Lindholm Presentation

The 20th Baltic Sea ParliamentaryConferenceHELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan/Maritime segment– present state of implementationGabriella LindholmHELCOM Chair28-30 August 2011, HelsinkiHELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP)– a common programme of measures• Adopted in the 2007 KrakowMinisterial Meeting• Good Environmental Statusby 2021• Ecosystem-based approachto management of humanactivities• Measures and actions for:– Eutrophication– Hazardous substances– Maritime activities– Biodiversity and natureconservationTowards betterpolicy integration• The objectives and approaches of the Baltic SeaAction Plan incorporated in the EU Strategy for theBaltic Sea Region• HELCOM as a coordination platform for regionalimplementation of the EU Marine Strategy FrameworkDirective (MSFD)• The Baltic Sea Action Plan designed to serve theimplementation of the MSFD• BSAP/MSFD as an environmental pillar of the EUIntegrated Maritime Policy• HELCOM Fisheries/Environmental ForumActing jointly to address globalshipping regulations• 2007 HELCOM BSAP: to develop more stringentregulations for sewage discharges from passenger ships• 2008: the Baltic Sea Challenge – call by cities forvoluntary delivery of sewage by cruise ships• 2009: Baltic Sea Summit in Helsinki: port commitmentsand BSAG working together with private companies onport reception facilties (PRFs)• 2009: EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region -improving PRFs a flag-ship activity• 2010 HELCOM: countries agreed on improvements inpriority ports by 2013, and by 2015 at the latest• 2011 IMO: global adoption and designation of the BalticSea as a Special Area for sewage under international law• Work continues through HELCOM Cooperation Platform onPRF and e.g. NIB/NEFCO BSAP Technical Assistance FundOther major positivedevelopments• Designation of the Baltic Sea as a NOxEmission Control Area (NECA) in orderShipping accidents riskto reduce 80% of NOx and fighteutrophication• BRISK overall risk assessment ofshipping accidents to identify hot spotsfor oil spills:- to improve capabilities to effectivelytackle major oil spills- to design new measures for safety ofnavigation• Joint HELCOM-VASAB Working Groupon Maritime Spatial Planning and thePlanBothnia ProjectExpectations towards 2013HELCOM Ministerial Meeting• BSAP National ImplementationProgrammes substantially progressed• To assess progress in reaching theenvironmental targets and efficiency ofactions• To devise additional actions, if needed• Major EU sectoral policies reformed tobetter accommodate for environmentalgoals• New partnerships and expertscooperation frameworkMore info:www.helcom.fi