Author: Eeva Nyyssönen

​Fish from the Baltic region gather today in Copenhagen to finalize the HELCOM core indicators on , expecting release in June 2015, and to plan for the next concerned thematic assessment, among others. The coastal fish communities are an important component of the Baltic Sea ecosystems and serve as an indicator of coastal ecosystem health at large.Targeted monitoring of coastal fish has been coordinated by the HELCOM FISH-PRO network since 2003. Photo: Dasvid Andersson. There have been substantial changes in the coastal fish communities over the late 20th century, calling for an increased focus as many species of coastal fish are also of a high socio-economic value for coastal societies, small scale coastal fisheries and recreational fishing. Targeted monitoring of coastal fish has been coordinated by the HELCOM FISH-PRO network since 2003. Regular monitoring, conducted annually in the region from the mid-1980s onwards, is essential for determining the potential effects of human activities on coastal fish communities.  In the 3-day meeting the FISH-PRO group is also discussing the preparations for the next indicator-based thematic assessment of coastal fish status, to be published in 2018. The report will, among others, review the work done since the last similar assessment from 2012 () and also contribute to the large HELCOM holistic assessment currently under works. Moreover, potential use of alternative data sources, such as commercial catch statistics, will be reviewed in the meeting, for supporting indicator development, status assessments as well as for filling the gaps in current monitoring. The Meeting of the Continuation of the project on Baltic-wide assessment of coastal fish communities in support of an ecosystem-based management (FISH-PRO II 2-2015) will be chaired by Mr. Jens Olsson from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU-Aqua).. All documents will be public after the meeting. * * * Note for editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. * * * For more information, please contact:Petra Kääriä Assistant Professional Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 630 9933 Skype: helcom68 E-mail: petra.kaaria(at)helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information SecretaryHELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

Fish experts from the Baltic region gather today in Copenhagen to finalize core indicators and to plan for the next concerned thematic assessment.

​​​(Please note that a of the report has been released on the 6th of March. The new version includes different numbers than those indicated below)A HELCOM released today provides information on port reception facilities for  (PRFs) and their use by international cruise ships in the Baltic Sea area during 2014.  Cruise ship visits per city and traffic density. Cruise ships operating in the Baltic Sea, their length of sea voyages as well as frequency and duration of port visits are described in detail. Also the ports visited by cruise ships and the sewage facilities are covered in terms of facilities and traffic trends. The report is based on information from obligatory AIS (Automatic Identification System) position reports received from a comprehensive list of cruise ships operating in the region. It provides thus a nearly complete coverage of cruise ship movements during 2014. Based on the analyses of ship movements, passenger capacity and port facilities, the new report helps also to clarify what the real needs of cruise traffic might be in terms of sewage management in the Baltic Sea cruise ports. Main findings:Around
77 different cruise ships owned by 37 operators sailed in the Baltic
Sea during the cruising season 2014. Half of these were smaller vessels
with a maximum capacity of 1,500 persons or less, including staff and
passengers. Eight vessels, or 10 %, were large vessels with a maximum
capacity of 4,000 persons or more.Five
main destinations – St. Petersburg, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Helsinki and
Stockholm – account for 67 % of the cruise ship traffic in terms of
calls. In total, cruise ships visited in 31 ports during 2014. Half of
the 31 ports had eleven or fewer visits, six only one visit. In three
ports, including Visby, large ships anchor outside the port and use
shuttle boat transportation to the shore. Voyages
between two ports lasted commonly between 8 and 20 hours at sea, and
the cruise ships stayed usually in port between 8-10 hours. The
international cruise ship voyages involved in total 6,55 million person
days, comparable to year-around habitation of 18 000 people. 80
% of the international cruise ship calls were intra-Baltic travels, or
calls where both the previous port visited and the current port are in
the Baltic Sea. There were 2,252 international cruise ship calls in
total.In a small
fraction of visits the ships travelled a long time at sea from previous
port, stopped for a short time and had a high maximum number of persons
on board. Such visits create challenges for ports if the assumption is
that all sewage is to be delivered in ports between voyages.  70
% of cruise ship visits in the region have a maximum sewage discharge
need of less than 42 m3 sewage per hour in port – if a daily sewage
production of 0,17 m3 per person and per day is assumed.> * * * Note for editors:The of HELCOM identifies and promotes actions to limit sea-based pollution and ways for safer navigation in the Baltic Sea. It also works to ensure enforcement and harmonized implementation of IMOs international shipping regulations in accordance to the 1992 Helsinki Convention.The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention.  * * * For more information, please contact:Hermanni Backer Professional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Maritime Spatial Planning HELCOM Tel:  +358 46 850 9199 Skype: helcom02 E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​

A HELCOM report released today provides information on sewage port reception facilities and their use by international cruise ships in the Baltic Sea area during 2014.

The many concrete measures and actions for reaching the good
environmental status for the Baltic Sea require determined and effective
regional coordination, again a key topic of HELCOM
group
starting today in Berlin, Germany. The 2-day session will continue to outline
regional coordination of Programme of Measures needed to achieve a healthy
Baltic Sea, as agreed in the HELCOM Baltic Sea as well as the
EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Maritime Doctrine of the Russian
Federation. HELCOM Gear group works towards
region-wide cooperation on all elements of national marine strategies. Photo: Ulf Bergström.Another agenda point is a plan for improving regional
coherence in implementation of marine policies. The HELCOM Plan, among others,
lays out issues on which further steps and activities on regional level are
needed in the short (2015/2016), mid- (2018), and long-term (beyond 2018), to
reach the goal of the good environmental status by 2021 he Gear group, formed of managers from environmental administration,
will also start planning for development of additional environmental targets
for pressures on the Baltic Sea environment. For each Baltic coastal country,
environmental targets for reducing nutrient inputs in the Baltic Sea have already
been agreed through the HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme. These targets form
the basis for development of measures to reduce nutrient input, and having common
targets for also other pressures would enable better coordinated mitigation
efforts. ne timely item in the meeting agenda are synergies with EU for the Baltic Sea
Region, as the new Action Plan for the Strategy is under development. HELCOM
seeks to institutionalize the shared scope of work, as this would save
resources and add to the efficiency in reaching the mutual goals he ninth Meeting of the Group for the Implementation of the
Ecosystem Approach (GEAR 9-2015) will be chaired by Chair of GEAR, Ms. Heike
Imhoff  . All the files will be public after the meeting * * *Note for editorsThe HELCOM Group for the Implementation of the Ecosystem
Approach Gear oversees
region-wide co-operation on marine strategies, covering both legal basis and
agreed measures. The group is the main instrument, for EU members, in
implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and within HELCOM, it
guards inter-group coherence in implementing the ecosystem approach The Baltic Marine
Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an
intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the
European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from
all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region.
Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the
Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly
known as the Helsinki Convention.* * *
For more information, please contact:Ulla Li ZweifelProfessional SecretaryHELCOMTel. +358 46 850 9198Skype: helcom64E-mail: ullali.zweifel(at)helcom.f ohanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.f 

​

The many concrete measures and actions for improving the status of the Baltic Sea require determined regional coordination, a key topic of Gear group meeting now starting in Berlin.

​High-quality data on maritime spatial planning () in the Baltic region will be a major issue in a starting today, along with a new expert group under plans to better tackle the current blocks in access and availability of such data.  Another key topic is the implementation of the EU Directive on MSP , adopted last July. HELCOM has thematic and targeted on maritime spatial planning in the Baltic Sea region.The data in question concerns marine activities as well as biological, physical and socio-economic environments. At present, sufficient data for trans-boundary maritime spatial planning (MSP) is lacking. There are still challenges in availability, compatibility, usability and spread of data. The planned data expert group would identify and address the key impediments as well as ensure structured and continuous work. Last summer, HELCOM has created thematic and targeted on MSP in the Baltic Sea region, already improving access to GIS and other related data. The national work to implement the EU Directive on maritime spatial planning can be supported with existing Baltic experience in MSP. The participants of the meeting will discuss the role and contribution of their Working Group, operational since 2010, with regards to the implementation strategy of the EU Directive.  The dynamic future of MSP will be represented in the meeting also in the form of a number of projects – Baltic LINes, Baltic Scope, BaltSpace and “BaltWise II”. Wind power, shipping, pipelines, fishing and protected areas are just some areas covered, assisting the Working Group to tap into the forthcoming fresh results and best practices thus better supporting countries in their work on eco-system based MSP.  The meeting in Gothenburg, Sweden is the tenth regular session for the joint Working on MSP of HELCOM and Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea (VASAB). The meeting is hosted by the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM) and chaired by Mr. Andrzej Cieślak, Poland and Joacim Johansson, Sweden. . All documents will be public after the meeting.  * * *Note for editors:According to the United Nations, maritime spatial planning (MSP) is “a public process of analyzing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives that usually have been specified through a political process.” Operational since 2010, the HELCOM-VASAB MSP has regularized its place to ensure the regional coherence of any activities related to maritime spatial planning. The group is in charge of the Horizontal Action Spatial Planning within the EU for the Baltic Sea Region. HELCOM Ministerial Meeting adopted in 2013 the Regional Baltic maritime spatial planning roadmap 2013–2020. The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. * * *For further information, please contact:Laura Meski Assistant Professional Secretary HELCOM +358 40 162 2053 Skype: helcom82 E-mail: laura.meski(at)helcom.fi Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

High-quality data and implementation of the EU Directive on maritime spatial planning will be key topics in a meeting starting today.

​Today, Contracting Parties of the Helsinki Convention meet aiming at finalizing the draft regional action plan on to be subsequently submitted to the next annual Commission meeting for adoption in March. The online meeting will focus on the remaining open issues of the draft , which aims to also become canonized as a HELCOM Recommendation. Consumer behaviour is considered as the most important reason for marine litter in the Baltic Sea. Photo: Jenny Gustafsson/Keep the Archipelago Tidy Finland.Marine litter is a growing concern at sea and shores alike and a for the Estonian Chairmanship of HELCOM. The concrete work for a regional action plan started in May 2014, following the Ministerial binding all the Baltic coastal governments. The drafting process has benefited from expertise from non-governmental organizations, research institutions, industry, as well as concerned administration and authorities. The wide consultations have been important for the successively improved test plans, including the proposed actions to reduce marine litter in the Baltic Sea. The plan will integrate actions at regional and national level, covering different pathways for marine litter. The list includes waste management; sewage and storm water management; maintaining beaches and urban areas; fisheries; and shipping. Special measures are addressed to the top-10 items found in the Baltic Sea marine environment as well micro-plastics. The document also pays attention to environmental education and involving the producers in the action to reduce marine litter.  Marine litter has a large impact on the environment. While an evident aesthetic problem, litter impairs marine organisms, threatens human health and safety, and increases socio-economic costs. Consumer behaviour is considered as the most important reason for marine litter in the Baltic Sea: 48 % of marine litter in the Baltic Sea is estimated to originate from household‐related waste, including sanitary waste, while waste generated by recreational or tourism activities would add up to 33 %. (MARINE LITTER 3-2015). All documents will be public after the meeting. * * * Note for editorsThe Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. * * * For more information, please contact:Marta Ruiz Project Coordinator HELCOM Tel: +358 40 6472424 Skype: helcom59 E-mail: marta.ruiz(at)helcom.fiJohanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi

Remaining open issues are discussed today of the regional plan, to be subsequently submitted to the next annual Commission meeting for adoption in March.

Knowledge on seabird populations, distribution and mobility on a regional scale will improve, as work on a metadatabase as well as joint seabird monitoring guidelines is moving forward in an starting today in Jurmala, Latvia. Countries along the Baltic Sea have monitored seabirds for decades, but as the resulting data has been stored in different institutes and databases, it has been challenging to assess and act on the regionally important questions, e.g. what the number of seabirds in a certain area can tell us about the health of the Baltic Sea marine environment. The new guidelines will establish same methods for all Baltic countries on seabird monitoring. Photo: Jannica Haldin. The meeting will also discuss the finalization of the region-wide bird HELCOM that are to be based on the joint coordinated monitoring.  Thirdly, as seabirds regularly migrate between the regions, cooperation is called for to support both scientific and managerial work with other regions. The meeting will explore possibilities of HELCOM joining forces with the joint bird group of the Commission and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea ().  The seabird metadatabase includes detailed information on all water bird surveys in the Baltic Sea since 1991. The HELCOM BALSAM project, co-financed by the EU, has developed the metadatabase and is now finalizing specific guidelines on how to monitor seabirds using the same methods in all Baltic Sea countries. The meeting will be chaired by Mr. Ainars Aunins, Latvian Fund for Nature and attended by experts from HELCOM countries.                                                  * * * Note for editors project – Testing new concepts for integrated environmental monitoring of the Baltic Sea (2013-15) – strengthens the capacity of the Baltic Sea states to develop their environmental monitoring programmes, including compatibility of data from different monitoring schemes. The project especially focuses on monitoring of seals and seabirds, non-indigenous species, benthic habitats and coordinated use of research vessels as well as improving data management and infrastructure. The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention * * * For more information, please contactJohanna Karhu Project Coordinator, BALSAM HELCOM Tel: +358 40 661 9040 Skype: helcom63 E-mail: johanna.karhu@helcom.f Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.f 

Knowledge on seabird populations, distribution and mobility will improve, as work on a metadatabase and joint seabird monitoring guidelines moves ahead.

​Eleven new marine and coastal protected areas with high biological diversity have recently been designated as HELCOM marine protected areas () in Finland. The new MPA nominations expand the existing network in the Baltic Sea by 720 km2, which now in total has 174 sites covering an area of ca 540,400 km2 – roughly the size of France. The spread of HELCOM marine protected areas has increased threefold since 2004 and now covers about 12 % of the Baltic Sea marine area. Photo: Metsähallitus NHS/Mats WesterbomThe four sites in the Gulf of Finland and one in the Gulf of Bothnia represent important marine environments, reefs and sandbanks in offshore areas. Meanwhile, six sites in the Archipelago Sea include different types of islets and islands in the outer archipelago. All but one of the new MPAs are also under the Natura 2000 status, ensuring smoother joint management as well as better legal protection.  The criteria for coastal and marine Baltic Sea protected areas was upgraded in the new HELCOM Recommendation () last year, which now also takes into account Red-listed species at risk of extinction, as well as biotopes threatened by collapse in the Baltic Sea. Also the need for ecological coherence is now more clearly manifested. In general, the Recommendation helps to protect the full range of biodiversity in the region, preserve ecosystems as well as to secure a sustainable use of natural resources.  The spread of HELCOM marine protected areas has increased threefold since 2004 and now covers about 12 % of the marine area, thereby exceeding the target of 10 % set by the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Baltic Sea was one of the first regional seas in the world to reach this target. However, the designation of HELCOM MPAs in off-shore areas has so far been lagging behind, which has weakened the network’s ecological coherence. The new sites in Finland expands the area of protection especially in off-shore waters. The work continues – an analysis of ecological coherence of the network will be carried out by HELCOM later this year.  List of the new HELCOM marine protected areas (MPA) in Finland:  * * *Note for editors:HELCOM covers monitoring and assessment functions as well as issues related to nature conservation and biodiversity protection in HELCOM. The group works across the monitoring-indicators-assessment chain for the coordinated development of HELCOM thematic assessment tools, as well as coherent holistic assessment of the ecosystems health. The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. * * *For further information, please contactJanica BorgProject Coordinator (ECONET, HELCOM MPAs)HELCOMTel: +358 40 662 0101E-mail: janica.borg(@)helcom.fiSkype: helcom57 Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988E-mail: johanna.laurila(@)helcom.fiSkype: helcom70

Eleven new marine and coastal protected areas with high biological diversity have been designated as HELCOM marine protected areas in Finland.

The International Maritime Organization () has considered how to carry out exemptions and exceptions to the rules of the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) during a meeting closing today. HELCOM has been actively working on regional aspects of the Convention for over a decade.This week’s meeting of the IMO Pollution Prevention and Response sub-committee (PPR) considered various proposals on the subject matter, including the joint HELCOM-OSPAR procedure on exemptions adopted in 2013.In the ensuing discussion, views were expressed that the harmonized procedure on exemptions developed and adopted by HELCOM and OSPAR in 2013 is a good example of regional cooperation on these matters which other regions may use as an example.The IMO sub-committee agreed that further discussion on the relevant regulations (BWMC A-3 and A-4) and Guidelines (G7) was needed with a view to clarifying their application in the context of exceptions and exemptions under the BWM Convention.The meeting finally invited the 68th session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), scheduled to take place 11-15 May 2015 in London, to consider the views expressed and advise on any follow-up actions. * * * Note for editors:The of HELCOM identifies and promotes actions to limit sea-based pollution and ways for safer navigation in the Baltic Sea. It also works to ensure enforcement and harmonized implementation of IMOs international shipping regulations in accordance to the 1992 Helsinki Convention. The Commission was set up by the 1992 OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, which unified and updated the 1972 Oslo and 1974 Paris Conventions. It brings together the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, together with the European Community. The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. * * * For more information, please contact:Hermanni Backer Professional Secretary for Maritime, Response and Maritime Spatial Planning HELCOM Tel:  +358 46 850 9199 Skype: helcom02 E-mail: hermanni.backer(at)helcom.fi​

Harmonized procedure on exemptions developed and adopted by HELCOM and OSPAR in 2013 is perceived a good example of regional cooperation.

​The hands-on work has now started for the holistic assessment on the ecosystem health of the entire Baltic Sea area, orchestrated by HELCOM for the second time, as the core team that will carry out the project in Helsinki, Finland. The sealed the agreement to prepare such an overarching assessment.  Updating assessment tools as well as pressure and impact indices are parts of the next comprehensive assessment of the Baltic Sea. Photo: Wiesława CielątkowskaAt large, the second holistic assessment will help evaluate progress towards reaching the goals and objectives of HELCOM Baltic Sea Action . It will also be used, for HELCOM countries that are EU member states, as a joint report in the 2018 assessment of the Baltic Sea that is required by the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Starting now will allow for sufficient time to prepare a high quality product for serving to the deadline. The report will follow up the first one from 2010 and as a part of the project, the common existing tools for assessing the pressures on and status of the environment will be updated. Moreover, social and economic analyses of the use of the Baltic Sea will be part of the assessment. Such comprehensive assessments of the Baltic Sea should be conducted ever six years to ensure up-to-date information and a solid basis for decisions on policies and measures. Furthermore, as stated in the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment from 2013, the forthcoming assessment will build on indicators. At present, thirty HELCOM core indicators are close to finalization, most of them being indicators of the state of the environment. The development work is still ongoing and will further shape the work on the second holistic assessment.  * * * The Second holistic assessment on the ecosystem health of the Baltic Sea will:Update HELCOM assessment tools, most prominently for biodiversity, hazardous substances and the Baltic Sea Pressures and Impact indices.>Carry out the assessment based on the Drivers – Pressures – State – Impact – Response framework, by establishing a clear link between human activities and drivers behind them; pressures; impact on the state of the environment as well as on society; and response in terms of measures taken to strive for the good environmental status. Work towards operational assessments, aiming at HELCOM assessments being fully operational and increasingly automated, so that the assessment can be carried out efficiently.  of the core group meeting 16-17 December 2014 * * * Note for editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. * * * For more information, please contact:Ulla Li Zweifel Professional Secretary HELCOM Tel. +358 46 850 9198 Skype: helcom64 E-mail: ullali.zweifel(at)helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi 

Second HELCOM holistic assessment will help evaluate progress of the Baltic Sea Action Plan and also assist in joint reporting for EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive in 2018.

The cooperation between HELCOM and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) is expected to smoothen.  For the first time, a dedicated session with the representatives from relevant EUSBSR Priority Areas and Horizontal Actions was successfully organized as a part of this week’s of HELCOM Heads of Delegation representing all the Baltic coastal countries as well as the EU. The full meeting is now available online, listing all the issues addressed and decided on in the meeting for the benefit of the Baltic marine environment.Improving cooperation in practice was the key topic of HELCOM session with representatives from the EU Strategy for the Baltic sea Region. Photo: Dodik Putro.Concrete proposals on why and how to improve the synergies between HELCOM and EUSBSR have been listed in the meeting outcome. The shared goal would be to better communicate the policy directions and needs by HELCOM, which then can be met with and supported by the EUSBSR work and projects. The meeting recommended practical ways for better use of the expertise of HELCOM groups. Using the existing forums, co-chairing, back-to-back meetings, opportunity for involving Russian experts, and helping HELCOM countries in tapping into EU funding were also mentioned as practical solutions for more effective regional cooperation. The timing for the joint HELCOM-EUSBSR meeting was particularly adept, as the HELCOM streamlining process has been completed few months ago while the Action Plan of the EUSBSR is currently under revision, expecting launch at the Strategy’s Annual Forum in mid-June 2015. As per other results of the Heads of Delegation meeting, HELCOM “sub-hot spot” No. 18.1 “Construction of new sewer connections” was deleted, concerning the waste water treatment system of St. Petersburg. A large-scale environmental project for the construction of the northern tunnel collector of the city of five million inhabitants was finalized in October 2013, preventing the discharge of untreated waste water into the Neva River by approximately 122 million m3 per year. Since then, 98.4% of waste water has been estimated as adequately treated in St. Petersburg. HELCOM originally included 162 of the region’s significant sources of pollution, out of which over two thirds have since been mitigated.   Adequate reception for passenger ships was also negotiated by the Meeting, being part of the larger process of complying with the Baltic’s status as a sewage special area as decided by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 2011. The consultations for a joint notification on the adequacy of ports’ reception facilities will continue via correspondence early next year. The meeting was held on 9-10 December 2014 and it was chaired by the current Estonian Chair of HELCOM, Mr. Harry Liiv. ..  * * * Note for editorsThe European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region () is the first macro-regional strategy in Europe. It aims at reinforcing cooperation within this large region in order to face several challenges by working together as well as promoting a more balanced development in the area. The Strategy also contributes to major EU policies and reinforces the integration within the area. The (HOD) of HELCOM usually meet few times a year. While the Annual Meeting of HELCOM remains the Commission’s highest decision-making body, the Heads of Delegation have a relatively high authority over most major issues.  The working structure of HELCOM, supported and administered by the Secretariat, comprises of the Helsinki Commission, the Heads of Delegation, and eight main working groups, together with tens of expert groups, correspondence groups and projects. The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. Since 1974, HELCOM has been the governing body of the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area’, more commonly known as the Helsinki Convention. * * * For more information, please contact:Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail: johanna.laurila(at)helcom.fi​

For the first time, a dedicated session with the representatives from relevant EUSBSR areas was organized as a part of this week’s meeting of HELCOM Heads of Delegation.