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Please note: application closed

We are currently seeking to recruit an experienced professional and enthusiastic person to strengthen our team at the international HELCOM Secretariat in Helsinki, Finland, as a Project Coordinator for the Baltic Data Flows project.

The appointment is planned to be full time, starting preferably on 18 January 2021 through the end of the project on 30 September 2023. The monthly salary is 3.000 € per month. Please note that the HELCOM salaries are exempt from Finnish income tax.

The tasks are expected to be carried out independently. However, the Project Coordinator will cooperate with the HELCOM staff involved, who will provide comments and general guidance on the overall HELCOM framework.

The tasks require understanding of marine‐related data collection processes and the concept of public and distributed open data. The selected candidate is expected to familiarize herself/himself with the HELCOM data collection and harmonisation processes and practices as well as the objective and concept of the European Data Portal.

Please apply by 2 November 2020.

If not their waters, then at least the experts of the world’s regional seas converged in Helsinki in late November to share best practices on the Sustainable Development Goal related to oceans and seas, SDG 14, and to start preparations on its joint outlook report to be presented at the Ocean Conference 2020.

The HELCOM-hosted workshop that took place in Helsinki from 25 to 27 November was a follow up of the UN Regional Seas Programme‘s Annual Meeting held in Berlin earlier in October and also co-hosted by HELCOM. 

“Our organisations are truly the best place to translate the global visions into action at the regional level,” said the Executive Secretary of HELCOM, Rüdiger Strempel, during his opening remarks in Helsinki, referring to the driving role of the regional sea conventions and bodies on advancing the global environmental targets.

Two of the global frameworks, the SDGs and the Aichi targets, have long been important guidelines for HELCOM in working to conserve the global marine environment. 

“The SDGs and Aichi targets are, in fact omnipresent in our everyday work,” said Strempel, adding that “both have proven to be key to advancing the ocean agenda, and decisively influence the policies we develop, the strategies we devise, the actions we implement.”

“At HELCOM and in the Baltic Sea, we believe that the various regional seas mechanisms can learn a lot from each other,” said Strempel, further stressing that despite HELCOM not directly being linked to the UN system, it continually takes account of the relevant UN goals and processes.

Increasing collaboration with the UN Regional Seas Programme was one of the four HELCOM commitments made during the UN Ocean Conference 2017. 

The other commitments were to establish a NOx Emission Control Area (NECA) in the Baltic Sea, to strengthen the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan to support ocean-related SDGs, and to identify Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) in the Baltic Sea.

Organised by the UN Regional Seas Programme, facilitated by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and hosted by HELCOM, the workshop attracted 16 regional sea organisations from all over the world.

Opening of the BSD 2019Plenary Session on 22 March 2019. © HELCOM Looking back on 20 years of its existence as a platform addressing the environmental challenges of the Baltic Sea, the (BSD 2019) was held in St. Petersburg, Russia from 21 to 22 March 2019. This year, nutrient recycling and management was the central focus of the forum.Currently, about 97% of the Baltic Sea is affected by eutrophication, with the lead cause being the excessive input of nutrients to the sea from land-based sources, such as from agriculture. In a bid to curb eutrophication, HELCOM has been tasked by its members to devise a Baltic Sea nutrient recycling strategy by 2020. This work is currently carried out under the lead of Finland, also holding chairmanship of HELCOM until mid-2020.”A circular economy is key to a more sustainable production and consumption system, and a nutrient recycling strategy supports this very much,” said Hannele Pokka, Permanent Secretary at the Finnish Ministry of the Environment who sat on the BSD 2019 forum’s high-level panel debating about nutrients.During the forum, other Baltic Sea topics such as biodiversity conservation, fisheries, environmental consequences of physical damage to the sea floor, underwater noise and marine litter were also included in the programmes of several roundtable sessions.The topics discussed during the forum were addressed against the backdrop of the that is bound to be renewed in 2021. The BSAP update was presented in more detail by HELCOM Chair Saara Bäck.”There is always a great interest to attend and contribute to the [Baltic Sea Day] roundtables,” said the HELCOM Executive Secretary Monika Stankiewicz , further stressing that the event provides a “priceless opportunity for exchange, joint planning and networking” between stakeholders from science, administration and policy across the entire Baltic.Since 2000, the Baltic Sea Day Forum has been held in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and organized in cooperation with HELCOM. During its 20-year history, it has become a key platform for the environmental dialogue on the Baltic Sea at the regional and global level.The event traditionally also features an award ceremony recognising the efforts of the recipients on environmental matters of the Baltic Sea.This year, among other awards, Certificates of Merit from the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia were handed over to Natalia Tretiakova, the Russian HELCOM Head of Delegation, and Natalia Kutaeva, the vice-chair of the HELCOM Maritime, for their substantial contribution to international cooperation and their role in organizing the event.The forum is now coordinated by the Government of St. Petersburg, the State Company “Mineral”, and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Russian Federation***For more information:Dominik LittfassCommunication Secretarydominik.littfass@helcom.fi

Looking back on 20 years of its existence as a platform addressing the environmental challenges of the Baltic Sea, the XX Anniversary International Environmental Forum “Baltic Sea Day” (BSD 2019) was held in St. Petersburg, Russia from 21 to 22 March 2019

At the 40th Meeting of the Helsinki Commission that was held in Helsinki (HELCOM 40-2019), Finland, from 6 to 7 March 2019, the HELCOM members addressed key orientations for the future, and also adopted several recommendations aimed at strengthening the environmental protection of the Baltic Sea.

The HELCOM countries adopted the HELCOM Recommendation on Conservation and Protection of Marine and Coastal Biotopes, Habitats and Biotope Complexes. This document contains specific steps to protect and conserve all marine and coastal biotopes, especially the endangered and vulnerable ones indicated on the HELCOM Red List.

“Currently, there are 59 different biotopes under threat in the Baltic Sea. Most of these biotopes are threatened directly due to eutrophication, or indirectly through oxygen depletion, and due to disruptive fishing methods,” said the HELCOM Chair, Ms Saara Bäck, in her statement at the meeting. “The new recommendation recognizes that these habitats may not be covered by existing regulations and therefore require protection beyond the scope of existing measures.”

Still on biodiversity, HELCOM 40-2019 also approved the HELCOM Action Plan for the protection and recovery of Baltic sturgeon. Once an integral part of the Baltic Sea ecosystem, the sturgeon became extinct in the 1950s. The plan aims at a recovery of the species within two generation periods.

Moreover, the members approved the revision of a HELCOM Recommendation directing the Baltic Sea countries to develop maritime spatial plans that consider integrated coastal management relying on the ecosystem-based approach.

HELCOM 40-2019 also adopted the amendments made to the Volume 1 of the HELCOM Response Manual that deals with oil spills and general provisions related to maritime incidents and spills.

On the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP), HELCOM members furthermore took note of the ongoing update process, particularly welcoming the recent establishment of HELCOM initiatives to analyse the sufficiency of measures.

“For its part, the strategic plan for the BSAP update is advancing steadily, with first steps towards its implementation already taken through the establishment of initiatives for the analysis of sufficiency of measures – the EU-funded HELCOM-led ACTION project and the HELCOM platform on sufficiency of measures (HELCOM SOM Platform),” said the HELCOM Executive Secretary Ms Monika Stankiewicz in her official statement to the Meeting.

“Working closely together and drawing on interdisciplinary expertise from across the Baltic Sea region, both initiatives [will be] analysing if the measures that are currently in place are sufficient to achieve good environmental status for the Baltic Sea,” she said.

HELCOM 40-2019 was also the occasion for HELCOM stakeholders to present their work, with BONUS – a joint Baltic Sea research and development programme – presenting three of its projects, namely BONUS-BAMBI that deals with genetic variations and climate change, BONUS-BALTICAPP on climate change and its effects on the Baltic Sea, and BONUS-GO4BALTIC that looks into the cost-effectiveness of Baltic Sea environmental projects. In total, BONUS has invested almost EUR 100 million in 48 projects across the Baltic Sea region.

The success of BONUS has led to the inception of BANOS CSA (Baltic and North Sea Coordination Support Action) that aims at widening the geographical scope of BONUS from the Baltic Sea to also include the North Sea and the English Channel Sea.

BANOS CSA strategic partners are HELCOM, OSPAR, ICES and JPI Oceans. The HELCOM members particularly welcomed the BANOS CSA initiative and mandated HELCOM to deepen the regional cooperation within the new platform and its sister organisations from the other seas, notably on sharing scientific knowledge to reach the ecological objectives set for the Baltic Sea.

During the meeting, the ResponSEAble project took the opportunity to present its work on ocean literacy, with a focus on behaviour change.

In addition, HELCOM 40-2019 granted the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) – an international financial institution established by the Nordic governments – observer status to HELCOM.

HELCOM 40-2019 also endorsed the nomination of Mr Rüdiger Strempel from Germany as the next Executive Secretary of HELCOM. Mr Strempel will start in August 2019, replacing Ms Monika Stankiewicz.

The Meeting was attended by all Contracting Parties, by Chairs and Vice-Chairs of HELCOM Groups, and the following observer organizations: Baltic Farmers’ Forum on Environment (BFFE), Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC), Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation (BSSSC) and Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions – Baltic Sea Commission (CPMR BSC), Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB), Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) as well as invited guests from the BONUS research projects and the ResponSEAble project.

For further information, please contact:

Dominik Littfass
Communication Secretary
dominik.littfass@helcom.fi

During HOD 55-2018 in Helsinki © Helcom 2018Helsinki — The update of the (BSAP) was a central topic at the (HOD 55-2018) held from 4 to 5 December 2018 at the HELCOM Secretariat in Helsinki, Finland. Initially set to end in 2021, the BSAP is HELCOM’s strategic tool for a healthy Baltic Sea that sets ecological targets and measures for achieving good environmental status of the sea.  At HOD 55-2018, the meeting participants notably focussed on the evaluation of the efficiency of current measures. Understanding what actions work and what don’t for a Baltic Sea in a better shape will be key for the update process.The BSAP’s continuation had already been decided by the HELCOM Ministers earlier in 2018, who then also agreed on a closer consideration of the , and in the update.In Helsinki, on pressures on the marine environment, the HELCOM Heads of Delegation (HODs) also approved the latest assessment of nutrient input to the Baltic Sea covering the period from 1995 to 2016. The indicator shows progress in reduction of inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus, by 16 percent and 25 percent respectively.However, for the entire sea, the levels of maximum allowable inputs (MAI) of nutrients have been exceed, and the Baltic Sea remains heavily eutrophic notably due to the accumulation of nutrients over the past decades.To address this issue, and following up on the commitment made earlier in 2018 by the HELCOM Ministers to gain a better understanding of internal nutrient reserves and their management, the HELCOM Heads of Delegation agreed to establish a taskforce on sea-based measures for nutrient reduction.The HELCOM taskforce will elaborate a risk assessment framework and regional principles as guidance for internal nutrient reserves management.The HODs also welcomed the finalization of the (PLC-6) project, and agreed on the publication of its executive summary that notably shows nutrient input to the Baltic Sea and progress in their reduction. The current assessment, PLC-7, is ongoing and results are expected by end of 2020.The (PLC) is essential part of HELCOM work aimed at assessment of the environmental pressure on Baltic Sea marine ecosystem from land based pollution sources.On climate change, the Heads of Delegation established the new joint HELCOM-Baltic Earth Expert Network on Climate Change (EN CLIME). EN CLIME is expected to start its activities early 2019. HELCOM and Baltic Earth joined forces to work towards increasing the resilience of the Baltic Sea to the impacts of climate change.HOD 55-2018 also commended the outreach and advocacy role of HELCOM on the international stage. Offering best-practices and its expertise on ocean management at the global level, HELCOM currently contributes, among others, to the (WOA II), the , and the (EBSAs) under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Meeting was attended by participants from all and by observers from the Baltic Farmers’ Forum on Environment (BFFE), the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC), Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation (BSSSC) and CPMR Baltic Sea Commission, Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB), Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP), Race For The Baltic and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).The Heads of Delegation are the nationally designated representatives of the HELCOM Contracting Parties.***Note for editors For immediate release About HELCOMHELCOM is an intergovernmental organization working to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea, with its members – so-called Contracting Parties – being Denmark, Estonia, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden. HELCOM (short for the Helsinki Commission, and its official name, the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission) is the governing body of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, also known as the Helsinki Convention. The Helsinki Convention was established in 1974 to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution. HELCOM’s vision for the future is 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. ***For more information, please contact:Dominik LittfassCommunication Secretary+358 40 647 3996 

The update of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) was a central topic at the 55th Meeting of the HELCOM Heads of Delegation (HOD 55-2018) held from 4 to 5 December 2018 at the HELCOM Secretariat in Helsinki, Finland.

HELCOM Heads of Delegation approve the process for updating the Baltic Sea Action PlanDalälven River in Sweden is no longer a HELCOM hotspotEU chairmanship of HELCOM comes to an end, hands over to FinlandThe HELCOM Heads of Delegation met at the HELCOM Seretariat in Helsinki on 14 June 2018. Photo: F. NicolasHELCOM’s roadmap for the future took centre stage during the 54th Meeting of the Heads of Delegation (HOD 54-2018) that was held in Helsinki, Finland from 14 to 15 June 2017. A key event on HELCOM’s governance agenda, it also saw the handover of the HELCOM chairmanship from the EU to Finland.Besides the review of current and recently concluded HELCOM activities and the approval of HELCOM reports, a major subject was the update of the (BSAP) beyond 2021. The BSAP is HELCOM’s comprehensive regional programme of actions to achieve a healthy Baltic Sea, and was initially set to end in 2021. Recalling the agreement taken earlier in Brussels during the to update the current plan, the delegates decided on an extension of the BSAP until 2030. In addition to the current objectives on eutrophication, biodiversity, maritime activities and hazardous substances, the updated BSAP will incorporate new perspectives beyond 2021 such as focussing on an ecosystem approach and giving due consideration to the economic and social aspects of its measures.It will also address emerging pressures such as underwater noise, pharmaceuticals and micro-plastics.The update of the BSAP particularly resonates with the region’s current desire to step up its efforts for a healthy Baltic Sea, as recently witnessed during the EUSBSR Annual Forum held earlier in Tallinn where a continuation of the plan was already mentioned and welcomed. Furthermore, the delegates decided to delete the in Sweden from the , and welcomed the intention by Sweden to continue monitoring the river. It was added in 1992 because of high levels of heavy metals originating from the mining industry – specifically cadmium, copper and zinc – which eventually entered the Baltic Sea.At HOD 54-2018, a number of HELCOM publications were also approved, including the updated . The report contains a wide array of indicators that were assessing the state of and the pressures on the Baltic Sea between 2011 and 2016.This work on indicators – unique in the world at this scale – was particularly commended by the delegates which tasked the HELCOM Secretariat to draft a document on lessons learnt to be shared with UN Environment.Other approvals were the Report on nutrients input by seven biggest rivers and the Report on input of selected hazardous substances into the Baltic Sea, two reports resulting from HELCOM’s Sixth Pollution Load Compilation (PLC-6) project. HOD 54-2018 was also the opportunity for the hand-over of the HELCOM chairmanship from the EU to Finland. The delegates acknowledged the accomplishments of the EU chairmanship ending this 30 June, especially the excellent organization of the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in Brussels in March 2018. Priorities of the EUChairmanship of HELCOM – Results (click image for larger view)They also welcomed the that will focus on the Baltic Sea Action Plan update, the reduction of nutrient inputs and nutrient recycling, as well as climate change and fostering synergies between HELCOM work and the Agenda 2030.The new HELCOM Chair will be Ms. Saara Bäck, seconded by the Vice-Chair Ms. Tarja Haaranen, both from the Ministry of the Environment of Finland. The outgoing chair Ms Marianne Wenning from the European Union will retire from active duty this summer.Outgoing HELCOM Chair Ms Marianne Wenning (right) hands over the HELCOM keys to the incoming Chair Ms Saara Bäck (left). Photo: HELCOMThe HOD 54-2018 Meeting was attended by participants from all HELCOM Contracting Parties and by observers from the Baltic Farmers’ Forum on Environment (BFFE), and Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions – Baltic Sea Commission (BSSSC and CPMR BSC), (CCB), (FEAP) and (WWF), as well as invited guests from the (EUSBSR) and (NEFCO).* *Note for editorsHELCOM is an intergovernmental organization made up of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries and the European Union. Founded in 1974, its primary aims as a governing body are to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution, as well as to ensure safe maritime navigation. The official name of HELCOM is the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission; it is the governing body of the Helsinki ConventionThe Working Group on Reduction of Pressures from the Baltic Sea Catchment Area –  – focuses on nutrient and hazardous substance inputs from diffuse sources and point sources on land, including the follow-up of the implementation of the HELCOM nutrient reduction scheme. The group ensures the necessary technical underpinning as well as develops solutions to the policy-relevant questions and needs. Marine litter and underwater noise are also coordinated by this group.

HELCOM’s roadmap for the future took centre stage during the 54th Meeting of the Heads of Delegation (HOD 54-2018) that was held in Helsinki, Finland from 14 to 15 June 2017.

​Ambassadors and representatives from the nine Baltic Sea states and the EU, and HELCOM staff at the Diplomatic Lunch in Helsinki on 13 June 2018 © HELCOMSpeech by Ms Marianne Wenning, Chair of the Helsinki Commission from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2018, at the HELCOM Diplomatic Lunch on 13 June 2018 Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Colleagues, Two years ago I had the pleasure to meet you, the representatives of the coastal countries and the catchment area of the Baltic Sea, and present to you the priorities and plans for the EU chairmanship of HELCOM. Today, I am pleased to share with you some of the accomplishments under the EU chairmanship. The past two years have included important milestones for HELCOM. One of these is the finalization of the second holistic assessment of state of the Baltic Sea this June, a major part of our priority of reaching a healthy Baltic Sea ecosystem by 2021.  Through this assessment, we have gained a comprehensive understanding of the state of the Baltic Sea and the pressures it is affected by. Most importantly, we now have quantitative indicators in place that will help to monitor the environmental status of the sea.The scale of the project is unique in the world. It is also a great example of well-functioning transboundary cooperation between the different Baltic Sea nations.In addition to assessing the state of the marine environment, the State of the Baltic Sea report sheds more light on the importance of the sea to the people living around it. Healthy ecosystems are underpinning sustainable economic growth. This is of particular relevance for maritime spatial planning, where HELCOM has advocated for an ecosystem approach that considers both the socioeconomic benefits and the cumulative impacts on the environment.Just as an example: according to the first results in 2017, the economic losses stemming from eutrophication – if good environmental status is not achieved – would be around 4 billion euros annually. In other words, our welfare depends a lot on the status of the Baltic Sea.However, from the first results, it is already clear that good environmental status of the sea has not yet been reached. Actions aimed at reducing the pressures on the sea such as the recent designation of the Baltic Sea as a Nitrogen Oxide Emission Control Area and the increased establishment of several new marine protected areas in HELCOM countries are certainly important steps in the right direction. Nevertheless, more work still needs to be done.This brings me to another milestone: the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting hosted by Commissioner Vella in Brussels earlier in March. With only three years to go towards the Baltic Sea Action Plan’s goal of reaching good environmental status of the Baltic Sea by 2021, we need to step up our efforts. We need to concentrate on fully implementing the actions that were agreed upon in the Baltic Sea Action Plan. This fact was clearly emphasized by the Commissioner, Ministers and high-level representatives of Baltic Sea countries that were present in Brussels. The Ministerial Meeting also recognized that – beyond known concerns such as eutrophication – we need to address emerging issues such as underwater noise, new hazardous substances such as pharmaceuticals, and climate change. To respond to the new challenges and our global commitments like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, we agreed in Brussels that the Baltic Sea Action Plan will be updated past 2021. Our priority of encouraging concerted regional governance and cross-sectoral cooperation – notably with fisheries and agricultural bodies – will still be valid for this undertaking and for attaining sustainable use of marine resources.Finally, I am glad to see that the priorities set by the upcoming chairmanship of Finland will make for a smooth transition. These priorities – that include updating the Baltic Sea Action Plan, addressing climate change, and linking the Agenda 2030 to HELCOM activities – reflect the outcomes of the Brussels Ministerial Meeting and will seamlessly integrate with the current HELCOM work. Let me assure you that the HELCOM chair will be in very good hands with Finland.Ladies and gentlemen, I would now like you to join me for a toast to our continuous successful cooperation for the protection and prosperity of our Baltic Sea. 

Speech by Ms Marianne Wenning, Chair of the Helsinki Commission from 1.7-2016 to 30.6.2018, at the HELCOM Diplomatic Lunch on 13 June 2018

The two-day XIX Baltic Sea Day forum in St. Petersburg, Russia gathered hundreds of participantsTalks followed up on themes of 2018 HELCOM Ministerial MeetingGathering around 500 participants from administration, science, business, NGOs, and the mass media, the 19th International Environmental Forum “Baltic Sea Day”, supported by HELCOM, was arranged 22–23 March in St. Petersburg, Russia. The long-running yearly event represents a valuable opportunity for exchange of research and ideas between many sectors and on all levels, from regional to national and local. The Forum was attended by representatives from all Baltic Sea states, several other European countries, and Belarus, as well as almost all Federal States of Russia situated in the Baltic Sea catchment area, including Kaliningrad region, Karelia, Novgorod region, Leningrad oblast and St. Petersburg.At the opening of the Forum, a solemn moment was devoted to Mr Leonid Korovin, a driving force of the Baltic Sea Day tradition, who passed away last summer. Reviewing themes of HELCOM Ministerial Meeting The cornerstone of the Forum discussions was the outcome of the recent , held in Brussels, Belgium on 6 March. The newly-adopted Ministerial Declaration represents a strong commitment to renewed efforts for the Baltic Sea. The introductory plenary session at the Baltic Sea Day Forum highlighted on two of the main themes of the Declaration: stronger follow-through on the existing (BSAP) and updating the BSAP beyond its current deadline of 2021.High-level panel participants, from left: Natalia Tretiakova (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation), Nuritdin Inamov (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation), Monika Stankiewicz (HELCOM Executive Secretary), Hannele Pokka (Ministry of Environment, Finland), Matjaz Malgaj (European Union, HELCOM Vice-Chair). Photo: Sara Estlander / HELCOM.A highlight of the Forum was a high-level panel discussion, featuring Mr Matjaz Malgaj (European Commission, HELCOM Vice-Chair), Dr Hannele Pokka (Ministry of Environment, Finland), Ms Natalia Tretiakova (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation), and Ms Monika Stankiewicz (HELCOM Executive Secretary). The panel was moderated by Mr Nuritdin Inamov of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation.The panel focused on BSAP implementation, discussing questions such as what the major obstacles are for implementing the BSAP and how to overcome them, what contribution the trilateral Gulf of Finland cooperation has had to BSAP implementation, and how BSAP implementation could be enforced. Other themes included the nutrient recycling strategy to be developed within HELCOM, and the relation between HELCOM and EU policies in other regions.From MSP to municipalities and manureAside from plenaries and panels, participants took part in roundtable discussions on subjects such as nutrient recycling in agriculture, sustainable water management, and maritime spatial planning as a marine conservation tool. Other roundtable themes included the role of municipalities in implementing the Baltic Sea Action Plan, and environmental education and awareness. The project held its national (Russian) kick-off meeting within the framework of the Forum. During the second Forum day, the project held a workshop on impacts from ship emissions and on the possibilities of collaboration in the Baltic Sea Region.Throughout the presentations and discussions, there was a strong focus on the great value of sharing experiences between regions and sectors.This year, Ms Natalia Kutaeva, Vice Chair of HELCOM Maritime Group and Councellor to the Director, Marine Rescue Service of Rosmorrechflot, and Ms Monika Stankiewicz, HELCOM Executive Secretary, were presented with the Order of Vernadsky award “For personal contributions to the development of cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region” of the V.I. Vernadsky Ecological Fund. The Order of Verdnasky award was also presented to Ms Olga Rublevskaya SUE “Vodokanal of St. Petersburg”, Mr Ivan Serebritsky, Committee for Nature Use, Environmental Protection and Ecological Safety of St. Petersburg, and Ms Liudmila Vesikko, Finnish Environment Institute. The Forum was organized by the Government of St. Petersburg and State Company Mineral, and supported by HELCOM, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, and the Environmental Committee of St. Petersburg.The XIX Baltic Sea Day was arranged in the new EXPOFORUM venue. In parallel with the Forum, the exhibition “Ecology in the Big City” was presented in an adjacent hall. For more information, see the with full programme and speakers. Twitter hashtag: * * * 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:Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky Professional Secretary HELCOM Tel: +358 40 630 9933 Skype: helcom68 E-mail: dmitry.frank-kamenetsky(at)helcom.fi  

The two-day XIX Baltic Sea Day forum in St. Petersburg, Russia gathered hundreds of participants. Talks followed up on themes of 2018 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting.

 High-level representatives of the Baltic Sea countries meet in Brussels on 6 March to discuss state and future of the Baltic marine environment. Talks focus on how to achieve a healthy Baltic Sea in light of current regional targets and global goals.  The 2021 target year of the HELCOM (BSAP), adopted in 2007 and aiming to restore the good ecological status of the Baltic marine environment, is only three years away. HELCOM’s latest assessments show that while much has been accomplished, and in spite of some positive signals, the efforts so far have not led to the recovery of the Baltic Sea.  The , to be held on 6 March in Brussels under the two-year of HELCOM, will discuss the current state of the Baltic Sea as well as draw up a course of action to safeguard its future. The Meeting will be chaired by HELCOM Chair Marianne Wenning. Strengthened BSAP implementation neededOne of the duties of HELCOM – the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission – is to regularly follow up on the implementation of agreed-upon actions for the Baltic marine environment. A new HELCOM report (), published just ahead of the Ministerial Meeting, summarizes 177 of the actions with concrete BSAP targets and the extent to which they have been completed.The report shows that as of 2017, nearly 70 % of joint actions (carried out jointly through HELCOM) in the Baltic Sea Action Plan have been implemented. Examples of completed joint actions include developing a Regional Action Plan on marine litter, preparing a ban on discharge of untreated sewage from passenger ships, and adopting a HELCOM Recommendation on sustainable aquaculture.Of the actions that require steps to be taken at the national level, 23% are completed by all countries and an additional 62% completed by some of the countries. Actions that all countries have completed include, for instance, ratifying Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78 convention on prevention of air pollution from ships, developing long-term management plans for sprat and herring, and conserving at least ten wild salmon populations in the Baltic Sea region.The Ministerial Meeting is expected to decide on intensified efforts and stronger follow-through on the BSAP, both to reach regional goals and to fulfil the Agenda 2030 in the region. New and developing issues in future policiesIn addition to working for existing goals, the Ministerial Meeting is tasked with planning for the years after the current BSAP target year of 2021. Advancing scientific knowledge and new emerging issues, such as impacts from pharmaceuticals and micro-pollutants, call for the Baltic Sea community to continously learn and adapt their actions. Long-term changes like climate change affect the status of the environment, and must also be addressed when updating Baltic Sea policies and measures for future goals.The Meeting will also follow up on the United Nations Ocean Conference in New York in June 2017, where HELCOM made several towards SDG 14 – “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources”. The countries around the Baltic Sea have agreed to use HELCOM as the regional arena for coordinating work on those SDGs that relate to marine and water issues. The four goals of the BSAPThe ambitious vision of the Baltic Sea Action Plan is a healthy Baltic Sea environment, with diverse biological components functioning in balance, resulting in good environmental/ecological status and supporting a wide range of sustainable human economic and social activities. The more specific goals of the BSAP are to achieve a Baltic Sea unaffected by eutrophicationa Baltic Sea undisturbed by hazardous substancesenvironmentally friendly maritime activities, and favourable status of Baltic Sea biodiversity.For each goal, the BSAP specifies a number of more specific objectives and actions, which have later been supplemented in HELCOM Ministerial Declarations in 2010 and 2013. Adopted by all the coastal states and the EU in 2007, the BSAP provides a concrete basis for HELCOM work. * * *More informationReport (PDF), June 2017, New York Note for editorsThe 2018 HELCOM Ministerial Meeting will be held on 6 March in Brussels, Belgium, under the EU chairmanship of HELCOM. The Ministers of the Environment of the nine Baltic coastal states and the EU Environment Commissioner will gather to discuss the status and the future of the Baltic Sea marine environment. The outcome of the 2018 Ministerial Meeting is expected to revolve around new actions to meet the Sustainable Development Goals in the Baltic Sea, strengthening implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan by 2021, and adjusting the Baltic Sea Action Plan based on new knowledge and future challenges. More information on the .The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, usually referred to as HELCOM, 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:Ms Monika Stankiewicz Executive Secretary HELCOM +358 40 840 2471 monika.stankiewicz(at)helcom.fiMs Sara Estlander Communication Coordinator HELCOM +358 40 482 6103 sara.estlander(at)helcom.fi

High-level representatives of the Baltic Sea countries meet in Brussels on 6 March to discuss state and future of the Baltic marine environment

​This conference, joining together the 7th BONUS Forum and the 8th HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan Stakeholder Conference, reinforces and develops the synergies of HELCOM and BONUS in association with key strategic actors in efforts related to environmental policy and sustainable development of the northern European regional seas. The BONUS-HELCOM stakeholder conference on Tuesday 6 November 2018, to be held at the Park Inn by Radisson Copenhagen Airport, will foremost utilise the results of the BONUS projects (many of
which are now nearing completion) in HELCOM work – and beyond – as well as
jointly identify gaps to fill in for the future. The conference
will also offer a platform to enhance further synergies across the region,
Europe and wider.  Drawing from
the achievements and lessons learned from the simultaneously in 2007
established HELCOM – the pioneering programme
to restore the good ecological status of the Baltic Sea – and – a
regional marine research and development programme – the conference is set to
add value to continued cooperation in the Baltic Sea region as well as other
sea basins.The , setting the future strategic direction for
implementing the Baltic Sea Action Plan by 2021 and beyond, as well as
the UN 2030 Agenda’s sustainable development goals (SDGs), provide useful context
when the event’s agenda is being set in the coming month(s). The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the EU Blue Growth
Agenda as well as other key sustainability policies also create a further
demand for new knowledge that can be met with BONUS research. Finally, also the
broadened scope of the current BONUS to form a northern regional seas research
and innovation programme in the future will be addressed during the conference
and key strategic actors invited to the setting of the agenda. A broad range of actors and stakeholders will be invited to take part in
discussions on 6 November 2018: policy makers and other end-users of sound
knowledge, regional sea conventions, industries, academia, non-governmental
organisations, relevant General Directorates of the European Commission,
research and innovation funding institutions, joint programming initiatives,
implementing bodies of the EU macro-regional strategies etc. Further information and key dates in the run-up period to the conference
will be announced in March 2018.* * *Note for editors The ,
usually referred to as HELCOM, 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.is
a joint Baltic Sea research and development programme producing
knowledge to support development and implementation of regulations,
policies and management practices specifically tailored for the Baltic
Sea region. It issues calls for competitive proposals and funds projects
of high excellence and relevance based on its BONUS strategic research
agenda 2011-2020. Half of the funding of the EUR 100 million to BONUS is
covered by the national research funding agencies in the eight EU
member states around the Baltic Sea and the other half by the EU. * * *For further information, please contact:Ms. Maija SirolaCommunications Manager, BONUSTel. +358 40 352 0076E-mail: Website: Facebook and Twitter: @BONUSBalticMs. Sara EstlanderCommunication Coordinator, HELCOMTel. +358 40 482 6103E-mail: Website: Facebook and Twitter: @HELCOMinfo

This conference, joining together the 7th BONUS Forum and the 8th HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan Stakeholder Conference, reinforces and develops the synergies of HELCOM and BONUS in association with key strategic actors.