Proud past, promising future: Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Convention
The Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area – also known as the Helsinki Convention – was originally signed in 1974 by all Baltic Sea coastal countries. The agreement aimed to address the increasing environmental challenges arising from industrialization and other human activities, which were having a severe impact on the marine environment.
The original Convention was signed in Helsinki on 22 March 1974 by its then seven Contracting Parties (Denmark, Finland, Federal Republic of Germany, German Democratic Republic, Poland, Sweden, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). In the same year, the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission – also known as the “Helsinki Commission” or “HELCOM” – was established. For five decades, we have worked towards realizing our vision: a healthy Baltic Sea environment with diverse biological components functioning in balance, resulting in a good ecological status and supporting a wide range of sustainable economic and social activities.
50th anniversary celebration
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Convention and HELCOM, Latvia, currently holding the Chairmanship of HELCOM, will host a celebration on 25 April 2024 in Riga. The event will be preceded by a Ministerial Meeting of the Contracting Parties in the morning of the same day.
The guests, including representatives of the HELCOM Contracting Parties, observers and other friends of HELCOM past and present, will enjoy a special programme reflecting on the achievements of the first 50 years of HELCOM while looking forward to future challenges. The list of speakers can be found here. The event will be by invitation only but an online streaming will be made available.
- You can participate in the festive event online by registering here (link) by 23rd April 2024. A recording will be made available shortly after the event.
Provisional list of participants
For more information about the list of participants, please visit here.
Preliminary programme
Please visit here to download the programme.
Thursday, 25 April 2024, 14.30 (EEST)
Venue: National Library of Latvia (Mūkusalas iela 3, Riga)
Moderator: Sandra Kropa, environmental journalist, Latvia
14:30 Opening and welcome
Opening words by
- Inga Bērziņa, Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia
- Kai Mykkänen, Minister of Climate and the Environment of Finland
Keynote speeches
- Pekka Haavisto, Member of the Parliament of Finland
- Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers
- Leena Ylä-Mononen, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency
- Alan Haynie, General Secretary of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
15:30 A musical interlude by Latvian artists
15:40 Recalling the proud past of HELCOM
A segment devoted to the most remarkable milestones passed and achievements reached by HELCOM in its 50 years.
Eyewitness speeches
- Andris Andrusaitis, Chair of the Baltic Earth Science Advisory Board, Friend of HELCOM
- Peter Ehlers, HELCOM Chair 1984-1986 and 2000-2002 and Chair of the Maritime Committee 1987-1997
- Juha-Markku Leppänen, Former HELCOM Professional Secretary (pre-recorded)
- Inese Vaidere, Member of the European Parliament and former HELCOM Chair 2002-2004 (pre-recorded)
- Monika Stankiewicz, Executive Secretary of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and former Polish delegate in HELCOM cooperation, HELCOM Professional Secretary 2006-2012 and HELCOM Executive Secretary 2012-2019
- Lilian Busse, Vice-President of the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and former HELCOM Chair 2020-2022
16:50 Networking break – coffee and possibility to enjoy the exhibition on HELCOM history
17:15 Next generation panel discussion “Are we fit for the future?”
The discussion, facilitated by Silva Laure, Vice-Chair of the Baltic Sea Region Committee of Youth Representatives, will focus on selected Baltic Sea environment challenges and ways on finding balance between the values of environment and the negative impact we cause. Will we manage to make the ecosystem approach to management and the concept of ecosystem services work in real life?
Panelists:
Aurēlija Armoskaite, Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology
Mikajosefin Jonsson Gehrke, WWF Sweden Youth
Lisa Klemens, German Oceanographic Museum
Stanisław Kostulski, Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum
Regan McEnroe, Nature & Youth Sweden
18:05 Where do we stand?
Rüdiger Strempel, HELCOM Executive Secretary and
Jannica Haldin, HELCOM Deputy Executive Secretary
18:15 Congratulations by partner organizations
18:45 Wrap up by Evija Šmite, HELCOM Chair
19:00 -20:30 Reception invited by the HELCOM Chairmanship – Latvia
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Contact
Laura Meski
Associate Professional Secretary
HELCOM Secretariat
laura.meski@helcom.fi
Johanna Laurila
Communication Advisor
HELCOM Secretariat
johanna.laurila@helcom.fi
+358 40 647 3996
