Category: GEAR

Estonia has released its for the 2-year of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, also known as Helsinki Commission or , which officially began one week ago. The main components addressed in the new Chairmanship priorities are pollution management; planning, management and marine protected areas; as well as assessment of environmental status and information. The nominated new Chairman is Harry Liiv, the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of the Environment of Estonia.  Improved plans in water management and rural development for more effective        nutrient reduction, as well as reducing the impact of hazardous substances are parts of the overall first priority of pollution management.  Moreover, drawing up a joint regional action plan on reducing marine litter in 2015 at the latest, as was agreed by the region’s countries in the 2013 Ministerial Declaration, is listed as a priority.  Other priorities for the next two years include the use, conservation and protection of the Baltic Sea regional coastal and marine areas; further work for well arranged network of marine protected areas; as well as developing of ecosystem based management principles for fish stock and other environmental resources. Monitoring of high standards, reliable data and indicator work form the third pillar of the Estonian priorities, as well as the implementation of HELCOM communication strategy adopted last spring. “I am looking forward to the labour-intensive season of fully putting into practice the plentiful Ministerial commitments from October 2013, in the path of reaching a Baltic Sea in good environmental status. There are important deadlines ahead especially concerning HELCOM monitoring programme and guidelines, as well as the major effort to describe the status of the entire Baltic Sea in the 2nd HELCOM holistic assessment”, says the new HELCOM Chairman, Mr. Harry Liiv.   “In general terms, 2014 is a major year for Estonia with regards to regional cooperation thus providing concrete opportunities for even deeper synergies. In addition to the HELCOM Chairmanship, this month Estonia has assumed the yearly presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea. For the whole calendar year Estonia is leading the Nordic-Baltic cooperation (NB8), the Baltic Council of Ministers as well as the Baltic Assembly”, says Harry Liiv.   Mr. Harry Liiv has succeeded Ms. Helle Pilsgaard of Denmark, who chaired the Helsinki Commission in 2012–2014. The Chairmanship of HELCOM rotates between the Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union according to the alphabetical order every two years. Mr. Liiv will lead, as the Chairman, the work of HELCOM up until 30 June 2016.  the document HELCOM priorities during the Estonian Chairmanship. * * *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.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, from 1974. * * *For further information, please contact:Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988E-mail:  Pille RõivasPublic Relations CouncellorMinistry of the Environment of EstoniaTel: +372 626 2811, +372 506 4608E-mail:

Estonian priorities for the 2-year HELCOM Chairmanship also cover pollution management, improving the network of marine protected areas and data reliability, among others.

​​The 2013 HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme is a step towards cost-efficient water protection, suggests a recent by the University of Helsinki and MTT Agrifood Research Finland. The conclusions state that while there is no need to revise the 2013 targets set for the Baltic Sea catchment, more flexibility for the implementation is required in order to maximise the economic benefits. Furthermore, the cost of reaching the previous nutrient reduction targets, as set in the 2007 Baltic Sea Action Plan, would have been 16% higher although the revised targets are now more ambitious with respect to phosphorus. By adopting the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial Declaration last October, the HELCOM members committed to revised nutrient reduction targets for each Baltic coastal country to limit their annual inputs below maximum allowable level in specific sub-basins. The report “” provides ideas to boost the performance of national implementation programmes of HELCOM countries.  The study demonstrates that there is potential for efficiency gains in load  reductions if more flexible mechanisms are put into place, such as joint implementation that could resemble climate change mitigation measures. The cost of meeting the remaining Country Allocated Reduction Targets (CART) – set for waterborne inputs – were roughly estimated to be 1980 million euros (MEUR) annually. According to the report these costs can be reduced by over 200 million, from 1980 to 1700 MEUR each year, if the HELCOM countries were allowed to account for load reduction efforts made in other countries, be reduced by almost 500 million if the HELCOM states, as already introduced in the 2013 commitment, account for nutrient reductions achieved in other than the focal catchments, and take into account the nutrient exchange between Baltic Sea basins.  The study is a follow-up of the and was performed during late 2013 – beginning 2014. The analysis is limited to estimating the costs of nutrient reductions made in waterborne inputs – both point and non-point sources in the catchment area – in the coastal countries. Together they account for 85% of the overall phosphorus input and 68% of the overall nitrogen input to the Baltic Sea. * * *Note for editorsWithin the , each country committed to fulfil particular targets for reducing nutrient pollution, through measures addressing discharges and emissions from land and via air. The updated targets represent the best available knowledge and give guidance to sharing responsibility for reducing nutrient inputs originating from both HELCOM and non-HELCOM countries, as well as from shipping and sources outside the region.  Reduction country-wise nutrient reduction targets as agreed in 2013 HELCOM Ministerial Declaration​ * = figures after ‘+’ refer to loads originating from the country but being discharged to the Sea via another country; additional specific footnotes to the table can be found in the Ministerial Declaration text​* * *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 workin​g 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 contactJohanna Laurila> Information Secretary> HELCOM> Tel: +358 40 523 8988> E-mail: > Skype: helcom70​

The 2013 HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme is a step towards cost-efficient water protection, suggests a recent study by the University of Helsinki and MTT Agrifood Research Finland.

High
quality assessing of the entire Baltic Sea’s eutrophication status is expected
to greatly improve through a new Project, soon wrapping up its kick-off meeting
in Helsinki, Finland. During the 2-year project , the whole assessment process concerning the nine
Baltic coastal states will be designed and implemented, from monitoring and
data aggregation to visualizing the final assessment.  HELCOM has long experience in assessment work
of highest standards – elemental for estimating the effectiveness of
any adopted measures and for improving the health of Baltic marine environment.> >>The key Project
results will include more efficient data flow allowing for regular updates in
an automated way; flexibility in the system to also extract information; as
well as improved integration of indicators on eutrophication status with the
use of so called HEAT 3 assessment tool. With the new approach, HELCOM member
states will be able to utilize the reported data and assessment to also serve
their other requirements such as of EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive as
far as EU countries are concerned. >> >Moreover,
the Project outcome will form an integral part of the next HELCOM holistic
assessment, also including components on biodiversity and hazardous substances,
and published in 2016 as stated in the Ministerial Declaration last year. > >>The Project
will also improve the quality of the existing core indicators on eutrophication
status. The measures entail the introduction of new data types such as remote
sensing and ship-of-opportunity data, as well as development of additional
indicators to fill the gaps in the present set. The task is also to harmonize
coastal and open sea assessment.>>                                                                                                                                                          >* * *>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 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:>Vivi Fleming-Lehtinen>Project Manager/EUTRO-OPER>HELCOM>
Tel. +358 040 032 9157>
Skype: helcom65>E-mail: >> >Johanna Laurila>
Information Secretary>
HELCOM>
Tel: +358 40 523 8988>
Skype: helcom70>
E-mail: >>

The entire assessment process will be designed and implemented, from monitoring and data aggregation to visualizing the final assessment.

​The 35th Annual Meeting of closed yesterday evening after reviewing the current and relevant key issues related to regional policy-making on Baltic marine environment.  The Annual Meeting, involving HELCOM member parties which consist of all the Baltic coastal nations and the EU, is the highest decision-making body of HELCOM and explores the yearly developments concerning eutrophication, hazardous substances, biodiversity and maritime activities. This year’s Meeting started with a special festive flavor with the 40th Anniversary celebrating the signing of the 1974 Helsinki Convention, providing the basis for HELCOM work.  The Meeting decided yesterday on necessary steps in order to develop a Regional Action Plan on marine litter by 2015, as agreed by the Ministerial Meeting last October. Marine litter is a broad and critical concern and the Action Plan will form a regional strategy on how to deal with it in a comprehensive way. The Plan will be developed based on information on sources and amounts of marine litter, and it aims to include concrete measures to minimize the presence of marine litter in the Baltic Sea. Its development will be organized through regional workshops and with close involvement of the Contracting Parties. The proposed working plan utilizes the experience from preparing the Regional Action Plan for the North-East Atlantic within OSPAR. Another key topic in the extensive Meeting agenda was the major overhaul of the HELCOM Recommendation on coastal and marine Baltic Sea protected areas. Such protected areas are essential for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the versatility of ecosystems. The previous similar document, HELCOM Recommendation , was adopted 20 years ago, and the Contracting Parties now agreed on the main changes in the Recommendation with only small aspects pending confirmation shortly. The main reasons for creating the new Recommendation have been the need to update the selection criteria of the marine protected areas, also concerning the newly Red-listed habitats and species; to establish a new database and ensure it is updated; and to re-assess the criteria for both ecological coherence and management aspects. Furthermore, to help reduce harmful nutrients in the Baltic Sea, the Meeting decided in principal to submit a notification on improved sewage reception facilities in Baltic ports to the International Maritime Organization (). Such a submission to IMO meeting will trigger an enforcement of ban on sewage discharges from passenger ships according to the special areas status of the Baltic Sea under the IMO MARPOL convention, which Baltic has been granted as the first sea area in the world following the HELCOM-led process.  An overview on current availability of port reception facilities for passenger vessels’ sewage, as well as on passenger traffic trends, are about to be published on HELCOM website. Almost 40 years of successful marine protection of HELCOM has been achieved through constant self-reflection. Yesterday the 35th Annual Meeting endorsed a plan for major deliverables by the organization until 2021 as well as agreed to implement a number of measures for a modernized HELCOM. The new, more streamlined working structure for HELCOM main operational bodies was to a large extent completed, to better reflect the current environmental challenges and obligations of the Contracting Parties. HELCOM will pay more attention in the future to better communicating scientific and technical outcomes to decision-makers as well as the general public.  The 35th meeting was chaired by Helle Pilsgaard, Chair of HELCOM. All Meeting documents can be accessed in  * * *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 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:  

Work starts on Baltic marine litter action plan and other current key issues reviewed on Baltic environmental policies.

An expert workshop today kicks off the second round of HELCOM work on core indicators, which measure the state of and pressures affecting the Baltic Sea environment. The workshop is organized by the recently started HELCOM project (2013–2015) that has the objective of operationalizing the first mutually agreed core indicators for biodiversity, hazardous substances and eutrophication, and to possibly develop additional ones. HELCOM, involving all Baltic coastal countries and EU as its Contracting Parties as well as an extensive specialist expert and observer network, has long experience in indicator development. HELCOM core indicators are common for all Contracting Parties and can be used to assess the state of the whole Baltic Sea ecosystem, including its flora, fauna and habitats, as well as pressures affecting the Sea such as hazardous substances like PCB and radioactive substances. Core indicators analyze data from environmental monitoring and measure the environment’s state against a target or boundary value for good environmental status (GES). They are also a prerequisite for comparing monitoring data and assessment results across the entire Baltic Sea region. Such indicators enable assessments of whether the objectives of are being met, and, for the countries being EU members, also the requirements of the . * * *Note for editorsThe 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 further information, please contact:Lena AvellanProject Manager, CORESET IIHELCOM Tel: +358 40 162 2054Skype: helcom35 E-mail:   Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail:

An expert workshop today kick offs the second round of HELCOM work on core indicators, which measure the state of and pressures affecting the Baltic

The work for a revised, scientifically sound, well-coordinated and cost-effective HELCOM monitoring programme moves forward in a project workshop closing today, with a focus on developing joint monitoring fact sheets templates, among others. The fact sheets will help the Baltic coastal countries to document the HELCOM monitoring work and on a broader level, to meet with the requirements of both HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The Meeting is organized by the project “Revision of the HELCOM monitoring programmes (). “The Workshop will support in a valuable way the further improvements in coordinated monitoring of the Baltic Sea, involving the entire region, a task which HELCOM has continued for decades.  The joint system is currently being revised, as mandated by the , to better assess the state of the marine environment and the possible impact of any measures taken for the Baltic Sea’s recovery,” says the new Professional Secretary of HELCOM, Ms. Ulla Li Zweifel. The two-day workshop (HELCOM MORE 8/2014) will also consider the current developments for a joint web based monitoring manual. The manual will provide a documentation and presentation of the regionally coordinated joint monitoring system, including strategic aspects, legal background, description of the full monitoring system and specific monitoring programmes, among others.  * * *Note for editors: – The Monitoring and Assessment Group looks after one of HELCOM’s key tasks by assessing trends in threats to the marine environment, their impacts, the resulting state of the marine environment, and the effectiveness of adopted measures. This work forms the basis for the work of HELCOM’s other main groups, and helps to define the need for additional measures. * * *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 further information, please contact:Manuel Frias Project CoordinatorHELCOM MORETel: +358 46 850 9209 Skype: helcom23 E-mail: Johanna Laurila Information Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 523 8988 Skype: helcom70 E-mail:

The work for a revised, scientifically sound and cost-effective HELCOM monitoring programme moves forward.

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.

The Ministers of the Environment and High-Level Representatives of the nine Baltic coastal countries and the European Union, convened in a HELCOM Meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark today, have reached an agreement on a package of extensive actions and measures. This will open up new themes to be addressed in the protection of the Baltic Sea. After a year of negotiations, the new HELCOM Ministerial outcome expresses the ambition of the Baltic Sea region to become a model for good management of human activities and to steer regional actions for reaching a healthier marine environment for the Baltic Sea.  Today the Ministerial Meeting has adopted an overarching scheme for combatting eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. Within the scheme, each country commits to fulfil particular targets for reducing nutrient pollution, through measures addressing discharges and emissions from land and via air. The updated targets represent the best available knowledge and give guidance to sharing responsibility for reducing nutrient inputs originating from both HELCOM and non-HELCOM countries, as well as from shipping and sources outside the region.  Agriculture was singled out as a crucial sector for the success of reaching good environmental status of the Baltic. Regarding sustainable agricultural production, the Meeting agreed, among others, on measures that include annual nutrient accounting at farm level and environmentally sound utilization of manure nutrients to be achieved by the specific deadlines.  The future designation of the Baltic Sea as a Nitrogen Oxide Emission Control Area (NECA) under the MARPOL Convention of the International Maritime Organisation emerged as the main topic for negotiations among the Ministers. After lengthy negotiations the Meeting concluded by recalling the earlier commitment regarding the designation, and specified that it would lead to a reduction of nearly 7000 tons of nitrogen to the sea every year. The outcome further stresses that the achievement of the Baltic Sea unaffected by eutrophication relies on additional reduction efforts by shipping sector. The regional cooperation on preparedness and response to pollution especially on shoreline will now improve thanks to the adoption of an amendment to the Helsinki Convention providing the legal basis for HELCOM work. Furthermore, the new HELCOM Recommendation on airborne surveillance of illegal spills from ships enables more flexible border crossings of the patrol aircrafts, for more efficient gathering of evidence on environmental offenses.   The new Declaration also contains actions on Baltic marine protected areas. Some of them target fisheries practices with negative impacts in protected areas and others overall upgrading of the network of the areas. Furthermore, conservation plans for species, habitats and biotopes which are at risk of extinction will be developed.  New ways of biodiversity protection include a regional action plan for marine litter, to be developed within two years, as well as actions on negative impacts of underwater noise.  The Contracting Parties agreed that the implementation of all commitments in the declaration will be continuously reviewed by the Ministers. To support the continuous assessment of the state of the sea, the Meeting agreed on a new Monitoring and Assessment Strategy. Since the adoption of the Baltic Sea Action Plan in 2007, this is the second Ministerial Meeting, following the Ministerial Meeting in Moscow in 2010, to assess the effectiveness of the Action Plan and subsequent progress towards good environmental status of the Baltic Sea.  Out of all the measures and actions agreed in the Baltic Sea Action Plan as well as following up the 2010 Ministerial Declaration, about one third of agreed actions have been accomplished. Six out of ten measures have been partly accomplished or are still on-going with varying degree of implementation in different countries, and the remaining ten per cent are still to be initiated. * * *Reduction targets Changes in the country-wise nutrient reduction targets for nitrogen and phosphorus per country: 2007 – as in HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Pla2013 – as adopted by the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting on 3 October 2013* = figures after ‘+’ refer to loads originating from the country but being discharged to the Sea via another country; additional specific footnotes to the above table can be found in the text of the Ministerial Declaration * * *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. Associated documents for the Ministerial Meeting at:   * * *For further information, please contact:Johanna LaurilaInformation SecretaryHELCOMTel: +358 40 523 8988E-mail: Skype: helcom70 

The new HELCOM Ministerial outcome, issued today, expresses the ambition of the Baltic Sea region to become a model…

​01.10.2013Note new time at 11:45 – MEDIA ADVISORYHELCOM Ministerial Meeting 2013 in CopenhagenNine Environment Ministers and EU Commissioner gather for Baltic Sea health checkWHAT Press conference
following the HELCOM 2013 Ministerial MeetingWHEN Thursday 3 October
2013, at 11.45 – 12.30 (local time)WHERE Eigtveds Pakhus,
Asiatisk Plads 2G, Copenhagen, DenmarkWHYThe high-level representatives from all nine Baltic coastal
states and EU will gather to discuss priorities and agree on actions for
improving the Baltic Sea marine environment. HELCOM Contracting Parties have
committed to implement the Baltic Sea Action Plan (2007–2021), and now the
progress will be reviewed. The outcome – 2013 Ministerial Declaration – is the
master blueprint for stronger efforts for a healthier Baltic Sea, following the
long tradition of regional HELCOM cooperation. Any interested media are invited to apply for
accreditation by sending name, media represented, and contact information to
HELCOM Secretariat (johanna.laurila@helcom.fi), by Tuesday 1 October
2013.Dedicated webpages: ( Temporary
disruptions possible on 1 October)New documents uploaded today
and tomorrow:
(or, visit ;
folder: Commission Meetings (HELCOM) / HELCOM Ministerial 2013. No log-in
required)* * *For further information, please
contact Johanna LaurilaInformation
SecretaryHELCOMHelsinki, FinlandE-mail:
johanna.laurila@helcom.fiTel: +358 40 523 8988Jonatan Lykke-OlesenPress and Communication
DepartmentNature Agency, Ministry of the EnvironmentCopenhagen,
DenmarkE-mail: jolyk@nst.dkTel: +45 41 11 22 84  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,
including response to spills and clean and safe shipping. HELCOM governs a legal
treaty from 1974, “Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the
Baltic Sea Area,” aka the Helsinki Convention High-level representatives attending the press
conference:Ms. Ida AukenMinister of the Environment, DenmarkMs. Keit Pentus-RosimannusMinister of the Environment,
EstoniaMr. Karl FalkenbergDirector General, DG Environment,
European CommissionMr. Ville NiinistöMinister of the Environment,
FinlandMr. Fritz HolzwarthDeputy Director-General, Federal
Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety,
GermanyMr. Edmunds SprūdžsMinister of Environmental
Protection and Regional Development, LatviaMr. Almantas PetkusVice-Minister of the Environment,
LithuaniaMr. Stanisław GawłowskiVice-Minister of the
Environment, PolandMr. Nuritdin Inamov Director of International
Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Russian
FederationMs. Lena EkMinister of the Environment, Sweden

The high-level representatives from all nine Baltic coastal states and EU will gather to discuss priorities and agree on actions for improving the Baltic Sea marine environment, along with observer organizations, financing institutes and other stakeholder