Baltic Marine Environment
Protection Commission

Ministerial meetings

Every few years, HELCOM arranges a Ministerial Meeting, bringing together the responsible ministers of the Baltic Sea countries and the EU Commissioner for the Environment. Political support is crucial for HELCOM and Contracting Parties in their continuous efforts to protect the Baltic Sea, and the Ministerial Meetings are important forums for shared discussions and agreements on a high level. 

HELCOM Ministerial meetings result in the adoption of political declarations, in which Contracting Parties bind themselves to take further actions to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea and agree on the future agenda for HELCOM. The declarations complement the Helsinki Convention and HELCOM Recommendations.



Ministerial Meeting Declarations and Statements