HELCOM, together with partners, brought the issue of submerged munitions in European seas to the forefront during a side event of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3). The event, “No Time to Waste: Tackling Submerged Munitions in European Seas”, was held aboard the German research vessel Meteor on June 11, 2025, gathering around 80 participants, including decision makers, scientists and NGOs.
Organized by HELCOM, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), and the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), the side event highlighted the urgent need for joint action and open dialogue on the risks posed by the millions of tons of conventional and chemical munitions dumped into European seas after the World Wars.
The programme featured a panel discussion on “The Baltic Perspective: front-runner regional approaches to addressing a global threat”, alongside thematic islands that showcased best practices for marine munition research and remediation. International experts presented approaches and solutions developed in ongoing national and international projects.
At the panel, experts made personal commitments to ensure that the issue translates into tangible progress:
- Delilah Al Khudhairy, European Commission (DG MARE), pledged stronger cooperation with HELCOM and the Coordination Centre for Submerged Munitions (CSS) to advance the EU’s Ocean PACT strategy.
- Agnieszka Jędruch, Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, vowed to ensure that research outcomes from projects such as MINIMAP and MUNIRISK are turned into real-world action.
- Stefan Mehlhase, BMUKN, committed to advancing the construction of a dedicated disposal facility within the munitions action programme.
- Rüdiger Strempel, HELCOM Executive Secretary, promised HELCOM’s continued dedication to maintaining momentum: “We don’t have time to lose — and we won’t relent.”
The event was supported by the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN), JPI Oceans, and the German Environment Agency (UBA).
The 2025 UN Ocean Conference was held in held in Nice, France, from 9 – 13 June 2025, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica.
Contact
Eeva Nyyssönen
Communication Secretary, HELCOM
eeva.nyyssonen@helcom.fi
+358 40 647 3996