environment and some activities have detrimental transboundary environmental effects. The aim is to ensure a harmonized implementation of the principles applicable in the Baltic Sea area.

According to the agenda, the meeting will discuss issues related to the decision by IMO to in principle establish major parts of the Baltic Sea as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA). It is expected that the Heads of Delegations will exchange views on possible protective measures associated to the designation of the Baltic Sea as a PSSA and the ways how to carry out this work within HELCOM.

Heads of delegations will also look into the agenda of the forthcoming 5th Baltic Sea States Summit, which will discuss issues of environmental protection and safety of navigation in the Baltic Sea.

The meeting of the Heads of Delegations will take place at the premises of the HELCOM Secretariat in Helsinki. It will be opened by the Chair of the Helsinki Commission, Ms. Inese Vaidere.

Contacts

HELCOM Secretariat

Mr. Nikolay Vlasov
Information Secretary
Tel: +358 9 6220 2235
Fax: +358 9 6220 2239