Governments and intergovernmental organisations
OBSERVERS
Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (UNEP/AEWA)
The African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) is an agreement under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, commonly referred to as the Bonn Convention. The AEWA created a legal basis for concerted conservation and management policy of the Range States for Migratory Waterbirds.
Baltic Pilotage Authorities Commission (BPAC)
Baltic Pilotage Authorities Commission (BPAC) is a governmental organisation of and a work forum for pilotage authorities of the countries adjacent to the Baltic Sea and Norway.
The aim of this work forum is to enhance maritime and shipping safety in the Baltic Sea region, to share experiences between the pilotage areas and in cooperation with national authorities and pilot organisations to forward recommendations and influence the decision making in areas concerning pilotage in the Baltic Sea.
Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC)
Since 1991 the BSPC has established itself as an equal partner of international institutions and forums in Europe and support regional and sub-regional co-operation beyond national borders.
According to its objectives BSPC shall aim at strengthening the common identity of the Baltic Sea Region by close co-operation between national and regional parliaments. BSPC shall initiate and guide political activities in the region and further regional co-operation especially towards the Council of Baltic Sea States.
Black Sea Commission (BSC)
The Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (the Black Sea Commission or BSC) via its Permanent Secretariat is the intergovernmental body established in implementation of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (Bucharest Convention), its Protocols and the Strategic Action Plan for the Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation of the Black Sea (latest version adopted in 2009).
Bonn Agreement
The Agreement for Cooperation in Dealing with Pollution of the North Sea by oil and Other Harmful Substances (Bonn Agreement) deals with oil pollution and aerial surveillance for the detection of operational/illegal spills. The Bonn Agreement and the Helsinki Convention have certain common aims rThe Bonn Agreement for Cooperation in Dealing with Pollution of the North Sea by oil and Other Harmful Substances is the mechanism by which 10 Governments and the European Union work together to help each other in combating pollution in the Greater North Sea and its approaches from accidental and illegal pollution from shipping and offshores oil and gas operations. It conducts surveillance as an aid to detecting and combating pollution at sea. In 2019 Ministers decided to contribute to the prevention of air pollution from shipping by expanding the scope of work of the Agreement with a view to cooperation on surveillance of the requirements of Annex VI of MARPOL.
Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)
Established in 1992 by the Foreign Ministers of the Baltic Sea countries, the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) is an intergovernmental organisation comprising 11 members: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the European Union. It fosters collaboration and trust in the region while navigating new geopolitical landscapes. Serving as a platform for political dialogue, the CBSS coordinates with various stakeholders such as ministries, national agencies, IGOs, and NGOs to pursue its three long-term priorities: Regional Identity, Safe & Secure Region, and Sustainable & Prosperous Region. The organisation is currently focused on action areas including human trafficking, child protection, youth, civil protection, climate change, sustainable maritime economy, and sustainable development. The CBSS’s strength lies in its involvement in both regional policy-making and implementation, ensuring effective translation of global goals from organisations like the UN and EU into actionable policies and projects at the Baltic Sea macro-regional level.
Great Lakes Commission
The Great Lakes Commission is a binational agency that promotes the orderly, integrated and comprehensive development, use and conservation of the water and related natural resources of the North American Great Lakes basin and St. Lawrence River. Its members include the eight US states surrounding the Great Lakes, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Québec with associate member status.
Intergovernmental Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Sea (ASCOBANS)
ASCOBANS was concluded in 1992 under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS or Bonn Convention) and entered into force in 1994. It is an intergovernmental treaty of the United Nations, promoting close cooperation between countries with a view to achieving and maintaining a favourable conservation status for small cetaceans. ASCOBANS covers any species, subspecies, or population of toothed whales Odontoceti found within the area of the Agreement, except the sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus.
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO)
The work of the IOC focuses on promoting marine scientific investigations and related ocean services, with a view to learning more about the nature and resources of the oceans.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) serves as the world’s central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology. It was established as an autonomous organization under the United Nations (UN) in 1957.
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)
ICES is a leading forum for the promotion, coordination, and dissemination of research on the physical, chemical, and biological systems in the North Atlantic and advice on human impact on its environment, in particular fisheries effects in the Northeast Atlantic. It is the oldest intergovernmental marine science organization in the world, founded in 1902.
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
The International Maritime Organization is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollutions from ships. It also is involved in legal matters, including liability and compensation issues and the facilitation of international maritime traffic.
Northern Dimension Partnership on Transportation and Logistics (NDPTL)
The Northern Dimension partnership on Transport and Logistics (NDPTL) is an intergovernmental initiative with the mission to facilitate improvements of transport connections and logistics, enabling sustainable development in the Northern Dimension region.
Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (Nefco)
Nefco, the Nordic Green Bank, is an international financial institution that finances the initial scale-up of Nordic green solutions on global markets. Founded in 1990 by the five Nordic countries, Nefco has already financed and implemented over 1,700 projects in energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean water and sanitation, waste management, and cleaner industrial processes, among others. Together with Nordic Investment Bank, Nefco is the co-manager of the Baltic Sea Action Plan Fund which was established in 2010 by Finland and Sweden to accelerate the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP). The BSAP Fund provides grants for projects aimed at enhancing or restoring the ecological state of the Baltic Sea and which are aligned with the objectives and activities outlined in the BSAP.
OSPAR Commission (OSPAR)
OSPAR is the mechanism by which 15 Governments and the European Union cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic, including marine areas beyond national jurisdiction. Through OSPAR, Contracting Parties collaborate to take action to secure the vision of a clean, healthy, and biologically diverse North-East Atlantic that is used sustainably.
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) is one of five regional commissions of the United Nations. Its primary goal is to encourage greater economic cooperation among its member States. It focuses on economic analysis, environment and human settlements, statistics, sustainable energy, trade, industry and enterprise development, timber and transport.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) encourages sustainable development through sound environmental practices everywhere. Its activities cover a wide range of issues, from atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems, the promotion of environmental science and information, to an early warning and emergency response capacity to deal with environmental disasters and emergencies.
World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe)
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations with primary responsibility for international health matters and public health. WHO/Europe (the WHO Regional Office for Europe) is one of six regional offices throughout the world, each with its own programme geared to the particular health problems of the countries it serves.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
The World Meteorological Organization coordinates global scientific activity to allow increasingly prompt and accurate weather information and other services for public, private and commercial use. WMO’s activities contribute to the safety of life and property, the socio-economic development of the protection of the environment.
