“The BSAS is a very promising contribution to the mobilization of concrete commitments for a good ecological status and sustainable development of the Baltic Sea”, says Christina Gestrin, member of the Finnish Parliament and Chairman of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC). She participates in the Baltic Sea Action Summit (BSAS) in Helsinki on Wednesday 10 February.
“BSPC, gathering parliamentarians from all countries around the Baltic Sea, will continue to exert political pressure on governments and decision-makers to take forceful action against the degradation of the Baltic marine environment. Governments must, for example, fulfill their pledges to implement the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan according to its agreed timetable”, maintains Gestrin.
“The Baltic Sea must also be protected against technological and man-made disasters. Transport of oil and dangerous goods are increasing, and there is an urgent need to enhance the preventive capacities against calamities”, says Gestrin. This year, BSPC has committed itself to emphasize the issue of safety of navigation in the Baltic Sea. BSPC urges the governments to create a common agreement aiming at the creation of a ship reporting system for the whole Baltic Sea. The operation of ship reporting systems (SRS) and vessel traffic services (VTS) must be improved by better coordination and harmonization of existing systems in the region. These issues will be addressed at the 19th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Mariehamn, Åland Islands, 29-31 August this year.