Author: Eeva Nyyssönen

Enhanced regional cooperation on alternative fuels for ships have been a key matter in the Meeting of HELCOM closing today, which has followed up various commitments of the HELCOM Copenhagen in October 2013. Other agenda items include safety of navigation; ballast water; sewage discharges and port reception facilities and the detection, investigation and prosecution of offenders of anti-pollution regulations he creation of a joint “Green Technology and Alternative Fuels Platform for Shipping” was agreed upon last month at the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting, attended by all the Baltic coastal states and the EU as HELCOM Contracting Parties. The idea behind the platform is to gather national administrations, industry, research community and NGOs involved in green technologies and alternative fuels. The platform is currently emerging and a joint event for 16 January 2014 is currently organised by HELCOM, the Finnish presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), Baltic Development Forum (BDF) and the Northern Dimension Partnership for Transport and Logistics (NDPTL). The platform is also related to the activities around the “St. Petersburg initiative”, an international network to unite governmental, business and financing organizations for Baltic Sea cooperation established at the St. Petersburg summit April 2013  revised HELCOM compilation of statistics on cruise ship visits and sewage port reception facilities in Baltic Sea ports was also discussed at the meeting. The latest meeting of the HELCOM Cooperation Platform on Port Reception Facilities in the Baltic Sea, organised on 25 November 2013, provided updates for this overview to be published in early 2014. The Platform works to support the HELCOM countries in their work to upgrade the facilities so they are in position to report to IMO that adequate port reception facilities are available for the MARPOL Annex IV Special Area regulations to take effect. he Meeting attracted 47 registered participants and it was chaired by Ms. Lolan Eriksson (Finland), the Chair of the HELCOM Maritime Group. * * *Note for editors:Maritime transportation in the Baltic Sea region has steadily increased during the past decade. On the average, 2,000 ships are at sea every day. By 2017, maritime transport of goods in the region has been estimated to double. The Maritime Group of the Helsinki Commission () identifies and promotes actions to limit sea-based pollution and ways for safer navigation. It also works to ensure enforcement and harmonized implementation of international shipping regulations.  – Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission – 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:Hermanni BackerProfessional Secretary HELCOM Tel:  +358 46 8509199 Skype: helcom02 E-mail: hermanni.backer@helcom.fi Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila@helcom.fi

Enhanced regional cooperation on alternative fuels for ships have been a key matter in the MARITIME Meeting closing today.

Final straight starts in exchanging best practices on environmental monitoring between the Baltic and the Black Seas, in the fourth and final project workshop which continues today in Istanbul, Turkey.  The EU funded project , or, “Environmental monitoring of the Black Sea with focus on nutrient pollution”, has for three years maintained close contact between expert networks in these regions, for sharing knowledge and developing new assessment methods for systematic monitoring of the largely similar marine environments. Baltic Sea Marine Environment Protection Commission () and the have been the key organizing forces. The two-day workshop introduces the recent developments in the monitoring and assessment of effects of nutrient enrichment, which is currently on-going in the Baltic Sea as mandated in the 2013 Copenhagen Ministerial Declaration last month. This time the HELCOM experts will present to the Black Sea colleagues the work done to improve the joint coordinated monitoring and assessment system for the Baltic Sea. This entails, for instance, presenting the new HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy and new projects in the Baltic Sea area,such as  the recently started BALSAM project (Testing new concepts for integrated environmental monitoring of the Baltic Sea) and the upcoming EUTRO-OPER project (Making the eutrophication assessments operational).  A central contribution from HELCOM experts to the Black Sea experts have been the details of the nutrient reduction scheme, just upgraded and newly adopted by the HELCOM Ministers in October 2013, including the calculations of maximum allowable inputs of nutrients and the country-wise reduction targets. Other key items of exchange include harmonized monitoring of marine eutrophication e.g. via remote sensing techniques and other new valuable methods; and the benefits and development needs of a new eutrophication assessment tool “BEAST” in the Black Sea context. The regions have cooperated closely on BEAST, which is based on HELCOM assessment tool HEAT and expected to be useful in providing harmonized assessments of the eutrophication status in the entire Black Sea.  Furthermore, while binding together lessons learnt during the project, the aim is to discuss and draft plans regarding potential future cooperation between these two marginal semi-enclosed brackish sea regions sharing similar environmental challenges. Eutrophication – the main focus in the project Baltic2Black – is recognised as a major threat to the ecosystems of both seas, and it is directly linked to the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Assessing the ecosystem status of the seas in a holistic manner, taking into account all human pressures and their cumulative impacts on the marine ecosystems, could hence be considered one of the priorities in the future cooperation.      * * *Note for editors:The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as , is an intergovernmental organization of all the nine Baltic Sea countries and the EU which works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation.HELCOM is the governing body of the “Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area,” known as the Helsinki Convention. * * *For further information, please contact:Miia MannerlaProject Researcher, Baltic2BlackHELCOM Tel: +358 40 045 9349 E-mail: miia.mannerla@helcom.fiSkype: helcom81 Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 E-mail: johanna.laurila@helcom.fi Skype: helcom70

Final straight starts in exchanging best practices on environmental monitoring between the Baltic and the Black Seas.

​An up to date compilation of relevant information on port reception facilities (PRF) and applicable fees from all main passenger ports in the region has been updated and further developed in a HELCOM expert workshop in Szczecin, Poland today. This is the result from efforts by the HELCOM Secretariat in cooperation with Baltic Ports Organisation (BPO) since the summer of 2013. Adequate management of sewage from passenger ships will reduce harmful nutrients polluting the Baltic Sea. Compiling real-time information on the current status is an important step in the work to upgrade sewage reception in Baltic ports. The preparations are needed so that the 2011 decision by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) concerning the Baltic Sea as a sewage “special area” for passenger ships according to the MARPOL convention can take effect. Furthermore, it will help to follow through the 2013 HELCOM Interim Guidance on sewage delivery to port reception facilities, adopted in the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting last month by all the Contracting Parties including the nine Baltic coastal states and EU. HELCOM countries have agreed to report to IMO, by 2014 (IMO MEPC 67), that adequate facilities are available. The IMO decision to designate the Baltic Sea as an Annex IV “special area” in 2011 was based on the proposal by HELCOM countries submitted in 2010. Moreover, in anticipation of the IMO decision, Baltic Sea Cooperation platform on sewage PRFs had been set up after HELCOM Moscow Ministerial Meeting in 2010. The platform has involved the shipping industry, technology providers, ports and national authorities for discussions on outstanding issues around the improvement of sewage PRFs in the region. The coastal countries shall report to IMO once the sewage reception facilities in the Baltic Sea ports fulfill the criteria of adequacy, before the “special area” regulations will take effect on 1.1.2016, at the earliest.  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. HELCOM has worked since 1974 to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region.  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 further information, please contact:Mr. Hermanni BackerProfessional SecretaryHELCOMTel:  +358 46 8509199Skype: helcom02E-mail:  

HELCOM facilitates the IMO process to reduce sewage emissions from passenger ships in the Baltic Sea

The next holistic assessment of the Baltic ecosystem health was planned for in the Meeting of Monitoring and Assessment Group () of , concluding today, along with the review of overall process towards an operational system. MONAS Group meets regularly for a scientific-technical scrutiny of regional work on monitoring and assessment of – and human pressures on – Baltic Sea marine environment,  Decisions of last month’s HELCOM laid out major targets for the monitoring and assessment work of HELCOM and steered planning  for the future. The Ministers agreed that the holistic assessment of ecosystem health will be updated by the end of 2016, the first having been issued in 2010. MONAS Group has now agreed that the report will include information on the state of the marine environment and human derived pressures, an assessment of distance to good environmental status, socio-economic considerations of protecting the sea, as well as an update of solutions for how to reach good environmental status. Completing the set of core indicators on ecosystem health was at the heart of the Meeting, now when first such have recently been on the HELCOM website. The Meeting reviewed the work planned for 2014–2015 and proposed new activities for marine litter and underwater noise indicator development, as well as for monitoring, assessment and measures. The 2013 Ministerial Meeting decided that both marine litter and underwater noise ought to be in the focus of HELCOM work in the coming years, and for marine litter a regional action plan should be developed by 2015.  The Meeting reviewed activities and initial ideas for constructing a HELCOM Monitoring Manual that describes the joint coordinated monitoring system of the Baltic Sea. The Manual will streamline and modernise HELCOM’s current approach to coordinated monitoring. Furthermore, it is being prepared with the view to support the reporting on monitoring programmes by HELCOM countries being EU member states under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.  The Monitoring and Assessment Group was also briefed about core indicators to follow up on nutrient input reductions by the countries according to the new reduction targets. A full report on nutrient inputs is about to be published and work is underway to have a streamlined system with harmonised methods for monitoring and assessment of nutrient loads from Baltic Sea countries. In addition, a draft report presented to the Meeting show that significant decline in atmospheric pollution to the Baltic Sea has taken place since the beginning of the 1990s, on atmospheric supply of nitrogen, heavy metals, dioxins and furans. The report by the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme () details this decline, also resulting in lower deposition of these pollutants to the Baltic Sea. The full report will be published on the HELCOM and EMEP websites in late December. HELCOM MONAS Meeting also reviewed the work that is on-going in various projects and expert networks under MONAS Group, such as those working on monitoring and assessment of coastal fish, radioactivity, phytoplankton and zooplankton. The Meeting was chaired by HELCOM MONAS Chair Ms. Anna-Stiina Heiskanen, Finland, and co-chaired by Chair of HELCOM LOAD, Vice-Chair of HELCOM MONAS Mr. Lars M. Svendsen, Denmark.  * * *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. HELCOM has worked since 1974 to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region. 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 further information:Maria LaamanenProfessional SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 46 8509198E-mail: maria.laamanen@helcom.fiSkype: helcom101 Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988E-mail: johanna.laurila@helcom.fiSkype: helcom70

The next holistic assessment of the Baltic ecosystem health was planned for in the Meeting concluding today.

As a pioneering region in spatial planning, experts, industries and managers from around the Baltic Sea join for two days of workshops on fisheries sector, aquaculture and harmonized planning of the marine area. The growing use of marine space requires clever planning and management across several national borders and sectors.  , holding the joint horizontal leadership in maritime spatial planning with Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea (VASAB) in EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea (EUSBSR), organizes . It is co-financed by the EU through technical assistance under EUSBSR.  The intention is to discuss the many aspects of cross-border planning; to further assess the benefits and challenges of integrating fisheries in maritime spatial planning (MSP); as well as MSP data needs. The outcome and recommendations of the first day, with a main focus on the Baltic Sea, will be passed on tomorrow Friday to the European Commission’s stakeholder on all EU seas. Even though positively acknowledged e.g. regarding the low numbers of overfished stocks, Baltic fisheries are not yet fully sustainable or integrated into the overall maritime planning. The discussions today will ponder on the aspects of interaction between fisheries and other sea users, such as essential fish habitats in MSP; consultation of fishery stakeholders; spatial and temporal dimension of MSP as regarding seasonality in fisheries and planning; and fishery data challenges in MSP.  The importance of fisheries has been increasingly recognized in maritime spatial planning. Knowledge is a necessity that underlies sound management decisions but many challenges prevail, particularly in successfully applying such relevant knowledge. The fishing sector needs to be better involved in the planning process if spatial measures that affect fisheries, nature conservation and other uses of the sea, are to be decided.As a part of the continuous work of the joint HELCOM-VASAB Working Group on MSP, established in 2010, the Regional Baltic MSP Roadmap for 2013–2020 has just been adopted in the HELCOM Copenhagen last month. The HELCOM workshop is coorganized with PartiSEApate, Baltic Sea RAC and International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).* * *Note for editors:A joint co-chaired (MSP) was established to ensure cooperation among the Baltic Sea region countries for coherent regional MSP processes in the Baltic Sea. The Group, launched in October 2010 by HELCOM and the Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea () meets regularly; and follows and examines as well as makes use of the outcomes and findings of regional project activities relevant to MSP, such as , and . The HELCOM Fisheries and Environment Forum () enhances dialogue between fisheries and environmental authorities on the Baltic fisheries and fish stocks in the context of protection and sustainable use of the Baltic Sea marine environment. The key focus of the Forum, established in 2008, is to facilitate the successful implementation of the fisheries related actions in the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan.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 governed 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:Marco Milardi Project ResearcherHELCOMTel: +358 40 557 5631 Skype: helcom51E-mail:  Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail:  

As a pioneering region in spatial planning, experts, industries and managers from around the Baltic Sea join for two days of workshops on fisheries sector…

Today, the Baltic Sea Pilot Project on testing new concepts for integrated environmental monitoring of the Baltic Sea () brings together experts from all countries around the Baltic Sea to the project kick-off meeting in Helsinki. The basis of all work is coordinated of the state of the marine environment, human pressures on the environment and impacts of any actions to reduce such pressures. A key focus of the new EU-funded Project is on strengthening the capacity of the Baltic Sea states to develop their environmental monitoring programmes, including compatibility of data from different monitoring schemes, and ultimately, to lift the integrated joint monitoring to a new level regionally. In the BALSAM Meeting, more detailed action plan for the next 18 months will take shape. An important task for BALSAM, with its 19 consortium partners, is providing input to the on-going revision of HELCOM’s coordinated joint monitoring system, initiated with the revised HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Strategy which was adopted in the HELCOM 2013 Copenhagen Ministerial Meeting last month. The process will continue in 2013-2014, with the development of a monitoring manual describing the revised joint coordinated monitoring system for the Baltic Sea and, in 2015, with the review and revision of the common monitoring guidelines.Moreover, BALSAM will upgrade the preparedness of the Baltic Sea region’s EU member states for implementing the monitoring requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Other main areas of BALSAM work involve cross-border coordination and joint activities especially related to monitoring of biodiversity, i.e. marine mammals, water birds and non-indigenous species in ports and benthic biotopes. Also, a decision support tool will be developed for non-indigenous species monitoring in ports for use under the MSFD as well as the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention. The Project will make recommendations for enhancing coherence and synergies between environmental and fisheries monitoring, and data compatibility. This part of the work will be carried out in cooperation with the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). As described in the initial Project plans, BALSAM aims to improve shared and coordinated use of research vessels for monitoring between the countries, which will enhance resource- and cost-efficiency of monitoring in the Baltic Sea region. Importantly, BALSAM will also share experiences with similar projects in the North Sea and in the Mediterranean – Black Sea to ensure inter-regional coherence.The project consortium is coordinated by the HELCOM Secretariat. * * *Note for editors: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 governed 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 KarhuProject Coordinator – BALSAMHELCOM Tel: +358 40 661 9040 Skype: helcom63E-mail:  Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail:  

HELCOM pilot project on regional integrated monitoring kicks off today.

​The first complete threat assessment of the Baltic Sea species examines the risk of species and some populations of species becoming regionally extinct. The recently released assessment, focuses on macroscopic species living in the sea or being strongly dependent on it and it was carried out, also for the first time, using internationally agreed and globally applied criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The comprehensive report has been produced by about 80 experts from the Baltic Sea countries within the framework of the .  Reliable knowledge of the Baltic Sea ecosystem is essential when planning sustainable use of the sea space and protecting the marine environment.  The Red List of Baltic Sea species is an invaluable support to these efforts.  HELCOM has agreed to make the Red List assessments of Baltic Sea species, habitats and biotopes a regular activity which will enable the tracking of long-term trends in the status of Sea’s biodiversity. The methods used in previous assessments were different and do not allow for comparison, hence one can’t estimate whether changes have taken place in the total number of threatened species between HELCOM assessments.  The assessment was an important contribution to the , held in October in in Copenhagen, Denmark and it makes proposals for action to protect threatened species. The HELCOM Ministers agreed that by 2015, a new HELCOM Recommendation on conservation plans for species, habitats and biotopes will be developed since existing European nature conservation legislation cover only part of the species listed as threatened in this assessment. Highlights from the report:

– Great majority of the species living in the Baltic Sea
are not threatened by extinction. Out of the about 1750 IUCN-evaluated
species about 1610 were considered to be of Least Concern  Three species are regionally extinct from the Baltic Sea.
They include two fish: American Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus)
and the common skate (Dipturus batis), and one bird, the gull-billed
tern (Gelochelidon nilotica).
– Altogether 4 % of Baltic Sea species, or one in every
twenty-five, are threatened. Approximately 2800 Baltic Sea macro-species
were considered for the assessment and about 1750 (63%) were eventually
evaluated according to the IUCN criteria. – All eight Critically Endangered species are vertebrates.
Among them are European eel, harbour porpoise and wintering populations of
black-throated and red-throated divers (Gavia arctica and G. stellata) – Endangered species numbered 18 and Vulnerable 43.
Among these were 19 birds, ten fish, seven macrophyte plants and 19
invertebrates. Endangered and vulnerable groups included commercially exploited
species such as Atlantic cod, salmon and trout as well as species that are
regularly hunted such as common eider (Somateria mollissima) and velvet
and common scoters (Melanitta fusca and M. nigra) – Large proportion of Baltic Sea species was left out of
the assessment due to lack of data or poor knowledge about them. Although
about 2800 species of macrophytes, benthic invertebrates, fish, birds and
mammals are known to occur in the Baltic Sea it was possible to evaluate only
about 1750 against the red list criteria, leaving out about 820 species due to
poor knowledge and 220 species for other reasons, for example alien origin.
Current monitoring programs miss a large fraction of species. Many species
would also require special expertise for identification – All threatened species are under pressure from human
activities. None of the red-listed species seem to be under a pressure from
a single specific human activity; rather that each species faces a multitude of
pressures. Eutrophication, fishing, construction activities and spreading of
alien species are considered to be most significant past and present threats to
the red-listed species. Climate change is identified as the most increasing
threat  Species Information Sheets complement the report,
containing a wealth of detailed information about each species. They have been
produced for each the red-listed species of , , , breeding and wintering and .  . * * *Note for editors: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 governed 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:Ms. Maria LaamanenProfessional SecretaryHELCOM Tel: +358 46 850 9198 Skype: helcom101 E-mail:   Ms. Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail:

Highlights of the recently released, first complete threat assessment of the Baltic Sea species.

Statement by HELCOM Chair at today’s plenary, on Macro-regional strategies – to boost smart and sustainable growth.

Underestimated potential of the Baltic Sea explored by science and policy experts The many benefits of ecosystems and wise marine management in the Baltic Sea area top the agenda of a workshop starting today, bringing together regional, European and global science and policy experts to share knowledge, experiences and forward-looking ideas.  The general understanding of values and benefits that the ecosystem services bring to human societies is still limited and mainly focuses on terrestrial ecosystems. The presents examples and practical guidance on how this can be changed in the future to support marine management and decision-making. The 2-day workshop is organized by Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (), ,   and , and co-funded by the .   “The potential of well-maintained marine environment is not acknowledged to its full by economic sectors and in maritime spatial planning,” says Monika Stankiewicz, HELCOM’s Executive Secretary. “The Baltic Sea supplies many ecosystem services that contribute to human well-being, ranging from fish resources and regulation of climate conditions to biogeochemical nutrient cycling, which in turn impact various sectors of regional economy, e.g. fisheries, shipping and tourism. As benefits provided by nature are not sufficiently recognized, political and management decisions regulating these and other sectors may not be optimal in terms of sustainable use of the Baltic Sea resources.”    Knowledge on the benefits provided by marine and coastal ecosystems can support reaching the objectives of the , and also assist in the implementation of other requirements such as the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Valuation of ecosystem services draws attention to the trade-offs between the protection of the marine environment and other economic activities, and might, therefore, assist in designing and executing policies more efficiently. It also allows for comparing the estimated benefits of environmental protection measures with their costs to assess the economic efficiency of environmental projects and programmes.  The cost-benefit analyses can be also useful in setting environmental targets and in deciding how to allocate public spending. In addition, valuation is one of the ways to take into account public values of favourable environmental condition and encourage public participation in decision-making. The latter process still underutilises the role of ecosystem values and benefits as a supporting tool, due to lacking coherent methodology.  The Workshop in Stockholm will pave the way for better use of the instrument of evaluating ecosystems in both national as well as regional decision-making, for reaching good environmental status of the Baltic Sea.        * * * 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 governed 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:Ms. Heini AhtiainenProject ResearcherHELCOMSkype: helcom62E-mail: heini.ahtiainen@helcom.fi Ms. Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988Skype: helcom70E-mail: johanna.laurila@helcom.fi

The many benefits of ecosystems, their underestimated potential and wise marine management top the agenda of a workshop starting today in Stockholm.

​ Marta Ruiz and Manuel Frias from HELCOM with Ms. María Jesús Figa López-Palop, the Spanish Ambassador.At the invitation of the Spanish ambassador in Finland, Ms. María Jesús Figa López-Palop, Marta Ruiz and Manuel Frias from HELCOM, visited the located in Helsinki on 29 October 2013. The interest of the Embassy in HELCOM activities was due to the Spanish membership in the European Union, one of the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention. The influence of HELCOM recommendations on all the Contracting Parties was, therefore, among the main topics discussed in the meeting.The HELCOM representatives had the opportunity to explain the foundation of the Helsinki Convention, its management and operational structure as well as main activities towards achieving the environmental sustainability of the Baltic Sea. The ambassador was especially interested in the main threats to the Baltic, ranging from the eutrophication to the fishing regulation. The ambassador, who has been living in Finland for more than a year, in turn, introduced the HELCOM delegation to her main duties and responsibilities towards the Spanish community living in Finland and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs back in Spain, both from the human and the economical perspective. The ambassador indicated keen interest in HELCOM’s activities in the protection of the marine environment.

At the invitation of the Spanish ambassador in Finland, Ms. María Jesús Figa López-Palop, Marta Ruiz and Manuel Frias from HELCOM, visited the Embassy located in Helsinki on 29 October 2013.