MaritimeRapporteursReport_22_23

Report by the Rapporteurs of theBaltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC)on Developments in Int egrated Maritime PolicyJuly 2023Berlin , 27 – 29August 202 332YEARSBSPCThe BSPC Rapporteurs’ Report 2021/2023on Integrated Maritime Policy© Schwerin, July 2023Text: Philipp da Cunha and Jörgen PetterssonEditing: Carmen Hohlfeld, Georg Strätker and Bodo BahrPhotos: Landtag Mecklenburg-VorpommernLayout: produktionsbüro TINUSBaltic Sea Parliamentary Conference Bodo BahrSecretary General+49 171 5512557bodo.bahr@bspcmail.netwww.bspc.netBSPC SecretariatSchlossgartenallee 1519061 SchwerinGermanyThe Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) was established in 1991 as a forum for po -litical dialogue between parliamentarians from the Baltic Sea Region. The BSPC aims toraise awareness and opinion on issues of current political interest and relevance for the Bal -tic Sea Region. It promotes and drives various initiatives and efforts to support the sustain -able environmental, social and economic development of the Baltic Sea Region. It strives toenhance the visibility of the Baltic Sea Region and its issues in a broader European context.BSPC gathers parliamentarians from 10 national parliaments, 7 regional parliaments and 5parliamentary organisations around the Baltic Sea. The BSPC thus constitutes a unique par -liamentary bridge between the democratic EU- and non-EU countries of the Baltic Sea Re -gion. BSPC external interfaces include parliamentary, governmental, subregional and otherorganisations in the Baltic Sea Region and the Northern Dimension area, among themCBSS, HELCOM, the Northern Dimension Partnership in Health and Social Well-Be -ing (NDPHS), the Baltic Sea Labour Forum (BSLF) and the Baltic Sea States SubregionalCooperation (BSSSC).The BSPC shall initiate and guide political activities in the region; support and strengthendemocratic institutions in the participating states; improve dialogue between governments,parliaments and civil society; strengthen the common identity of the Baltic Sea Region bymeans of close cooperation between national and regional parliaments based on equality;and initiate and guide political activities in the Baltic Sea Region, endowing them with ad -ditional democratic legitimacy and parliamentary authority.The political recommendations of the annual Parliamentary Conferences are expressed in aConference Resolution adopted by consensus by the Conference. The adopted Resolutionshall be submitted to the governments of the Baltic Sea Region, the CBSS and the EU anddisseminated to other relevant national, regional and local stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Re -gion and its neighbourhood.3ContentsPreface ............................................................................................................................................................... 5List of Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................... 7A – Activities of the Maritime Rapporteurs and other Important Events .......................................................... 91. Reactions of political institutions on the Russian war in Ukraine ........................................................ 92. Pan-European Cruise Dialogue ....................................................................................................... 103. COP-26: EU Ocean Day highlighted role of oceans in tackling climate change ................................. 124. The Sealogy Exhibition .................................................................................................................. 135. European Maritime Day 2022 ....................................................................................................... 146. The Åland Maritime Day ............................................................................................................... 157. EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region & The Council of the Baltic Sea States Expert Group onSustainable Maritime Economy (EGSME) ................................................................................... 16B – Reaction on the COVID-19 crisis and the War in Ukraine ....................................................................... 181. COVID-19 impact and reaction ..................................................................................................... 182. Shipyards and shipbuilding in the German region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern ............................... 193. Reactions on the war in Ukraine ..................................................................................................... 21Further Developments at the EU level ............................................................................................................. 23I. Blue Growth and the European Green Deal .................................................................................... 23I.1. Blue Bioeconomy ................................................................................................................... 23I.2. Initiatives related to maritime policy in the EU Commission‘s Work Programme ....................... 25I.3. Emission control ................................................................................................................... 28I.4. T axation ................................................................................................................................ 30I.5. Ocean Governance ................................................................................................................. 31I.6. Common Fisheries ................................................................................................................. 32I.7. Employment and gender bias .................................................................................................. 344II. Energy aspects with regard to maritime policy .................................................................................. 35II.1. Energy supplies ...................................................................................................................... 35II.2. Nord Stream 2 ...................................................................................................................... 36II.3. Electricity grids under sea ....................................................................................................... 38II.4. New energy projects ................................................................................................................ 38III. Infrastructural aspects with regard to maritime policy ...................................................................... 40III.1. Revision of the EU passenger ship safety legislation ................................................................... 40III.2. Transeuropean Transport Network .......................................................................................... 40III.3. New developments in infrastructure ........................................................................................ 41III.4. EU maritime security infrastructure ....................................................................................... 42III.5. Maritime Spatial Planning .................................................................................................... 44III.6. Mobility for the Elderly .......................................................................................................... 45IV. Environmental aspects with regard to maritime policy including climate protection ........................... 46IV.1. Eutrophication: Baltic Sea has still not recovered despite measures ............................................ 46IV.2. EU Mission Starfish 2030: Restore our Ocean and Waters ....................................................... 48IV.3. Revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive ............................................................. 49IV.4. Biodiversity ........................................................................................................................... 50IV.5. Baltic Sturgeon ...................................................................................................................... 51IV.6. Seabed loss and disturbance .................................................................................................... 525 PrefacePrefaceThis report aims at providing an overview of developments, events and innovations in the realm of Inte -grated Maritime Policy (IMP), focusing on energy and security issues, as well as on infrastructural and en -vironmental aspects of maritime policy. Next to presenting EU (legislative) developments in the field andreferring to the anchor point of the EU Green Deal, it names important maritime events, which havebeen followed by the maritime Rapporteurs MP Philipp da Cunha (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) and MPJörgen Pettersson (Åland Islands).As regards the reverberations of the war in Ukraine and of the COVID-19 pandemic, special emphasis isbeing laid on cruise shipping, shipyards, supply chains and the twin green & digital transition.The report is also looking into emerging sectors, which are still in full development but are said to holdsignificant potential for the future (see section I.1 on Blue Bioeconomy). In addition, it is addressingocean governance, like the EU’s commitment to finalise an agreement for the conservation and sustaina -ble use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ).During the reporting period, waves of crises have hit the Baltic Sea Region (BSR).Philipp da Cunha Jörgen Pettersson6 PrefaceIn September 2021, a global shortage of natural gas supplies has been convulsing markets. The OECDraised its forecast for inflation in the G20 countries in part because of higher shipping costs and energyprices.1 In April 2022, inflation in Europe rose to 7.5 %, in August 2022 to approximately 9.1%, thenhad a peak in October and stayed at about 9-10 % in spring 2023.In Asia, new pandemic measures had added to the difficulties within supply chains. What is more, since 24February 2022, Russian warfare in Ukraine has been overshadowing the life of Europeans, and has been af -fecting the BSR and maritime policy as a whole. It has brought back the horrors of war to the continent.It also aggravated the European energy crisis, decisively further impaired chains of supply and led to in -creased prices for raw materials, oxygen, logistics, transport, fertilizers, commodities and food, amongstothers. In consequence, the Baltic Sea could become a trade route too unreliable for economic purposes.In summer 2022, there were concerns about whether Europe will have enough energy supplies to getthrough the following winter: the Russian supply to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Poland and Finlandhad stopped completely. Russian supply to Germany, Denmark, and other EU countries also has thenbeen gradually reduced and came to a complete halt in September 2022.But as the president of the EU Commission (EC) said in the State of the Union address back in 2022, the nec -essary transformation – a change of paradigm – of the energy system had started, namely in the Baltic (and theNorth Sea), where EU member states have massively invested in offshore wind energy. Implementing the EU’sREPowerEU plan, ten million tons of green hydrogen2 shall be produced in the EU until 2030.A decisive factor for overcoming the current energy and climate crisis are the EU Green Deal and the relatedEU Fit-for-55 package of July 2021. In this vein, Virginijus Sinkevičius, EU commissioner for the Environ -ment, Oceans and Fisheries said, “Emergency crisis measures should not in any way impede long-term effortstowards structural energy transition [...] to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal.”This also reflects the public opinion: According to the final report on the results of the Conference of the Futureof Europe (CoFoE), the EU’s citizens are demanding to protect and restore the oceans and biological diversity.Philipp da Cunha Jörgen PetterssonMaritime Rapporteur Maritime Rapporteur1 The Economist (2021), Vol. 440, No. 9264.2 To accelerate the development of clean hydrogen, the European Commission on 8 July 2020 tabled a new hydrogen strategy with the communication 'A hydrogenstrategy for a climate-neutral Europe'.7 List of AbbreviationsList of AbbreviationsAEBR Association of European Border RegionsAER Assembly of European RegionsBALTFISH Baltic Sea Fisheries ForumBBNJ UN T reaty on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areasbeyond National JurisdictionBSPC Baltic Sea Parliamentary ConferenceBSR Baltic Sea RegionCALRE Conference of European Regional Legislative AssembliesCBAM Carbon border adjustment mechanismCBSS Council of Baltic Sea StatesCEMR Council of European Municipalities and RegionsCfD Contract for DifferenceCISE Common Information Sharing EnvironmentCLIA Cruise Lines International AssociationCOP Conference of the PartiesCoFoE Conference on the Future of EuropeCPMR Conference of Peripheral Maritime RegionsDG MARE Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and FisheriesEBCD European Bureau for Conservation and DevelopmentEGSME Expert Group on Sustainable Maritime EconomyEC EU CommissionEEA European Environment AgencyEMD European Maritime DayEMFAF European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture FundEMFF European Maritime and Fisheries FundEP European ParliamentESPO European Sea Ports AssociationETC European T ravel CommissionEU European UnionEUMSS European Maritime Security Strategy8 List of AbbreviationsEUSBSR European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea RegionFSRU Floating storage and regasification unitGHG Greenhouse gasHELCOM Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission/Helsinki CommissionICES International Council for the Exploration of the SeaIMO International Maritime OrganizationIMP Integrated Maritime PolicyIOC-UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural OrganizationIOG International Ocean GovernanceIOW Institute for Baltic Sea Research WarnemündeIUCN International Union for Conservation of NatureIUU Illegal, unregulated and unreported fishingLNG Liquefied Natural GasMP Member of ParliamentMPA(s) Marine Protected Area(s)MS EU member state(s)MSP Maritime Spatial PlanningMSFD EU Marine Strategy Framework DirectiveMSP Maritime Spatial PlanningNGO(s) Non-Governmental Organisation(s)OECD Organization for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentPML Plymouth Marine LaboratoryPSO South Baltic Parliamentary ForumR&D/R&I Research and Development/Research and InnovationSDGs UN Sustainable Development GoalsSOLAS International Convention for the Safety of Life at SeaSTECF Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for FisheriesTAC Total allowable catchesUN United NationsUNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the SeaUNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural OrganizationWTO World T rade Organization9 A – Activities of the Maritime Rapporteurs and other Important EventsA – Activities of the Maritime Rapporteurs and otherImportant EventsDue to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, also in this reporting period, many popular maritime eventsneeded to be cancelled or could only take place in a digital format.1. Reactions of political institutions on the Russian war in UkraineAs a reaction to the decision of the Russian president Vladimir Putin to wage war in Ukraine, several in -stitutions of Baltic cooperation suspended the Russian voting right or membership.On behalf of the Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS), on 3 March 2022, the foreign ministers of Germa -ny, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Poland and Sweden as well as theHigh Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy published a jointdeclaration . Therein, they announced their decision to suspend Russia’s membership in the CBSS in lightof the Russian attack on Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022. The observer status of Belarus wasalso suspended.The South Baltic Parliamentary Forum (PSO), established in 2004, was scheduled to resume its activitiesin September 2022 for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, whereas it was decided to leaveout the duma of the Kaliningrad Oblast.Likewise, the BSPC’s standing committee agreed on 20 April 2022 in Warsaw to suspend the Russian par -liaments.In light of the current political situation, the German Chair of the Baltic Marine Environment ProtectionCommission/Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) suspended the Helsinki Commission meeting sched -uled for March 3-4, 2022, until further notice and issued a statement on Ukraine.An alliance on behalf of Ukraine was forged, which consists of Ukrainian and European associations.These are the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), Eurocities, the Assembly of Eu -ropean Regions (AER), the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), the Association of10 A – Activities of the Maritime Rapporteurs and other Important EventsEuropean Border Regions (AEBR), the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CAL -RE) as well as the Covenant of Mayors, which are seeking to participate in the “EU Recovery Platform”that has been formed.2. Pan-European Cruise DialogueOn 1 March 2022, the European Commission (EC) was to host the second ‘Pan-European Cruise Dia -logue’ in Brussels. This event was the latest in a series of dialogues to promote sustainable cruise tourismin the EU. It featured speakers from the European Commission (EC), the European Parliament, theCruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the European Sea Ports Association (ESPO), the Europe -an T ravel Commission (ETC) and other cruise tourism stakeholders.In four panels, they discussed on sustainable cruise destinations management, on making the green tran -sition, on specific measures in the Baltic and in the Mediterranean. The cruise tourism’s governance struc -tures and the respect for local cultures were also central topics of the event.On environmental stability, an EC representative stated that the task was to reduce the cumulative envi -ronmental effect of actions in the maritime sector. There was still a long way to go for the tourism indus -try to achieve a contribution to the EU’s climate neutrality goal for 2050. Strengthening the sustainabledevelopment of coastal and maritime tourism was an integral part of the EC‘s new approach to transformthe Blue Economy and a key aspect of translating the Green Deal in this field (see section B.I for moredetails).Before the COVID-19 crisis broke out, Europe was the second biggest cruise market after North Ameri -ca, both as a source of passengers and as a cruise destination. The sector provided over 400,000 jobs(2019) and had a turnover of roughly 40 billion euros. Moreover, 95% of all cruise ships worldwide werebuilt in European shipyards. Every year, some 7 million Europeans spent their holidays on a cruise ship.Yet, cruise tourism was among the industrial sectors most heavily hit by the crisis, if not the most affect -ed one in terms of turnover and employment. Due to lockdown measures, travel restrictions and severaloutbreaks on board, cruise operations came to a full halt in March 2020.The industry gradually restarted operations in the second half of 2022.11 A – Activities of the Maritime Rapporteurs and other Important EventsAccording to European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius (seepicture below), the EC had acted very strongly to sustain the sector. The development of the EU’s Healthand Safety Seal for tourism establishments and the digital COVID certificate were leading initiatives.EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius, source: Landtag Meck -lenburg-VorpommernIn order to truly recover and prepare for the future, the cruise tourism sector would need to reinvent it -self by reducing its environmental impact while generating value for consumers. Through NextGenera -tionEU, the EU’s 800 billion euro recovery plan, the green and digital transition plans of the industryhave been supported.As Commissioner Sinkevičius pointed out, the cruise sector might not return to where it left off beforethe crisis. A new generation of tourists has new expectations - in terms of the impact on the climate, theenvironment and on coastal communities. According to a recent Eurobarometer survey, over 80% of EUcitizens were prepared to change their travel and tourism habits to be more sustainable and environmen -tally friendly. During the reporting period, an activist group named “Smashcruiseshit” even blocked thecruise ship AIDAdiva in the harbor of Warnemünde, Germany.At the Pan-European Cruise Dialogue, sustainable cruise tourism for the coming years was examined with12 A – Activities of the Maritime Rapporteurs and other Important Eventsthe aim to highlight good practices that leverage partnerships of cruise tourism stakeholders and amplifytheir joint efforts.Even though some countries have their own national strategies, there is strong consensus that a Europeanframework for sustainable tourism is needed. In March 2021, the European Parliament (EP) invited theEC in a resolution to establish a new EU strategy for sustainable and strategic tourism aligned with theDigital Agenda, the European Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Mayof the same year, also the Council called on the EC to propose an outline for an EU Agenda for Tourism2030.Moreover, strengthening the development of sustainable tourism is identified in the EC’s new approachto a sustainable blue economy, published in May 2021.13. COP-26: EU Ocean Day highlighted role of oceans in tackling climate changeThe ocean is a key enabler of life on earth, producing 50% of the oxygen in the atmosphere, absorb -ing about 25% of human-produced carbon dioxide emissions and 90% of excess heat in the climatesystem, and regulating the global climate. The ocean has greatly slowed the rate of climate changebut also has been among its first victims: 14% of coral reefs are gone, the Arctic has lost an ice areaabout six times the size of Germany over the last 40 years, and marine species are disappearing fromtheir habitat at twice the rate of those on land.To underline the importance of the nexus between the ocean and climate change, the EU has called forthe third edition of the EU Ocean Day at the Conference of the Parties (COP) “COP26” in presence ofVirginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.The event took place in Glasgow in a hybrid format on 9 November 2021 and was co-organised with theEuropean Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD), the Ocean and Climate Platform and thePlymouth Marine Laboratory (PML).1 See: https://ec.europa.eu/oceans-and -fisheries/news/2nd-pan-european-cruise-dialogue-road-sustaina -ble-cruise -tourism-2022-03-01_en ; access: 8 June 2023.13 A – Activities of the Maritime Rapporteurs and other Important EventsThis event followed up on the commitment of convening a dedicated Dialogue on Ocean and ClimateChange, taken at the Blue COP (COP25). It drew on the recently adopted Arctic Joint Communicationof the preceding as well as ongoing EU action for the ocean, including the Biodiversity Strategy 20302,the designation of new large-scale Antarctic Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), the Strategy for Adaptation,and the new approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU to support climate adaptation and coast -al resilience.The EU has set its Paris Agreement target of climate neutrality by 2050 into law, while it aims reducinggreenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030 with the “Fit for 55” package”.The “Carbon border adjustment mechanism as part of the European Green Deal“ (CBAM) was signed on10 May 2023 and published in the Official Journal on 16 May 2023. The EU Emissions T rading System(ETS)’s free emission allowances are to be replaced by the CBAM, this is to occur from 2026 and 2034.The final acts on the Revision of the ETS, including on the monitoring, reporting and verification of mar -itime GHG emissions, were signed on 10 May 2023 and published in the Official Journal on 16 May 2023.4. The Sealogy ExhibitionOn 18 November 2021, the EU-Commission organised a conference at the Sealogy Exhibition - a majorinternational, annual blue economy event in Ferrara, Italy, on the new approach for a sustainable blueeconomy.Six months after the launch of the EC‘s communication, participants discussed not only the facilitatingfactors for a sustainable blue economy, such as investments and financing mechanisms, but also the so -cio-economic value of blue ecosystems and the importance of ‘blue’ knowledge, skills and innovation.2 The non-binding Global Biodiversity Framework agreed on by representatives from 195 countries and the EU on 19 December 2022 ["Kunming and MontrealGlobal Biodiversity Framework"] during the UN Conference on Biological Diversity (COP15) sets out four main goals and 23 targets for countries to achieve by2030 and 2050. These include protecting and restoring at least 30 percent of the world's oceans by 2030, halting the extinction of known threatened species, andreducing extinction rates tenfold by 2050. In terms of funding, the agreement calls for phasing out harmful subsidies of at least $500 billion per year and mobi -lizing $200 billion per year in national and international funding for biodiversity from public and private sources by 2030.14 A – Activities of the Maritime Rapporteurs and other Important EventsHope was expressed for new sustainable blue jobs and growth, involving public and private funding andinvestment in the coming years, which is supposed to enable the delivery of products, materials and ser -vices in line with the Green Deal objectives not just at sea, but in the main economy as well. Particularattention should be paid to the development of circular approaches, and businesses with high social val -ue. Technical and social innovation come hand in hand, and reinforce each other, directly or tacitly.The meeting concluded that sustainable blue economy is a huge opportunity for islands, who can func -tion as living labs for programmes on education, training, ocean literacy and the transition to sustainablepractices.Ecosystem services and nature-based solutions have a major role to play, although proper mapping andvaluation remains a complex exercise, for which common indicators and a harmonized methodology areneeded.5. European Maritime Day 2022During the Kick-off event for the Innovation Platform “Sustainable Sea and Ocean Solutions ISSS” on23 September 2021, which took place online, ten European research organizations sharing the goal of asustainable use of the oceans and the development of marine technologies were brought together underthe auspices of Fraunhofer IGD in Rostock. They agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding for coop -eration within the Innovation Platform Sustainable Sea and Ocean Solutions (ISSS platform). In additionto Fraunhofer IGD, RISE (Sweden), VTT (Finland) and SINTEF (Norway) from the Baltic Sea regionwere participating. The event was organised as part of the “European Maritime Day in my Country” andas an activity within the UN Decade of Oceans.The key note by Nina Jensen (CEO, REV Ocean) gave insights regarding the importance of our oceansand the empowering role of ocean science for the future. A panel discussion with Anssi Mikola (Founder,RiverRecycle), Szilvia Nemeth (Deputy Head of Unit, Healthy Ocean and Seas, DG Research & Innova -tion, EU-Commission), Alexandra Neyts (Senior Advisor, European Aquaculture Technology & Innova -tion Platform EATIP), António Sarmento (President, WavEC Offshore Renewables) and Bård WathneTveiten (Vice President EU Research and Innovation, Sintef Ocean) treated the questions of why im -proved collection, management and use of ocean data is important and how collaboration on ocean dataand knowledge management between industry, research, policy and citizens can be enhanced.15 A – Activities of the Maritime Rapporteurs and other Important EventsCompetences and solutions in the areas of energy and resource harvesting, ocean cleaning, and aquacul -ture were presented. In three expert sessions, the scientists highlighted their research results, which can beused to tackle the ocean challenges.6. The Åland Maritime DayÅlands Sjöfart rf, in cooperation with the Government of Åland and other stakeholders hosted the ÅlandMaritime Day on June 1st, 2023. The event was attended by 700 delegates who gathered in Mariehamnfor a day of trade and information. The following issues were highlighted as challenges for shipping:• Covid-19 disruptions• Energy crisis• Geopolitical instability• Rapidly increasing Electrical Vehicles, which pose security concernsAt the Maritime Day, concern was also raised regarding compliance with bold environmental targets for -mulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which affects the order stock in yards world -wide. The RoRo-orderbook-to-existing fleet ratio fell to 7 % in 2022 (in lane meter) and even 6 % in2023, indicating a future lack of tonnage. The whole orderbook considerably increased between 2015 and2019, then decelerated quickly since Covid-19. Due to several reasons, prices are also very likely to con -tinue increasing, including consolidated market, cost-reduction programs implemented by shipyards,new regulations, higher material costs, higher labor costs and inflation. Another area of concern for inter -national shipping is cyber threats aimed towards Information Technology and Operation Technology.Over the last ten years, digitalization has caused growing complexity and therefore new challenges. Themaritime industry is generally not well prepared towards this, and digitalization will increase opportuni -ties for cyber incidents. Cyber attacks are getting more dangerous and more prevalent year after year.From the Nordic Council of Ministers there was a presentation raising the common Nordic challenge inshipping. In order to reach sustainability there are a number of barriers identified including costs, lack offuel availability and bunkering infrastructure and lack of safety requirements on board and on shore forammonia and hydrogen. Actions needed to overcome these barriers could be cost- and risk-sharing mech -anisms such as procurement policies, green financing and Contract for Difference (CfD). A commonNordic approach could be related to alternative maritime fuels safety, promoting green fuel infrastructure16 A – Activities of the Maritime Rapporteurs and other Important Eventsand the construction of a market for green cargo transport with standardized GHG emission accounta -bility.The Åland Maritime Day is an important networking platform for the maritime industry with interestingkeynotes and panel discussions. The event provides an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss the chal -lenges facing the industry and to explore potential solutions.7. EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region & The Council of the Baltic Sea StatesExpert Group on Sustainable Maritime Economy (EGSME)On June 8, 2023, the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) Policy Area (PA) Ship organizeda workshop on operational steps to establish green shipping corridors as a way to achieve zero-carbonshipping. The workshop was hosted by the German Federal Ministry of T ransport and Digital Infrastruc -ture of Germany and organized as back-to-back with the Germany’s Presidency of the Council of BalticSea States (CBSS) Expert Group on Sustainable Maritime Economy meeting June 7. The workshop gath -ered approximately 40 participants representing shipping line companies, ferry operators, shipbuildingindustry representatives, port authorities and operators, academic institutes, authorities and policymakerstogether with NGOs from different countries across the Baltic Sea, Nordics and other parts of Europe.The workshop highlighted several key messages:• Collaborative Approach: Collaboration between stakeholders including governments, privatesector companies and different industry sectors is crucial for successfully establishing greenshipping corridors.• Financial Risk-Sharing: Sharing the financial risks associated with the establishment of greencorridors among stakeholders is essential to ensure their viability and sustainability.• Incentives and Support: Incentives, such as supportive policies, funding opportunities andregulatory frameworks are necessary to accelerate the transition to zero-carbon shipping andencourage industry participation.17 A – Activities of the Maritime Rapporteurs and other Important Events• Technological Advancements: Embracing innovative technologies and addressing challengesrelated to alternative fuels, bunkering infrastructure and safety requirements are critical for thesuccessful implementation of green shipping corridors.• Global Collaboration: International coordination and knowledge sharing among differentcountries and regions are important to create a unified approach and ensure harmonizedimplementation of green shipping corridors worldwide.The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) aims to make the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) a modelregion for clean shipping. The Policy Area on Clean Shipping (PA Ship) is responsible for achieving thisgoal. The workshop on operational steps to establish green shipping corridors is part of the effort toachieve this aim. The Baltic Sea Strategy helps to mobilize all relevant EU funding and policies and coor -dinate the actions of the EU, EU countries, regions, pan-Baltic organizations, financing institutions, andnon-governmental bodies to promote a more balanced development of the BSR.18 B – Reaction on the COVID-19 crisis and the War in UkraineB – Reaction on the COVID-19 crisis and the War inUkraine1. COVID-19 impact and reactionThe cruise industry, which was expected to bounce back after COVID-19, had still not recovered by the be -ginning of 2022: Aidanova for example had to stop its Canary Islands tour in January, after 52 crew membershad been infected.The German Ship owners’ association forecasted in the beginning of the year 2022 that supply chainswould not get back to normal until after the pandemic. Companies and consumers had to adjust to miss -ing or delayed deliveries. “Unfortunately, it remains to be seen when the situation with supply chains willimprove in the long term,” the association’s new president, Gaby Bornheim, told the German press agen -cy. “But I am sure that when we have defeated the pandemic, whenever that will be, then things will flowbetter again.”Large parts of the economy have been complaining for many months that urgently needed supplies werenot arriving at all or not on time. The same was true of many consumers who, for example, had to waitfor electronics items they had ordered long ago. One reason for this was the early economic recovery inthe USA and China. But in addition to the huge surge in demand from the world’s two largest economies,logistics in the global transport of goods was also out of sync.“The strained supply chains are clearly a result of the Corona pandemic [...]”, said Gaby Bornheim backin January 2022. Seafarers still could not be brought on or off the ship as usual, she said. There were sig -nificant restrictions that hampered change in individual ports on a weekly, sometimes daily basis, so therewas no certainty at all of being able to do crew changes in many parts of the world.Ports have also continuously and severely been affected by the Corona virus. As a result, shipping compa -nies frowned upon their ships “queuing up outside the ports because, for example, terminal staff are alsosick,” the president of the German Ship owners Association said. In many places, “major ship congestionwas forming because hinterland traffic has also largely collapsed or was extremely delayed because, for themost part, truck drivers [were] also unavailable.”19 B – Reaction on the COVID-19 crisis and the War in Ukraine2. Shipyards and shipbuilding in the German region of Mecklenburg-VorpommernAlso in the course of the reporting period of 25 August 2021 until July 2023, like in many Baltic regions,the maritime sector in the German land Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has been severely affected by theCOVID-19 pandemic: MV Werften, a large shipbuilding company with sites in the region and around1,900 employees, faced great difficulties and insolvency partly due to the Corona pandemic and thebreakdown of cruise tourism. The shipyards filed for insolvency on 10 January 2022, after the owner,Genting, had become insolvent.The shipyards were a central part of the land’s shipbuilding industry. They were working on a huge newline of cruise ships called “global-class” vessels. The ships, more than 340 meters long, were to sail to Asianports and the U.S. West Coast.Work on the ship “Global Dream I” in Wismar had been halted. Then, Disney cruises announced to fin -ish the construction works via the shipyards in Papenburg (Meyer Werft).The fate of the massive €1 billion “Global Dream II” cruise ship, which had been under construction, hasfor a long time remained unclear. It was set to be scrapped.In the attempt to save the shipyards and maritime industries, the Region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommernand the German Federal Government had offered to provide 600 million euros from the pandemic eco -nomic fund. However, pandemic-hit Genting was unable or unwilling to co-finance the governmentfunds with its resources at a rate of 10%.Normally, state aid requires 20% of the funds to be supplemented by the company’s own funds. Howev -er, in view of the massive job losses, the German side had been trying hard to accommodate the companyin terms of financing.On 18 January 2022, Hong Kong-listed cruise operator Genting Hong Kong Limited (‘Genting HK’)filed for provisional liquidation with the Supreme Court of Bermuda after it failed to secure access to li -quidity.At MV Werften, 1,900 employees were facing the loss of their jobs, and by December 2021, they had stillnot received their wages. Throughout the supply chain, another 1,500 jobs were at risk. During a special20 B – Reaction on the COVID-19 crisis and the War in Ukrainesession of the Regional Parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on 13 January 2022, the minister-pres -ident of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Manuela Schwesig said, the goals of the State Government of Meck -lenburg-Vorpommern were to pay wages to the employees, to find ways to complete the “Global One”and find buyers, and also to develop future prospects for all three maritime sites in Rostock, Wismar andStralsund in order to bridge the crisis period.Retaining the workers of MV Werften means to retain the existing know-how and to remain an interest -ing target of potential investors. To that end, transfer companies have been co-financed by Genting andalso by the federal and regional government, which have taken action after consulting with employee rep -resentatives.The aim was and is to maintain the shipyard locations in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as the industrialcore of the state and to offer skilled workers long-term prospects. Some employees and trainees had leftthe shipyards, despite the fact that the transfer company was running until 30 June 2022. Around 20 havebeen placed at Philly Shipyards in the USA. Complete departments with their foremen were to follow.The Hanseatic City of Stralsund has acquired the Stralsund shipyard site, facilities and operating equip -ment for the establishment of a maritime business park. New investors, the Norwegian shipbuilding com -pany Forsen Yard and the Norwegian company Ostseetaal, which plans to build hybrid ships here, havesigned leases. The submarine and naval ship manufacturer Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, TKMS, boughtthe Wismar site.Mecklenburg-Vorpommern wants to use the accelerated expansion of green power production to realignand maintain the maritime economy in the state. As Economics Minister Reinhard Meyer (SPD) said inthe state parliament in Schwerin in April 2022, the state government had presented a financing model forthe construction of so-called converter platforms, which are needed to connect offshore wind farms. Themodel was the subject of an expert workshop in which representatives of the federal government were alsoinvolved.An opportunity for shipyards in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern could also be the development and installa -tion of new ship propulsion systems to meet environmental regulations in the future. “The need forconversion of the German merchant fleet is great,” Minister Reinhard Meyer said. Some are calling on thefederal government to set up a state support program for such retrofits.21 B – Reaction on the COVID-19 crisis and the War in Ukraine3. Reactions on the war in UkraineThe Russian war in Ukraine among others heavily affected the fishery and aquaculture sectors. Since therewere still financial resources available under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)3, the ECwanted to give the possibility to EU member states to reallocate them to specific mitigation measures: On13 April 2022, it proposed a legislative amendment (COM(2022) 179) to the EMFF 2014–20. The lat -ter amended and corrected Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 as regards specific measures to alleviate theconsequences of the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine on fishing activities and to mitigate theeffects of the market disruption caused by that military aggression on the supply chain of fishery and aq -uaculture products. This proposal complemented Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/500 of25 March 2022 on the classification of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine as an exceptional oc -currence causing major market disruption, thereby triggering crisis support measures under the new Eu -ropean Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).The amendment allowed financial compensation for additional costs, for income forgone and for the stor -age of products, as well as for the temporary cessation of fishing activities where they were unsafe. Theproposal also introduced flexibility mechanisms to facilitate the quick implementation of these new meas -ures:• A simplified procedure for amending the operational programmes of EU member states (MS) asregards the introduction of these measures, including the reallocation of financial resources.• Retroactive eligibility of expenditure as of 24 February 2022 for these measures.• The possibility of reallocating the fixed amounts initially reserved for certain EMFF measures (i.e.control and enforcement, data collection) to the new crisis related measures.This step came in addition to the T emporary Crisis Framework , which enabled MS to provide supportthrough state aid.On 22 July 2022, the European Parliament (EP) and the Council adopted the crisis measures proposedby the EC on 13 April of that same year.3 The new EMFF regulation for the 2021-2027 period, signed on 7 July 2021, was published in the Official Journal on 13 July as Regulation 2021/1139, en -tered into force on the following day and applies retroactively from 1 January 2021.22 B – Reaction on the COVID-19 crisis and the War in UkraineIn the beginning of July 2023, Latvia took over the Presiden -cy of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR)from Sweden. The common efforts to identify and promotemeans to use the EUSBSR to contribute to the reconstruc -tion of Ukraine, launched by the Swedish Presidency, shallbe continued.For the upcoming twelve months, Latvia will lead the workon overall strategic guidance, facilitation of decision-makingand coordination of the National Coordinators Group withthe support from the EC and the Baltic Sea Strategy Point.The Strategy’s 14th Annual Forum will be organised in Rigaon 4-5 October 2023. The Forum’s title and topic “Safe andSustainable Baltic Sea Region for Future Generations” isaligned with the main objectives of the strategy – save thesea, connect the region, and increase prosperity – with spe -cial attention on climate affairs, green energy and the youth.The EU areas of the BSR, source: EC.23 Further Developments at the EU levelFurther Developments at the EU levelI. Blue Growth and the European Green DealI.1. Blue BioeconomyBio-based materials for sustainable European aquaculture and the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint UndertakingThe Blue Bioeconomy is pursuing the sustainable, economic use of biological resources from oceans andwaters. This includes not only fish and shellfish, but also micro and macroalgae, reeds, driftwood and vas -cular plants.Part of the EU’s Blue economy, offshore aquaculture is a promising sector, fostering economic opportu -nity, employment and food security. In offshore mussels farms, mussels are grown on long ropes, suspend -ed underwater. However, the ropes used in aquaculture are made from plastic, threatening marine ecosys -tems, if discarded or not disposed of correctly. At the same time, as the aquaculture sector experiences in -creasing demand, more ropes are needed. To solve this conundrum, the EU-funded Biogears project aimsto provide the aquaculture sector with innovative bio-based ropes that contribute to a more sustainableaquaculture sector.Launched in 2019, the Biogears consortium develops prototypes of bio-based ropes for use in mussel andseaweed culture. Biogears builds on knowledge generated by previous projects. Also partly EU-financed,these have been instrumental in understanding both the volume and type of marine litter generated byaquaculture and their impact on the marine environment, and the growth, production yield and qualityof mussels, when cultured on conventional plastic ropes.Aiming to replace or complement oil-based plastics, the consortium has produced compostable plasticsfrom natural components derived from renewable biomass. The goal is to obtain a plastic that does notdecompose at sea, but instead turns into compost, when it is no longer of use. The bio-based ropes devel -oped by Biogears are tested at sea, under different environmental conditions. Technical, environmentaland economic sustainability assessment of the bio-gears is carried out, including its degradability at seaand the composting conditions.24 Further Developments at the EU levelThe project is engaging with the entire value chain and key stakeholders, from the aquaculture industryand producers of materials to regulatory authorities, policy makers, research institutions and consumers.Beyond this project, the bio-based ropes can be adapted for other aquaculture and fisheries needs, con -tributing more widely to the sustainable transformation of the sector.The EU-funded Biogears project is in line with the vision for a sustainable blue economy under the Eu -ropean Green Deal and contributes to European policies on plastics and microplastics. It underpins keypolicies such as those set out in the EU’s Bioeconomy Strategy and the European Farm to Fork Strategy.Shifting from non-renewable fossil raw materials and minerals to circular bio-based production can con -tribute to the EU’s climate neutrality target by 2050 while creating jobs and economic growth in regionsacross Europe.In 2021, the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking was launched (30 November 2021) in orderto advance a competitive bioeconomy for the next ten years. It is a €2 billion partnership betweenthe EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium that funds projects advancing competitive circular bio-based industries in Europe.The joint undertaking is operating under the rules of Horizon Europe , the EU’s research and innovationprogramme, for the 2021-2031 period. The partnership is building on the success of its predecessor,the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking, while addressing the current challenges facing the industry.The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking is its legal and universal successor in respect of all con -tracts, grant agreements and liabilities. The partnership was established by the Council regulation (EU)2021/2085 of 19 November 2021.25 Further Developments at the EU levelI.2. Initiatives related to maritime policy in the EU Commission‘s WorkProgrammeSeveral Initiatives in the EC’s Work Programme 2023 and in the EC’s Work Programme 20224 (publishedon 19 October 2021) have implications for the maritime sector:Greening corporate fleets initiative(legislative or non-legislative, Q3 2023)Revision of the combined transport Directive(legislative, incl. impact assessment, Articles 91 and 100(2) TFEU, Q2 2023)Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending Di -rective 2010/40/EU on the framework for the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in the field ofroad transport and for interfaces with other modes of transport(priority pending proposal)Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on Unionguidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, amending Regulation (EU)2021/1153 and Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulation (EU) 1315/2013(priority pending proposal)Maritime security Joint Communication on the update of the EU maritime security strategy(non-legislative, Q1 2023, see section III.5 in this report)Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS),including maritime, aviation and CORSIA as well as a proposal for ETS as own resource(legislative, incl. impact assessment, Q2 2021, see section A.3 in this report)4 See for a comprehensive list of EU initiatives of the 2022 work programme: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default /files/com2021_645-annex_en.pdf . The EC’s work programme 2023 can be found here: https://commission.europa.eu/system /files/2022-10/factsheet_cwp_2023_annex_1.pdf26 Further Developments at the EU level• Zero pollution package:a) Revision of EU legislation on hazard classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals action(Revision of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, legislative proposal is expected in Q2 2022),b) Integrated water management – revised lists of surface and groundwater pollutants(legislative, incl. impact assessment, Article 192 TFEU, Q3 2021),c) Revision of EU ambient air quality legislation(legislative, incl. impact assessment, Article 192 TFEU, Q3 2022)• Climate measures package:a) Review of EU rules on fluorinated greenhouse gases(legislative, incl. impact assessment, Article 192(1) TFEU, priority pending proposal)b) EU framework for harmonised measurement of transport and logistics emissions(legislative, incl. impact assessment, Articles 91 and 100(2) TFEU, Q4 2022)• Plastics package:a) Policy framework for bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics(non-legislative, Q2 2022)b) Restriction on microplastics(non-legislative, Q4 2022)c) Measures to reduce the release of microplastics in the environment(legislative, incl. impact assessment, Article 114 TFEU, Q4 2022)• International ocean governance (IOG):a) Joint Communication on international ocean governance(non-legislative, Q2 2022)• Cyber resilience:a) European cyber resilience act(legislative, incl. impact assessment, Q3 2022)27 Further Developments at the EU level• Multimodal digital mobility:a) Multimodal digital mobility services(legislative, incl. impact assessment, Article 91 TFEU, Q4 2022)• Revision of the vertical block exemption Regulation and of the vertical guidelines• Revision of the horizontal block exemption Regulation and of the horizontal guidelines• Revision of certain procedural aspects of EU merger control• Revision of the package travel Directive - Adaptation to COVID-19 contextPriority Pending Proposals:Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL onshipments of waste and amending Regulations (EU) No 1257/2013 and (EU) No 2020/1056Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTIVE restructuring the Union framework for the taxation of energyproducts and electricity (recast)Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL onthe use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport and amending Directive 2009/16/EC:The goal of the proposal on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport (FuelEUMaritime) is to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the energy used on-board by ships by up to 75%by 2050, by promoting the use of greener fuels by ships. Despite progress in recent years, the maritimesector still relies almost entirely on fossil fuels and constitutes a significant source of greenhouse gases andother harmful pollutant emissions. The Council agreed on a general approach on the proposal in June2022. In March 2023, the Council and the EP reached a provisional deal on the new rules.Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL onthe deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, and repealing Directive 2014/94/EU of the EuropeanParliament and of the CouncilProposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amendingDirective (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of theEuropean Parliament and of the Council and Directive 98/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Coun -cil as regards the promotion of energy from renewable sources, and repealing Council Directive (EU) 2015/65228 Further Developments at the EU levelProposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCILamending Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, and amending Council Regulations (EC) No768/2005, (EC) No 1967/2006, (EC) No 1005/2008, and Regulation (EU) No 2016/1139 of the Euro -pean Parliament and of the Council as regards fisheries controlI.3. Emission controlBy 31st of August 2022 each year the EU member states must submit a summary of fuel quality moni -toring data collected during the period January to December of the previous calendar year, in accordancewith Article 8(1) of Directive 98/70/EC as amended by Directive 2009/30/EC. The delivery process ismanaged by the European Environment Agency (EEA).5An International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreement was reached on 7 July 2023 to revise its 2018strategy on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships, setting the goal of net zero emissionsfrom ships “by or around, i.e. close to, 2050”. It is also setting the target of at least 5% - striving for 10%- uptake of zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies, fuels and/or energy sources by 2030.To implement the European Green Deal, the EC in its Sustainable and smart mobility strategy outlinedthe necessary transformation of the EU transportation system. Among the many measures listed, the ac -tion plan linked to the strategy mentions also the revision of the EU rules on pollution from ships.Despite existing EU rules for prevention of pollution from ships, increased surveillance and enforcementefforts, illegal discharges of oil and other polluting substances still regularly occur in European waters, andthe detection, and therefore the number of prosecutions, remains low.According to EU rules, established in Directive 2005/35/EC, EU Member States must ensure that ship-source discharges of polluting substances are regarded as infringements (if committed with intent, reck -lessly or with serious negligence). The directive also sets out a common framework for how to deal withpenalties, including criminal sanctions, for illegal discharges from ships. Persons responsible for discharg -es of polluting substances have to be subject to adequate penalties, including criminal penalties.5 https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures#c0=15& c5=&c15=all&b_start=029 Further Developments at the EU levelSince 2005, there have been significant developments in protection of the marine environment both inthe UN International Maritime Organization (IMO MARPOL Convention) and in EU legislation (Di -rective 2019/883/EU, which requires ships to deliver their waste in ports). In addition, EU rules on theprotection of the environment through criminal law (Directive 2008/99/EC) have been found inefficientand in need for revision. Furthermore, the EU has developed several digital reporting systems managedby the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), in parallel to systems used by Member States (MS) asflag States for the control of their fleets, which could be linked and used to provide evidence of pollutiondischarges.On 19 May 2021, the European Commission published a combined ‘Evaluation and Inception impactassessment roadmap’ on the revision of Directive 2005/35/EC with the aim to evaluate the existing situ -ation and to analyse the possibility to propose a revision of the Directive.It intends to tackle the following issues:1. Incentives for illegal discharges from ships as compared to delivering waste legally in ports;2. Difficulties linked to the enforcement of the rules in maritime transport, transboundary by nature;3. Differences in sanction types and levels among MS;4. Alignment with amendments to the MARPOL Convention and its Annexes;5. Efficient use of EU-wide satellite surveillance and digital reporting systems.The feedback period closed on 16 June 2021.While the review was initially foreseen for Q3 2022, the publication of the revised proposal is not men -tioned in the EC work programme for 2022. For 2023, it mentions that the EC will work to reduce emis -sions and pollution from transport.The legislative proposal (COM (2023) 273 final) was presented by the EC on 1 June 2023 as part of thelarger maritime safety package. It aims to prevent any type of illegal discharges into European seas, in or -der to preserve the marine ecosystem. The proposal aligns EU rules with international regulations and ex -tends the scope to cover a wider range of polluting substances. It furthermore establishes a strengthenedlegal framework for penalties and their application. It will also optimise CleanSeaNet (EMSA’s database)which will lead to timely enforcement and cooperation between MS.This proposal will be considered by the EP and the Council in the ordinary legislative procedure.30 Further Developments at the EU levelI.4. T axationOn 15 September 2021, in the State of the Union letter of intent from the President of the EC von derLeyen and Vice-President Šefčovič to the President of the EP and to the Council Presidency, it was an -nounced, among the key new initiatives, a legislative proposal on the implementation of the OECD glob -al agreement on minimum effective taxation.Following the further development of international tax rules by the OECD and G20, the EU Commis -sion has presented a proposal for a directive setting out how the principles of the 15% effective tax rateagreed by 137 countries should be applied in practice in the EU.It aims to limit competition for ever-lower corporate tax rates and to ensure that multinationals make anappropriate tax contribution, regardless of where they operate. The proposal sets out a common set ofrules for calculating an effective tax rate so that it is applied properly and consistently across the EU. Theproposed rules apply to all large domestic and international groups, including the financial sector, with atotal annual turnover of more than EUR 750 million that have either a parent company or a subsidiaryin an EU Member State.Art. 17 of the council directive (EU) 2022/2523 deals with the exemption of income from internationalmaritime transport.On 15 December 2022, the council directive was adopted.31 Further Developments at the EU levelI.5. Ocean GovernanceOn 9 December 2021, the UN General Assembly debated and adopted two resolutions, one on “Oceansand Law of the Sea” and one on “Sustainable Fisheries”, aiming to ensure that oceans and seas can be thebasis for sustainable development and provide for the needs of current and future generations.The EU considered the two annual resolutions important in strengthening ocean governance. The UNConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to which the EU is a party, constitutes a fundamental pil -lar of ocean governance. It establishes the overarching legal framework within which all ocean and seaborne activities must be carried out. The EU calls upon all members of the international community toabide by the fundamental principles and rules of the law of the sea and refrain from any actions under -mining regional stability and security.The EU highlighted the need to employ the best available science when implementing recovery strategiesfrom the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, so as to ensure that the targets of the 2030 Agenda couldbe achieved, notably as the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 targets due in 2020 have notbeen met.The latest scientific reports demonstrated that the health of the ocean is not improving and the impactsof climate change and biodiversity loss are increasing, with potential significant socio-economic impacts.Consequently, the EU looked forward to the opportunities for further progress offered by the 2022 UNOceans Conference as well as the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and en -couraged great participation in both.The EU remained committed to achieving sustainable fisheries, in line with the objectives of its commonfisheries policy. Harmful subsidies, which contribute to overcapacity, overfishing and illegal, unregulatedand unreported (IUU) fishing, were one of the main obstacles to achieving sustainability. The EU wascommitted to concluding the long-standing World T rade Organisation (WTO) negotiations in this re -gard as soon as possible.The EU was looking forward to the full resumption of UN meetings in the area of ocean and fisheries. Inparticular, the EU was dedicated to ensuring that ongoing negotiations on an agreement for the conser -vation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) could befinalised as soon as possible, ideally in 2022.32 Further Developments at the EU levelThe fourth Intergovernmental Conference on a T reaty of the High Seas (the UNCLOS implementingagreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, known also as “BBNJ”) concluded its work on18 March 2022, and an agreement on an ambitious, fair, effective agreement on the treaty became insight. Such agreement would provide much needed protection to biodiversity in the ocean.The EU and its member states were said to be in the lead, through the 46-countries strong BBNJ HighAmbition Coalition “Protecting the oceans - time for action“ for the conclusion of an ambitious, fair andeffective treaty in 2022.At the ministerial meeting in the margins of the conference, EU Commissioner Sinkevičius remindedparticipants that the high seas comprised 95% of the ocean, provided invaluable ecological, economic, so -cial and food security benefits to humanity and were in need of urgent protection.Parties of the conference were able to make good progress on all the key issues on the agenda, includingon the procedure to identify, establish and manage marine protected areas (MPAs) in the high seas, only1% of which are protected today. The rules for conducting environmental impact assessments in the highseas, various aspects of marine scientific research and the collection and use of marine genetic resources,the need to support developing countries to implement the agreement, together with the needed institu -tional set-up, were also discussed.In concluding the conference, the EU and its MS have stressed the urgency to act to protect the oceanglobally, and called for a fifth and final session to take place in August 2022.In June 2023, the BBNJ was adopted by the UN Plenary Assembly in New York. It still needs to be signedand ratified by at least 60 UN member states to enter into force.I.6. Common FisheriesEU Regional Cooperation Group for the Baltic AreaRegional coordination groups are the main hub for regional coordination and cooperation of the differ -ent regions contributing to the fisheries Data Collection Framework of the EU.33 Further Developments at the EU levelA new website for Regional Coordination Groups became available in October 2021 ( https://www.fisher -ies-rcg.eu /secweb/ ), which offers information about their work, including details of their meetings, reportsand decisions.6Six different Regional Coordination Groups are currently operating, among which is the Regional Coor -dination Group for the Baltic area ( RCG Baltic ).Landing obligation: First study of implementation and impact on discardsOverall, a study from 2021 on the implementation of the landing obligation is concluding that controland enforcement of the landing obligation remain challenging, that EU Member States have not adoptedthe necessary control measures and that significant undocumented discarding of catches occur.Sustainable fisheries: EU-Commission published first report on the implementation of the TechnicalMeasures RegulationOn 23 September 2021, the EC published the first report on the implementation of the Technical Meas -ures Regulation (the second will follow in the first half of 2024), which sets out the conservation meas -ures governing how, where and when fishing may take place. The report has identified some shortcom -ings. It found that further action and more decisive steps are needed if the goals of the EU BiodiversityStrategy for 2030 are to be met.T wo years after the entry into force of the regulation, some EU member states (MS) have started to developadditional fisheries measures to protect sensitive species and habitats at both the national and regional levels.As announced in the strategy, the EC complemented the report with an “Action Plan to conserve fisheriesresources and protect marine ecosystems” , adopted on 21 February 2023.By the end of March 2024, MS will submit roadmaps to the EC and make them public. These roadmapsshall outline the national measures and other measures they intend to propose through joint recommen -dations in order to meet the objectives of the action plan, including a timeline to 2030.6 The website is funded with support from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).34 Further Developments at the EU levelI.7. Employment and gender biasTo an increasing degree, the international shipping sector lacks well-educated employees, e.g. captains,naval duty officers (here, a gap of 90.000 is looming in 2026), pilots, marine engineers, management per -sonnel in harbours and ship owning companies, etc. This could lead to the disruption of supply chains inthe future.In addition, there is still a gender bias in naval employment. For instance, in the EU as a whole, approx -imately only 3% of the crews of high seas fishing vessels are women.T raditionally, blue economy sectors (not only fisheries but also aquaculture, marine renewable energy,shipbuilding, etc.) are male-dominated activities in Europe. Although women add high value to fishingcommunities and the seafood industry, their participation is often less visible, underpaid or undervalued.35 Further Developments at the EU levelII. Energy aspects with regard to maritime policyII.1. Energy suppliesIn summer 2022, the package of legislative proposals to implement the European Green Deal was tabled.According to the State of the Energy Union Report published in October 2021, in 2021, renewables over -took fossil fuels as the EU’s main power source for the first time: 38% of the EU electricity came from re -newables, 37% from fossil fuels. Nuclear energy accounted for 25%.There was still a high dependence on fossil fuel supplies coming from the Russian Federation, particular -ly in Hungary, the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic, the republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania,in Finland and in Poland. Overall, the EU spent almost EUR 300 billion a year on fuel imports. The leg -islative package therefore also proposed improvements on energy independence and affordability as wellas on the resilience of the EU energy system and security of supply.While the EU tabled plans in May 2022 to phase out Russian fossil fuels and strengthen its security ofsupply, full energy independence from Moscow was not envisioned until 2027 at best. In summer 2022,there were serious concerns about whether Europe would have enough gas supply to get through the com -ing winter (a gap of 20 bcm was looming in case of a complete halt of Russian gas delivery): in a first step,the Russian supply to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Poland, Bulgaria and Finland had stopped complete -ly and Russian supply to Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy has been reduced. Flows throughNord Stream 1, the largest import route to the EU, have been cut by 60%. At that point, several EUcountries risked running very low by the end of winter, making it challenging to replenish supplies for2023.In June 2022, Russia cut deliveries through the pipeline Nord Stream 1 by 75% - from 170m cubic me -tres of gas a day to roughly 40m cubic metres.In July 2022, the country shut it down for ten days, citing the need for maintenance . When it reopened,the flow was halved to 20m cubic metres a day.In late August that same year, it shut down Nord Stream 1 entirely, blaming problems with equipment .36 Further Developments at the EU levelThen, in late September 2022, Nord Stream 1 has been closed indefinitely due to sabotage: a number ofleaks were found in it and in the parallel pipeline, Nord Stream 2 (near the island of Bornholm, see sec -tion II.2 below). Seismologists had detected explosions under the sea.Despite a sharp drop in the export of Russian gas sent by pipeline to the EU, Russian LNG deliveries tothe EU rose in 2022 (by 12 per cent compared to 2021). The largest importers of Russian LNG in 2022were France, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands. This made Russia the EU’s second biggest LNG sup -plier after the US.7In 2023, protests have occurred against setting up LNG terminals close to the German island of Rügen –a sensitive habitat and tourist site – while LNG terminals are criticized for being expensive, noisy, envi -ronmentally harmful and potentially leading to overcapacity.Also in 2023, the EC has launched the first international tender for joint gas purchasing under the EUenergy platform AggregateEU.II.2. Nord Stream 2The Nord Stream 2 pipeline was completed in September 2021. The 11-billion-dollar pipeline connect -ing Russia with Germany under the Baltic Sea became ready for operation, but the certification processwas stopped.The controversial Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline could not be approved in December 2021, accordingto the German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who had spoken out against Nord Stream 2 duringthe election campaign before the Bundestag elections in September 2021. Already in May 2020, the Ger -man Federal Network Agency had declared not to exempt the pipeline on German territory from the EUregulation. Until early January 2022, the German Federal Network Agency had to decide on an operatingpermit for the pipes, through which up to 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas could be delivered fromRussia to Germany each year. In November 2021, it had provisionally suspended the procedure for certify -ing Nord Stream 2 AG, which was owned by the Russian state enterprise Gazprom, as an Independent7 https://ecfr.eu/article/conscious-uncoupling-europeans -russian-gas-challenge-in-2023/ , access: 29 June 2023.37 Further Developments at the EU levelT ransmission System Operator. It had come to the conclusion that certification of an operator of the NordStream 2 pipeline could only be considered if the operator was organized in a legal form under German law.The German Social Democrats, the Greens and the Liberal Democratic Party have agreed in their coali -tion agreement that European energy law would apply to energy projects. According to Minister Bear -bock, the project did not meet the requirements of European energy law, and the safety issues were unre -solved: It had been discussed between the U.S. and the previous German government that in the event offurther escalations, this pipeline could not continue to be connected to the grid in this way. She was al -luding to the tense situation on the border between Russia and Ukraine.8 On 24 February 2022, the Rus -sian war in Ukraine began.The ”Climate and Environmental Protection Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Foundation” that was foundedby the land of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and that allowed to circumvent US-American sanctions wasimportant for the completion of the Nordstream 2 pipeline. According to the foundation’s statute, a busi -ness within the foundation was created for this purpose.The Nordstream 2 Corporation was involved in the foundation as a partner, contributing 60 million Eu -ros (including 20 million to set it up).On 18 May 2022, the Regional Parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has decided to establish and equip aparliamentary investigative committee to clarify events and decisions surrounding the “Foundation of the State ofMecklenburg-Vorpommern for Climate Protection and Conservation of Nature - Climate and EnvironmentalProtection Foundation MV”, particularly with regard to the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.Before the beginning of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, 40 percent of the European gas marketwere supplied by Russia. At that point, a stop of Russian gas exports to the EU meant, that within sixweeks supplies would have been used up.Russian gas imported by Germany had amounted to 56.3 billion cubic metres in 2020 (mainly via Jamal andNordstream 1), and more than 50 percent of the German energy market had been supplied by Gazprom. //8 13 December 2021, German Press Agency (Deutsche Presseagentur, DPA).38 Further Developments at the EU levelII.3. Electricity grids under seaHigh-voltage power lines can be deployed by ships across the sea floor in order to connect producers andusers of power. The business, among others plugging offshore wind farms into the grid, is booming, andcommon projects between Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Germany are said to be anoption.9 It is possible to lay cables at depths of 3.000 metres. An accompanying robot can dig a trench inshallower waters, the better to protect against stray anchors and fishing nets. The International EnergyAgency estimates 80 Gigawatts of offshore wind farms will have to be installed every year by 2030 to meetdecarbonisation targets. Each gigawatt of offshore capacity requires around 250 million Euros of cable in -put including the installation, experts say.II.4. New energy projectsThe Baltic PipeThe Baltic Pipe is a strategic infrastructure project aimed at creating new gas supply opportunities on theEuropean market. It will enable the transmission of gas directly from deposits located in Norway to Den -mark and Poland, as well as to customers in the neighbouring countries of Central and Eastern Europe.The Baltic Pipe will also enable bi-directional gas transmission from Poland to Denmark.Finland and Estonia made joint decision to lease a large LNG terminal shipA common project of Finland and Estonia to lease a large LNG terminal ship in their pursuit of ending the useof Russian gas was announced on 7 April 2022. The roughly 200 metre-long LNG terminal ship, a „floating stor -age and regasification unit“ (FSRU), is capable to transform liquefied natural gas into a gaseous state again.In the process, natural gas is liquefied by cooling to the point of -162 degrees. That reduces its volume 600times and facilitates easier transport.This FSRU became located on the coast of Finland near the natural gas transmission network. The nameof the chosen site was Inkoo.9 The Economist, 16 October 2021, p. 56f.39 Further Developments at the EU levelEstonia has said it would end Russian gas imports by the end of the year 2022.The share of gas in Finland’s energy mix was only 6%, but it was important for the industry. Most natu -ral gas came from Russia, but also through the Balticconnector gas pipeline reaching out to the KlaipėdaLNG terminal in Lithuania.If and when imports from Russia ended, gas would have been to be replaced with other energy sources –or an increase of the use of liquid gas had to follow.Allegedly, the Balticconnector could not cover all of Finland’s demand in case there was no gas comingfrom Russia. The search for a ship was underway, but the global demand was high, too.A floating LNG terminal at that point in time was said to be more expensive than a stationary one becauseof operating costs (up to 200.000 US dollar a day).Floating storage and gasification units in GermanyThe first stationary LNG terminal was said to be ready for operation in Germany only in 2026.FSRUs are operational in Wilhelmshaven, Brunsbüttel and Lubmin. Another one will follow in Stade.Rostock had also been considered for the stationing of floating LNG terminals (FSRU, floating storageand regasification units, see above), but that plan has been rejected. In addition, the island of Rügen hasbeen taken into consideration for a terminal, whereas public opinion in the region of Mecklenburg-Vor -pommern was strongly against due to the high depdence on tourism (see section II.1).Only 48 such ships exist at a global scale. Each can process about 5 billion cubic metres of gas per year tobe made available for the gas net.In Lubmin, the “Neptune” became ready for operation in December 2022. The terminal will be able tofeed up to 5.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year into the gas pipelines that run directly adjacentto the port.40 Further Developments at the EU levelIII. Infrastructural aspects with regard to maritime policyIII.1. Revision of the EU passenger ship safety legislationThe proposal COM(2022) 53 for a Directive of the EP and of the Council amending Directive 2003/25/EC as regards the inclusion of enhanced stability requirements and their alignment with the stability re -quirements established by the IMO concerned specific stability requirements for ro-ro passenger ships.The new Directive (EU) 2023/946 entered into force in June 2023.Specific objectives of its revision were to: – Ensure consistency as far as practicable with the recently up -dated international damage stability standards as agreed at the IMO for passenger ships; – Reduce thecomplexity as well as the technical and administrative burden, primarily stemming from two different re -gimes for evaluating the survivability of ro-ro passenger ships in damaged condition; – Reduce the ambi -guity of definitions and requirements, where possible, in the light of the amended Directive 2009/45/EC;and – Eliminate outdated provisions concerning international instruments no longer relevant or in force.For the sake of clarity and consistency, this proposal also updated numerous definitions and references torelevant EU legislation and International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Regulations.III.2. Transeuropean Transport NetworkThis legislative proposal COM(2021) 812 for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTAND OF THE COUNCIL on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transportnetwork (TEN-T), amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 and Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 and re -pealing Regulation (EU) 1315/2013 is a key action of the European Green Deal and the Sustainable andSmart Mobility Strategy. The aim of the TEN-T Regulation is to build an effective EU-wide and multi -modal network of rail, inland waterways, short sea shipping routes and roads which are linked to urbannodes, maritime and inland ports, airports and terminals across the EU. The problems addressed by the re -vision are insufficient and/or incomplete TEN-T infrastructure standards and a lack of integration ofstandards for alternative fuels infrastructure on the TEN-T with negative impacts on climate and environ -ment. Secondly, the TEN-T network suffers from capacity bottlenecks and an insufficient network con -nectivity to all regions that hamper multimodality. Thirdly, the insufficient safety and reliability of the41 Further Developments at the EU levelTEN-T infrastructure needs to be addressed. Finally, the governance instruments are inadequate comparedto new needs and the TEN-T network design needs a review to increase coherence with other policies.With the legislative initiative “T rans-European transport network: streamlining measures for advancingits realisation“ the EC wanted to speed up the completion of the TEN-T. The EP adopted the final textin second reading on 6 July 2021, the final act was signed the following day and published in the EU Of -ficial Journal on 20 July 2021. MS will have to comply by 10 August 2023.III.3. New developments in infrastructureRail BalticaDuring wartime in Ukraine, rail has been essential for the export of Ukrainian grain, accounting for morethan one third of Ukrainian agricultural exports between May and July 2022. However, the different railgauges have undermined the rail’s potential. This has been particularly the case for the three Baltic coun -tries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). While they wanted to help Ukraine to maintain access to its exportmarkets via their ports and also send back vital goods, the fact that trains need to change the gauge twiceon the way from Ukraine to the Baltic ports makes this export route quite challenging and expensive.Nonetheless, Baltic countries have gone beyond to support Ukraine; the regular rail services betweenUkraine and the port of Kláipeda in Lithuania are an example of European solidarity.What is more, the EC proposed new legislation in July 2022 to gradually unify the European railwaygauge.Rail Baltica is being built to specifications that make it usable for both civilian and military purposes. RailBaltica is said to also open up new routes to the Arctic, a region whose geopolitical importance is set to grow.In the Baltic States high speed rail is absent, leaving a major missing link in the trans-European transportnetwork and the North Sea – Baltic corridor, which should connect the northwestern and the northeast -ern regions of the EU by 2030.42 Further Developments at the EU levelFehmarnbelt fixed linkThe Construction of the Fehmarnbelt T unnel began in 2020 on the Danish side and in 2021 on the Ger -man side. The tunnel of 18 kilometres in length will be completed in 2029.III.4. EU maritime security infrastructureIncurred sabotage at the North Stream 2 Pipeline (see above) raised security concerns in the Baltic Sea.It implies that there is a demand of protection of critical infrastructure, for instance of pipelines, maritimedigital infrastructure and of electricity infrastructure.On 10 March 2023, the EC and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Securityadopted a Joint Communication on an enhanced EU Maritime Security Strategy to ensure a peaceful use ofthe seas and safeguard the maritime domain against new threats. They have also adopted an updated Ac -tion Plan through which the strategy will be implemented.Together, the EU’s members form the largest combined exclusive economic zone in the world. The EUeconomy depends greatly on a safe and secure ocean. Over 80% of global trade is seaborne and about two-thirds of the world’s oil and gas is either extracted at sea or transported by sea. Up to 99% of global dataflows are transmitted through undersea cables. The EU intends to reinforce the wide range of tools it hasat its disposal to promote maritime security, both civilian and military.Adapting to new threatsSecurity threats and challenges have multiplied since the adoption of the EU Maritime Security Strategy(EUMSS) in 2014, requiring new and enhanced action. Long-standing illicit activities, such as piracy,armed robbery at sea, smuggling of migrants and trafficking of human beings, arms and narcotics, as wellas terrorism remain critical challenges. However, new and evolving threats must also be dealt with increas -ing geopolitical competition, climate change and degradation of the marine environment and hybrid andcyber-attacks.43 Further Developments at the EU levelRecent geopolitical developments, such as Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, are a forceful re -minder that the EU needs to enhance its security and step up its capacity to act not only on its own ter -ritory and its own waters, but also in its neighbourhood and beyond.An updated European Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS)The updated EUMSS is a framework for the EU to take action to protect its interests at sea, and to protectits citizens, values and economy.• It promotes international peace and security, as well as respect for international rules andprinciples, while ensuring the sustainability of the oceans and the protection of biodiversity. Thestrategy will be implemented by the EU and its MS, in line with their respective competences.The Joint Communication and associated Action Plan specify several integrated actions that will deliveron the EU’s interests. To do so, the EU will step up its action under six strategic objectives:• Step up activities at sea . Actions include organising naval exercises at EU level, developing furthercoastguard operations in European sea basins, designating new maritime areas of interests for theimplementation of the Coordinated Maritime Presences concept (a tool to enhance coordinationof Member States’ naval and air assets present in specific maritime areas) and reinforcing securityinspections in EU ports. The updated EUMSS proposes the establishment of an annual EU navalexercise, involving relevant entities from as many MS as possible.• Cooperate with partners . Actions include deepening EU-NATO cooperation and stepping upcooperation with all relevant international partners to uphold the rules-based order at sea, notablythe UNCLOS.• Lead on maritime domain awareness . Actions include reinforcing coastal and offshore patrolvessel surveillance and strengthening the Common information sharing environment (CISE). Thisis to make sure the national and EU authorities involved can exchange information in a secureway.44 Further Developments at the EU level• Manage risks and threats . Actions include conducting regular live maritime exercises involvingcivilian and military actors, monitoring and protecting critical maritime infrastructure and ships(including passenger ships) from physical and cyber threats, and tackling unexploded ordnanceand mines at sea. The updated strategy calls for the development of a coherent framework to tackleunexploded ordnance, conventional weapons and chemical weapons at sea. This comprises thedevelopment of an action plan for the Baltic Sea where this problem is particularly acute. Thisplan will include the identification of the best methods and technology, with the involvement ofthe industry, as well as military and civilian entities. This plan could then be replicated in other seabasins.• Enhance capabilities . Actions include developing common requirements for defence technologiesin the maritime domain, stepping up work on projects such as the European Patrol Corvette (newclass of warship), and improving anti-submarine capabilities.• Educate and train by improving hybrid and cyber security qualifications notably on the civilianside and conducting training programmes open to non-EU partners.The updated strategy and its action plan will contribute to the implementation of the EU Strategic Com -pass for Security and Defence.10III.5. Maritime Spatial PlanningMSPglobal Initiative: successfully promoting maritime spatial planning worldwide since 2018On 5 October 2021, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNES -CO) and the EC organised the online final conference of their joint Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP)global Initiative.The MSPglobal Initiative was designed to support – from November 2018 to October 2021 – the imple -mentation of the ‘Joint Roadmap to accelerate Maritime/Marine Spatial Planning processes10 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_ 23_1483 , access: 3 April 2023.45 Further Developments at the EU levelworldwide’ (MSProadmap), which was adopted by IOC-UNESCO and the Directorate-General for Mar -itime Affairs and Fisheries in March 2017.The event aimed to share the key outcomes of the MSPglobal Initiative while providing an overall ap -proach to Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) initiatives at national, regional and global scale.The conference also marked the launch of the ‘MSPglobal International Guide on Marine/Maritime Spa -tial Planning’, the main deliverable of the project.The presentations and video recordings of the conference (English, French and Spanish) are available onthe MSPglobal website.III.6. Mobility for the ElderlyThe GreenSAM project focuses on the development of age-friendly green mobility solutions based onneeds of older people. It involved participatory tools used in six cities across the Baltic Sea region (BSR).Older people often remain reluctant towards green urban mobility solutions that are introduced in manycities in the BSR – such as bike-sharing offers or public transport systems. This challenge becomes evenmore important in the context of ageing societies throughout Europe.Thanks to street talks, several workshops, visits to senior centres, conversations in buses or during peercoaching trips the challenges for older people in everyday mobility became comprehensible – i.e. it wasexplored, whether they were physical, digital or caused by the lack of needs-oriented infrastructure. Thefindings have been used to create a toolbox, so that a knowledge repository is now available for urbantransport planners.The implemented solutions are already showing positive effects. In Tartu, the share of older bike-share andpublic transport users has doubled over the course of the project. Here, the info-posts at bike-sharing sta -tions were replaced with more age-friendly ones. In T urku, senior citizens helped each other to travel inpublic transport while young people showed the seniors how to use the city’s bicycles.46 Further Developments at the EU levelNot only the cross-national cooperation was profitable for the project, but also the mix of different insti -tutions with different expertise and practical knowledge – from university to energy agency and city ad -ministration. A key insight for all pilot cities was that one should not rely only on creating instructionalmaterials and disseminating them. Practical training and personal instructions are especially importantfor the generation 60+.IV. Environmental aspects with regard to maritime policy including climateprotectionIV.1. Eutrophication: Baltic Sea has still not recovered despite measuresThe Ministers of the Environment and High-Level Representatives of the nine Baltic coastal countriesand the EU had already on 6 March 2018 agreed to set up a Baltic-wide nutrient recycling strategy by2020. The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) regional policy was to support countries in creating a sus -tainable and environmentally safe scheme for recycling nutrients in agriculture and from sewage sludge.Eutrophication was, next to marine litter and underwater noise, a major challenge identified by the for -mer EU Commissioner for the Environment, Karmenu Vella.According to the German Press Agency, the Baltic Sea, plagued for decades by over-fertilization, with itsoxygen-poor “death zones” has still not recovered. This is also due to the consequences of climate change,as a Baltic Sea climate report11, which was presented in late summer 2021, suggested: In the past, over-fer -tilization was the number one problem. People have intervened since the 1980s and then vigorously re -duced nutrient inputs - but a good ecological status, as targeted by HELCOM by 2021, has not beenachieved, as climate researcher and oceanographer Markus Meier from Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Re -search Warnemünde (IOW) told the German press agency. Mr Meier was playing a substantial role inwriting the climate report as chairman of the “Baltic Earth” research community. He explained the slowreaction of the sea vis-à-vis the measures against eutrophication with the “system of the Baltic Sea itself,which reacts slowly to changes in nutrient loads due to the special hydrographic conditions as an inland11 https://helcom.fi/wp- content/uploads/2021/09/Baltic-Sea-Climate-Change-Fact-Sheet-2021. pdf, access: 19/07/202347 Further Developments at the EU levelsea. Global warming has a reinforcing effect: The warmer the water, the less oxygen dissolves in it. In ad -dition, biological activity, and therefore algae growth, is intensified by higher temperatures.In light of climate change, with its effects on numerous factors such as sea ice, sea level and water temper -ature, scientists face new research challenges. Most of the “dead zones” are due to the nutrients that haveentered, but there is a contribution of climate change.Calculations suggest that precipitation in the northern BSR will increase, leading to greater river water in -puts in the north. At the same time, global sea level rise will bring more water that is saline into the Bal -tic Sea through the straits near Denmark. That means there are two opposing effects. Because the knowl -edge of the actual extent of sea level rise is still limited, it follows that projections of changes in salinity arealso subject to a high degree of uncertainty.The Baltic Sea riparians united in HELCOM had agreed on their first Baltic Sea Action Plan in Krakowin 2007 with the goal of achieving good ecological status in the Baltic Sea by 2021. In October 2021, theenvironment ministers of the HELCOM countries met in Lübeck and adopted an updated action plan12.Meanwhile, the European project “Live Lagoons” is developing floating wetlands made up of reed andwillow, which are cleaning waters in the South Baltic area from nutrients like nitrogen or phosphorus. Bydoing so, they help fight an excessive growth of algae, oxygen depletion, loss of biodiversity and odour is -sues. 13Addressing biodiversity, eutrophication, hazardous substances, and sea-based activities such as shippingand fisheries, the updated HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan contains about 200 concrete actions thatwere developed to tackle the pressures the Baltic is facing. In addition, the plan now also addresses climatechange, marine litter, pharmaceuticals, underwater noise, and seabed disturbance.12 https://helcom.fi/wp-content/uploads/ 2021/10/Baltic-Sea-Action-Plan-2021-update.pdf ; access: 19/07/2023.13 https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/ newsroom/news?keywords=&countryCode=ALL&themeId=9&t -ObjectiveId=ALL ; access: 04/01/2022.48 Further Developments at the EU levelIV.2. EU Mission Starfish 2030: Restore our Ocean and WatersUnder the EU’s Horizon research program, five European Missions aim to find solutions to key globalchallenges by 2030. These include missions to revitalize our oceans and waters by 2030, as well as adap -tation to climate change.All EU missions have a specific timeframe and budget, depending on the challenge.70% of the world’s seas and oceans have seen a sharp decrease in biodiversity over recent years. With onebillion people depending on them for basic resources, the survival of organisms in these waters is essential.With a 2030 target, the EU mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’ puts research and innovation, citizenengagement and blue investments at the service of healthy marine and freshwater ecosystems.The work programme of the mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’, which is the main instrument forthe implementation of its research and innovation (R&I) component and also addresses the Baltic Sea,offers opportunities for collaboration between scientists, authorities, business and citizens. An indicativebudget of €114 million was to be allocated to the first call for proposals that was planned to be launchedin December 2021.The mission work programme put a special focus on the concept of “lighthouses”, conceived as R&I pro -ject portfolios for the development and deployment of transformative and innovative solutions in foursea/river basins:• Atlantic and Arctic basin• Baltic and North Sea basin• Mediterranean Sea basin• Danube River basin.Some of the 2021 calls were to target three main challenges:• protect 30% of the EU’s sea area and restore marine ecosystems and 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers• prevent and eliminate pollution by reducing plastic litter at sea, nutrient contamination and use ofchemical pesticides by 50%• make the blue economy climate-neutral and circular with net-zero maritime emissions.49 Further Developments at the EU levelEU fishing boats shall be equipped with geolocation tools for tracking them and stop over-fishing. In ad -dition, clean engines shall be developed for all kinds of motorised vehicles on the seas and oceans, espe -cially for coastal areas where ferries and costal ships tend to be.Coordination activities shall address the setting up of a governance structure and a monitoring frame -work, networking and communication actions as well as providing technical assistance and expertise fora well-functioning innovation ecosystem at basin level.A cross-basin initiative was to provide new opportunities for the protection and conservation of the bluenatural capital and the establishment of “blue parks” across the EU.Enabling activities should support the development of an “ocean digital knowledge system” – the “digital twinocean”, public engagement initiatives, foresight and other studies in marine/maritime and water domains.IV.3. Revision of the Marine Strategy Framework DirectiveThe aim of the EU’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive is to protect the marine environment acrossEurope more effectively.The Marine Strategy Framework Directive had been adopted on 17 June 2008 and is going to be revisedin summer 2023.The EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, adopted in May 2020, insists on the need for stronger action onmarine ecosystem protection and restoration. In the zero pollution action plan for air, water and soil,adopted one year later, the EC, recalling the importance of achieving ‘good status’ for fulfilling the GreenDeal’s zero pollution ambition for all aquatic ecosystems, indicated that it would review, and if necessaryrevise, the marine strategy framework directive.50 Further Developments at the EU levelIV.4. BiodiversityBaltic Sea conservation: EU acts to protect harbour porpoisesOn 26 February 2022 new measures to protect Baltic Proper harbour porpoises (latin: Phocoena phocoe -na) from being caught in fishing operations came into effect (Commission delegated regulation (EU)2022/303).Virginijus Sinkevičius, EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, commented that stillmore needed to be done.Baltic Proper harbour porpoises live in areas of the sea that are subject to fishing and can become entan -gled in fishing nets. To prevent this, eleven marine areas are now closed to fishing with static nets, or fish -ing gears must be equipped with acoustic deterrent devices that deter these marine mammals.The new measures include:A year-round closure for fishing with static nets in the Natura 200014 area of Hoburgs bank och Midsjö -bankarna and in the Southern Midsea Bank,• A year-round closure for all fisheries, except for fishing with pots, traps and longlines in one area,the Northern Midsea Bank,• A seasonal closure for fishing with static nets in nine Natura 2000 sites (Rønne Banke,Adlergrund, Western Rønne Banke, Pommersche Bucht with Oderbank, GreifswalderBoddenrandschwelle and parts of Pommersche Bucht, Ostoja na Zatoce Pomorskiej, Wolin iUznam, Pommersche Bucht, Sydvästskånes utsjövatten)• The obligatory use of acoustic deterrent devices in two Natura 2000 sites of Poland and Sweden(in the West and East of the sandbank Ryf Mew, within and outside the Natura 2000 site ZatokaPucka i Półwysep Helski; and in the Natura 2000 site Sydvästskånes utsjövatten).14 Stretching over 18% of the EU’s land area and more than 8% of its marine territory, Natura 2000 is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in theworld. It shall offer a haven to Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats. A viewer can be found here: https://natura2000.eea.eu -ropa.eu/51 Further Developments at the EU levelThe measures are based on the scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of theSea (ICES). They are the outcome of almost two years of joint efforts by the EC and eight Baltic SeaMember States (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden), resulting in abinding EU Regulation.Based on the advice by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the Baltic SeaFisheries Forum (BALTFISH), consisting of the eight EU member states bordering the Baltic Sea, sub -mitted to the EC two joint recommendations for reducing incidental catches of harbour porpoises insome areas of the Baltic Sea. Furthermore, the Scientific, T echnical and Economic Committee for Fisher -ies (STECF) concluded that, if effectively implemented, these measures would contribute to reducing un -intended, incidental catches of the Baltic Proper harbour porpoise.This population of the species has been assessed as “critically endangered’’ by the International Union forConservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM)and is in “unfavourable status” under the EU Habitats Directive.More information can be found on the EURLEX website:Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/303 of 15 December 2021 amending Regulation (EU)2019/1241 as regards measures to reduce incidental catches of the resident population of the Baltic Prop -er harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the Baltic Sea15IV.5. Baltic SturgeonIn autumn 2022, about 20.000 Baltic sturgeons died as a result of an environmental disaster related tosome poisonous substance found in the Oder River. The sturgeons belonged to a reintroduction projecton the island Darß (Born) in the region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.The sturgeon is a living fossil. The IUCN has just published an updated Red List. According to this list,sturgeons are the most endangered group of animals worldwide.15 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv :OJ.L_.2022.046.01.0067.01.ENG , access: 19/07/2023.52 Further Developments at the EU levelIV.6. Seabed loss and disturbanceLoss and disturbance to the seabed is caused by human activities that inflict permanent changes or tem -porary disruptions to the physical habitat. Examples of such activities include extraction of seabed sandand gravel, modification of the seabed for installations, maintenance of open waterways by dredging,shipping and bottom trawling. Based on the data available from the HELCOM holistic assessment peri -od 2011-2016 (State of the Baltic Sea – Second HELCOM holistic assessment 2011–2016, Summa ry Re -port 2018 )16 and current knowledge, approximately 40 % of the seabed area is disturbed while about 1%is lost. There is currently no regionally agreed method for assessing how loss and disturbance is causingadverse effects on the marine environment.16 https://helcom.fi/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/BSEP155.pdf , access: 19/07/2023Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conferencewww.bspc.netBSPC SecretariatSchlossgartenallee 1519061 SchwerinGermany