Speech Gestrin Helcom Pres

Progress in......the dialogue with IMO on enforcing rules for NOx and SOx emissions from ships...legislative work to support usage of P-free washing detergents in Estonia, Latvia and Sweden...reaching an understanding about a proposition to IMO on prohibiting waste water release from passenger shipsChallengesThe global economic crisis has not left the Baltic Sea countries unaffectedMember countries that are intentionally slowing down the implementation process; difficulty to achieve consensus in some casesFinancial institutions are withdrawing their support to the Kaliningrad water treatment facility due to suspicions of corruption and disappointment with the entrepreneur; the Kalingrad waste water goes untreated into the Baltic SeaClimate change creates an extra challenge because precipitation is projected to increase especially in the northern part of the Baltic SeaIncreasing water temperatures lead to increased winter runoff and leaching of nutrientsIncrease in water temperatures will make benthic communities more vulnerableConclusionThe Moscow Ministerial Meeting in May is very important for the continuation of the processFinancial institutions (NEFCO, NIB, EDRB) are giving strong support to the implementation processPoliticans should continue their support for the implementation process despite the economic crisisEduskunta_EngEduskunta_Eng