BSPC Statements 32nd Resolution

Statements of the governmentsin the Baltic Sea Regionto the 32nd BSPC Resolution.Status: June 20241. Åland 22. Denmark 93. Estonia 144. Finland 315. Germany 586. Hamburg 897. Latvia 1048. Lithuania 1469. Poland 15610. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 18411. Norway 21912. Schleswig-Holstein 22413. Sweden 25033YEARSBSPCÅland Page 3PB 1060, AX -22111 Mariehamn | +358 18 25 000 | registrar@regeringen.axLetter of employment should be sent to the Åland regional government, not to an individual civil servant.www.regeringen.ax1 (6) Document name Letter noLETTER 131 Rk1aCase no DateÅLR 202 4/701 15.4.202 4ReferenceContact personMarcus Åkerblom Åland's BSPC delegation, the P arliament ofÅlandMatterUnofficial translation: The Government of Åland ́s comments regarding the BSPCresolution of 2023 and information of measures taken and actions plannedOn 28-29 August 2023 at the annual Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) duringGerman y’s presidency, the BSPC resolution was adopted. The purpose of the resolution isthat governments around the Baltic Sea region pay attention to different areas describedbelow. 2 5 January 202 4 the Parliament of Åland forwarded the resolution to theGovernment of Åland for further actions.The resolution contains 63 priority appeals /points sent to the governments in the BalticSea region. The points are assigned in the following four headings :1. peaceful and reliable neighbourliness and intense cooperation in the Baltic Searegion2. enhancing democratic resilience and boosting capabilities to face modern digitalchallenges3. strengthening the resilience of maritime ecosystems4. strengthening the resilience of climate and biodiversity.The Government of Åland also notice s that the appeals /points are similar to each other . Inthis letter the Government of Åland describes measures taken and actions planned forthese objectives .Point 4Due to its legislative authority , the autonomous Åland is obliged by the European Unionto draw up its own Maritime Spatial Plan. The Maritime Spatial Plan for Åland wasadopted by the Government of Åland on 18 March 2021 and will be updated by 2027 atthe latest.Based on several criteria, the Maritime Spatial Plan defines potential energy areas suitableto produce offshore wind power. As the plan is indicative and not legally binding, there isan opportunity to redefine the geographical extent of the areas.Åland Page 42 (6)These defined energy areas formed the basis for the project "Sunnanvind", which wasinitiated in 2021, with the task of investigating the possibilities of establishing large -scaleoffshore wind power in Åland's northern sea areas. The project receives funding from theEU's Recovery and Resilience Fund, which must be reported to the European Commissionby 30.6.2026. The project area covers approximately 1300 km2 and the potential poweroutput is expected to be up to 4 GW with an equivalent electricity produc tion of 20 TWh.If realized, the offshore wind power areas around Åland will have a major positive impacton the Nordic and thus also the European energy market. The location between mainlandFinland and Sweden is optimal as the neighbouring regions of both countries have agrowing need for fossil -free energy. By connecting the wind farm area to both the eastand the west, this interconnector can also be used for transporting electricity between thecountries when the wind farm is not producing. The "Sunnanvind" project is alsoinvestigating the possibilities of power -2-x, i.e. the production of hydrogen and itspossible further processing, as well as its distribution to industry and shipping. Åland'sgeographical location is excellent for cross -border development projec ts, such as the"Project of Common Interest" (PCI).Point 10The Government of Åland actively participates in the Central Baltic Programme. TheCentral Baltic Programme 2021 -2027 is a cross -border cooperation programme(INTERREG), funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and one of theEU's cohesion policy objectives. To receive project funding , projects must have a clearcross -border character and involve partners from at least two programme countries(Estonia, Finland including the Åland Islands, Latvia and Sweden).Sustainable development plays a key role in the Central Baltic Programme 2021 –2027. Allprogramme activities must be socially, ecologically, culturally, and economicallysustainable. There must also be a positive impact on the environment, climate, andhuman well -being.The Central Baltic Programme 2021 -2027 contains seven programme objectives, whichare as follows;1. (PO1) More exports for small and medium -sized enterprises2. (PO2) More new scaled -up growth companies3. (PO 3) Joint circular economy solutions4. (PO4) Improv ed coastal and marine environment5. (PO5) Decreased CO2 emissions6. (PO6) Improv ed employment opportunities on labour market7. (PO7) Improved public services and solutions for the citizens .Åland Page 53 (6)During the current funding period, the Central Baltic has the possibility to support cross -border projects that targets less competitive groups, such as immigrants, young people,and public bodies , and to help those fleeing the war in Ukraine to settle, find jobs orhousing in the central Baltic Sea regions . Projects to help beneficiaries of temporaryprotection are expected mainly under Objectives 6 and 7.Based on the issues that the BSPC -resolution focuses on this year, the following areparticularly relevant to the Central Baltic programme:• Peaceful and reliable neighbourhood relations and cooperation in the Baltic Searegion (all POs)• Strengthening marine ecosystems (PO4)• Work to strengthen climate and biodiversity resilience (PO3 and PO5)The Central Baltic programme clearly links Åland with the Baltic Sea region and providesadded value through cross -border cooperation. Actors from Åland have applied forproject funding in the new programme period within several objectives. Three projectswith partners from Åland are ongoing and three projects have recently had theirapplications approved. The six projects, provided that the three new projects are agreedupon, have a total ERDF funding of just under EUR 1.8 million to Åland project partners .The three ongoing projects are as follows:Sustainable Flow – PO 5 Reduced carbon dioxide emissionsThrough seven pilot ports in the Central Baltic area, the project will contribute to reducingCO2 emissions from the transport sector.BalticReed – PO4 Improved coastal and marine environmentBy cutting reeds in 12 coastal areas, the project will contribute to reduced eutrophicationin the Baltic Sea while exploring the potential of reeds as a useful material and product.EFE-PO6 Improving employment opportunities in the labour marketBy developing and implementing training programs, the project will contribute to peoplewith disabilities finding work in the public sector.The three projects that have recently been fund ed but have not yet been agreed upon arein the areas of decarbonisation (PO5), improved employment opportunities in the labourmarket (PO6) and better public services and solutions (PO7).The Central Baltic Programme for 2021 -2027 is designed to contribute to the EU strategyfor the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) and supports all three objectives of the strategy: 'Savethe Sea', 'Connect the region' and 'Increase prosperity'. The Central Baltic Programme2021- 2027 contributes directly to seven out of nine sub -goals within the EUSBSR.Åland Page 64 (6)Point 30Efforts to reduce the outlet of nutrient s are carried out in various ways, throughlegislation and supervision and through concrete measures, for example through the CAPstrategy, the Water Framework Directive, and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive . Ifpossible, also through HELCOM's action plan and through various EU projects. Work isalso being done through the government's own budget in the project "Clean water 2030".Point 31The SUP Directive (Single Use Plastics) reduces the number of single -use plastic productsand aims to reduce plastic litter ing. The Government of Åland has implemented thedirective into legislation and work is now underway to put the legislation into practice.Point 32Coastal management plans have been developed through previous EU projects andthrough EU funds, but the work needs to be continued and reinforced. The work willcontinue through the planned EU projects “ACWA -LIFE” (cooperation with the mainlandof Finland starting in 2025 if approved) and “Marine Waterways ” (cooperation betweenFinland, Åland and Sweden that will start in 2024 if approved). As a result of the event"Coastal Water Day 2023", there are ongoing plans for cooperation between Finland,Åland and Sweden, for ecosystem -based marine management with a focus on sustainablefish stocks, protected nature, and wind power. Work is also being done through thegovernment's own budget in the "Clean water 2030" project .Point 33Active work on the expansion of the marine MPA network has been carried out and isongoing in several projects, such as the recently completed "Åland SeaMap" and theongoing "Our Saima Seal –life" and "Life IP Biodiversea". All of these are collaborationswith Finnish authorities and research institutions. For a better and more long -term result,there are established contacts within the HELCOM collaboration as well as withresearchers, other experts and institutions in the surrounding area in other countrie saround the Baltic Sea.Point 35In the project "Marine Waterways", shallow bays with carbon -sequestering biotopes forman important foundation for future decisions . A long -term action plan and strategies willbe developed by researchers from Finland and Sweden.Point 37By renewing the Water Act and introducing updated requirements from the EU, forexample through preliminary rulings and stricter limit values in directives, emissions ofnutrients and hazardous priority substances to aquatic environments are minimized.Åland Page 75 (6)The Government of Åland will need to raise the requirements for wastewater treatment inaccordance with the EU's upcoming renewed directive on the treatment of urbanwastewater.Point 39The planned projects "ACWA LIFE" and "Marine Waterways" include training, seminars,workshops, and study visits , as an important part of involving the local population andgiving them a better understanding and involvement in the Baltic Sea and see the need toprotect and restore the ecological health and well-being of the Baltic Sea.Paragraphs 41 and 43The Government of Åland is actively working on the "Sunnanvind" project, the aim ofwhich is to enable the establishment of large -scale offshore wind power in the publicwaters o f the Åland Islands.Point 52The Government of Åland is continuing its work to implement ecosystem -basedmanagement of aquatic environments in all remedial work and, above all, throughcompleted, ongoing and planned EU projects. The value of protecting ecosystem servicesis highlighte d above all in the EU projects "Marine Waterways" and "ACWA -LIFE". Throughits participation in the EU project "eMSP NBSR", the Government of Åland has focused onintegrating the work with the EU's Green Deal and climate work within the framework ofmaritime spatial planning. A comprehensive analysis of the cooperation and coordinationprocesses for maritime spatial planning and the establishment of marine protected areashas been carried out within the framework of the project. The results of the projectprovide a basis for promoting an ecosystem -based approach in the ongoing developmentof marine spatial planning .Point 53The protection of carbon -rich environments, such as forests, wetlands and eelgrassmeadows, has been improved through a new Nature Conservation Decree.Point 54Active work on the protection of coastal habitats and the restoration of certain wetlandhabitats is part of the "Life IP Biodiversea" project, as well as part of the ongoing work inthe field of nature conservation. Cooperation is ongoing with Finnish authorities andresearch institutions.Point 56The Government of Åland will need to raise the requirements for wastewatermanagement in accordance with the EU's upcoming renewed directive on the treatmentof urban wastewater.Åland Page 86 (6)Point 58The Government of Åland will need to review and possibly revise the decree regardinginvasive alien species. Concrete species -specific eradication plans for several invasive alienspecies will be drawn up in 2024.Minister Ingrid ZettermanAdministrator Marcus ÅkerblomDENMARKDenmark Page 10Comments from the Danish government concerning the con-ference resolution adopted by the 32nd Baltic Sea ParliamentaryConferenceThe Danish government welcomes the resolution adopted by the 3 2nd Bal-tic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) and its recommendations.Based on contributions from the relevant authorities, the Danish govern-ment has the following comments to the operative parts of the resolution:Enhancing democratic resilience and boosting capabilities to facemodern digital challengesIn order to enhance resilience against influence campaigns , Denmark haslaunched an inter -ministerial task force on influence campaigns. The mainobjective of the task force is to coordinate the Danish efforts against stateinfluence campaigns and ensure that Danish authorities collectively act ef-fectively and wel l-coordinated against influence campaigns.Public access to reliable information as well as free and independent mediaplay an essential role in upholding democracy. The digital development pro-vides a large potential, but is also fundamentally changing the conditions ofmedia’s ways of operating, enables an increased amount of misinfor mationand disinformation and poses a threat to the well -being of children andyoung people. While striving to exploit the potential of the digital opportu-nities, the Danish government will fight to combat these challenges and toensure a vibrant future fo r our democracy.Therefore, the Danish government has established a new Center for SocialMedia, Tech and Democracy under the Ministry of Culture to strengthenknowledge of the impact of tech giants on democracy, cohesion and thewell-being of citizens. Additionally, the center contributes to policydevelopment, including by exploring the possibilities for new regu lation andtighter control with e.g. social media in both a Danish and an internationalcontext.With a view to promote responsible digital so lutions as well as tostrengthen the digital literacy and well -being of children and young people,the Danish government has alloated funds for Digital Accountability , anNGO which analyse s, monitor s and communicate s how technology affectsindividuals and society and propose s solutions on how fundamental rightscan best be secured in the digital era.Denmark Page 112The long -standing and strong Danish tradition of public information activi-ties is an important element to ensure Danish democratic resilience. With aview to educate citizens for democratic participation, the public informationactivities are carried out particularly through economic support for NGOsand for informal education. The activities include the School Election P ro-ject, where all schoolchildren carry out political debates and simulate a par-liamentary election.Digital development and artificial intelligens has reinforced the need foreffective measures to safeguard reliable public information. To this end, theDanish government has allocated funds for the f act-checking mediaTjekDet , with a view to strengthen efforts to counter misinformation anddisinformation on digital platforms. In addition, TjekDet also collectsknowledge, research and teaching material about fake news, misinformationand disinformation.Strengthening the resilience of maritime ecosystemsThe Danish g overnment has prepared a programme of measures underthe EU Marine Strategy Fram ework Directive that will support the resili-ence of marine ecosystems. The plan was sent in public consultation inSeptember 2023 and will be published in the first half of 2024. The Dan-ish government has also presented an updated maritime spatial plan, wi than ambition of 10 percent strictly protected marine areas and an additional20 percent protected marine areas in 2030. At the re gional level , the HEL-COM Baltic Sea Action Plan is an important tool to achieve good envi-ronmental status of the Baltic Sea a nd Denmark remains committed toimplementing the actions covered by this plan . Denmark is actively takingpart in leading a number of the actions , e.g. on marine litter, hazardoussubstances, eutrophication and underwater noise.Strengthening the resilience of climate and biodiversityClimate changeDenmark is committed to increasing the efforts to implement ambitious na-tional and EU climate targets to be in line with the long -term goal of 1.5 °Cin the Paris Agreement. Denmark recognizes the impo rtance of regional co-operation , as well as of cooperation through the EU , to continuously putpressure on the biggest emitters to step up their efforts. Denmark acknowl-edges a big potential for Baltic regional cooperation on new technologies ,such as carbon capture, storage and utilization , including cooperation on es-tablishing a solid carbon transport infrastructure.Denmark Page 123Denmark sees a fast expansion of renewable energy as a central element inreducing CO 2 emissions and is committed to ensuring a faster deploymentof renewable energy projects, including through streamlining and shorteningpermitting procedures. Additionally, Denmark acknowledges the regional ef-forts in the Baltic Sea region to transition from fossils towards renewableenergy sou rces, with the aim of securing a stable and affordable supply ofenergy. Denmark contributes regionally to further the green transitionthrough the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP), whichaims to achieve an open and integrated regional ele ctricity and gas marketbetween EU countries in the Baltic Sea region. Denmark also participates inrelevant high -level meetings , such as the Baltic Sea Energy Security Summit,which was first hosted by Denmark in 2022. In this regard, Denmark worksactively to foster cross -border cooperation on regional renewable energy pro-jects.BiodiversityThe updated maritime spatial plan and the programme of measures under theEU Marine Strategy Framework Directive set out an ambition for Denmarkto secure 10 percent strictly protected marine areas and an additional 20 per-cent protected marine areas in 2030. This will help protect the biodiversity ofthe Baltic Sea area. Additionally, the programme of mea sures conta ins nu-merous actions that will help reduce pressures on marine biodiversity, includ-ing from eutrophication, hazardous substances and more. The 3rd DanishRiver Basin Management Plans were agreed in 2021, and will be revisited in2024. These plans re present significant reductions in nitrogen loads, one ofthe key pressures on the marine ecosystems in the Baltic Sea region.Dumped ammunition in the Baltic SeaIn 2023, the Council of the Baltic Sea States, in collaboration with HEL-COM, the regional sea convention for the Baltic Sea, has put renewed focuson the issue of ammunition s dumped on the seabed in the Baltic Sea. It isestimated that there are approximately 300,000 tons of ammunition s in theBaltic Sea. The ammunition s can be a problem for th e marine environmentin rel ation to leaked toxic chemicals. They can also create environmentaland safety challenges in fishing or the establishment of constructions at sea.In December 2022, an expert meeting was held in Kiel, where a number ofconcrete recommendations were made for handling the issue. In September2023, the 2nd Our Baltic ministerial conference for the EU Baltic Sea coun-tries was held in Palanga in Lithuania , where a renewed focus was put onthe environmental state of the Baltic Sea. The Danish Minister of the Envi-ronment partici pated in the conference. T he participating countries agreedto a commitment on ammunition s in the Baltic Sea, with the focus to coop-erate in increasing the knowledge and assessing the risks of ammunition s onMECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN4the seabed. In HELCOM an agreement was reached in 2021 on a regionalaction plan which spans 10 years. It implies that Denmark, together withthe other EU countries around the Baltic Sea, cooperates to investigate theenvir onmental risk of the ammunition s on the seabed and options for theirhandling.ESTONIAEstonia Page 15Estonia Page 16ϭRESPONSE OF ESTONIA REGARDING THE RESOLUTION OF THE 32st BALTICSEA PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCEBased on the inputs from the respective Ministries1I Support to UkraineOn 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full -scale war against Ukraine. An aggression againsta sovereign state in the heart of Europe has threatened the security of all of Europe and thevalues we cherish. This is why Russia’s war against Ukraine has united us – in Estonia and inthe international community in general.Throughout this year, Estonia has made every effort to provide comprehensive support toUkraine. We have supported Ukraine politically, economically and militarily, we have ensuredcrucial humanitarian aid and launched reconstruction efforts, with a focus on civilian sites, incleducational and care facilities for children, and infrastructure.Our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine is unwavering and we willcontinue providing comprehensive assistance to Ukraine until it has won the war.Defence assistanceEstonia was one of the first countries to provide Ukraine with defence assistance even beforethe beginning of Russia’s full -scale war on 24 February 2022, sending Javelin anti -tank missilesystems that arrived in Ukraine on 22 February.Estonia has provided military assistance to Ukraine worth nearly €500 million, or more than1.4% of our GDP. Previous donations have included missiles for the Javelin anti -tank missilesystem, howitzers, anti -tank mines, anti -tank grenade launchers, mortar s, vehicles,communications equipment, medical supplies, personal protective equipment (helmets, etc.)and dry food packages. In cooperation with Germany, Estonia has donated two field hospitalsand medical supplies worth nearly €15 million to Ukraine. Est onia is donating a third fieldhospital to Ukraine in cooperation with the Netherlands and Norway, which provided €7.8million in support for the project.In addition to a large quantity of Javelin anti -tank mines, Estonia’s newest aid package alsoincludes machine guns, ammunition for light weaponry, various vehicles and vessels, as wellas diving equipment. The exact amounts are not public for security rea sons. The replacementvalue of the package is nearly €80 million.Humanitarian aidThe people, state, private sector and NGOs of Estonia have donated an estimated €25.75 millionto Ukraine, with the state contribution standing at €6.65 million. Our humanitarian aid is aimedat the regions that have suffered the most in the war, as well a s at internally displaced peopleand Ukrainian refugees in Moldova and Georgia.Estonia’s public sector has given €6.65 million in humanitarian aid through the ForeignMinistry’s strategic partners (Estonian Refugee Council, NGO Mondo, the Estonian RescueBoard and the Estonian Health Board), as well as through the Estonian Red Cross and1 Ministry of Climate, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Estonia Page 17Ϯinternational aid organisations (such as UNHCR, OCHA, ICRC). Various kinds of material aidhas also been provided.The bilateral humanitarian aid Estonia has sent to Ukraine includes demining equipment, aidfor repairing energy systems, transport vehicles, medical supplies and rescue equipment.Estonia is also contributing to cash -based assistance with strategic humani tarian aid partners inUkraine and to repairing schools and centres for internally displaced people.Estonia supports Ukraine’s humanitarian initiative “Grain from Ukraine”, aimed at respondingto food insecurity and famine exacerbated by Russia’s aggression.Development cooperation and reconstruction in UkraineEstonia is one of the first countries that has already begun reconstruction in Ukraine, where weare concentrating our efforts on a focus region – the Zhytomyr Oblast. In the course of Estonia’sdevelopment cooperation in 2022 and 2023 (through ESTDEV and other partners), 29 projectswere completed in areas such as the digital transition, education, good governance andentrepreneurship, totalling €13.25 million. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the sector -based financing by Estonia’s public sector has been €4 million (2022) and €8 million (2023)respectively, or €12 million in total. In 2022, Estonia was the co -organiser of two regionalreconstruction conferences – in Zhytomyr in September and in Tallinn in December. Estonia isready to co -organise the Ukraine reform conference with Italy in 2025.Main projects• A kindergarten in Ovruch. Construction on an energy -efficient modular kindergarten beganin late 2022, with the first part of the project completed on 2 June 2023 and the second inDecember 2023. Estonia supported the training of the staff of the kindergar ten andkindergarten managers in the Zhytomyr Oblast. Estonia allocated €4.8 million for the twostages of the kindergarten.• Malyn Bridge. Estonia contributed €1 million to the reconstruction of the 152 -metre MalynBridge and from 3 October, the bridge was once again one of the major transport hubs ofZhytomyr Oblast, connecting the southern and northern roads of the country.• Family homes. In cooperation with the fund of First Lady Olena Zelenska, Estonia isconstructing family homes for children orphaned in the war. In 2023 and 2024, Estonia isfinancing the construction of a family home by the Olena Zelenska Fund. In 2024, th reemore family homes will be built in the Zhytomyr Oblast, after a standard project selectedthrough an architectural competition in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and theEstonian Association of Architects.• Training top officials in Ukraine. Estonia trained two groups of senior officials (almost 100)to help Ukraine on European integration matters and improve their general knowledgeneeded for EU accession.Ukrainian refugees in EstoniaMore than 40 000 refugees from Ukraine have applied for temporary protection in Estonia,which is more than 3% of our population.• Ukrainian refugees can enjoy the opportunities of Estonia’s labour market, socialprotection, healthcare and education. Estonia allocated around €220 million from its 2022budget for receiving refugees from Ukraine.Estonia Page 18ϯ• We currently have more than 10 000 Ukrainian children, war refugees, in Estonia. In August2022, a special state-run school was established in Tallinn for 570 Ukrainian students – theFreedom School. The school mostly follows Estonia’s national curriculum but continuesteaching Ukrainian language and culture. One third of the teachers are Ukrainians who arealso refugees themselves. Thousands of Ukrainian children study in Estonian schools andkindergartens throughout the country.Political supportSanctionsSince Russia launched its full -scale war against Ukraine, the European Union has continued toimpose sanctions against Russia. Thirteen packages of sanctions have been imposed so far,aimed at raising the cost of the aggression for Russia and, alongside other foreign policymeasures, pressure it into ending its unfounded aggression in Ukraine.From the start of Russia’s aggression, Estonia has stood up for making EU sanctions packagesagainst Russia as severe and effective as possible. The sanctions have been adopted in closecooperation with the G7 and their efficiency is increased by the fact that more than 40 countrieshave imposed similar measures.The packages include sanctions on:• banks and financial institutions;• television channels;• companies in the military and defence sectors;• companies in the aviation, shipbuilding and machine building sectors;• armed forces and paramilitary groups;• political parties;• various metals and metal products;• crude oil and oil products;• Russian diamonds and products that contain them (jewellery);• around 2000 individuals and entities in total who have been added to the sanctions list.In December 2022 and February 2023, price caps were set on Russian crude oil and refined oilproducts to reduce Russian revenues from energy exports. The price caps are reviewedregularly.In addition to additional sanctions, Estonia’s aim in the EU is to prevent Russia from evadingexisting sanctions, mainly by using transit to third countries.It is clear we must further raise the cost of the aggression for Russia and continue imposingsanctions. It is necessary to pressure Russia economically and financially as much as possibleso it ends its brutal war in Ukraine.Attention must be kept on implementing sanctions – the more numerous and complicated thesanctions, the greater the potential wish to evade them, so uniform and correct implementationis crucial for preventing this.Accountability for RussiaEstonia Page 19κRussia is violating international humanitarian law and human rights in Ukraine and hascommitted the gravest international crimes. Estonia’s objective is to ensure completeaccountability for perpetrators for their crimes, such as war crimes, genocide, cri mes againsthumanity and the crime of aggression.Estonia supports the investigation into the situation in Ukraine launched by the InternationalCriminal Court and was among the 43 countries who submitted a proposal to the prosecutor tolaunch an investigation. Estonia was among the first countries to res pond to the appeal and sendfour long -term experts to assist the prosecutor.As the crime of aggression in Ukraine is not within the mandate of the International CriminalCourt, a solution must be found for bringing the Russian head of state and his accomplices tojustice. Estonia advocates for creating an international mechanism f or investigating the crimeof aggression. Estonia supports establishing an international special tribunal for processing thecrime of aggression that would have broad UN support.On 21 April 2022, the Riigikogu adopted the declaration titled “On the War Crimes andGenocide Committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine”, recognising the events in Ukraineas genocide against the people of Ukraine.Support to Ukraine in EU and NATO accessionEstonia supports Ukraine’s path to the European Union and NATO.On 14 December 2023, the European Council decided to launch accession negotiations withUkraine. Estonia supports Ukraine and we will continue sharing our reform and accessionexperiences.At NATO’s 2022 summit in Madrid, the continued open door policy of the Alliance wasreiterated. Ukraine still has a NATO membership perspective, as was stated at NATO’s 2008summit.Freezing assets and using them for reconstruction in UkraineEstonia is looking for ways to introduce a new legal mechanism that would make it possible tohelp Ukraine, in Estonia and across the EU, using frozen assets of individuals connected toRussia and Russia’s aggression.According to estimates, there are a total of €300 billion worth of frozen Russian assets in EUand G7 countries. There are about €30 million worth of frozen Russian assets in Estonia.II Cooperation in the Baltic Sea regionDemocracy, human rights, and freedom of expression are guaranteed in Estonia by theConstitution and legislation, encompassing rule of law, equality and non -discrimination,development of democratic institutions, a vibrant non -governmental sector and maint enance ofthe mindset of adherence to the democratic principles of the society. This has again beenconfirmed by the 10 April 2023 Coalition agreement of the Government . These fundamentalvalues and principles also constitute the basis for Baltic Sea regio nal cooperation.As a n open society with an economy highly integrated with other countries of the region,Estonia is profoundly interested in advancing the Baltic Sea regional cooperation. Estonia hasa special responsibility and opportunity to contribute to regional cooperation during itsEstonia Page 20ρchairmanship of the CBSS in 2024 -25 and of the EU Strategy of the Baltic Sea Region(EUS BSR ) National Coordinators Group in 2025 -2026.Estonian position is that different structures in the Baltic Sea Region must cooperate, have anefficient division of labour and avoid duplication in their activities. Zecently, w e have witnessedthe intensification of work of different cooperation formats, including numerous workinggroups, expert groups, and Policy Areas of the EUSBSR , which are the core part of thecooperation network in the region . Previously, Estonia participated in coordinating oneEUSBSR Policy Area, now three (Lead -PAC in PA Transpo rt, co -PAC in PA Innovation andPA Energy). The EUSBSR should also strive to identify additional possibilities to supportUkraine.Russian aggression against Ukraine and the role of Belarus led different Baltic Sea Regioncooperation formats to the decisions to cease cooperation with them. Russia left the CBSS inMay 2022. Its aggression against Ukraine continues to flagrantly violate international law,including the UN Charter, and consequently the very foundation of the rules -based internationalorder, as stated in the BSPC Conference Resolutions and CBSS documents, including theDeclaration of the 20th CBSS Ministerial Session, Wism ar, Germany , 2 June 2023.We must continue to maintain contacts and support the Russian opposition in exile. As muchas possible, we encourage the opposition to make the Russians' anti -war voice louder. It isimportant to support the independent media, as the Russian -language indep endent media inexile is an important source of information for the Russian -speaking community and is also ofkey importance in the fight against the official propaganda of Russia.In support of the Belarusian democratic forces in exile, the Estonian MFA has appointed aspecial representative for the democratic forces of Belarus, residing in Vilnius. The situation ofpolitical prisoners and human rights in general is being constantly kept in the agenda ofinternational organisations. Estonia supports International Accountability Platform Belarus infirm belief that those responsible for the repressions will be brought to justice.Estonia has supported different Baltic Sea Region initiatives in the area of youth cooperationand participation of the Estonian National Youth Council and other NGOs at them. Wewelcome the establishment of the Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum by the CBSS, w hich servesas a principal youth partner for several regional formats. We will cooperate with the Forumduring the Estonian CBSS and EUSBSR NCG presidencies.Estonia has adopted The Youth Sector Development Plan 2021 -2035, which highlights theimportance of youth participation and includes concrete measures to ensure that young peoplecan express their opinions at all levels of governance and empower them to be active citizens.The state supports youth participation with a local and regional youth councils’ programme.Nearly all 79 local municipalities have created opportunities for young people to parti cipate indecision -making processes. Youth participation is also promoted in schools through studentcouncils. Additionally, there is a support scheme for youth organizations.In order to make the voice of young people better heard in the legislative processes, the EstonianNational Youth Council has set up an advisory board of young people, i.e. a youth council, infive ministries (The Ministry of Education and Research, the Mi nistry of Climate, the Ministryof Economic Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agricultureand the Ministry of Culture). Support to the Estonian National Youth Council and other NGOsEstonia Page 21ςenables their active participation in youth and youth workers exchanges, most often with theBSR countries.The state -financed National Foundation of Civil Society significantly supports NGOs. It assistsnon-governmental organizations, including youth organizations, in developing their differentcapacities to consciously and purposefully pursue their objectives. Foundation also mediatesinternational funding programmes.Young people often participate in exchange and cooperation projects in culture, science andresearch. Estonian artists and cultural workers actively participate in the open calls of theNordic -Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture, both as applicants and a s project partners.Cultural heritage experts actively participate in the work of the Baltic Region HeritageCommittee and its working groups. Estonian Universities are very active project partners inBaltic Sea Region projects.III Strengt hening resilienceRussia`s unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression against democratic Ukraineserves as a stark reminder of the need to bolster our societies' resilience. The Estoniangovernment fully shares the call of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference`s Resolution to„strengt hen the resilience of their democratic societies based on the values that unite thedemocratic Baltic Sea region countr ies“.The concept of strengthening resilience encompasses various dimensions, including enhancingsocial cohesion, bolstering economic and digital security, fortifying internal security,reinforcing national defence and fostering efficient collaboration with rel iable neighbours.Cultural activities, such as the Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pearls project contribute to thestrengt hening of the social resilience as well. Crucially, the societies must learn to respondswiftly to crises such as armed conflicts, natural disasters, extreme climate events, hybridthreats, civil unrest, or economic crises. The recent challenges, including the Russias`s war ofaggression against Ukraine, COVID -19 crisis, extreme weather conditions or continued hybridattacks on our borders, all underscore the importance of preparedness.The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) , including the Safe and Secure priority expertgroups play a key role in advancing cooperation on these issues in the Baltic Sea region.Estonia continues to focus on countering disinformation and war propaganda. We activelytackle information manipulations, expose influence activities in cooperation with theGovernment, academia, media, NGOs and international partners as well as enhance so ciety’smedia and digital literacy.Since February 2022, when Russia started its large -scale aggression against Ukraine, Estoniahas restricted access to 51 Russian TV channels and 237 websites that were agitating for war.During this time, Estonian Government has supported National Public B roadcaster and privatemedia in creating and enhancing content in Russian language to ensure that local Russianspeakers could access factful information of their interest and have a space for democraticdebate.To further support enhancing media literacy, Estonia continues to be active in The BalticEngagement Centre for Combating Information Disorders (BECID) which brings togetheracademia and media in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to research tackling the sprea d ofEstonia Page 22ϳdisinformation. Furthermore, this year University of Tartu launched an international Master’sprogram to train future strategic communication experts focusing on disinformation and societalresilience.The Estonian government is committed to ensuring the rights of vulnerable populations byextending special protective measures for the equal and effective enjoyment of their humanrights. Estonia stands for ensuring the rights of people in the LGBTI commun ity, and for theirequal treatment. We condemn discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity andviolence against people in the LGBTI community, we actively participate in the protection ofthese rights, including in likeminded groups. Alon g with the EU and other likeminded states,Estonia stands for the treatment of migrants in accordance with international law and humanrights standards. Estonia has joined the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons withDisabilities and its Optional Protoc ol. We call on other states to join the Convention and itsOptional Protocol. We are committed to the protection and advancement of the rights of peoplewith disabilities and to ensuring their equal opportunities. It is important to ensure the equalpartic ipation of people with disabilities in society.The rights of women and children are listed among the priorities of the Estonian human rightsdiplomacy. Estonia is focused on achieving gender equality, empowering women and girls, andthe fight against sexual and gender -based violence. Estonia participat es in the work of variousbodies of international organisations focused on women’s rights as well as open debates of theUN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). Estonia hasadopted three national action plans – for 2010 –2014 , 2015 –2019 and 2020 –2025 – to achievethe goals of the resolution. In the protection and enhancement of children’s rights, Estoniafocuses on the accessibility of education, combating violence, prohibiting corporal punishmentof children in all settings, and the protection of children’s rights in the digital society.In the area of legal status and reception conditions of asylum applicants and beneficiaries ofinternational protection and temporary protection, Estonia complies with obligations taken withthe 1951 Refugee Convention, its 1967 Protocol and EU legal acts. Estonia’s legislation andpractise are in full conformity with EU Asylum acquis.People under temporary protection are treated equally with Estonian residents and receive thesame benefit package and are entitled to labour market services and employment support. Theyare covered with health insurance under the same conditions as Estoni ans (employment,registered unemployment, children, students, pregnant and pensioners are covered). Asemergency assistance, the state provides a maximum of 72 h accommodation for all refugeeswho require it. Short -term accommodation is only offered to app licants or recipients oftemporary or international protection. Refugees who stay in Estonia for a longer period areencouraged to find their own housing on the rental market. To settle down independently,refugees can apply for a one -off rent subsidy up to EUR 1200 to cover the costs of long -termliving space.The Ministry of Social Affairs has continued preparations for crises. Under the crisis evacuationexercise CREVEX23, the exercise to evacuate a care home (Iru care home in this case) wascarried out for the first time in Estonia. In the frames of the new draft law on civil crises andnational defence, the Ministry of Social Affairs has prepared a regulation to guarantee thefunctioning of social system (incl social benefits and services) in the events of civil crises andEstonia Page 23Θwar. The principle of accessibility to information (eg notifications) and evacuation places forpeople with disabilities and elderly will also be incorporated to the legislation.At the end of 2023, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Social Protection, the Minister ofthe Interior and the Minister of Education and Research signed an agreement on the preventionof domestic violence for the years 2024 -2027. In 2023, the develop ment of a support systemfor children who suffered from domestic violence began. This year, e -learning materials forprofessionals working with children will be prepared on the impact of domestic violence. Thepractices of identifying and assessing the imp act of domestic abuse, including mental violenceand alienation from a parent, are also analysed with the goal to find suitable domestic violenceassessment tools and provide systematic help for children in need.On April 1, 2023, the new Victim Support Act entered into force, which formulated theprinciples of treating the victim and made the assistance more accessible to a larger number ofvictims of crime and violence. For example, psychological counsel ling to victims of sexualviolence, victims of domestic violence and their children is available since the need for helpappears. The goals and content of services for victims of sexual violence and human trafficking,psychosocial crisis assistance, restora tive jus tice services and support for giving up violencewere formulated. The new Act highlights cooperation between victim assistance and childprotection in helping minor victims and regulates the assistance of minor victims of sexualviolence.Children who are victims of sexual violence can get help from the Barnahus service, that wasincorporated in the Child Protection Act in 2022. This year, it is planned to prepare instructionalmaterials and carry out training and development activities, in cluding the development of acounsel ling system for people with harmful sexual behavio ur (both minors and adults).Simplification of reporting a child in need, including an abused child, and promotion of fasterinformation exchange will continue, aiming at raising awareness of professionals working withchildren regarding violence against children and improving the identification of such children.Estonia has long been promoting global sexual and reproductive health and related rights andis part of the core group of the UN Human Rights Council resolution on preventable maternalmortality and morbidity and human rights. Estonia stresses the importan ce of access to non -discriminatory and comprehensive sex education to help young people navigate theirdeveloping identities, relationship and choices. It is essential from the perspective of ensuringquality healthcare as well as everyone’s right to choos e for themselves and to make decisionsregarding their own bodies, including regarding questions of family planning.Estonia offers free of charge sexual education trainings for young people 11 -19 years of age inTallinn schools. The Estonian Health Insurance Fund finances anonymous online counsel lingto promote sexual health for both Estonian and Russian -speaking young people.With the support of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the project "180 degrees - new directions insupporting children's mental health, preventing abuse and creating a network" is beingimplemented. The project aims to increase awareness of the mental health of children andadolescents and, through networking, to empower the cooperation of treatment teams and thecommunity in preventing children's mental health problems and abuse, and in promotingchildren's well -being.Estonia Page 24εThe goal of the project "Prevention of violence between young people" is to increase theknowledge of professionals working with young people about the prevention of violence andto develop a training program on violence prevention tools and methods and th eir daily use.Since 2018, the central legal act in the field of cyber security in Estonia has been the CyberSecurity Act, which, among other things, adopted European Parliament and Council (EU)2016/1148 (NIS1). In 2022, the EU Council adopted Directive (EU) 2022/2555 of the EuropeanParliament and of the Council, or NIS2, which complements the provisions of the previousdirective and is now being transposed into Estonian law. In addition, specific cyber securityrequirements for the financial sector have been establish ed. In the process, there are regulationson cyber independence, cyber solidarity and cyber security, all of which lead to the need to beadjusted Estonian legal acts as well.The basis for ensuring information security at public sector institutions is the IT baselinesecurity system ISKE, which has been in force since 2003. ISKE has now been updated andevolved into the Estonian information Security standard (E -ITS), which was last updated in2023. E- ITS offers ready -made sets of security measures (e.g. standard software, outsourcing,firewalls, etc.) to organizations using standard solutions. To get a reference security, theorganization can reuse the best practices of informa tion security and save resources for theimplementation of information security.To achieve innovative and competitive enterprise in the cybersecurity sector and research anddevelopment activity Estonia has created the Estonian Research and Development, Innovationand Entrepreneurship Strategy 2021 —2035. The strategy seeks to ensure t hat the state ascustomer and initiator of R&D enjoys successful substantive cooperation with companies andresearch institutions, which would boost the creation of innovative products.The Estonian Information System Authority conducts a yearly nationwide informationcampaign "Be IT -Conscious" (Ole IT -vaatlik) . In 2023 the campaign was primarily aimed atmanagers and employees of SMEs. Campaign messages focused on the cyberthreats mostthreatening companies and called on business leaders to analy se cyber security as a businessrisk. Under the campaign awareness raising quizzes and provides information materials onresponsible digital behaviour to citizens, businesses and the public sector.IV Climate change , biodiversity, maritime ecosystemsThe Coalition agreement of the Government considers green reform as one of the principaldirections. The document stresses: "We will implement green reforms in cooperation with thepublic, private and third sectors." The Coalition agreement underlines: "Working withentrepreneurs, we will reshape Estonia's economic model to make it sustainable and climateneutral." Participants of the agreement promise to adopt the Climate Act and "establish legalclarity and investment assurance for the achievement of climate objectives." The documentincludes several meas ures to step up the protection of the Baltic Sea and rivers. It also paysattention to the development of the Blue Economy.Estonia, a party to the HELCOM Convention, adopted the new Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP)in autumn 2021 and we continue to fully implement all the agreed 199 actions and other relevantthematic plans adopted together with the BSAP. Estonia has continued co ntributing toHELCOM working groups' informal consultation meetings, which have drawn up detailed workplans for implementing the BSAP actions. While updating our national Marine Strategy'sEstonia Page 25ϭϬProgramme of Measures (adopted in February 2023), we have integrated the BSAP actions inour national measures, which enables us to follow our shared goals for a clean Baltic Sea andour national and regional commitments. Estonia is actively taking part in regional projects,which also contribute to the implementation of the BSAP actions, for example a HorizonEurope supported project PROTECT BALTIC, led by HELCOM and with 17 partners fromEstonia, Finland, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia and S weden was launched inthe summer of 2023 and in February 2024 a consortium was signed. The project lasts until 2028and from the Estonian side not only the Ministry of Climate, but also our marine scientists fromthe Tartu University Marine Institute are i nvolved. The main goal of the project is to develop,demonstrate and leverage the implementation of protection and restoration solutions in theBaltic Sea.Estonia fully agree s and acknowledge s, that our quality of life is highly affected by climatechange, and action must be taken to adapt to the changes by reducing environmental pressureon the Baltic Sea. The latest holistic assessment of the Baltic Sea region (HOLAS 3), whichwas launched in 2023, has shown that even though the state of the Baltic Sea has not reachedgood status, there have been trends of improvement in several aspects. This means that themeasures taken are slowly starting to work. Howeve r, there is long way to go yet, meaning westill see "HELCOM 2021 Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Fact Sheet" as a relevant documentand support the updating process of the CC Fact Sheet document to indicate additional and notyet stated impacts we need t o pay attention to and if necessary, find mitigation measures.Eutrophication continues to be the most urgent and prioritized matter in the Baltic Sea forEstonia, which we still need to address. Anthropogenic activities, such as agriculture andindustrialization in the Baltic Sea catchment area, have caused a signifi cant increase in inputsof nitrogen and phosphorus over the past 150 years. In 2022, Estonia conducted a pilot projectto identify, via modelling exercise, national maximum allowable nutrient inputs, based on theavailable nutrient influx information. That pilot project concentrated on only one area ofEstonian waters (Soela strait) and, as a result, revealed possible next steps andrecommendations on how to monitor nutrient input. As the first results of the pilot projectproved to be successful, we are co ntinuing the research project with our scientists until thespring of 2025 to have an overview of nutrient loads of all the Estonian sea area. In addition,we have included a topic of evaluation of the inner load of phosphorus compounds from bottomsedimen ts in the Estonian marine area, to have a full overview of the situation.The "HELCOM 2021 Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Fact Sheet", with its clear overview ofvital parameters and related policy -relevant suggestions, has been an overall backgroundinformation document for Estonia while planning and implementing our programm es ofmeasures. We fully agree and acknowledge that the best climate change adaptation response isto reduce environmental pressure on the Baltic Sea.Regarding limiting further eutrophication impacts, nutrient recycling has great potential,especially in the agriculture and wastewater treatment sectors. In the Estonian CommonAgricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023 –2027, several activities which help to improve nutrientmanagement or reduce nutrient use or the losses of nutrients into the environment are included:• Support for environmentally friendly management.• Soil and water protection support.• Support for maintaining valuable permanent grassland.Estonia Page 26ϭϭ• Support for organic production.• Investments for better management of manure and precision farming techniques(precision fertilization equipment, construction and renovation of manure storagefacilities and feeding and watering sites).• Investment support for the construction of land improvement environmental protectionfacilities.Estonia is fully committed to achieving the climate goals of the Paris Agreement that theGlasgow Pact further strengthened. Estonia has set a binding target to become climate neutralby 2050. As the Coalition agreement points out, a climate law is envisag ed to be developed toappoint interim targets for a smooth transition to a net -zero economy. Furthermore, in 2022, theEstonian Parliament adopted amendments to the Energy Sector Organisation Act about thegoals for renewable energy for 2030. According to this Law, the national renewable energytarget by 2030 is at least 65 per cent of gross domestic final energy consumption. The law alsostipulates that renewable energy accounts in 2030 for at least 100 per cent of the gross finalelectricity consumption a nd at least 63 per cent of the gross final thermal energy consumption.The law also sets the goal that renewable energy used in road and rail transport will account forat least 14 per cent of total energy consumed in the transport sector.The administrative procedures for participating in tenders and permitting new renewable energyproduction objects are simplified and speeded. In addition, with the latest amendment toElectricity Market Act, Estonia also plans to remove around 1 GW 'ghost' grid users, makingthe grid more available for rural areas and their renewable energy production.Estonia adopted the Hydrogen Strategy in March 2022. Hydrogen strategies are one of the sevenfocal areas for applied research within the national competitive industry framework (TAIE andRUP). Estonia is addressing the availability of green hydrogen by de veloping affordablerenewable electricity to the point of regular surplus. We handle the demand for hydrogen byseeking off -takers and developing value chains. In 2023, Estonia also developed a HydrogenRoadmap that will steer the Government and stakeholde rs alike to create and take up newhydrogen technologies to facilitate decarbonization in sectors that are hard to decrease. Thescope of the Liquid Fuel Law is broadened to support, for instance, the use of hydrogen intransport. Estonia participates in t he Battery IPCEI (one project) and Hydrogen IPCEI (threeprojects) to develop technologies to help decarbonize hard -to-abate sectors.Estonia supports using locally produced renewable energy, especially biomethane, to reduceemissions and phase out fossil fuels . Estonia aims to stimulate biogas production, continue theongoing support measures and assess the economically usable resources of biogas in the mid -to-long term. To that end, Estonia will audit the potential resources and requirements to developrenewable energy production in local communities and its uptake in different sectors, includingtransport and industry.Estonia contributes to the efforts of the Baltic Sea Region countries in their strengthening ofenergy sovereignty, including through energy efficiency, decentralized energy generation andstorage, demand -side flexibility, increased use of locally availabl e energy sources andtechnologies, use of renewable and low -carbon energy sources and interconnections todemocratic and reliable neighbours.Estonia Page 27ϭϮSignificant investments in new energy infrastructure and respective IT systems are ongoing.Estonia works with Latvia and Lithuania to implement the plan to desynchronize its electricitynetwork from the Russian -led BRELL and join the Central -European sync hronization area assoon as possible in 2025, but by the end of 2025, as agreed between Latvia, Lithuania, Polandand the European Commission. The Coalition agreement states: "We will connect Estonia tothe synchronous grid of Continental Europe by 2025." The expansion of grids and storagefacilities for that purpose continues. Estonia has signed contracts covering most of the criticalinfrastructure and IT projects, and they are on schedule. The third Estonia -Latviainterconnection through the Latvian -Estonian joint off- shore wind project ELWIND willcontribute to that plan. Russia`s full -scale war against Ukraine has impacted this project,including risk assessments and the technical capacity of companies to produce relevantmaterials to build/renovate electricity infrastructure.We also build important objects to strengthen the resilience of the Estonian electricity network.There is a clear need for new connections to other countries and a grid strengthening.ESTLINK3 interconnector between Finland and Estonia would be a much -needed contribution,especially considering the anticipated electricity demand growth in the future. It is now in thedevelopment phase. We are preparing to construct the Saaremaa 330kV line to support offshorewind park developments and strengthen the energy resilience of our islands. The Coalitionagreement confirms: "We will support the establishment of an electricity network for offshorewind farms on the Baltic Sea and its addition to the list of European projects."Estonia saw a significant drop in natural gas and fossil fuel imports in 2022, which hadpreviously primarily originated from the Commonwealth of Independent States. In the future,Estonia intends to continue its integration with democratic and reliable pa rtners. We built ourfirst LNG terminal in Paldiski, and it works in a complex with the Finnish Inkoo LNG terminaland BalticConnector gas pipeline and further the Latvian LNG storage.Estonia also sees energy efficiency as the first consideration for energy resilience andsustainability, particularly in the heating and cooling sector. Today, buildings account for halfof the energy use in Estonia. On the one hand, much progress has been made in decarbonizingthe heating sector and installing ground and air heat pumps. On the other hand, an intelligentenergy policy targets energy consumption. Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings has acentral role in reaching climate neutrality in Estonia. For us, the key is to reconstruct the oldhouses with prefabricated elements and monitor real -time energy consumption. For example,in Estonia's experience, the reconstruction of an apartment building with energy label class Ccan save heating energy by 65 per cent and reduce heating energy and electricity costs by 50per cent. More than half of Estonia's building stock was completed during the Soviet era, whichmeans we have a large -scale reconstruction ahead of us.In 2020, the Government approved a long -term reconstruction strategy, with the primary goalof completely renovating all buildings built before 2000 in Estonia in 2050. The strategy's goalis to completely reconstruct the building stock to energy performan ce class C by 2050, so it isnecessary to rebuild 100 000 detached houses, 14 000 apartment buildings and 27 000 non -residential buildings in the following decades.Housing Reconstruction is one of the principal priorities of using EU funds in Estonia duringthe 2021 -2027 MFF period. Foundation KredEx implements subsidies, guarantees, and loansin the housing sector. The support rate is 30 -50 per cent of the project's costs.Estonia Page 28ϭϯEstonia continues activities for the development of sustainable mobility.We will continue to build the main bicycle paths networks and improve bicycle parkingfacilities in Tallinn, Pärnu and Tartu and their surrounding areas. The existence ofcomplete/coherent networks is the most critical prerequisite for daily bicycle use, w hich is whythe proposed measure focuses on constructing missing links of the main bicycle path networksin the city centre areas. The action encourages the use of active forms of movement, increasesthe competitiveness of the bicycle as a form of movement , and allows people of different agesand social groups to comfortably and safely navigate by bike and carry out daily errands.Estonia also continues the development of various public transport hubs. The focus of theproposed measures is to promote smoother integration of different modes of transport andmodes of movement than today, which will increase the service area of public transport andimprove connections between city centres and surrounding areas. The result is safer and fasterjourneys and more efficient connections between people's homes and workplaces, therebyenhancing the competitiveness of environmentally friendly mo des of transport and helping toreduce car dependency.Estonian continues the development of tram traffic in the Tallinn city region with EU supportof 40 million euros. The focus is to improve the accessibility of the tram service, increase itscompetitiveness and reduce connection times. Currently, construct ion of the new tram line tothe passenger Port of Tallinn is on the way. It will connect the Port with the future Rail BalticÜlemiste Terminal.Rail Baltic is strategically important to the European railway network as it establishes a cross -border railway connection with the Baltic countries that are not connected with the mainEuropean network today. It will contribute to better and speedier link s, has a significant positiveenvironmental impact and contributes to regional development. The Coalition agreementconfirmed the continuation of the construction of the Rail Baltic. The project is in an activeconstruction phase at present. 19 bridges, ec oducts, and utility displacements were accepted inEstonia last year, and more than 20 are currently in construction. We have finalized 2 and started5 procurements for the Rail Baltic railway's longer (approximately 10 km) sections (around 75km altogether), with a few more to follow this spring. The sections include construction of theembankment, crossings, utilities, access roads, etc. By the end of 2024, approximately half ofthe Rail Baltic main line on the territory of Estonia will be under construct ion. Construction ofthe superstructure (rails, sleepers, electrification, and command -control systems) will followwhen embankment between considerable sections between nodes (e.g. Tallinn -Pärnu orTallinn -EE/LV border) is ready. Construction works are on going at the Ülemiste terminal inTallinn and Pärnu passenger terminal and will soon be started at the Rail Baltic main rollingstock depot near Ülemiste in Tallinn .Our common goal is to complete the project and start operations on the new railway in 2030,which is the TEN -T core network completion deadline.Estonia has an ambitious goal to electrify most of the existing 1520 mm gauge railways and, atthe same time, increase driving speeds to 160 km/h. The electrification works of the Tallinn -Tartu and Tallinn -Narva railway lines started in 2023 and last until 2025 on the Tallinn -Tartuline and until 2027 on the Tallinn -Narva line. The cost of the entire project is approximately280 million euros. In addition, Estonia acquired additional 16 electric passenger trains, whichEstonia Page 29ϭκwill start operating from the beginning of 2025. The aim is to make railway traffic more andmore environmentally friendly.The Government aims to promote electric transport and reduce carbon dioxide emissions in thetransport sector through the broader adoption of electric cars. The Center for EnvironmentalInvestments (KIK) supports purchasing electric vehicles.Estonia has adopted a strategy for Maritime Economy for 2022 -2035, which sets priorities fordeveloping its shipping to be sustainable, efficient, and safe. The goal is to reduce emissionsand transition the sector towards climate neutrality. To that end, Estonia will be fully committedto implementing the EU ETS for maritime activities and is looking into ways to reduce itsemissions.Estonia supports the reuse of construction products and a sustainable approach to constructionactivities. The reuse of construction products is discussed in a broad -based strategy documentcalled "Long -Term View on Construction 2035" (2021). This strategy deals with theintroduction of circular economy principles: Introduction of circular economy principles, i.e.,mapping of the reuse of buildings and typical construction materials in construction anddemolition waste, assessment and harmonization of waste recyclability through pilot projects;establishment of national waste recovery rules and practices; encouraging the reuse of valuablebuildings, including information campaigns based on success stories to promote opportunitiesand best practices and to ra ise awareness at all levels. Piloting a construction and demolitionwaste recycling plant should be considered. Cooperation with other sectors should be achievedto get the best results for recovering construction and demolition waste, including materialrecycling. We are looking for opportunities to use or reuse additional local raw materials. Inaddition, Estonia reviews the regulation on the length of the building life cycle, and if necessary,we will amend it - for example, the construction design requir ements.Estonia strongly supports engaging the broader public through knowledge exchange andawareness raising, which are crucial to permanent change towards more sustainable andenvironmentally sound lifestyle decisions. Only through communication on environment andclimate change, including the state of the Baltic Sea and threats to its environment, can we counton individual behaviour changes. Throughout the compilation of various programmes ofmeasures or scientific projects, we have provided opportunities for the public to be engaged viaseminars, conferences or media coverage. The Coalition agreement promises to increasecommunication, information and involvement activities to explain environmental challengesand find common ground in society.V Dumped ammunitionThe underwater munitions from World Wars influence the ecological state of the Baltic Sea,transport and infrastructure projects, including sea -based wind parks. In HELCOM, Estonia isactively participating in SUBMERGE expert group, where one of its tasks from the BSAP is todevelop the Best Environmental Practice (BEP) for comprehensive risk assessment ofmunitions, wrecks, and hazardous submerged objects by 2025. Thus, Estonia welcomes thesearch for collaboration between HELCOM and the CBSS to strengthen efforts exploring,identifying, recovering, and neutralizing explosive ordnance in the Baltic Sea. The Ministry ofClimate is an associated partner in the MUNIRISK project, which has just been accepted andapproved for funding by the EU at the beginning o f 2024. This project will precisely deal withEstonia Page 30ϭρthe updating of the data we have regarding underwater munition and will help to developmentthe BEP on how to remediate the risk underwater munition poses on the Baltic Sea region,especially in the light of offshore windfarm development.Regular cleaning from warfare munitions (from both WW I and WW II) is carried out in theEstonian marine area by our Navy vessels. According to the Navy data, over the last twentyyears, more than 1300 explosives were localized and neutralized in Estonian waters.During 2023, Estonian Police and Border Guard Board and Environmental Investment Centrecarried out a project “Environmental risk assessment of potentially hazardous wrecks inEstonian marine area“, financed by the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (N EFCO).As a result, a complete detailed underwater evaluation of three wrecks, which are listed ofhaving the highest rating of causing pollution in Estonian waters was compiled. Those wrecksare mine the countermeasure’s vessel M37, and destroyers S -31 and T22.***FINLANDFinland Page 3227.3.20241/23Finland – 32nd BSPC Resolution Follow -upRegarding peaceful and reliable neighbourliness and intensecooperation in the Baltic Sea Region based on fundamental values to1. strongly increase and intensify the efforts to strengthendemocracy, rule of law, equality, and human rights in the Baltic SeaRegion and beyond and acknowledge that these values in today'sshifting geopolitical realities are under threat in our own region;Finland’s foreign and security policy is based on the rule of law,human rights, equality and democracy. Close cooperation with partners,good bilateral relations, and respect for and strengthening ofmultilateral international law are the cornerstones Fin land’sinternational relations.Finland currently holds the Presidency of the Co uncil of the BalticSea States (2023–2024). The aim is to strengthen both the politicaldimension and practical cooperation of the CBSS. During its CBSSPresidency, Finland has continued to develop the CBSS into a flexibleplatform for topical discussions.2. achieve in the fields of common political interest moresignificant progress by joint practical measures – analogous to thehandling of the topic of offshore wind and the agreement reached onit https://cbss.org/wp113content/uploads/2023/05/230509_berlin -declaration -on-baltic-offshore- wind114by -cbss-foreign-ministers_final_consented.pdf – and thus develop the Baltic Searegion into a best -practice example for other macro -regions andacquire in thi s way push effects for further advancement within theframework of broader cooperation formats;During its CBSS Presidency, Finland has continued the work ofstrengthening the active work of CBSS’ expert groups. CBSS has foryears been a strong and recogni sed forum for practical cooperationespecially in the priority area of Safe and Secure Region. Its workinggroups and expert networks each produce unique added value for theBaltic Sea region.During the Finnish presidency, the CBSS Task Force against Tra ffickingin Human Beings (CBSS TF -THB), chaired by the Government Anti -Trafficking Coordinator of Finland, and the Expert Group on Childrenat Risk (CAR), chaired by the Ministry for Social Affairs and Health,have cooperated closely by implementing a proj ect “Best practices toprevent child trafficking and violence against children in the CBSScountries”. Practical workshops have been organized to shareexperiences and to identify best practices.Finland has also chaired the CBSS Civil Protection Network, which aimsto strengthen the resilience on individual, community and societallevels in the region and to respond to the changed securityenvironment. The Ministry of the Interior of Finland has hosted orFinland Page 3327.3.20242/23co-hosted several events during the Presidency yea r, in which allcountries in the Baltic Sea Region have participated actively. On topof wide participation of different countries, all events have beenbuilt by a wide network of different actors; authorities,associations, NGOs, academia and research field, and business life.See more information under point 57.Finland works actively in the EU Strategy for Baltic Sea Region(EUSBSR). The strategy consists of 14 policy areas, cove ring varioussectors and joint practical measures, enhancing collaboration betweendifferent stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Region.In 2024, Finland holds the chairmanship of the Baltic Sea RegionBorder Control Cooperation, BSRBCC. Led by the Finnish Bo rder Guard,the objective during the BSRBCC presidency is to strengthenoperational cooperation among border and coast guard authorities inthe Baltic Sea region and support Finland's Presidency of the CBSS.Operational cooperation is a central component o f BSRBCC.Internationally coordinated surveillance operations allow thecapabilities of the Finnish Border Guard and other Baltic Sea regionborder and coast guard authorities to be used extensively inoperational surveillance tasks related to coast guard functions inthe Baltic Sea area.3. ensure inclusive, socially and environmentally sustainable economicgrowth and development as well as energy security;Ensuring inclusive, socially and environmentally sustainable economicgrowth and development as well as energy security covered in the thirditem of the resolution is in the core of the work of the Ministry ofEconomic Affairs and Employment of Finland.5. intensify and deepen cooperation to develop better protection forcritical shared underwater infras tructure;The Finnish Border Guard has an important role in surveillance ofcritical infrastructure in Finland’s territorial waters and in theFinnish exclusive economic zone. Finnish Border Guard’s surface andaerial assets, such as offshore patrol vessels, fixed wing aircraftsand helicopters, are used for taking care of that surveillance underoperational command of coast guard districts of The Finnish BorderGuard. In addition to that, underwater capabilities of the FinnishBorder Guard have an importan t role in surveillance and inspection ofunderwater objects.As Finland’s leading Coast Guard authority, The Finnish Border Guardis continuously developing its coast guard functions capacities, suchas maritime search and rescue preparedness, maritime bo rder controlcapacities and marine pollution prevention and response in the BalticSea region. The Finnish Border Guard has established robust practicallevel cooperation mechanisms with key national and internationalpartners to safeguard security and saf ety in the region. In addition,The Finnish Border Guard is constantly further developing its coastguard functions capacities by organizing and taking part in jointFinland Page 3427.3.20243/23national and international exercises, as well as by continuouslyorganizing high- level tra ining to its staff. (Also applies to points28 ja 37).The Finnish Border Guard will procure two new offshore patrol vesselsthat have the capacity for border control, maritime search and rescue,surveillance and protection of Finland’s territorial integri ty, massevacuations, marine pollution response, international operations andthe management of certain dangerous special situations. These newmulti-purpose vessels, planned to be delivered in 2025 and 2026, willbe equipped with state -of-the-art oil and chemical spill responsesystems and effective response capacity. Furthermore, the vessels aredesigned to meet higher emissions standards and to be energyefficient. (Also applies to points 28 ja 37).In order to improve maritime safety and security as we ll as bordersecurity and surveillance capacities, the Finnish Border Guard willalso procure two new multi- purpose fixed -wing aircrafts. These newaircrafts are planned to be in operational use during the years 2026 –2027.8. in view of the current geopol itical challenges that require morecooperation and coordination of activities, return to meetings ofheads of government, alternating with foreign ministers;During the Finnish CBSS Presidency, CBSS has been developed furtherinto a flexible platform for topical discussion at the Ministeriallevel. The next step for this could be a return to the Baltic SeaStates Summits between the Heads of Government, if all the MembersStates wish so .10. expand cross- border, transnational, and inter -regionalcooperati on (Interreg) and strengthen synergies between the differentBaltic Sea policy cooperation formats;In Finland’s view, it is important to pursue constructive cooperatio nbetween different Baltic Sea cooperation formats and strengthensynergies between the m. The Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum, backed bythe CBSS, can be used to support youth cooperation in other BalticSea Region cooperation formats, such as BSPC, BSSSC, and others . InFinland, the aim has been to promote synergies by for example havingstakeholders handling different cooperation formats as members in theCBSS and EUSBSR national coordination groups .Different Baltic Sea cooperation formats also participate yea rly inthe EUSBSR Annual Forum .11. underline the continued importance of strengthening socialresilience in the Baltic Sea Region and support the ongoing processof setting up an annual award for local authorities to shine as a“Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pearl” by fostering resilience throughcultural activities;During its CBSS presidency, Finland aims to strengthen regionalidentity. In our view, sharing intangible and tangible culturalFinland Page 3527.3.20244/23heritage plays a very significant role in this. Cultural activitiesprovide tools for sharing experiences and coping with diffic ultsituations. Digital skills and media literacy are important not onlyfor combatting disinformation and defending democracy, but also forresilience of our societies at large. Therefore, we appreciate theprocess of setting up an annual award “Baltic Se a Region CulturalPearl” and rely on the social and economic importance of culturalheritage, which could have even more visibility in the resolution.12. strengthen the role of the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region,focusing on the current political core challenges in the Baltic Searegion, expanding the involvement of the democratic neighbourcountries, and including support for Ukraine during the war andafterwards for the reconstruction and strengthening democracy inUkraine;Finland actively works in the EU Strategy for Baltic Sea Region. Amongall countries in the Baltic Sea Region, the EUSBSR is best known bythe public in Finland (63 % according to the Flash Eurobarometer 531in 2023).Finland has strongly supported that core challenges in the region aretaken into account by for example including Ukrainian actors in EUSBSRprojects. Contributing to the recovery of Ukraine is one of the EUSBSRpriorities. In December 2022, the EUSBSR launched the firstinitiatives for cooperation between the Bal tic Sea Region andUkrainian stakeholders. Today, there are several initiatives indifferent Policy Areas . For example, Policy Area Nutri has facilitatedthe formation of the Clean Baltic Source project to help with knowledgetransfer between Ukraine, Swed en, and Poland on wastewater issues.The project is currently preparing to apply for further funding tocontinue cooperation. At the EUSBSR Annual Forum in 2023, Policy AreasNutri, Bioeconomy, Hazards and Ship organised a workshop with the CBSSand the Sw edish Institute to discuss how to help Ukraine on its roadtowards a full EU partnership and sustainable rebuilding.EUSBSR Policy Areas have also started to involve Ukrainianparticipants in their Steering Group meetings: for example, PAInnovation will o rganise a Steering Group meeting and EUSBSR -Ukraineroundtable event in April with the following theme “EUSBSR cooperationand initiatives on innovative climate actions and innovation exchangeand cooperation opportunities between Ukraine and the Baltic Searegion”.13. supporting democratic developments in the neighbouring countriesof the Baltic Sea Region, especially strengthening democraticstakeholders for a democratic development of Belarus and Russia;Finland is committed to continue our support for a democratic Belarus.We support projects related to freedom of information and promotionof democracy in Belarus through the European Endowment for Democracy(EED).Finland Page 3627.3.20245/23Finland also finances the work of the International AccountabilityPlatform for Belarus (IAPB), working towards collecting evidence ofgross human rights violations.In addition, Finland has for many years funded the European HumanitiesUniversity in Vilnius. We also support Belarusian stude nts throughthe Students at Risk association that offers students the opportunityto continue studies at a Finnish higher education institution, if theyare denied the right to education due to their activities.Finland will support efforts to expand the r oom for manoeuvre for theRussian civil society as far as possible. Together with the EU, Finlandhas strongly condemned the death of Alexei Navalny while servingpolitically motivated sentences and continues to demand for therelease of political prisoner s in Russia.16. support and perpetuate the now -established involvement of youthin the CBSS work to include the concerns of the young generation inthe core concerns of the Baltic Sea region issues;Finland focuses on young people during its CBSS Preside ncy. Youngpeople’s participation in society is important. Finland will organizein May 2024 CBSS Youth Ministerial, which will focus on societalresilience and participation in elections . Finland wants to strengthenthe young generation’s European identit y and increase their voterturnout in the European Parliament elections of 2024. The maindeliverable of the Youth Ministerial will be a “position paper” thatwill be handed over to the CBSS Ministerial Meeting in June 2024.Finland also sees the Bal tic Sea Region Youth Forum as a useful andfruitful cooperation format, which can, in addition to CBSS, be usedby different Baltic Sea Region cooperation platforms, such as theBSPC.Regarding enhancing democratic resilience and boosting capabilitiesto face modern digital challenges to17. consistently and resolutely counter the growing threat to thedemocratic community posed by disinformation campaigns, with aparticular focus on information warfare carried out by the RussianFederation;Finland continues t o support independent Russian -language contentproduction in the EU’s Eastern Partnership countries through theEuropean Endowment for Democracy (EED). As a new NATO member Finlandtakes part in coalition’s efforts to counter Russia’s informationmanipulat ion.19. protect the rights and ensure the safety of refugees, ethnicminorities, LGBTQ+ people, women, children, the elderly and othervulnerable groups who are particularly at risk in times of war andthreatened by intolerant attitudes;During the Finnis h presidency, the CBSS Task Force against Traffickingin Human Beings (CBSS TF -THB), chaired by the Government Anti -Finland Page 3727.3.20246/23Trafficking Coordinator of Finland, and the Expert Group on Childrenat Risk (CAR), chaired by the Ministry for Social Affairs and Health,have cooperated closely by implementing a project “Best practices toprevent child trafficking and violence against children in the CBSScountries”. Practical workshops have been organized to shareexperiences and to identify best practices in order to stre ngthen 1)prevention, identification and support of child victims of humantrafficking, 2) integration of Ukrainian refugee families to preventlabor exploitation and 3) prevention of child sexual exploitation inreal life and online. In addition, a report on the best practices toprevent, identify and support child victims of trafficking in theBaltic Sea countries will be published. The report will provide newinformation about child trafficking in the CBSS Member States. It willprovide recommendations f or decision -making and concrete action plans.It will also serve as a practical tool for the professionals whopotentially encounter child victims of human trafficking in theirwork.Human trafficking is a crime that can include various forms ofexploitati on to which children can be exposed. One of the lessidentified forms of human trafficking is forcing children to engagein criminal activities. This has caused increasing concerns in recentyears. At the international conference on youth criminality and i tsconnection to human trafficking this topic will be discussed inHelsinki, Finland in May 2024.One objective during the Finnish CBSS Presidency is to increase theBaltic Sea States’ expertise in receiving refugees from Ukraine dueto Russia's invasion and supporting them in settlement and socialintegration.22. increase public awareness and digital literacy to enable citizensto identify and mitigate the risks of misinformation anddisinformation;Finland is often considered as one the leading countries in medialiteracy. This has proven to make the society more solid when it comesto tackling mis - and disinformation.National guidelines for strengthening media literacy were publishedin 2019 and a re still valid (Media literacy in Finland : Nat ionalmedia education policy).The National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI), a subordinate of theMinistry of Education and Culture, has a legal duty to promote mediaeducation and coordinate the implementation of Finnish national mediaeducation and media literacy policy. KAVI conducts studies and surveysplus runs projects in order to raise awareness on media and digitalliteracy. It operates mainly on the national level, but alsoreinforces regional media educ ation. This is done, for example, bysupporting regional and local organizations in strategic mediaeducation planning.Finland Page 3827.3.20247/2324. expand research and innovation capacities in cybersecurity anddigital resilience;According to the Program of the Prime Minister Pe tteri Orpo’sGovernment Finland’s Cyber Security Strategy will be revised torespond to the changed operating environment.The Ministry of Education and Culture and the National Board ofEducation will draft together national recommendations for teachingand learning of AI during the year 2024.The implementation of Finland’s Digital Compass is also progressing.The Digital Compass contains the objectives for advancing the digitaltransformation of society, which are divided into four categories:competence, infrastructure, public services and businesses. TheCompass will strengthen cooperation both within the Government andacross society.26. enhance the security and resilience of the Baltic Sea Region bystrengthening cooperation in areas such as defence, energy security,and cyber security;During its CBSS Presidency, Finland has aimed at develop ing the CBSSinto a flexible platform for topical discussion. Finland has alsoaimed to develop CBSS’s practical cooperation.The cross -cutting themes of Finland's Presidency are comprehensivesecurity, crisis preparedness and resilience. Finland has alsoproposed including comprehensive security in the work of the EU.Regarding strengthening the resilience of maritime ecosystems to27. alongside the ambitious actions that the BSPC resolution urgesconcerning marine resilience and resilience of climat e andbiodiversity, also take into account other important dimensions inachieving a sustainable development in line with the Agenda 2030, suchas social and economic aspects. Conflicting interests should be takeninto account and analysed, for example tho se between climate policyand biodiversity preservation;Finland’s National Commission on Sustainable Development leadsFinland’s efforts towards a systemic transition to sustainable future.The foundations of the Commission and its work lay in broad -basedparticipation and whole -of-society approach to sustainabledevelopment. The Commission’s National Strategy for SustainableDevelopment serves as a roadmap for a systematic change that includesecological, social and economic sustainability. The strategy isdivided into six areas of change, e.g. Forest, Water and Land Use,promoting biodiversity and carbon neutrality, which promote allaspects of sustainability.As a concrete example of recognizing synergies and tradeoffs, theNational Biodiversity Strat egy and its implementation programme,currently under preparation, comprehensively encompass the aspects ofclimate change. As another example, the Finnish Climate Panel and theFinnish Nature Panel are collaborating to exchange and enhanceFinland Page 3927.3.20248/23knowledge on bi odiversity conservation, through protecting forestsand its impacts on the carbon sinks of forests.28. cooperate and act decisively towards a clean, healthy, andproductive Baltic Sea with resilient marine and coastal ecosystems;As the host country and an active Contracting Party to the BalticMarine Environment Protection Commission HELCOM, Finland is a strongsupporter of Baltic -wide cooperation to tackle the shared challengesof our marine and coastal ecosystems.Finland fina lized the second implementation cycle of the MarineStrategy Framework Directive in December 2021, with 63 new measuresto tackle the challenges identified in Finnish marine areas. Many ofthese measures are linked to the new HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan,thereby addressing pressures shared by all Baltic Sea states.Furthermore, these measures are also closely linked to the FinnishWater Framework Directive measures, in order to reduce the pressurescoming from the catchment area. Currently Finland impleme nts its RiverBasin Management Plans and Programme of Measures of its M arineStrategy for years 2022 –27.To boost effective implementation of these plans, the government hasdecided to grant speci fic funding of 30 MEUR for 2023 –27 for theirimplementati on, and in particular actions aimed at the ArchipelagoSea area. The Archipelago Sea is a large area with a mosaic of islands,skerries and seascape in between Finland and Sweden, whose waterssuffer from eutrophication. An excess of nutrients is largelygenerated by agricultural activities in the drainage area.Agricultural pollution of the Archipelago Sea drainage area is thelast remaining Hot Spot of Finland on HELCOM’s list of Hot Spots.Finland’s Government has set an objective to clean up the polluti onand clear the hot spot status by 2027.A large number of measures have been put to place to implement thisgoal, including the use of gypsum to bind phosphorus to theagricultural soil and decrease leaching, increased plant coverage ofagricultural land, efficient nutrient recycling though measures suchas transfer of nutrient containing biomass from excess areas to areasdeficient in nutrients, and biogas plant investments with efficienthandling of nutrient containing biomasses. Reduced nutrient loa ds willhelp the sea to recover from eutrophication. This will enable theflora and fauna to return and be restored to a more natural status.In addition, marine habitat types, such as eel grass beds, will beprotected as defined by the revised Nature Cons ervation Act, whichentered into force in 2023.Finland continues its work on reducing hazardous substances,specifically from urban areas, through better control of urban runoff,as well as through nature based solutions, among other things. Inaddition , Finland has carried out restoration of risk wrecks, whichmay leak oil or other harmful substance. A wreck of a WWII -era (Finnishflagship Ilmarinen) has been examined for oil recovery and in 2024, aproject to remove the oil is to be carried out.Finland Page 4027.3.20249/2329. intensify cooperation to reach the goals of the Lisbon Declarationadopted at the UN Ocean Conference held in 2022;Finland participated at the Lisbon UN Ocean Conference with adelegation of almost 40 delegates, with a wide representation ofresearch, bu siness, NGOs and policy -makers. Finland was involved withthe organization of two highly acknowledged side events during theConference week, and took actively part in other sessions of theConference.Finland also registered 11 commitments, worth at least 100 millioneuro in costs and benefits, to the Conference. The goal of thesecommitments is to improve the environmental status o f the Baltic Sea(Commitments 1– 10), as well as the status of the Red Sea (Commitment11). Many of these commitments incl ude measures aimed at reducingpressures within the catchment area, as well as in the sea. Many ofthem are also aimed at improving the state of marine biodiversity.More specifically, these commitments include measures that reduce theflow of nutrients an d hazardous substances into the sea, tackleunderwater noise and marine litter, and prepare for environmentalrisks such as oil and chemical spills. The commitments also includeeffective marine and coastal conservation measures to improve theconditions of marine species and habitats. Most of these commitmentsoriginate from the Finnish Marine Strategy, except for the onecommitment directed at the Red Sea. This commitment is a joint UN leadoperation to remove oil from the decrepit FSO Safer, for which Fi nlandcontributed with one million euro.30. increase joint efforts to reduce the outlet of nutrients, whichcontributes to eutrophication, biodiversity loss, and weakening theBaltic Sea as an attractive travel destination;In January 2023, the Government of Finland issued a decree on limitingthe use of phosphorus in agriculture and environmental constructionand landscaping:https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2023/20230064During years 2021 –2023, altogether 53 600 hectares of fields incoastal areas of Finland were treated with gypsum amendment todecrease the phosphorus and suspended solids load to the Baltic Sea.The gypsum amendment is estimated to half the phosphorus load ing fromtreated fields.In 2023, within the nutrient recycling program, four investments inurban waste water treatment plants with government funding of 5,8 MEURwere finalized, resulting in total of 20 to 30 tons of phosphorusbeing recycled to fertil izers annually. In addition, new investmentdecisions were made for five projects aiming for recycling of 500 tonsof nitrogen and 20 tons of phosphorus annually from urban wastewaters.Finland is working to reduce the outlet of nutrients at all levels,be it international, EU, national, regional (e.g. South West Finlandfor the Archipelago Sea) or local (e.g. pilot water shed areas ofintensive work with synergistic measures and testing of new measuresin some smaller river water shed areas in South West Finland). All ofFinland Page 4127.3.202410/23this requires broad cooperation across sectors as well as betweendifferent actors. It also requires public -private cooperation andinvolvement of enterprises and NGOs in the work.31. aim a at putting in place an internationally legally bindingagreement that allows a shift to a more sustainable plastics economythat minimises plastics waste and its impact on the environment andhuman health with the goal of ending plastic pollution and the ambitionto reduce additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040;Finland is very committed to and actively participating in thenegotiations on a legally binding international agreement to endplastic pollution. Finland has been working towards an ambitiousinstrument that covers the full life cycle o f plastic. This includesthe production of plastic, as well as measures for circularity ofplastics and waste management. The United Nations Environment Assembly(UNEA) agreed in its resolution 5/14 that the overall goal of a futureinstrument is to end pl astic pollution without any separateconsideration on “additional plastic pollution”, as opposed to whatis mentioned in paragraph 31 of the BSPC -32 conference resolution.Together with other Nordic countries, Finland has advocated for alegally binding plastic agreement for several years. The NordicCouncil of Ministers has also supported the negotiations of aninternational agreement by multiple studies, which enhance theknowledge base on the issues being negotiated, and support informationbased decis ion-making. In addition, Finland has supported thenegotiation process through the secretariat of the intergovernmentalnegotiating committee.While a binding global plastic agreement is needed, many of the policyinterventions preventing plastic polluti on should be taken at regionaland national levels. For example, National Action Plans will mostlikely be a core element of the future plastic agreement. Finlanddeveloped its first National Plastic Roadmap in 2018, and the recentlyupdated Roadmap aims a t a breakthrough for circular economy ofplastics in Finland by 2030. It sets out measures to reduce the harmcaused by plastics, to avoid unnecessary consumption, to increase therecycling of plastics and to find alternative solutions.32. implement coastal management plans to protect and restore coastalecosystems, which can act as carbon sinks and buffer zones againstsea-level rise(WG/Climate 9);Finland, along with other EU Member States, implements severaldirectives, strategies, and policies that contribute to the protectionand restoration of coastal ecosystems. The Programme of Measures ofFinland’s Marine Strategy includes measures that focus on marine andcoastal protection and restoration. In addition, Finland’s MaritimeSpatial Plan (MSP) contributes to the state of the marine and coastalwaters. Healthy coastal ecosystems, such as salt marshes and seagrassmeadows, can potentially sequester vast amounts of carbon dioxide fromthe atmosphere. Since the coast of Finland is subject to post -glacialrebound (land uplift) as much as 8mm per year, no specific actions toFinland Page 4227.3.202411/23create buffer zones against sea -level rise are needed. However,temporal sea -level rise due to seiches or rapid changes in atmosphericpressure may cause temporal sea -level rise and flooding of coastalareas. GIS modelling analyzes the risk of flooding of coastal areasand the results of this modelling may be taken into account whenplanning the use of low coastal areas.In addition to the Finnish Marine Strategy and the Maritime spatialplan, Finland has prepared a Coastal Strategy, which is about to bereleased as an updated version after a public hearing in the nearfuture. All of the above -mentioned plans and strategie s contribute tosustainable coastal and marine regions, as well as to sustainable blueeconomy. They take into account the needs stemming e.g. from theprotection of the environment, nature conservation and climate changerisks, as well as those stemming f rom green transition, such as theneeds of off -shore energy development and preparedness for coastalflooding.33. expand the existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) network andimprove cooperation and transboundary management between marineprotected areas in the Baltic Sea to ensure proper enforcement toprotect vulnerable habitats and species ;Finland is currently preparing its pledges related to the EUBiodiversity Strategy, one of which concerns the objective ofprotecting at least 30% of EU's land a nd sea areas, out of which 1/3must be protected strictly. The same objectives have been agreed toin the Baltic Sea Action Plan, adopted by HELCOM in 2021. At present,the coverage of MPAs in Finnish marine areas is approximately 11% ofthe total sea area .In addition to the above -mentioned pledges, Finland is preparing anMPA Roadmap, as part of the LIFE IP project “Biodiversea”. This Roadmapaims to increase the protection of underwater biodiversity in orderto achieve both national and international quantitative biodiversitytargets through an ambitious and science -based plan. The Roadmaputilizes the underwater nature data collected through the FinnishVELMU programme (The Inventory Programme for Underwater MarineDiversity) and other marine nature d ata. A zonation tool is used toidentify suitable areas for protection. Finland is also a partner inthe EU Horizon project “PROTECT BALTIC”, in which the aim is to securebiodiversity, maintain ecosystem function, produce ecosystemsservices and enable su stainable use of the Baltic Sea.34. contribute to the rapid entry into force of the landmarkinternational legally binding instrument on the conservation andsustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyondnational jurisdiction (BBNJ) from 19 June 2023 and use its tools andpossibilities in intensive cooperation within the CBSS and HELCOM toreach the go als mentioned above (WG/Biodiversity 16);As a member of both the BBNJ High Ambition Coalition as well as TheBlue Leaders, Finland worked persistently to promote the rapid andsuccessful conclusion of an ambitious BBNJ Agreement under UNCLOS.Finland was among the first states to sign the Agreement on 20Finland Page 4327.3.202412/23September 2023. Since then, Finland has established a cross -ministerial working group to take forward a swift ratification processnationally. Finland encourages also all other states to ratify theAgreement before the next UN Ocean Conference, to be held in Nice,France, in June 2025.35. ensure a quick and strict implementation of the updated BalticSea Action Plan and its associated action documents within the agreedtimelines in all democratic HELCOM member states to achieve a goodecological status of the Baltic Sea by the end of the decade andconsider as far as possible implementing further me asures from thepolicy relevant suggestions for various policy areas in the HE LCOM2021 Climate Change in th e Baltic Sea Fact Sheet to reach this goal;Finland continues the implementation of the updated Baltic Sea ActionPlan (BSAP) nationally, in coherence with the implementation of thenational River Basin Management Plans as well as the Programme ofMeasures for the Marine Strategy 2022 –27. In addition, a recentlyadopted government programme focuses especially in achieving goodstatus of the Arch ipelago Sea during years 2024 –27. Finland alsoparticipates in implementing the joint actions of the BSAP, byactively taking part in the work of HELCOM expert and working groups.Finland has also taken a lead role within HELCOM in some of the BSAPactions.HELCOM Climate Change Fact Sheet provides an overview of the manifoldclimate change impacts to the Baltic Sea. It highlights many gaps inour knowledge on climate change impacts, even when considering directparameters affecting the Baltic Sea (such as future temperature,rainfall, salinity), and with increasing uncertainty when going toindirect, very complex ecosystem effects. It is evident, that climatechange will have extensive impacts to the Baltic Sea ecosystem. Whilewe may not be able to study and foresee all potential effects, we mustfocus on minimizing the harmful impacts (e.g. nutrient input) to th eBaltic Sea, in order to maximize the resilience of the Baltic Seaecosystem in future climate.36. establish and enforce recognisable, legally binding sustainablefishing quotas in the Baltic Sea Region with diversification forspecies, including regula tions on fishing nets or other methods,ensuring that fish stocks remain healthy and sustainable in the longterm. All actions should be based on respected, up -to date research.To prevent population crashes, the aim should be to reduce fishingquotas down to or below scientifically advised thresholds in theBaltic Sea;The establishment of sustainable fishing quotas is based on thescientific advice by ICES. The decision is taken by the Ministers inthe Council and is based on the multiannual plan set by the EUlegislation. The technical measures e.g. on fishing gears and othertechnical provisions are also based on the scientific evidence of theeffectiveness of such measures.Finland Page 4427.3.202413/2337. strengthen regulations and enforcement mechanisms to preventpollution and minimise the discharge of pollutants into the BalticSea;In 2023, Finland adopted a government decree regulating the use offertilizers and manure containing phosphorus in agriculture. Certainregulations have also been changed to e.g. allow public fund ingdirected at offering farmers cost -free spreading of gypsum, to preventnutrient losses from agricultural land. In early 2024, the Governmentadopted a decree on nutrient recycling subsidies in February 2024. Atotal of EUR 9 million is available for nu trient cycle support for2023–26. In addition, with a recent initiative of the government, theFinnish environmental permitting system is being reviewed and revised,in order to simplify it and make the permitting system more efficient.Finland has active ly participated in the negotiations updating the EUdirective on urban wastewater treatment as well as the directive onenvironmental quality standards in the field of water policy.Finland aspires to be a leading expert and frontrunner in respondingto marine pollution in the Baltic Sea region – a country which investssteadily in oil and HNS (Hazardous and Noxious Substances) spillprevention and the development and maintenance of r esponsepreparedness. The Ministry of the Interior directs, guides andmonitors the response to oil and chemical spills from ships. TheFinnish Border Guard handles rescue operations for any oil andchemical spills from ships which take place in Finland’s territorialwaters or exclusive economic zone, and it also coordinatespreparedness for such operations.In different international contexts, including in the EU, Finland hasalso highlighted the risks related to shipwrecks’ munitions, possibleoil leaks and hazards related to other dangerous substances in theBaltic Sea region. If these risks were to materialize, thecontaminating effects could be serious for the Baltic Sea area andfor Europe as a whole. Finland will continue to underline thisimportant issue in different international and regional fora, in orderto raise awareness on the risks related especially to underwatershipwrecks and also sea -dumped munitions in the Baltic Sea.38. introduce stricter controls on industry, shipping, and agricultur eto reduce inputs of nutrients, hazardous wastes, and harmful emissionsto protect biodiversity and the ecological balance of the marineenvironment;Government of Finland has decided, that the discharge of greywater,wastewater from sulphur scrubbers an d sewage into the sea in Finland’sterritorial waters will be prohibited. Finland has discussed thesenational plans with other Baltic Sea States in the Council of theBaltic Sea States’ Expert Group on Sustainable Maritime Economy andother international fora.See also answers under points 28 and 37.Finland Page 4527.3.202414/2339. raise public awareness of the importance of marine ecosystems andthe need for their conservation by conducting education campaigns,engaging local communities, and promoting citizens' initiatives toincrease a sense of responsibility and encourage public participationin efforts to protect and restore the ecological health of the BalticSea;The Ministry of the Environment of Finland provides information tothe public on the state of the Baltic Sea a s well as on actions andopportunities to improve it through its websites and social mediachannels. The Ministry campaigns on opportunities through whichcitizens and NGOs, among others, can apply for grants to improve thestatus of the Baltic Sea and pro tect biodiversity.Regarding strengthening the resilience of climate and biodiversity toClimate Change40. increase the efforts and speed to implement ambitious nationalclimate targets and adapted extensions – corresponding to the currentscientific and measurement results – in line with the ParisAgreement's goal of limiting the increase in the global averagetemperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre -industriallevels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5degrees Ce lsius above those;Finland worked extensively, as part of the EU, to ensure an ambitiousand a forward -looking outcome and decisions from UNFCCC COP28 inDubai. Particularly the decision on the first Global Stock Take ofthe Paris Agreement includes secto ral and other global targetsformulated based on best available science and information providedby established international institutions.The European Climate Law introduced an intermediate target, to beproposed by the EU Commission at the latest six months after theglobal stock take under the Paris Agreement. The 2040 target, onceagreed, will be the basis of EU’s new Nationally DeterminedContribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, to be communicated tothe UNFCCC by 2025, ahead of COP30. A net gr eenhouse gas figure forthe EU in 2035 will be derived once the 2040 target is agreed, forcommunication as part of the new NDC. As an important element of theprocess, also an ambitious 2040 target will be formulated. Finlandworks towards an ambitious ou tcome in this respect.Finland is committed to the objectives of its Climate Change Act. TheGovernment is committed to meeting emission reduction targets andmoving towards carbon neutrality followed by carbon negativity. TheGovernment will focus its cl imate action on generating cost -effectiveness, technology neutrality and sustainable business, whilerecognizing the importance of a long -term approach acrossparliamentary terms to attract investments. Finland will update itskey strategies on implementat ion during the course of 2024.41. strengthen regional collaboration and information exchange amongthe democratic Baltic Sea countries and the Arctic to intensifyFinland Page 4627.3.202415/23joint strategies and policies addressing climate change andregularly adapt them to the newest research results, not neglectingthe need to ensure a socially just transition;Finland actively participates in Nordic co -operation and projects,which constantly scope for areas of co- operation and informationexchange on strategies and policies addressing climate change. Thisway we are able to build common understanding of the state -of-playwhen it comes to the newest research results, including from IPCC,and adapting those to regional contexts. Regional cooperation has alsoprovided a space to perform dialogues on approaches to ensure sociallyjust transition. Occasionally, these dialogues also include otherBaltic States than the Nordic countries.42. urge at every opportunity the world's three largest CO2emitters, which currently account f or more than 50 % of global CO2emissions, to step up their efforts to achieve ambitious climatetargets;Climate diplomacy is an effective way to approach and convince themajor emitters to do more. These efforts have been pursued both onmultilateral an d bilateral basis, and they will continue.Another good approach is scoping for areas of co -operation andexchange of information. It appears that climate solutions arebecoming more and more central when it comes to Finland’s exportefforts.43. incent ivise renewable energy development by shortening thepermitting process for wind, solar, other clean and stable energysources;The Government of Finland has launched a reform of regional stateadministration, with the aim of streamlining permitting proce sses andmaking permitting and supervisory practices uniform across allregions. To promote investments, procedures will move towards a one -stop-shop model, where the use of services and application for permitsis centralized and digitalized into one effec tive and user -friendlypermit process. One single authority will be responsible for theprogress and coordination of the permit process, including thesubmissions required. This approach will be cross -administrative.Primarily, this means that permitting, guidance and supervisory taskswill be brought under a new cross -administrative agency. Environmentalpermit and supervisory tasks will form a single coherent entity inthe new agency.Finland promotes effective energy policy in a way that is predictableand takes a long -term view. Finland will strengthen itscompetitiveness and attractiveness as an investment target forrenewable industries by doubling its production of clean electricity.Smooth, predictable and legally certain permitting processes will bea competitive advantage for Finland. Permitting procedures forelectricity network investments will be sped up and resources will beallocated to the processing of permit applications.Finland Page 4727.3.202416/23The rules for offshore wind power will be clarified through alegislative project that will define the legislation, permitprocesses, compensation and tax matters concerning waters belongingto Finland’s exclusive economic zone without delay, and these ruleswill be coordinated with the rules for projects carried out interritorial waters and land areas. The Government will also ensurethat the regulatory and permit processes for solar power parks areuniform, flexible and predictable throughout the country. In addition,the Government will promote pumped -storage hydropowe r projects, forexample by including them in the permit priority procedure, aligningthem with the public interest and including them in the capacitymechanism.Finland has published latest National Climate and Energy strategy in2022 and is currently in the process of updating the strategy.Finland is aiming to reach carbon neutrality by 2035. The share ofrenewables is growing and especially for wind power and s olar PV thepipelines are strong.44. taking into account the risks connected with the increasingdependence of the European market on the suppliers of rare metals andother raw materials, increase the speed in implementing nationalstrategies for transit ioning away from fossil fuels and towards low -carbon energy sy stems, and wisely diversifying our energy mixes sothat there is no shortage of energy, the energy comes from reliablesources and is econo mically viable, avoiding energy poverty and suddenprice increases;Finland creates good conditions for sustainable investments inrenewable and fossil free energy production, energy storage and newenergy solutions, such as hydrogen. The Government will advanceFinland’s position as a frontrunner by developi ng a new energy andclimate strategy aimed at carbon negativity with a key focus onpromoting the clean transition and investments in industry. The shareof renewable energy in energy production will be increased, and actionwill be taken towards phasing o ut the use of fossil fuels in heat andelectricity production by the 2030s at the latest.Finland aims to implement effectively the updated renewa ble energydirective (RED III). Preparation of the implementation has alreadystarted regarding several articles.Finland’s energy supply is based on decentralised energy production,diverse energy sources and a reliable transmission and distributionsystem. Energy- intensive basic industries, the cold climate and longdistances underline the significance of energy for the wellbeing ofFinland’s inhabitants and competitiveness. Finland’s self -sufficiencyin total energy supply is expected to approach 80 % toward the end of2020s.The Government will explore and utilize Finland’s assets related tocritical raw materials by drawing up a Mineral Strategy that willstrengthen self- sufficiency and secure the supply of raw materials,including in case of unexpected market disturbances. A centralstarting point in the strategy is the recognition that critical rawFinland Page 4827.3.202417/23materials are essential for the green transformation and that thedemand for critical raw materials is projected to increasedrastically. The strategy aims to foster a shared understanding ofthe current state of the Finnish minerals sector and to establishclear policy goals for the future.Finland will also ensure the timely and effective implementation ofthe EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, which is expected to enter intoforce in Q2 2024. The Act aims to ensure a secure and sustainablesupply of raw materials in the EU by, for example, streamliningpermitting for critical raw materials projects.The Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment as well asthe National Center for Emergency Preparedness and the GeologicalSurvey of Finland operating un der the Ministry continuously work toprovide information on the risks related security of supply as wellas geological data and expertise to support the actions to be takenin this area.45. acknowledging the different energy strategies and focuses indifferent states to reach these goals, increase the focus on thecommunal and regional levels on implementing adequate climate changemeasures and to raise awareness in the responsible administrations;Municipalities and regions play an important role, as Fi nland aims tobe carbon neutral by 2035. Local and regional authorities can reducetheir direct greenhouse gas emissions in many ways and minimize theircarbon footprint. The local and regional authorities can also supportand accelerate emissions reductio n measures made by residents,companies, communities, and other regional and local stakeholders.There is a wide range of informational, economic and voluntary oragreement -based instruments and tools, which local and regionalauthorities can utilize, when pronouncing on and accelerating climatework in their own regions and municipalities across Finland. Climatebudgeting is a valuable tool for municipalities aiming for carbonneutrality. Several municipalities in Finland have included climateinvestme nts in their budgeting. Within their own municipality, localgovernments are responsible for zoning, land use, transport planning,ownership steering of their own energy companies, choices betweenalternative heating systems for buildings and public procur ementwithin their own territories.The Finnish municipalities are active in a diverse set of networksthat constitute an important part of local climate action, providingcrucial peer support and knowledge sharing. Of the national networks,the Hinku Net work – Towards Carbon Neutral Municipalities – and EnergyEfficiency Agreements represent older and larger networks, while theClimate Leadership Coalition (CLC) is a more recent and business -orientated network. The Hinku Network brings together municipali ties,businesses, and experts to create and carry out solutions to reducegreenhouse gas emissions. The municipalities in the network arecommitted to an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from2007 levels by 2030. There are 86 municipality members in the network,Finland Page 4927.3.202418/23with a total of 2,265,000 inhabitants (42 per cent of the Finnishpopulation).Energy Efficiency Agreements, chosen in cooperation by the Governmentand industrial/municipal associations, are a tool for fulfilling theEU energy eff iciency obligations set for Finland, without resortingto legislation or other coercive measures. More than 120municipalities and joint municipal authorities are committed to theenergy efficiency targets set in the agreements. The parties to theagreemen ts report annually on the energy efficiency measures they havetaken and other activities aimed at improving energy efficiency.The Climate Leadership Coalition is the largest non -profit climatebusiness network in Europe. Six cities and several municipality -ownedcompanies have joined the network. Local Governments forSustainability, the Covenant of Mayors, and Eurocities areinternational networks in which there are several municipality membersfrom Finland. The larger cities are also active in other in ternationalurban climate networks, based on thei r own international strategies.Finnish Sustainable Communities (FISU) aims for carbon neutrality,zero waste, and globally sustainable consumption. Integrating climateand other relevant goals at the munici pal level brings synergies tolocal actors and businesses. The development of new types ofcooperation is central in FISU actions.At regional level, the most important organizations for the promotionof climate work are the 18 Regional Councils and 15 Ce ntres forEconomic Development, Transport, and the Environment (ELY Centres).The Regional Councils are responsible for compiling a Regional Land -Use Plan, which defines the principles of urban structure and the useof areas needed for specific purposes. A ll Regional Councils haveincluded climate and energy issues in their strategies – either asseparate climate strategy documents (climate roadmaps) or as a themein comprehensive regional strategies. ELY Centres are responsible forthe regional implementat ion and development tasks of national climatepolicy, for example, the four climate change policy plans.46. support increased research and innovation in climate changemitigation and adaptation technologies, encouraging collaborationbetween academic institutions, industries, and governments;Technological development and the adoption of innovations are the mostimportant ways to build an affordable, emissions -free and secureenergy system in Finland. Finland aims to increase the amount of high -quality research, development and innovation focusing on energysolutions. The Government will set public RDI funding on a cleargrowth path so that Finland can raise its level of RDI funding to fourper cent of GDP. The Government will promote cooperation betweenbusiness and industry, higher education institutions, researchinstitutes, central government and municipalities, and growthenterprise environments. A significant portion of Finland’s and theEU’s RDI funding should be allocated to projects that accelera te theclean energy transition. As Finnish businesses export solutions forsustainable energy systems to the rest of the world, Finland canincrease its climate handprint.Finland Page 5027.3.202419/23The Strategic Research Program CLIMATE (Climate change and humans)will seek soluti ons to how people can make and implement their choicesrelated to mitigating or adapting to climate change and how societycan facilitate this choice -making in a sustainable and equitablemanner. The Program has 12,3 M EUR funding for 2023 –2026.https://www.aka.fi/en/strategic -research/strategic -research/strategic -research -in-a-nutshell/programmes -and-projects /climate/The Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center (ACCC) is a FinnishFlagship working to address two of the most urgent global challenges:climate change and deteriorating air quality. The ACCC contributes tothe solutions that help businesses reach the Paris climate targets,to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and thus support the EU GreenDeal commitments and the UN sustainable development goals.https://www.aka.fi/en/research -funding/programmes -and-other-funding-schemes/flagship -programme/accc --atmosphere -and-climate- competence -center/47. develop incentives and support for integrating climate changeeducation and awareness -raising programmes into curricula, publiccampaigns, and professional development programmes;Climate change issues are included in the education given onsustainable development in Finland’s compulsory basic educationsystem. Many school subjects deal with sustainable development andclimate change, and they are also dealt with as a cross -curriculartheme.The National Core Curriculum for Basic Education entered into forcein 2014. With this curriculum, sustainability is not only one cross -curricular theme supported by some of the values in the value basis.Instead, it is the overarching task of basic education and is stronglyembedded in all elements of the core curriculum. The core curriculum,with its focus on promoting a sustainable lifestyle, represents aholistic approach to sustainability. This approach covers alldimensions of sustainability, as well as students’ and the schoolcommunity’s developing competences and their safety and wellbeing.Sustainab ility is also one of the seven transversal competences inthe curriculum. Climate change is especially involved in the subjectlevel in geography and biology.Free and open websites have been published in Finland for teachersand educators working on diff erent levels of educational system. Thesewebsites present sustainability and climate change from theperspective of subject teaching at school and offer photo material,assignments, and general information on sustainability and climatechange and sustaina bility education. Universities provide climatechange education as part of different degree programmes, includingenvironmental studies, environmental technology, chemistry, chemicaltechnology, and energy technology. Some universities also offerpostgradu ate studies in climate change. Teaching related to climatechange is closely tied to the research in this field.Finland Page 5127.3.202420/23There are also multiple avenues to support public awareness on climateissues. Many of them have a long history and are relatively wellestablished. Generally, according to recent barometers, Finns haverelatively good awareness of climate change and they see solutions tothe climate crisis as a priority theme.Finland has participated in the VET and Green Transition – project bythe OECD where more resilient vocational education and trainingsystems are developed to meet the needs of the future.https://www.oecd.org/skills/centre -for-skills/VET_Fac ing_the_Future_Brochure.pdf48. foster cross -border cooperation on regional climate initiatives,engaging neighbouring countries and international organisations injoint efforts to address climate change in the Baltic Sea region;See answer under point 41 .Finland will strengthen and develop Nordic cooperation in the energysector. To ensure the security of electricity supply, the Governmentwill promote increased transmission connections to the Nordic andBaltic countries. Finland will explore synergies between electricityand hydrogen transmission connections as part of the study on buildinga fixed connection in the Kvarken region.49. convene annual Baltic Sea Climate and Biodiversity Summits toraise public awareness, track progress, share best prac tices, andrefine regional strategies to accelerate increased climate action andadaptation;Baltic Sea Climate and Biodiversity Summits could be furtherelaborated to include in these Summits the dimension of pollution,taking into account, among other t hings, hazardous substances,plastics and chemicals, in line with “the triple environmental crises”approach. All three topics are inter -related and important for thestate of the Baltic Sea. Regarding the topic of climate change, notonly climate action and adaptation should be on the agenda, but alsoclimate impacts, both already observed as well as the future pathways.One should carefully consider if annual Summits are feasible, or ifbiannual or other periods might be more appropriate.Biodiversity50. make strong efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by2030 and contribute to making the democratic Baltic S ea region asmuch as possible a macro-regional best practice example in thisregard for the world;Transboundary cooperation and exampl es are needed for halting andreversing biodiversity loss in the Baltic Sea region. In order forthe Baltic Sea region to become a global role model, we need bothshort- and long -term strategic actions, requiring continuation beyondgovernmental periods.Finland Page 5227.3.202421/23The Baltic Sea Action Plan, adopted by HELCOM in 2007 and updated in2021, serves as a good example of a best practice engagement withinthe region. Finland actively took part in the update of the BSAP, andhas actively begun implementing the actions of th e plan. Among otherthings, the EU Horizon project “PROTECT BALTIC” aims to implementseveral biodiversity related actions in the BSAP, and Finland takespart in the project.The third holistic assessment of the State of the Baltic Sea (HELCOMHOLAS 3) i s a good example of a comprehensive overview of the ecosystemhealth of the Baltic Sea, covering the assessment period of 2016 –2021.This assessment will also serve to keep track of the implementationand the effectiveness of the Baltic Sea Action Plan. HO LAS reportsare a major joint effort of HELCOM countries, and they are a keypillar of HELCOM work and policymaking.51. fully implement as fast as possible the Kunming -Montreal GlobalBiodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted at the 15th Conference of theParties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD -COP15) on 19December 2022 with its mission to halt and reverse biodiversity lossby 2030, adapt the existin g national and Baltic Sea broad strategiesand programmes and to cooperate intensively among the democraticBaltic Sea States to realise a swift and effective implementation ofthe GBF so that the Baltic Sea region becomes a global best practiceexample in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework;As stated earlier, the Baltic Sea Action Plan aims to achieve goodenvironmental status of the Baltic Sea, and by doing this, it alsoimplements both the SDGs as well as the Kunming -Montreal GlobalBiodiversity Framework (GBF). Several of the 199 actions of the BSAPdirectly contribute to achieving th e targets of the GBF, as 15 GBFtargets have a direct connection to BSAP actions.52. consider an ecosystem -based management approach when revising andadapting action plans and strategies to achieve these goals andimplementing these measures. This mean s management that considers thewhole ecosystem and all human activities, which is aware of andincorporates all pressures and interactions and aims to protect,restore, or enhance the resilience and sustainability of the aquaticecosystem to ensure the sustainable provision of ecosystem servicesand maintain the biodiversity;Finland actively uses ecosystem -based approach to management, as itnationally implements the Marine Strategy Framework Directive as wellas the Water Framework Directive, which are both based on the saidapproach.53. further, commit to protecting biodiversity and increasing carbonsequestration and natural storage with common and national policiesfor:a. conservation of carbon -rich ecosystems such as forests, wetlands,seagrass meadows and natural rivers;b. continuation of sustainable forest management;Finland Page 5327.3.202422/23a) Finland is currently preparing pledges related to the EUBiodiversity Strategy. One of these pledges is related to improvingthe state of habitats in and outside of protected areas. The MemberStates undertake to halt the decline of species and habitats listedin the annexes to the Habitats and Birds Directives by 2030 and toimprove the conservation status of 30% of them.In the LIFE IP project “Biodiversea”, the aim regardi ng restorationis to create a national restoration plan. In this plan, there will bepiloting of concrete actions e.g. by restoring underwater habitatsand species, such as eelgrass and bladder wrack. Special focus willbe put to restoring and managing essential fish habitats as well asprotecting the endangered sea -spawning grayling population. Finlandis also working with restoration actions within HELCOM’s “PROTECTBALTIC” project, by leading the development of a Regional RestorationAction Plan.b) In Finland, forests are managed according to the Best Practicesfor Sustainable Forest Management (national guideline). The BestPractices are continuously updated, in order to reflect the mostrecent scientific knowledge and societal values among the keystakeholders as well as the main targets set by the Finnish nationalforest policy. A multi -stakeholder process develops the BestPractices.Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has financed several researchprojects on climate resilience. These projects aim at decreasingcarbon emissions, as well as maintaining and strengthening carbonsinks and storage. A project called “Monimetsä” continued to giveadvice to forest owners on how to consider biodiversity in forestmanagement practices. Several studies on pe atland forestry have beencarried out (e.g. on continuous cover forestry on peatlands and waterprotection) and on how to increase the share on mixed forests.54. develop and execute plans to enhance the resilience of theBaltic Sea ecosystem to climate change, including protecting coastalhabitats and restoring wetlands;As stated in the response for point 33, Finland has currently protected11 % of its marine areas. A large part of these MPAs is situated inthe coastal areas. As part of the CBD Global B iodiversity Framework,the EU Biodiversity Strategy as well as HELCOM BSAP, Finland is workingon expanding its MPA network, among other things to enhance theresilience of marine biodiversity to climate change.Regarding the restoration of wetlands, the HELMI habitats programme,led by the Ministry of the Environment of Finland, aims to restoreaquatic bird habitats and wetlands. Most of the significant wetlandsand aquatic bird habitats in Finland have already been protected, orare located on state -owned land. The HELMI programme aims to restorethese 200 sites by the end of 2030. Depending on the site, restorationmeasures include clearing, dredging, mowing, raising the water level,hunting small carnivores or management fishing. The restorationmeasures will primarily be targeted at Natura 2000 Network’s specialFinland Page 5427.3.202423/23conservation areas under the Birds Directive, which include the mostimportant wetland sites and aquatic bird habitats.55. reverse land degradation by 2030, and promote sustainable forestand peatland management given their importance for climate andbiodiversity;The national package of measures concerning the nutrient cycle andrenewable energy has been implemented on a long -term basis by severalGovernments. The aim has been to promote t he utilisation of nutrientsand energy contained in manure and other agricultural biomasses fromthe perspective of both economic activities and the environment. Interms of its scale, nutrient recycling is considered a significantmeasure for improving th e status of waters, especially that of theArchipelago Sea. Efforts are made to create well -functioning marketsfor recycled materials for different uses and to increase thepercentage of recycled materials in these. The aim is to find system -level solutio ns cost -effectively, with a key focus on impactassessments. Nutrient cycles are promoted in a way that is technology -neutral and driven by the demand in society. The Government willpromote the recycling of phosphorus in manure to areas where there isnutrient deficiency and develop ways to retain nutrients in arablelands by making use of nature’s own ecosystems. The Programme forNutrient Recycling consists of a programme to promote research,development and innovation (RDI) activities on nutrient recycl ing andan investment aid programme for biogas production, manure processing,nutrient recycling and carbon sequestration. Together, the supportfor RDI and investments promotes the chain composed of biogasproduction, manure processing, nutrient recycling and carbonsequestration from ideas and innovation all the way to production -scale operations.Operational grants for nutrient cycles are targeted to biogas plantsthat process manure and waste from the management of aquaticvegetation in the biogas process. The aim is to promote the use ofthese biomasses in biogas plants and encourage to use diges tate tomanufacture highly processed recycled fertiliser products. The aid isenvisaged to be paid on the basis of kilos of phosphorus in manureand aquatic vegetation processed in the biogas plant.Finland adopted a new state aid scheme for promoting sus tainableforestry at the beginning of 2024. The system steers to adaptenvironmentally best practices in forest management and special focusis in the peatland forests, where subsidies cover the costs of draftingpeatland management plans, measures decreas ing nutrient leaching andrestauration of drained peatlands for enhancing biodiversity valuesand maintaining carbon storages.National common guidelines for sustainable forest management “BestPractices for Sustainable Forest Management” have been activ elydeveloped, with recent focus being i n adaptation in climate change.The guidelines have received updates on how to maintain soil carbonstorages avoiding excessive drainage but at same time allowing carbonaccumulation in tree biomass. The updates in recommendations aim toprovide practical advice on how to regulate water table in order toFinland Page 5527.3.202424/23minimize peat decomposition releasing organic carbon and nutrients tothe watercourses.56. significantly increase efforts to fundamentally improve nutrientmanagement in agriculture, industry, and wastewater treatment plantsto reduce nutrient runoff into the Baltic Sea, which contributes toeutrophication and biodiversity loss;With regard to improving the removal of nutrients, a voluntarynational agreement system (national green deal) has been introducedat urban wastewater treatment plants. Plants that have made acommitment under this green deal, remove nutrients more than th eprovisions of an environmental permit would require.See also answer under point 28.57. develop and adopt regional strategies to deal with transboundaryemergencies, including forest fires, eutrophication, and spreadingpathogens, some of which are exacerbated by climate change andpollution. The strategies should include research into the causes o fsuch emergencies, cooperation between rescue services, and jointmonitoring programmes that indicate the risks of such emergencies;Finland holds the P residency of the CBSS until 30 June 2024. Thecross-cutting themes of the presidency are comprehensive security,crisis preparedness and resilience. In Policy Area Secure, Finland’spriorities are comprehensive security, early warning systems andadaptation to climate change.The Ministry of the Interior of Finland has hosted or co -hosted severalevents during the CBSS presidency year, including a seminar on AerialWildfire Monitoring in the Baltic Sea Region, a webinar on harmonizingterminology (focused on comprehensive security and civil defence), aseminar on enhancing crisis communication, Ukraine Forum that gatheredover 70 actors from the Baltic Sea Region to discuss how to supportUkraine more effectivel y, an Action Oriented Dialogue seminar focusedon early warning systems, youth and risk communication, volunteeringin disaster risk reduction and addressing industrial accident risks,a seminar on climate security and green rebuilding of Ukraine, andBaltic Excellence Programme on resilience and compre hensive security.Before the end of the Finnish Presidency year, the Ministry of theInterior will host for example a research and development seminarfocusing on comprehensive security, climate security and societalresilience.All countries in the Baltic Sea Region have participated actively inall events. On top of wide participation of different countries, allevents have been built by a wide network of different actors;authorities, associations, NGOs, academia and research field, andbusiness life.58. cooperate to prevent the introduction and spread of new invasivealien species, work to effectively eradicate invasive species in theBaltic Sea Region and to develop and exchange best practices;Finland Page 5627.3.202425/23The aim of the EU ́s Regulation on the prevention and m anagement ofthe introduction and spread of invasive alien species, as well as theFinland ́s national Act on Managing the Risk Caused by Alien Species,and the national Government Decree on Managing the Risks Caused byAlien Species, including a list of in vasive alien species of nationalconcern, are all in place to minimise the adverse effects of invasivealien species to biodiversity, society and the economy and preventthe entry of new invasive alien species, also to the Baltic Sea. Thefocus of the meas ures is on the most harmful invasive alien species.The purpose of the management plans is to target the prevention ofharmful invasive alien species to certain priority areas whereeffective means are used to prevent the species. All plans includeprevention measures for specific species and designate the partiesneeded for the cooperation on these. Management plans have been drawnup for all species included in the lists of species of national andUnion concern.In the Baltic Sea , the prevention of invasive alien species is themost effective when it takes place in cooperation between differentauthorities, operators and private people. The Finnish Advisory Boardfor Invasive Alien Species has served as the national expert bodysince 2013, and has been reappointed until the end of the year 2027by the Council of State. It is tasked with promoting, monitoring anddeveloping the implementation of the EU and national legislation oninvasive alien species and diverse communication that reaches thedifferent target groups on matters related to invasive alien species,also invasive alien species in the marine habitats.Information on invasive alien species in Finland has been compiled onthe http://vieraslajit.fi/ website. The website helps to identify andcombat invasive alien species also found in the Baltic Sea, and collectsightings of these, including for monitoring the species and forresearch. The website contains information on the legislatio n relatedto the prevention of invasive alien species and on the managementplans.Control and eradication of invasive alien small carnivores onarchipelago waterfowl breeding areas is implemented on a broad basisby several actors in cooperation with Åla nd and Sweden.Considering the special attention the BSPC devoted to the issue ofdumped ammunition in the Baltic Sea, particularly during thePresidency of the German Bundestag, the Conference strongly welcomes- -in light of the foregoing, the BSPC calls on the Governments in theBaltic Sea Region, the CBSS, and the EU to62. go beyond the previous agreements of the governments and initiatea joint strategic approach and effort of the democratic Baltic Seastates - as has been achieved concerning the exp ansion of offshorewind capacities -, also based on the continuation of the cooperationbetween CBSS and HELCOM, as well as consider establishing a jointfinancial instrument to succeed in the goal, which the BSPC considersof great importance, of eliminat ing the hazardous situation caused byFinland Page 5727.3.202426/23ammunition dumped in the Baltic Sea within the next 20 years at thelatest;While Finland finds the topic important, we do not find ourselves yetat the stage of operational action. At this stage, we support gatheringmore knowledge and research on the subject, above all with regard tothe maturity of technologies as well as related to permittingprocedures and potential funding mechanisms. We also need to bear inmind, that the salvation techniques vary largely depending on whetherwe are talking about chemicals munitions as opposed to conventionalmunitions. All potential actions should be science based and take intoaccount the cost efficiency of mitigation efforts, compared to othermeasures to improve the state of the Baltic Sea environment.63. continue close cooperation between the CBSS, HELCOM, and otherrelevant organisations to fill knowledge gaps, develop bestenvironme ntal practices for risk assessment, and explore fundingopportunities for the development and implementation of the bestavailable techniques for environmentally sound and safe management.In Finland’s view, cooperation between CBSS and HELCOM is useful f ore.g. exchanging views and providing expert recommendations. However,it is important to separate these discussions from politicalconsiderations, which should only take place once we have a clearvision of our shared objectives.GERMANYGermany Page 59129 August 2023, 12.12Conference ResolutionAdopted by the 32nd Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) on 29 August 2023.The participants, elected representatives from theParliament of DenmarkParliament of EstoniaParliament of FinlandParliament of the Federal Republic of GermanyParliament of IcelandParliament of LatviaParliament of LithuaniaParliament of NorwayParliament of PolandParliament of SwedenParliament of ÅlandParliament of the Hanseatic City of BremenParliament of Faroe IslandsParliament of the Free and Hanseatic City of HamburgParliament of GreenlandParliament of Mecklenburg -VorpommernParliament of Schleswig -HolsteinBaltic AssemblyEuropean ParliamentNordic Council,assembling in Berlin on 29 August 2023- do not slacken in repeating again and again in the strongest possible terms ourcondemnation of the completely unjust and full -scale brutal military attack andinvasion by the Russian Federation against the sovereignty, independence, andpeople of Ukrain e;Germany Page 602- underline the imperative to fully restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine, whichexplicitly includes the Crimean Peninsula;- firmly condemn the Russian Federation’s continued massive violations ofinternational law, including the UN Charter, the infringement of the veryfoundation of the rules -based international order and the trampling on theprinciples that had been the corner stone of peace and stability for many decades;- whilst regretting that the international community until now has not been able toprevent the de portations and forcible transfers of thousands of Ukrainian childrenand civilian adults to the Russian Federa tion, Belarus or temporarily occupiedterritories of Ukraine, draw attention to the need to take urgent correctivemeasures to put an end to such criminal and incomprehensible activities that area part of the full -scale unprovoked, unjustifiable, and ille gal war of aggression bythe Russian Federation against democratic and sovereign Ukraine ;- decry the continued war crimes against civilians, which Russia also commitsthrough the targeted destruction and exposure of critical infrastructure such asthe No va Kakhovka dam and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant;- in this respect, fully endorse the content of the statements made by the ForeignMinisters of the Democratic States of the Baltic Sea Region in their CBSSdeclaration on 2 June 2023 as a result of their 20th ministerial summit in Wismarconcerning the violation of international law by Russia, about Belarus being anaccomplice in this unjustified aggression, regarding the unwavering solidaritywith Ukraine and concerning the threats for the security in the Bal tic Sea region;https://cbss.org/wp -content/anauploads/2023/05/cbss -wismar-declaration_2 june-2023.pdf- given the fundamental challenges the BSPC member countries face in thesegeopolitical times of change, see the absolute necessity to strengthen theresilience of their democratic societies based on the values that unite thedemocratic Baltic Sea region countries, as pointed out in the BSPC Statutes andRules of Procedure, and rigorously promote innovation, digitalisation,connectivity and sustainability through close cooperation and joint strategicefforts;- underline the need for even more joint action on politically relevant core areasto strengthen the political force of shaping the implementation of commonchallenges and interests to actively preserve huma n rights, peace, security andstability in the Baltic Sea region;Preliminary remarksThe Federal Government welcomes the resolution of the 32nd annual meeting of theBaltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) of 29 August 2023. The Baltic SeaParliamen tary Conference continues to advance close cooperation betweengovernments, national and regional parliaments and civil society and thus strengthensdemocratic institutions in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) . The CBSS and other regionalfora continue to play an essential role in improving cooperation in the Baltic SeaRegion.Germany Page 613call on the Governments in the Baltic Sea Region, the CBSS, and the EURegarding peaceful and reliable neighbourliness and intense cooperation inthe Baltic Sea Region based on fundamental values to1. strongly increase and intensify the efforts to strengthen democracy, rule of law,equality, and human rights in the Baltic Sea Region and beyond and acknowledgethat these values in today's shifting geopolitical realities are under threat in ourown region;The principles of democra cy, the rule of law, equality and human rights are anchoredin the German constitution. The bi -yearly Report by the German Government on itsHuman Rights Policy describes extensively the Federal Government’s efforts to protectand p romote these principles at home (Section B) and abroad in its foreign anddevelopment policy (Section C).As an example from the Baltic Sea Region, Germany actively supports Estonia, Latviaand Lithuania through the resilience initiat ive that is based on memorand a ofunderstanding between the Foreign Ministers of the three Baltic States and Germanyfrom 2015. The goal of the initiative is to promote societal resilience throughstrengthening quality journalism and support for civil society in order to foster socialcohesion and resilience against disinformation. Since 2016, Germany has invested onemillion euro annually in projects with local and regional partners in the Baltic SeaRegion . Measures include media literacy program mes, dialogue with mi norities andmarginali sed groups, and educational projects promoting democratic values. In 2023 ,Germany supported 40 projects with a total value of EUR 1,059 ,787.2. achieve in the fields of common political interest more significant progress byjoint prac tical measures – analogous to the handling of the topic of offshore windand the agreement reached on it https://cbss.org/wp -content/uploads/2023/05/230509_berlin -declaration -on-baltic- offshore -windby-cbss-foreign -ministers_final_consented.pdf – and thus develop theBaltic Sea region into a best -practice example for other macro -regions andacquire in this way push effects for further advancement within the frameworkof broader cooperation formats;The Federal Government is working with different st akeholders in various fields in theregion on establishing best -practice examples and will continue to do so. It encouragescurrent and future presidencies of the CBSS to use the role of the organisation as avaluable forum for political dialogue on topica l issues of common interest to the regionand to make use of its function as an instrument for practical cooperation. During itsown presidency of the CBSS between July 2022 and June 2023 , the Federal Governmenthighlighted the potential of cooperation in the field of offshore wind as well as youthengagement and the pressing issue of underwater munitions.Germany Page 6243. ensure inclusive, socially and environmentally sustainable economic growth anddevelopment as well as energy security; Germany’s medium -term economic outlook has worsened markedly over the past fewyears. In order to achieve a more dynamic, inclusive and environmentally sustainablegrowth path, Germany needs to address its key structural challenges. Therefore, reformmeasures are focused o n the supply side of the economy, including increasing the supplyof renewable energy, as well as hydrogen, in particular from renewable sources , onstronger incentives to raise the supply of labour (for women and the elderly population) ,as well as on tax measures to support investment. To ensure social and economicsustainability , Germany is also adjust ing its migration policy towards a more labo ur-market -oriented structure of migration.4. cooperate as closely as possible in pursuit of the goal of ensuring energy security,self-sustainability and security of supply by concrete measures and thedevelopment of joint strategies, aiming to reduce dependency on Russian fossilresources, promote clean and affordable energy and the underlying industrialvalue chain s, develop an integrated and resilient European energy market, aswell as encourage deeper collaboration in energy and sustainability R&D; Germany has taken several steps to strengthen its energy security. By diversifying itsimports and establishing n ew infrastructure, dependency on Russian fossil fuel importshas diminished substantially. Simultaneously, regulations for an accelerated expansionof renewable energies have been implemented. In the future, hydrogen will replacemethane as a molecule -based supplement of electricity from renewable energies. TheFederal Government aims to ensure reliable supplies of hydrogen from renewablesources, which are sustainable in the long run . The Federal Government is striving forclose cooperation with EU member states to develop the full European productionpotential for renewable energy and hydrogen , as well as diversified hydrogen imports ,in particular from renewable sources, from other continents .5. intensify and deepen cooperation to develop better protection for critical sharedunderwater infrastructure; The Federal Government considers protecting critical infrastructures (CI) to be apolitical and societal priority. The current threat situation with the recent acts ofsabotage of underwater infra structure in the Baltic Sea is putting the focus in particularon maritime CI. Since the protection of CI is a task for society as a whole, the FederalGovernment supports intensified and deepened cooperation among all actors .The Federal Government has al ready taken concrete measures: with the so -called“critical infrastructures framework law”, the physical protection of CI will be bundledin one set of rules for the first time. The law will set a framework for the various sectors,which, in addition to tr ansport and food, also include the very important energy sector.Risk assessments and disruption monitoring are expected to strengthen the resilience ofcritical infrastructures across sectors.Germany Page 635 The Federal Police carr y out their legally assigned tasks on the North and Baltic Seasin accordance with the Federal Police Law. The operational design of maritime areasurveillance is implemented in coordination with national and international partners.These technical coordinations furt her promote cooperation at the international level.Finally, the Maritime Security Cent re, a maritime competence cent re for the operationalforces of the F ederal Government and the coastal states, will be further upgraded tobecome a central information hu b at a national and international level.6. search for more streamlined funding mechanisms for the development of trulyinterconnected, sustainable and resilient cross -border transport infrastructure,as well as the transition to a single European digital ma rket resilient to internaland external threats;The Federal Government stands by its financing obligation for the federal transportinfrastructure (federal railways, waterways and roads). For connections to transportinfrastructure in the territory of n eighbouring countries, bilateral agreements havebeen concluded. Germany is dedicated to the targets and general objectives of the EU’sDigital Decade policy programme 2030. At national level, Germany even goes furtherthan this , as can be seen from the Na tional Roadmap that Germany has submitted to theEuropean Commission. Secure and resilient networks and digital services are of greatimportance to Germany. After all, they are the basic prerequisite for a resilientEuropean Digital Single Market, to which Germany is also firmly committed. Germanywelcomes the European funding programmes to expand digital infrastructures, promoteresearch and innovation and strengthen the EU ’s resilience and digital sovereignty,including the Digital Europe Programme (DEP), the Horizon Europe Programme andthe Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).7. in view of the Glasgow Climate Pact and the commitments of the ParisAgreement, mobilize government, businesses and civil society to jointlyaccelerate strategic cooperation in clima te change mitigation, preservation ofnature and biodiversity, as well as just transition towards a climate -neutraleconomy;Germany promot es the Glasgow Climate Pact in various forms throughout the whole ofsociety, nationally and internationally. In pr eparation for COP28, representatives ofthe Federal Government have participated in several international meetings to supportclimate change mitigation, the preservation of nature and biodiversity, as well as thejust transition towards a climate -neutral e conomy.8. in view of the current geopolitical challenges that require more cooperation andcoordination of activities, return to meetings of heads of government, alternatingwith foreign ministers;The Federal Government takes note of the BSPC’s recommendation.Germany Page 646 9. extend sectoral ministerial conferences – as had been the case with the VASABConference of Baltic Sea region ministers responsible for spatial planning anddevelopment together with the CBSS summit of the Ministers of Foreign Affairson 1-2 June 2023 in Wismar – to jointly tackle the relevant Baltic Sea regionchallenges in political ly significant core areas;Joint sectoral ministerial conferences can be a valuable tool to tackle commonchallenges and create synergies in the BSR . German y encourages future CBSSpresidencies to also consider the format of sectoral ministerial conferences in areas ofmutual interest.10. expand cross -border, transnational, and inter -regional cooperation (Interreg)and strengthen synergies between the different Baltic Sea policy cooperationformats;The Federal Government works closely with regional stakeholders in order to expandcross -border and transnational as well as inter -regional cooperation, for examplewithin the National Coordinators group of the EUS BSR. It values and supports the workthat the newly created Baltic Sea Strategy Point is carrying out in this regard, especiallyin connecting the differen t policy areas of the strategy.A number of Interreg A programmes , such as those for Denmark and Germ any orPoland and Germany, as well as some B and C programmes , such as Interreg Europe,Interreg South Baltic and especially the Interreg B Programme Baltic Sea Region arerelevant to the BSR . They are financed from the ERDF (EU funding) and nationalco-funding. The overall funding is fixed for the current funding period, lasting from2021 to 2027. A possible financial expansion of funding for these programmes will bepart of the upcoming negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028 to2034. Co -funding is mainly provided by the German federal states and partly also bythe Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building (e.g. Baltic SeaRegion). This co -funding would in turn need to be increased if the EU funding volumeincrease d. Synergies in content between the programmes, with the European UnionStrategy for the Baltic Sea Region and other regional actors like VASAB, CBSS orHELCOM , will be and are sought by all stakeholders wherever possible. Trustful andintensive co operation is already in place.11. underline the continued importance of strengthening social resilience in the BalticSea Region and support the ongoing process of setting up an annual award forlocal authorities to shine as a “Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pe arl” by fosteringresilience through cultural activities;For Germany’s actions in strengthening social resilience and cultural activities in theBaltic Sea Region, see the responses to n os. 1, 15- 17.12. strengthen the role of the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region, focusing on thecurrent political core challenges in the Baltic Sea region, expanding theinvolvement of the democratic neighbour countries, and including support forGermany Page 657 Ukraine during the war and afterwards for the reconstruction and strengtheningdemocracy in Ukraine;The Federal Government works in close coordination with the government s of theGerman federal states of Brandenburg, Hamburg, Mecklenburg -Western Pomeraniaand Schleswig -Holste in to implement the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region(EUSBSR).The Federal Government particularly welcomes the initiatives undertaken on the policyarea level by the Swedish and Latvian presidencies of the EUSBSR in support ofUkraine.13. supporting democratic developments in the neighbouring countries of the BalticSea Region, especially strengthening democratic stakeholders for a democraticdevelopment of Belarus and Russia;The Federal Government continues to support democratic developments in theneighbouring countries of the Baltic Sea Region and works closely together withdemocratic governments as well as political and pro -democracy civil -society actors.Against the backdrop of internal repression in both Russia and Belarus, the FederalForeign Office has significantly expanded its support for democratic civil -societyactors. The Federal Government remains in close contact with democratic stakeholdersin bot h countries as well as in exile and continues to issue humanitarian visa s topolitically persecuted individuals. The Federal Government promot es independentmedia and civil -society project work, for instance in the framework of the programme“Expanding Coo peration with Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership Countries andRussia” and media support activities. In addition, it is continuing to implement the“Action Plan Civil Society in Belarus”, which was launched in response to the violentcrackdown on dem ocratic forces after the 2020 presidential election in Belarus. Thisincludes support for researchers and media professionals, as well as substantialfinancing for the International Accountability Platform for Belarus, among other thing s.14. underline the continued importance of social sustainability along with the greenand digital transitions and pay insofar particular interest, on the one hand, to thedemographic change with an ageing population and the need for upskilling andreskilling along with adequa te pension systems as well as, on the other hand, tothe integration of migrants and all vulnerable groups in need of support to enteror remain in the labour market, and gender equality ;Germany has begun to undergo accelerated structural change – main ly due todemographic change, highly dynamic digital transformation and measures aimed atde-carbonisation. These processes are interrelated. They lead to permanent shifts invalue -creation structures and fundamental changes in the German labour market. TheFederal Government is confronted with the difficult task of pursuing both short -termsoluti ons for current crises and the long -term goal of the transformation. The FederalGovernment strives to create stable and reliable framework conditions for thistransformation process in order to prevent structural disruptions in the regions, whilemaintain ing Germany’s competitiveness and enabling workers to have access to viableGermany Page 668 career options. With the Transformation Alliance (Allianz für Transformation – AfT),the Federal Government has launched a dialogue format which allows for a dialoguebetween socia l partners, companies, business associations, civil society and theacademic community about the question of how policymakers can create stable andreliable framework conditions for the transformation.Sustainable and resilient social protection systems ar e of decisive importance fordealing responsibly with these big challenges. The German pension system has provedresilient over the last few years.Germany introduced a basic pension supplement in 2021 for persons with at least33 years of compulsory pens ion insurance contributions . The lifetime achievements ofcontributors with long statutory pension insurance records but below -average incomewas recogni sed. For persons receiving an early retirement pension, the limit foradditional earnings was abolished in 2023.The integration of migrants into the labour market is a matter of special importance forthe Federal Government. The integration of migrants is supported by numerousinstruments, above all by support measures provided by job centres and employme ntagencies, b ut also by language courses .In recent years, education and training support for jobseekers as well as employees hasbeen significantly expanded under the Skills Development Opportunities Act(Qualifizierungschancengesetz), the Work of Tomor row Act (Arbeit -von-Morgen-Gesetz), the Skills Act (Weiterbildungsgesetz) and the Citizen ’s Benefit Act (Bürgergeld -Gesetz). The social inclusion and labour market integration of the long -termunemployed has also been improved by the Participation Opportun ities Act(Teilhabechancengesetz), which introduced wage subsidies and accompanyingcoaching to support the formerly long -term unemployed.Furthermore, skills development, especially digital skills, is essential for older personsto participate fully in so cial, economic, political and cultural life. Thus, with the DigitalPact for Older People A ct, the Federal Government together with its partners aims topoint to the opportunities created by digitalisation and enable access to digitaltechnologies. The foc us is on social life, housing, health and mobility.15. increase and support the involvement of civil society in Baltic Sea policyactivities;Please refer to the response to no. 16.16. support and perpetuate the now -established involvement of youth in the CBSSwork to include the concerns of the young generation in the core concerns of theBaltic Sea region issues;Germany welcomes and continuously supports the involvement of civil soc iety and youthin the Baltic Sea Region. Within the framework of its cultural relations and educationpolicy, the Federal Government continued in 2023 to fund the Baltic Sea YouthDialogue (BSYD) as a tool to support the common BSR identity and intends to do soagain in 2024. Germany also contributed actively to the engagement of youth, in theGermany Page 679 context of the Baltic Sea Youth Dialogue held in Hamburg in November 2022 and inSchleswig -Holstein in November 2023.Fostering youth participation was one of th e core priorities of Germany’s CBSSpresidency in 2022/ 2023. Germany welcomed and supported the establishment of theBaltic Sea Region Youth Forum and, a s part of its presidency activities , organised thefirst CBSS Youth Ministerial in Berlin in May 2023. 30 participants from across theBSR came together to discuss the topic of “Safeguarding Resilient Societies in the BalticSea Region”. In order to foster youth involvement, a number of the participants in theCBSS Youth Ministerial were invited to present their policy recommendations to theCBSS Foreign Ministers at their meeting in Wismar in June 2023 .In addition , the Federal Government supported the Baltic Sea Parliam entary YouthConference held in Berlin in August 2023.Regarding enhancing democratic resilience and boosting capabilities to facemodern digital challenges to17. consistently and resolutely counter the growing threat to the democraticcommunity posed by disinformation campaigns, with a particular focus oninformation warfare carried out by the Russian Federation;The Federal Government takes the threat posed by disinformation campaigns and otherforms of manipulation and interference in the information domain very seriously. Theseforms of interference aim to undermine social cohesion and trust in the functioning ofour institutions – and thus the functioning of our democratic processes.In response to the increased dissemination of disinformation that has accompanied theRussian war of aggression agains t Ukraine, the Federal Government has set up adedicated task force to counter disinformation. This “Task Force againstDisinformation” meets weekly and brings together participants from all ministries, aswell as the intelligence services. It thus ensures a cl ose interdepartmental exchange ondisinformation, with a particular focus on measures to identify and counter Russiannarratives, to strengthen proactive, transparent and fact -based communication and toincrease social resilience against disinformation and other forms of interference in theinformation domain. As the impact of foreign interference on society is particularlyevident at subnational level, the Federal Government is currently developing a “JointAction Plan against disinformation and for a resi lient democracy” together with thefederal states.As the information space transcends national borders, a cross -border approachtowards countering information manipulation and interference in the informationdomain is required to tackle the threat effect ively. To this end, we regard the exchangeat EU level, in particular via the Rapid Alert System and the Council , as instrumentalfor strengthen ing our joint response. In addition, we highly appreciate the efforts of theEEAS (e.g. EUvsDisinfo), as well as of the Commission (e.g. Code of Practice onDisinformation). Germany also cooperates with its partners at EU level, e.g. throughGermany Page 6810 the EU Action Plan against Disinformation, which strengthens coordination within theEU and its member states.In the Baltic Sea Region, Germany supports societal resilience against disinformationthrough its resilience initiative in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (see the response tono. 1). The resilience initiative primarily envisages skills development, cooperationwith the private sector, civil society, independent media, and strengthening resilienceto disinformation. The many years of experience that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuaniahave with disinformation and fostering resilience against it are a valuable contributionto an EU -wide exchange.18. point out again the necessity – particularly in times of war and crisis – ofstrengthening efforts to increase confidence in d emocratic structures and values,to counter digital hate speech, promote tolerance and open -mindedness,freedom of media and expression, and robust democratic NGOs as cornerstonesof democracies in the Baltic Sea region;Germany supports democratic stru ctures and values in the Baltic Sea Region througha multitude of programmes and initiatives, e.g. the independent media programme , orthrough youth exchange and youth conferences, all of which have democracy educationcomponents (se e also the responses to nos. 1, 15- 17).19. protect the rights and ensure the safety of refugees, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+people, women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups who areparticularly at risk in times of war and threatened by intolerant attitudes;The Federal Government pursues values -based foreign policy that centres the liberaldemocratic order and human rights. The biannual publication of the GermanGovernment’s Human Rights Report offers further information on the various policyhighlights and focal points. In addition, the Feder al Government has been implementinga Feminist Foreign Policy, focusing especially on women , girls and marginali sedgroups, who are particularly at risk.20. defend sexual and reproductive autonomy and respect the right to reproductivehealth;The Federal Government has several aims related to reproductive and sexual rights andhealth, as noted in the coalition agreement of 2021. In June 2022, Germany repeal edthe offence of advertising the termination of pregnancy, thus allowing doctors to informthe general public that they perform abortions and to provide details of the method theyuse. Furthermore, the Federal Government set up a commission on reproductiv e self -determination and reproductive medicine (18 experts in two working groups arereviewing the possibilities of regulating abortion outside the German Criminal Codeand of legali sing egg donation and altruistic surrogacy). The commission ’s findings willGermany Page 6911 be available in April 2024. The Federal Government also intends to draft a bill toprevent so -called “sidewalk harassment” in the immediate vicinity of counsellingcentres for pregnant women and abortion clinics. The bill will aim to protect womeneffect ively from unacceptable harassment of this kind, which has been occurringincreasingly in Germany.With a join -in project, the Federal Centre for Health Education (Bundeszentrale fürgesundheitliche Aufklärung – BZgA) has been offering interactive workshop s atsecondary schools nationwide since 2020, aiming at pupils aged 13 to 18. SinceFebruary 2020, 56 workshops have been held, reaching 62 schools with theimplementation of the holistic concept and around 7650 pupils. At least another12 workshops are pl anned for 2024.In 2022, this project also entered a new, sustainable phase: in addition to the workshopsin schools, state collaborations have been initiated, developed and implemented. Astate -specific approach is being developed in cooperation with the health and educationministries and authorities of the federal states. The aim of this is the sustainableimplementation in the federal states of both the developed strategy and the methods andmaterials of the join -in project. In 2023, concrete strategie s were developed andagreements signed with two federal states. The BZgA is in dialogue with three otherfederal states so far in order to implement the project there .In the area of sexual autonomy, the BZgA also offers various measures to promotesexual health and specifically to protect queer people from so -called conversiontherapies (based on national legislation, the Protection from Conversion TreatmentsAct). As part of a multi -level strategy, the BZgA offers a multilingual and anonymousinfor mation and advisory service and develops high -reach communication media (e.g.social media) under the brand LIEBESLEBEN. These interventions are intersectionallyaimed at professionals and various LGBTIQ* communities (e.g. immigrants, youngpeople, people of faith).In addition, reference is made to the biannual publication of the German Government’sHuman Rights Report , as well as the statement on no. 18 of the 31st BSPC Resolution.21. improve legislation and measures to protect democratic processes andinstitutions from cyber threats;Please refer to the response to no. 17.22. increase public awareness and digital literacy to enable citizen s to identify andmitigate the risks of misinformation and disinformation;Please refer to the response to no. 17.23. ensure that digital platforms and technology companies operate according to theethical standards of the democratic countries around the Baltic Sea and are heldaccountable for inadequate content moderation practices, algorithms, and datahandling;Germany Page 7012 In Germany , the dissemination of illegal online content is addressed by various stateand non- governmental institutions, both in the federal states and at the federal level andstrongly influenced by international approaches.The legal framework for tackling criminal, and in particular terrorist , online contentand disinformation is provided by the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Regulation oncombating the dissemination of terrorist content online (TCO -VO) and the NetworkEnforcement Act (NetzDG).The Digital Services Act (DSA) sets uniform rules against hate speech and other illegalcontent on the internet withi n the EU. The rules include measures to counter illegalgoods, services or content online, such as a mechanism for users to flag such contentand for platforms to cooperate with “trusted flaggers”. In addition, the DSA containswide -ranging transparency me asures for online platforms, including on the algorithmsused for recommendation s. The failure of providers to comply with the ir obligations canbe sanction ed by the competent authorities. The DSA already applies directly to the verylarge online platforms (X, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, You Tube, etc.) and largelydisplaces national regulations in this regard. The DSA will apply to all other providersas of 17 February 2024.Under the EU Regulation on combating the dissemination of terrorist content online(TCO -VO), the national competent authority can send orders to providers and requestthe removal of terrorist content. The provider must comply with the order within anhour. Hosting service providers exposed to terrorist content must take sp ecificmeasures – such as adequate content moderation – to protect their services against thedissemination of terrorist content. Failure to comply with th is obligation can also besanctioned.At the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), the “Central Repor ting Office forCriminal Content on the Internet” (ZMI) has been in operation since 1 February 2022.The ZMI cooperates with NGOs against hate speech on the internet. The ZMI examinesthe reports provided with regard to criminal law relevance and possible hazard aspectsand then transmits the facts to the local law enforcement authorities in the federal states.In cooperation with the supervisory authorities for private broadcasters(Landesmedienanstalten – LMA), deletion of the criminal content is initiate d by theprovider of the respective website or platform.Because of the limitlessness of the internet in general, Germany is pursuing – inaddition to targeted and effective regulations restricting illegal content – cooperationwithin international organi sations, in particular the European Union . Germany alsorelies on close cooperation with hosting service providers, which, in accordance withtheir guidelines, already take action themselves in many cases to counter illegal contentas well as hatred and ha te speech on the internet.24. expand research and innovation capacities in cybersecurity and digital resilience;Germany’s recently established National Coordination Centre for cybersecurity inindustry, technology and research (NKCS ) aims to stimulate and support research andGermany Page 7113 innovation in the field of cybersecurity. The centre is part of a network of nationalcoordination c entres extending across the European Union on the basis ofEU Regulation 2021/887. In addition, the Federal Government has drawn up a“cybersecurity research agenda ”, complementing the research framework program meon IT security “Digital. Secure. Sovereign .”. The agenda summari ses actions to facethe challenges triggered by the recent geopolitical events in an even more targetedmanner. Key priorities of the agenda include using research to make digitalinfrastructures in Germany and Europe as reliable, res ilient and crisis -proof aspossible, intensifying cooperation with value partners and increasing society’s cyberresilience.25. promote responsible digital behaviour and ethics in the public and private sectorsand adopt ethical guidelines e.g. to ensure an ti-discrimination and equality,codes of conduct, and accountability mechanisms to ensure responsible digitalpractices and protect democratic values;The Federal Government adopted its first Digital Strategy in August 2022. Detailedinformation on the strategy and its impl ementation is available online atwww.digitalstrategie -deutschland.de .26. enhance the security and resilience of the Baltic Sea Region by strengtheningcooperation in areas such as defence, energy security, and cyber security;The Federal Government is committed to c ontinu ing the good cooperation within allregional organisations and NATO to enhance security , including energy security , in theregion, in particular regarding the protection of critical undersea infrastructure .Against the backdrop of Russia’s war of aggression a gainst Ukraine and its regionalsecurity implications, it is important to further develop the resilience of societies in theBaltic Sea Region. As stated in the CBSS Wismar Declaration, Germany recognises theneed to enhance societies’ ability to resist an d recover from shocks. This includes, butis not limited to, efforts to strengthen civil preparedness, counter disinformation andfalse narratives, protect and enhance the resilience of our shared critical infrastructure,and ensure energy security and security of supply.Regarding strengthening the resilience of maritime ecosystems to27. alongside the ambitious actions that the BSPC resolution urges concerningmarine resilience and resilience of climate and biodiversity, also take into accountother important dimensions in achieving a sustainable development in line withthe Agenda 2030, s uch as social and economic aspects. Conflicting interestsshould be taken into account and analysed, for example those between climatepolicy and biodiversity preservation;Germany Page 7214 The Federal Government is currently elaborating a cross -sectoral National MarineStrategy (NMS) with the aim of ensuring the sustainable use of marine waters and theconservation of their biological diversity. The intent is also, in particular, to strengthenthe resilience and adaptability of marine ecosystems to the impacts of climat e change.All relevant user and interest groups are being included in the development of the NMS.The goal is to adopt the NMS in the first half of 2025.28. cooperate and act decisively towards a clean, healthy, and productive Baltic Seawith resilient marin e and coastal ecosystems;In October 2021, the updated Baltic Sea Action Plan for 2021 to 2030 was adopted byHELCOM under the German chairmanship . The plan comprehensively covers all thechallenges and pressures affecting the Baltic marine ecosystem in order to achieve agood ecological status of the Baltic Sea and its environment by the end of this decade.A detailed implementation plan was drawn up in cooperation with all Baltic Seacountries as a result of intensive discussions and negotiations. Prog ress onimplementation is regularly analysed and reported to HELCOM. Germany supports thesystematic, swift implementation of the measures.In view of the special hydrological features and sensitive environmental assets of theBaltic Sea, Germany is takin g and supporting ambitious measures in cooperation withother countries at international, regional and national level to address the impacts ofclimate change, biodiversity loss and pollution in the Baltic Sea. The medium to long -term goal is a clean, heal thy Baltic Sea with stable, resilient marine and coastalecosystems.29. intensify cooperation to reach the goals of the Lisbon Declaration adopted at theUN Ocean Conference held in 2022;The Federal Government is active at all policy levels with regard to marine protection.It is a founding member/contracting party of HELCOM and OSPAR, activelyimplement s the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) as an EU memberstate, and makes proactive contributions to environmental topics in G7 and G20 workand at UN level.The 2022 UN Ocean Conference Declaration extensively outlined the then currentissues (July 2022) and the associated tasks/political commitments of the participatingcountries. The German contributions to the bodies and processes listed above are thuspart of the active implementation of the Lisbon Declaration. This of course is also trueof all of the measures on Baltic Sea protection agreed by HELCOM.30. increase joint efforts to reduce the outlet of nutrients, which contributes toeutrophication, biodivers ity loss, and weakening the Baltic Sea as an attractivetravel destination;Germany Page 7315 In the regional context, the HELCOM contracting parties work together on variousinitiatives and measures. For example, the HELCOM/Baltic Earth Joint Expert Networkon Climate C hange is a platform with activities that include providing decision -makerswith access to scientific information, e.g. regarding climate change. In addition, theHELCOM monitoring programme is being reviewed regularly in line with therequirements of the E U Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Beyond this,joint work on eliminating sources of hazards to the Baltic Sea is in progress (Baltic SeaJoint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme (JCP, 1992)).Also, by 2030 at the latest, a resilient, regionally coherent, ecologically representativeand linked system of marine protected areas is to be established. This should cover 30%of the Baltic Sea, and a third of this area will be strictly protected. Implementation ofthe regional action plans on marine litter and underwater noise will be systematicallyadvanced.Please refer also to the responses to nos. 38 and 56.31. aim a at putting in place an internationally legally binding agreement that allowsa shift to a more sustainable plastics economy th at minimises plastics waste andits impact on the environment and human health with the goal of ending plasticpollution and the ambition to reduce additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040;The United Nations Environment Assembly, UNEA 5.2, adopted a mandate for a legallybinding UN agreement to combat plastic pollution in the environment and oceans thatis a path -breaking initiative for worldwide environmental and marine protection. Theinternational community already began the negotiation process i n November 2022. Thespecially appointed International Negotiating Committee (INC) held its third session inNairobi in mid -November 2023.Since 2015, Germany has been constantly working at international level against plasticpollution in the oceans and is therefore actively participating in the negotiations on theUN plastics pollution agreement. In particular, Germany is co -lead of the relevantnegotiation group on material aspects in the INC.These negotiations with the goal of an international agreement to end plastic pollution,in particular in the oceans, are a unique opportunity to address the still growingpressure on our marine ecosystems with solution -oriented provisions that are legallybinding. Germany has expressed support, most recently at INC 3 in Nairobi, for makingthe agreement as binding as possible, in order to create identical framework conditionsaround the world.32. implement coastal management plans to protect and restore coastal ecosystems,which can act as carbon sinks and buffer zones against sea -level rise(WG/Climate 9);The German cabinet adopted the Action Plan on Nature -based Solutions for Climateand Biod iversity on 29 March 2023. The Federal G overnment is provid ing 3.5 billioneuro for nature -based climate action under the plan until 202 7. The main goals of theGermany Page 7416 action plan are to protect, strengthen and restore natural ecosystems, with the seas andcoasts as their own field of action due to their major role in nature -based climate action.They are important carbon sinks and regulate the climate. They have already absorbed90% of the excess heat and about one -third of the carbon dioxide produced by hu mans.Intact marine habitats like seagrass beds, salt marshes and kelp forests, as well as thesediments on the sea floor, naturally absorb carbon from the atmosphere. To preserveand, if possible, restore these habitats, a development programme for salt m arshes andseagrass beds is being drawn up in cooperation with the coastal federal states toincrease resilience to climate -related changes.33. expand the existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) network and improvecooperation and transboundary management be tween marine protected areas inthe Baltic Sea to ensure proper enforcement to protect vulnerable habitats andspecies ;In the German waters of the Baltic Sea, 51% of the marine area is already underprotection. In Germany’s Exclusive Economic Zone alon e, there are three protectedareas totalling 2472 km2 (40%). The marine protected area “Pomeranian Bay withOdra Bank” directly borders on a protected area in Polish waters. The protected areasin the German Baltic Sea are also part of the HELCOM MPA netwo rk. This fulfils thequantitative goals of the Kunming -Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) andthe Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP). Nonetheless, many protected species and habitatsare not in favourable conservation status. To improve the quality of the protected areas,pertinent measures are currently being drawn up based on the area management plansin the German Exclusive Economic Zone’s protected areas of the Baltic Sea, includingrestoration of reefs.34. contribute to the rapid entry into force of the landmark international legallybinding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biologicaldiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) from 19 June 2023 and useits tools and possibilities in intensive cooperation within the CBSS and HELCOMto reach the goals mentioned above (WG/Biodiversity 16);Germany signed the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of theSea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of AreasBeyond N ational Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), as did the EU and all otherEU member states, in September 2023. Germany, like the EU, is striving for the swiftratification of the BBNJ Agreement. Germany will require an implementation law,which must pass a formal legislative process. The BBNJ Agreement will enter into forceas soon as 60 countries have ratified it. Germany and a number of other progressivecountries are pursuing the goal of entry into force for the BBNJ Agreement at the latestby the 2025 UN Ocean Conference. Furthermore, Germany will advocate convening aPreparatory Commission. The first Conference of the Parties will have to adoptnumerous resolutions to establish the institutions of the BBNJ Agreement, among otherthings. The Preparatory Commiss ion can help ensure swift implementation of theGermany Page 7517 agreement by drawing up drafts of the necessary resolutions. From a marine protectionstandpoint, measures on area -based management instruments including the designationof marine protected areas and rules on environmental impact assessments are ofprimary relevance to the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.35. ensure a quick and strict implementation of the updated Baltic Sea Action Planand its associated action documents within the agreed timelines in all democraticHELCOM member states to achieve a good ecological status of the Baltic Sea bythe end of the de cade and consider as far as possible implementing furthermeasures from the policy -relevant suggestions for various policy areas in theHELCOM 2021 Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Fact Sheet to reach this goal;The focus is on activities against polluti on of the Baltic Sea, particularly from marinelitter and eutrophication caused by over -fertili sation. The status and protection ofmarine species and habitats are also to be improved. Goals include reducing the impactof underwater noise on marine biodive rsity, reducing the negative effects of fishing,particularly in marine protected areas, and minimi sing disturbances to the seabed.The issue of climate change as a global challenge is an integral part of the plan, inwhich , for the first time, specific m easures are dedicated to the ocean -climate nexus.Climate action and adaptation will be benchmarks for all future HELCOM decisions.The HELCOM Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Fact Sheet 2021 compiled the currentand prominent scientific findings on climate change and its impacts on the Baltic Seawith the aim of supporting political decision -making. The findings are regularly takeninto account in implementation of the planned measures in the Baltic Sea Action Plan.An update to the Fact Sheet is envisaged in due course to potentially reflect new findingsthat become available.In addition, systematic work on implementing the initiatives and actions agreed in theregional marine cooperation pla tforms is under way. For example, a national roundtable incorporating diverse stakeholders was established on the issues of underwaternoise and shipping. With regard to the Baltic Sea Regional Nutrient Recycling Strategy,a three -year Interreg Baltic Sea Region project was initiated in November 2023, headedby Sweden and including 25 partners from eight HELCOM contracting parties.Measures on marine litter are being implemented , particularly via the 2nd RegionalAction Plan on the issue, which was adopted in 2021 by the HELCOM contractingparties (HELCOM Recommendation 42 -43/3). Germany is actively involved as leadcountry for a number of actions. The primary focus is on areas where suitable productsand results were developed in the national round table o n marine litter ( www.muell -im-meer.de ) that seem useful for the regional context and for further development. Theseinclude, for example, municipal measures on preventing plastic waste, on ghost netsand on input into the Baltic Sea of plastics from fireworks.Mobile bottom fishing in marine protected areas in the German Exclusive EconomicZone of the Baltic Sea is to be restricted through the procedure provided for in theEU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The European Commission is expected to adopta delegated act to implement these measures in the near future.Germany Page 7618 For further details, please refer to the response to no. 28.36. establish and enforce recognisable, legally binding s ustainable fishing quotas inthe Baltic Sea Region with diversification for species, including regulations onfishing nets or other methods, ensuring that fish stocks remain healthy andsustainable in the long term. All actions should be based on respected , up-to-date research. To prevent population crashes, the aim should be to reduce fishingquotas down to or below scientifically advised thresholds in the Baltic Sea;Fishing opportunities for the Baltic Sea have been adopted annually (for 2024: Counc ilRegulation (EU) 2023/ 2638) in line with scientific advice from the InternationalCouncil for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Baltic Sea Multiannual Plan(Council Regulation (EU) 2016/1139). This has led to substantial decreases in fishingopportunities for several stocks, including continued closures of the directed fisheriesfor four stocks (Western herring, Eastern and Western cod and salmon in the mainbasin). Moreover, additional conservation measures were adopted , notably for cod andmain basin salmon (spawning closure periods, restrictions to recreational fisheries) aswell as three herring stocks , to work towards rebuilding the fish stocks to healthy levels.A prolongation of the closure period for eel fishing was adopted and entered into forcein January 2023, with the intention of reducing marine silver eel catches in order tocontribute to the recovery of this single pan -European stock.37. strengthen regulations and enforcement mechanisms to prevent pollution andminimise the discharge o f pollutants into the Baltic Sea;See the responses to nos. 38 and 56.38. introduce stricter controls on industry, shipping, and agriculture to reduce inputsof nutrients, hazardous wastes, and harmful emissions to protect biodiversity andthe ecological balance of the marine environment;Industry:For the EU regulation on reporting of environmental data from industrial installationsand establishing an Industrial Emissions Portal (IEP) and the legislation amendingDirective 2010/75/EU on industrial em issions (IED) , a provisional political agreementwas reached on 28 November 2023 at the 3rd trilogue between the Council, theEuropean P arliament and the European Commission .The IED, which covers 55,000 installations in the EU, with its integrated, installation -focused approach, is tailor -made to also support other urgent issues in environmentalprotection effectively, efficiently and with minimal bureaucracy.The reporting up until now in the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Regi ster(E-PRTR) and in the future IEP is based on the Kyiv Protocol on Pollutant Release andTransfer Registers. This requires operators of certain facilities to report directly on therelease of pollutants into the air, water and soil as well as on off-site transfers of wasteand pollutants released in wastewater. The E -PRTR contains Europe -wide datareported annually by around 30,000 industrial installations in 65 economic sectors.Germany Page 7719 Shipping:Concerning shipping -related inspections , Germany has always adopted andimplemented binding regulations aimed at reducing the discharge of nutrients,hazardous waste and harmful emissions , and consistently monitors compliance withthem. Inspections are carried out regularly . In addition, there i s a regular exchange ofinformation between all competent authorities involved.With respect to controls on shipping, Germany continues to efficiently monitorcompliance with existing regulations for sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions bysetting up and o perating an air -monitoring network in the German coastal region. Inaddition, the German competent authority is cooperating with European partners andresearch institutions to implement European monitoring with comparable qualitystandards. In addition, of f the island of Fehmarn , Germany conducted remotely pilotedaircraft system (RPAS) operations with SOx sniffers to optimi se controls from 20 Aprilto 20 July 2022.Furthermore , Germany carries out so -called “Action Days on Water andEnvironmental Protecti on” (Aktionstage Gewässer - und Umweltschutz). During theseAction Days , authorities carry out a large number of concerted inspections on boardships and, where violations are found , initiate corresponding criminal andadministrative offen ce proceedings.Finally, Germany has significantly increased the fines for violations of marineenvironmental protection regulations in maritime shipping. The individual fine rateshave been increased in many cases, including for discharge of sewage , for example .They are listed in the catalogue of fines and warnings for inland and maritimewaterways.In addition , the new German programme to implement the Marine Strategy FrameworkDirective (MSFD) includes waste -related measures in commercial and leisure shipping(UZ5 -11) a ddressing, among other thing s, the examination of the possibilities ofincreased enforcement of sanctions for infringements within waters under nationaljurisdiction.Agriculture:Germany has already taken regulatory measures to further reduce nitrate an dphosphorous pollution due to agriculture with the aim of achieving good chemical andecological status for all bodies of water. These measures are enshrined in the FertiliserApplication Ordinance.Since 2018, the Ordinance on Nutrient -Flow Balances has regulated nutrient andresource efficiency at the level of individual operators. The Fertiliser Act is currentlybeing updated. The Federal G overnment intends to rework and adapt the nutrient -flowbalance and to develop a new ordinance on monitoring to ev aluate the impacts of theFertiliser Application Ordinance. The planned monitoring will evaluate the fertiliserlaw provisions that were updated and made stricter in 2020. Beyond this, there arevarious funding initiatives that create incentives for measur es that go beyond what islegally required.Germany Page 7820 Under the 2021 Baltic Sea Action Plan , Germany also initiated a report from theHELCOM Secretariat for 2024 rega rding experiences with duties on nitrogen surplusesand mineral fertilisers.39. raise public awareness of the importance of marine ecosystems and the need fortheir conservation by conducting education campaigns, engaging localcommunities, and promoting citizens' initiatives to increase a sense ofresponsibility and encourage public participation in efforts to protect and restorethe ecological health of the Baltic Sea;The Federal G overnment addresses marine issues in various ways in its publicoutreach. In addition to the websites of specific ministries, noteworthy activities in cludesocial media posts and targeted funding for the work of associations with the aim ofprotecting the environment, including the oceans. A public conference on ocean affairsinvolving various stakeholders is due to take place in 2025.Regarding stre ngthening the resilience of climate and biodiversity toClimate Change40. increase the efforts and speed to implement ambitious national climate targetsand adapted extensions – corresponding to the current scientific andmeasurement results – in line with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting theincrease in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius abovepre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to1.5 degrees Celsius above those;The European climate goals (at least 55% net GHG reduction by 2030 and climateneutrality by 2050 ) are bindingly anchored in the European Climate Law. As part ofthe “Fit for 55 ” package, the EU has passed comprehensive measures in order toachieve these goals. It is now important to implement the agreed measures quickly andconsistently on a national level in order to ensure that the ambitious goals are actuallyachieved.41. strengthen regional collaboration and information exchange among thedemocratic Baltic Sea countries and the Arctic to intensify joint strategies andpolicies addr essing climate change and regularly adapt them to the newestresearch results, not neglecting the need to ensure a socially just transition;Collaboration and information exchange are important in order to develop jointstrategies to combat climate chan ge and to share best practices. It is equally importantto take into account the social dimension of climate action. To this effect, the EU hasrecently set up a new Social Climate Fund that supports households which areparticularly vulnerable to increase d energy prices.42. urge at every opportunity the world's three largest CO 2 emitters, which currentlyaccount for more than 50 % of global CO 2 emissions, to step up their efforts toachieve ambitious climate targets;Germany Page 7921The Federal Government strongly suppor ts the efforts to reduc e CO 2 both on a nationaland on an international level. It is working towards a global commitment on triplingrenewable energies and doubling energy efficiency by 2030. Further, phasing outunabated fossil fuels globally is a necessa ry step to keep the 1.5 degree goal of the ParisAgreement within reach. To accelerate the achievement of these goals, the participationof the world’s three largest CO 2 emitters is indispensable, and therefore the FederalGovernment promotes this shared r esponsibility on various occa sions, e.g. duringclimate negotiations.43. incentivise renewable energy development by shortening the permitting processfor wind, solar, other clean and stable energy sources;The Federal Government is making the shortening of permitting processes and thelowering of bureaucratic hurdles a prior ity. In the last two years, t he FederalGovernment has already implemented a myriad of measures that aim to shorten andsimplify permitting processes , and Germany is now seeing the energy transitionaccelerate in response. The Federal Government is plannin g and implementingadditional promising measures to shorten permitting processes to further increase thiseffect.44. taking into account the risks connected with the increasing dependence of theEuropean market on the suppliers of rare metals and other raw m aterials,increase the speed in implementing national strategies for transitioning awayfrom fossil fuels and towards low -carbon energy systems, and wisely diversifyingour energy mixes so that there is no shortage of energy, the energy comes fromreliable sources and is economically viable, avoiding energy poverty and suddenprice increases;The Federal Government is convinced that a transition away from fossil fuels andtoward s a diverse mix of renewable energy sources is the key to achieving the energ yindependenc e of the European market. The Federal Government recogni ses that thismust not only be implemented for the electricity market, but that it will also be crucialto transition towards renewable heating technologies, such as geothermal energy, he atpumps and solar thermal energy.45. acknowledging the different energy strategies and focuses in different states toreach these goals, increase the focus on the communal and regional levels onimplementing adequate climate change measures and to raise awa reness in theresponsible administrations;The Federal Government is convinced that the reduction of greenhouse gases on thecommunal and regional levels is of the utmost importance. It has therefore initiated avariety of measures and program mes that s timulate climate protection measures in thisfield. For example, it supports regions, cities, municipal associations and municipalitiesin sustainably reducing their emissions with the Municipal Directive fundingGermany Page 8022 programme of the National Climate Protectio n Initiative. An example of this is thedecarboni sation of municipal heating supplies. As part of this funding program me, theFederal Government is supporting municipal heat planning with stimulus fundingamounting to 500 million euro.In addition, the Federal Government has been supporting energy -efficient urbanrenovation since 2011. For example, support is given for energy -efficient buildingrenovations, efficient energy supply systems and the expansion of renewable energiesin the municipal sector. A total of 70 million euro is available for this purpose eachyear.Rural areas of municipalities play a key role in the Action Plan on Nature -basedSolutions for Climate and Biodiversity : due to the availability of municipal land, thereis great potential h ere to reduce or bind greenhouse gases, preserve biological diversityand strengthen the resilience of ecosystems. The Federal Government has madeavailable a total of 3.5 billion euro for this purpose up until 2027.In order to support cities and municipa lities in their urban planning of the “adaptationof urban areas to climate change ”, the F ederal Government has made 200 million euroavailable until 2026. This will be supplemented by measures to implement nature -basedsolutions for climate and biodiversi ty in the municipal sector. The intention is, forexample, to plant urban trees and to create or enhance green spaces – so-called naturaloases.Furthermore, the advisory services offered by the National Climate Adaptation Cent re(Zentrum KlimaAnpassung) p lay a crucial role in increasing climate awareness andresilience on the communal and regional levels . This institution, initiated and financedby the F ederal Government, stimulates and supports municipalities in buildingknowledge, selecting and using fun ding, providing training and further training forstaff, and networking with other cities and communities – both national andinternational – to implement joint projects.46. support increased research and innovation in climate change mitigation andadaptation technologies, encouraging collaboration between academicinstitutions, industries, and governments;The Federal Government’s promotion of energy research already aims to supportresearch, development and innovation in order to further develop technologies thatreduce greenhouse gas emissions or facilitate adaptation to the already unavoidableconsequences of climate change. Particularly in the field of applied research funding,special emphasis is placed on cooperation between science and busin ess to ensure thatinnovations can quickly be translated into practice.Germany’s innovation policy relies on conditions conducive to innovation and variousmarket -oriented support measures , especially for SMEs. The aim is to “move from theidea to market success”. The largest programmes are therefore the Central InnovationProgramme for small and medium -sized enterprises and joint industrial research.Funding is provided using a bottom -up approach that is open in terms of technologyand topics. With this a pproach, the programmes are helping to address currentchallenges in the fields of sustainability and ecology.Germany Page 812347. develop incentives and support for integrating climate change education andawareness -raising programmes into curricula, public campaigns, andprofessional development programmes;In June 2022, the Federal Government launched the “80 million together for an energyshift” nationwide campaign. It is aimed at industry, SMEs and consumers and includesa broad dialogue with stakeholders. The campaig n focuses on energy savings andenergy efficiency as well as on renewable energies. It therefore offers practical tips,suggestions and examples to make saving energy and expanding renewable energiespossible for everyone.The National Climate Initiative ( NCI) of the Federal Government helps anchor climateaction at grassroots level and benefits consumers as well as companies, municipalitiesand educational establishments. The programme “Innovative/Transformative ClimateAction within the National Climate I nitiative” was created in 2011 with the objective ofproviding funding for legal entities for the implementation of innovative ideas relatedto climate protection. The programme covers a broad spectrum of climate -relatedactivities which include awareness -raising projects as well as projects fostering climatemainstreaming in several sectors.48. foster cross -border cooperation on regional climate initiatives, engagingneighbouring countries and international organisations in joint efforts to addressclimate c hange in the Baltic Sea region;The Federal G overnment supports enhanc ed international cooperation in variouscontexts : for example, Germany supports the building of offshore windparks in theBaltic Sea. Six offshore windparks are already producing renew able energy, andanother six are currently in the planning stage . Moreover, the Federal Governmentsupports the protection of coastal and estuary areas. Germany , together with Baltic Seapartner states , fostered the Baltic Sea Action Plan in 2021. In the p eriod from 2021 to2030, it tackles the challenges of waste, especially plastic waste , and theoverfertili sation of the Baltic Sea. Overfertili sation leads to excessive growth of algaeand water plants, which take necessary light and oxygen away from other plants andsealife. Therefore, these states aim to put 30 % of the Baltic Sea under protection.Currently about 15 % of the Baltic Sea is protected areas. Intact ecological systems areimportant to preserve natural carbon sin ks.49. convene annual Baltic Sea Climate and Biodiversity Summits to raise publicawareness, track progress, share best practices, and refine regional strategies toaccelerate increased climate action and adaptation;To date there has not been a summit ex clusively focused on climate action andadaptation issues in the Baltic Sea Region. However, these topics are regularlydiscussed in various for a.Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),general issues related to the ocea n-climate nexus have been addressed in the OceanGermany Page 8224 and Climate Change Dialogue since 2022. The contracting parties of the UNFCCCdiscussed blue carbon and the relationship between climate action and fisheries in the2023 Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue. Th e moderators drew up recommendationsin an informal report on the dialogue.Under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the Conference of theParties adopts resolutions on the issue of “conservation and sustainable use of coastaland mari ne biodiversity”. In the resolutions from COP15 in December 2022, forexample, the CBD Secretariat was asked to develop cooperation and synergies withglobal and regional organisations with regard to the relationship between climatechange and the impacts on marine biodiversity.The updated Baltic Sea Action Plan for 2021 -2023 adopted by HELCOM in October2021 under the German Chairmanship covers all challenges and pressures affecting theBaltic Sea marine ecosystem in order to achieve a good ecological st atus of the BalticSea and its environment by the end of this decade, including ambitious measures towork against the impacts of climate change. Progress on implementation is regularlyreported to HELCOM and analysed.Biodiversity50. make strong efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and contributeto making the democratic Baltic Sea region as much as possible a macro -regionalbest practice example in this regard for the world;The measures of the area management plans for the protected areas in the GermanExclusive Economic Zone of the Baltic Sea are aimed at an effectively managed andecologically coherent network of marine protected areas and at minimising theimpairment of protected or threatened species, their habi tats and migration routes byhuman activities. They thereby contribute to achieving the goals of the Kunming -Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and play a part in making the BalticSea a best -practice example in international marine protection.51. fully implement as fast as possible the Kunming -Montreal Global BiodiversityFramework (GBF) adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Conventionon Biological Diversity (CBD -COP15) on 19 December 2022 with its mission tohalt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, adapt the existing national and BalticSea broad strategies and programmes and to cooperate intensively among thedemocratic Baltic Sea States to realise a swift and effective implementation ofthe GBF so that the Baltic Sea region becomes a global best practice example inimplementing the Global Biodiversity Framework;The Federal Government is actively working on implementing the GBF and is currentlyin close contact with the other member states of the CBSS . Please refer also to theresponses to nos. 32, 33, 49, 50, 54 and 58.52. consider an ecosystem -based management approach when revising an d adaptingaction plans and strategies to achieve these goals and implementing theseGermany Page 8325 measures. This means management that considers the whole ecosystem and allhuman activities, which is aware of and incorporates all pressures andinteractions and aims to protect, restore, or enhance the resilience andsustainability of the aquatic ecosystem to ensure the sustainable provision ofecosystem services and maintain the biodiversity;The ecosystem -based approach of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity is a keylegal basis of German marine spatial planning. The marine spatial plan that enteredinto force in 2021 reflects this requirement by incorporating protection and useinterest s. For example, this plan securely designates all protected areas in the GermanExclusive Economic Zone of the Baltic Sea in terms of spatial planning.53. further, commit to protecting biodiversity and increasing carbon sequestrationand natural storage wit h common and national policies for:a. conservation of carbon -rich ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, seagrassmeadows and natural rivers;b. continuation of sustainable forest management;Healthy ecosystems are a natural defence against climate change. Forests andfloodplains, soils and peatlands, seas and water bodies remove carbon dioxide from theatmosphere and store it for the long term. They also act as buffers against the impactsof climate change by accommodating floodwaters and providing cooling during hotweather. Ultimately, they sustain our natural foundations of life, yield valuablerenewable resources, provide important habitats for animals and plants, store waterand are important recreation sites for people. The Federal Action Plan on Natu re-basedSolutions for Climate and Biodiversity allows us to preserve intact ecosystems andrestore health, resilience and biodiversity to degraded ecosystems.Sustainable forest management based on internationally agreed standards is animportant goal fo r Germany nationally, regionally and internationally. Sustainableforest management is legally regulated in Germany. Preparing forests for climatechange is a key challenge for the future. The management of forests in Germany is basedon the integrated pri nciple of sustainable, multifunctional forestry. This principleincorporates the goal of preserving the forest for future generations and alsomaintaining and promoting its capacity and various functions along the three pillars ofsustainability (environme nt, economy, society) while considering the balance of varioussocietal interests in forests.54. develop and execute plans to enhance the resilience of the Baltic Sea ecosystemto climate change, including protecting coastal habitats and restoring wetlands;The Federal Government provid es 3.5 billion euro for nature -based climate actionunder the Action Plan on Nature -based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity tostrengthen and restore natural and near -natural ecosystems. The Action Plan containsa separate field of action for seas and coasts to conserve marine habitats and theirnatural carbon sink capacity, thereby increasing resilience to climate -related changes.Germany Page 8426 For example, it envisages various measures to conserve and restore sal t marshes,seagrass beds and kelp forests on the Baltic and North Sea coasts.Beyond this, the Federal G overnment has spoken out in favour of sustainably improvingcoastal defence under the National Water Strategy. In future, in addition to technicalcoastal defence measures, the aim is to increasingly use nature -based solutions (suchas restoring coastal habitats). In the German Working Group on Water Issues of theFederal States and the Federal Government (LAWA), measures on the protection ofcoastal ha bitats are also being drawn up (e.g. new construction or raising andrehabilitation of d ykes).55. reverse land degradation by 2030, and promote sustainable forest and peatlandmanagement given their importance for climate and biodiversity;The Federal Action Plan on Nature -based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity allowsus to preserve intact eco systems and restore health, resilience and biodiversity todegraded ecosystems. Please see the response to no. 53 on sustainable forestmanagement.On 9 November 2022, the Federal G overnment adopted the National PeatlandProtection Strategy. This strategy addresses peatland protection from the perspectiveof nature, water and soil conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation andlooks at the various options for use. It thus contributes directly to climate action andbiodiversity conservation, and gives the local communities long -term prospects.56. significantly increase efforts to fundamentally improve nutrient management inagriculture, industry, and wastewater treatment plants to reduce nutrient runoffinto the Baltic Sea, which contributes to eut rophication and biodiversity loss;Due to the cross -border nature of marine protection, the Federal G overnment workstogether closely with the Baltic Sea countries. The Baltic Sea continues to be underpressure from significant discharges of pollutants and nutrients which have to dateprevented the achievement of good ecological status. Although some progress hasalready been possible, further efforts must be rigorously pursued. In particular,eutrophication, as one of the major pressures on the Baltic S ea affecting the marineenvironment, must be further reduced to attain good ecological status. Majordischarges are made via water pathways; thus, a focus is on implementation of theEU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and fertiliser legislation. These meas ures areextremely important for marine protection and are being energetically pursued outsidethe MSFD. Beyond this, the European Commission draft reworking the municipalwastewater directive is currently being negotiated; its implementation promises furt herimprovements.For more information see the response to no. 38.Germany Page 852757. develop and adopt regional strategies to deal with transboundary emergencies,including forest fires, eutrophication, and spreading pathogens, some of whichare exacerbated by climate cha nge and pollution. The strategies should includeresearch into the causes of such emergencies, cooperation between rescueservices, and joint monitoring programmes that indicate the risks of suchemergencies;In Germany, the development of such strategies, in particular with regard tocooperation between emergency services or fire brigades, is the responsibility of thefederal states (Länder).58. cooperate to prevent the introduction and spread of new invasive alien species,work to effectively eradicate invasive species in the Baltic Sea Region and todevelop and exchange best practices;The HELCOM member states will set up an early warning syst em for the introductionof invasive species in ports by 2024. The member states strengthened cooperation withinterest groups with regard to the development and implementation of sustainablevegetation management options in order to minimise the introducti on of invasiveaquatic species, the release of hazardous substances, and the release of microplasticsfrom vegetation protection systems , and to increase energy efficiency. The HELCOMmember states are coordinating the implementation of the requirements of the BallastWater Management Convention. The regional Baltic Sea measures in the area of ballastwater management negotiated in HELCOM include recommendations on ballast waterexchange, on the selection of target species and on exceptions based on risk as sessments(BWMC Regulation A -4).Considering the special attention the BSPC devoted to the issue of dumpedammunition in the Baltic Sea, particularly during the Presidency of theGerman Bundestag, the Conference strongly welcomes59. the intensive consid eration of the issue of dumped ammunition in the Baltic Seaby the Council of the Baltic Sea States during the German Presidency – andduring the 20th session of the Council of the Baltic Sea States on 1 and 2 June2023 in Wismar;60. the initiation of a cross-sectoral, multidisciplinary, and macro -regional dialogueon underwater munitions in line with its previous demands during the round tableof experts in Kiel in December 2022 and the joint consultation of HELCOM andthe CBSS in April 2023;61. the Germ an government's decision – based on the resolution of the GermanBundestag to provide € 100 million for this purpose – to initiate a nationalimmediate action programme for the recovery of underwater munitions in theBaltic and North Seas, including the de velopment of a mobile platform formunitions clearance, and to share the experience gained from this;Germany Page 8628 In addition, the BSPC states that responsible precautionary policy begins with active andsufficient action at that point in time when necessary action must be taken to avert laterenormous and subsequently unpreventable massive damage to people and theenvironment in the Baltic Sea region. In the view of the BSPC, this point in time has comeafter years of intensive treatment of the issue of ammunition deposits in the Baltic Sea,according to the findings of its rapporteurs, the statements in the BSPC reso lutions since2019 as well as based on the reports submitted by the BSPC and an intensive exchangewith leading experts in this field, which has been deepened in the past year. Based oncurrent activities and measures, according to the consensus of leading scientists, removingthe munitions deposits would take some 100 years. At the same time, significant damageto humans and the environment can be expected in 20 -30 years. Therefore, the initiationand implementation of a joint strategic approach and effort by the Baltic Sea States arecalled for to avoid the damage to human safety, environment safety, security, and theeconomy that would otherwise occur, according to current scientific knowledge, from the400,000 tonnes of conventional and 40,000 tonnes of chemical munitions dumped in theBaltic Sea. To achieve the goal of eliminating the hazard situation within the next 20 years,which is considered highly relevant for the BSPC, it is necessary not only to push theclearance with increased efforts and coord inated cooperation but also, in particular, torapidly advance by reducing the bottleneck of effectively rendering the munitions harmless,i.e., the final disposal as well as storage capacities on land.in light of the foregoing, the BSPC calls on the G overnments in the Baltic SeaRegion, the CBSS, and the EU to62. go beyond the previous agreements of the governments and initiate a jointstrategic approach and effort of the democratic Baltic Sea states - as has beenachieved concerning the expansion of o ffshore wind capacities -, also based onthe continuation of the cooperation between CBSS and HELCOM, as well asconsider establishing a joint financial instrument to succeed in the goal, whichthe BSPC considers of great importance, of eliminating the haz ardous situationcaused by ammunition dumped in the Baltic Sea within the next 20 years at thelatest;The first Our Baltic Conference (OBC) was held on 28 September 2020 at the invitationof European Commissioner Sinkevičius . The outcome was the OBC 2020 ministerialdeclaration , adopted by environment, agriculture and fisheries ministers from all of theBaltic Sea countries. The declaration also contains 20 additional voluntarycommitments to implement at national, regional a nd EU level. The second OBC of theenvironment, agriculture and fisheries ministers of the democratic Baltic Sea countrieswas held on 29 September 2023 in Palanga, Lithuania. It built on the political issues ofthe ministerial declaration, OBC 2020. The 1st OBC at the invitation of theCommissioner contained 25 commitments addressing the main pressures and theirimpacts on the Baltic Sea ( https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/2020 -09/ministerial_declaration_our_baltic_conference.pdf ).The 2nd OBC found that good progress ha s been made on the implementation of thedeclaration. Most of the commitments have been implemented. Progress must be madeon commitments that are not yet fully implemented , for the purpose of integratingmarine protection and use. Cross -sectoral measures are also necessary to make furtherprogress. Germany has already implemented most of the commitments. Independent ofthese national activities, Germany is extremely committed and active in the HELCOMGermany Page 8729 regional cooperation to swiftly and systematically implement ing the measures of theBaltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) adopted in 2021.Beyond this, the Declaration on Commitment s on Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) by theBaltic State s was adopted. Germany is a pioneer in the recovery of unexplodedordnance in the Baltic Sea with its national programme, both in terms of its extensivefunding and the development and use of innovative tec hnologies. A total of 100 millioneuro was made available by the immediate action programme for 2022 -2025. Therecovery programme will begin as soon as possible on the basis of a feasibility study,with the support of current EU -wide calls on exploration a nd recovery, and willculminate in the development and construction of the world’s first pilot platform forrecovery and clearance at sea. In line with the pledge in the Declaration of the Councilof the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) of 2 June 2023, the Federal Government is happy toshare the knowledge gained with its regional partners, in particular with regard totechnological advances.63. continue close cooperation between the CBSS, HELCOM, and other relevantorganisations to fill knowledge gaps, develop best environmental practices forrisk assessment, and explore funding opportunities for the development andimplementation of the best available techniques for environmentally sound andsafe management.Handling ammunition dumped in the Baltic Sea and the related challenges were focus esof the German Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (2022 /2023). This wasthe context for an interdisciplinary round table on old munitions in the Baltic Sea heldin Kiel, Germany, on 12 -13 December 2022 that br ought together all relevantstakeholders for the first time to jointly address the issue.A joint informal meeting between the CBSS and HELCOM (HoD, H9) was subsequentlyheld on 24 April 2023. The participants acknowledged the many years of expertise inHELCOM on the issue of underwater munition in the Baltic Sea as well as the key roleof HELCOM in the process to come. Cooperation between the CBSS, HELCOM and theEuropean Commission (DG MARE) was also highlighted as being very valuable.In the short and medium term, the ambition is to develop a shared knowledge base anda vision for how to proceed in the next 5 -10 years. Firstly, the major gaps in knowledgeshould be closed so that existing information can be logically linked and madeaccessible to involved institutions, e.g. via the JPI Oceans Knowledge Hub.In the long term, however, mechanisms will be needed to facilitate the availability ofadequate financial resources a nd a coordinated approach. In particular, an instrumentto provide future financial resources should be addressed before the additionalchallenges such as coordination, data management, documentation and prioritisationare developed and improved.A continu ous dialogue between the CBSS, HELCOM and the European Commission ininformal meetings is explicitly welcomed.Germany Page 8830 Furthermore, the Conference Decides to64. establish a two -year Working Group on Energy Security, Self -sustainability,Resilience and Connec tivity - based on the decisions of the BSPC StandingCommittee - to submit a first report at the 33rd BSPC and65. welcome with gratitude the kind offer by the Danish Folketinget to host the 33rdBaltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Helsingør on 25 -27 August 2024.HAMBURGHamburg Page 90Statementby the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburgon implementing the Resolution of the32nd Baltic Sea Parliamentary ConferenceThe Senate welcomes the goals formulated in the Resolution. To the extent that the pointslisted fall within the remit of the Senate, they are in many respects already current practice.In the following statement, the Senate takes a position on the measur es that are standardadministrative practice in Hamburg and are in line with the concerns of the Baltic Seaparliamentarians.Para TopicIntens e cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region1 Strengthening democracy, rule of law, equality, and human rights in theBaltic Sea RegionThe close cooperation between the democratic states bordering the Baltic Sea hasbecome increasingly important s ince the beginning of the Russian war of aggressionagainst Ukraine and in view of the very difficult security situation in the region. TheFree and Hanseatic City of Hamburg ( hereafter FHH) maintain s close political,social, economic and cultural connections to the Baltic states. These take place at abilateral and a multilateral level. Greater cooperation with the democrat ic Balticstates reinforces resilience and cohesion in the region. A number of the cooperationactivities run by or supported by the city are directly targeted at strengtheningdemocracy, the rule of law , equality and human rights in the Baltic Sea Region. Forinstance, the Senate promotes civil society cooperation such as the “RainbowExchange” between the Hamburg LSVD (Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany)and Russian LGBTIQ+ representatives now in exile in the Baltic states.2 Baltic Sea Region as a be st-practice example for other macro -regionsThe Senate participates actively in multilateral Baltic cooperation and thuscontributes to putting joint measures into practice. In the context of the EU BalticSea Strategy , for example, the FHH is developing a Baltic -wide platform forintegrating migrants into the labour market. The Baltic Sea Strategy Point based inHamburg and Turku coordinates the climate activities of the 14 policy areas in theEU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR ). The participati on by Hamburg inmany EU projects in the Baltic Sea Region also contribute s to close macro -regionalcooperation on important future issues (for details, see publication 22/13726).Through its involvement in the governance of the EUSBSR , the FHH is in constantdialogue with other European macro -regions such as the Danube, Alpine andAdriatic Regions . This enables Hamburg to share best -practice examples with otherEU macro -regions as well as learning from them.3 Economic growth, sustainable development and energy security in the BalticSea RegionHamburg Page 91The Baltic Sea Region benefits from the lively exchange between its members, andthe Baltic states are important foreign trade partners for the Port of Hamburg. In2022, the total Baltic share of Hamburg’s foreign trade was 11.22% (provisionalfigure). Meaningful statistics on the effects of the Russian war of aggression againstUkraine are not yet available. Hamburg’s most important foreign trade partner in theBaltic is Poland, with a share of 3.94%. The Baltic states are valued partners forHamburg on innovati ve topics, especially in the areas of digitalisation, artificialintelligence and start- ups.In addition, Hamburg is involved, together with the Scandinavi an and easternEuropean countries, in numerous EU -funded projects on sustainability issues, suchas social innovation, social entrepreneurship, decarbonisation of port operations andalso a climate- neutral food industry (for details, see publication 22/137 26).The Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link, which will connect Hamburg, Copenhagen and Malmöfrom 2029, is expected to provide particular growth impetus for the Baltic SeaRegion, increasing accessibility and strengthening the region as a location forinternational investment.But further economic growth will only be possible if the necessary energy security isin place. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine continues to haveconsiderable consequences for energy security in the Baltic Sea Region. Thesudden change in the geopolit ical situation and energy flows has been accompaniedby ra pid policy change. It ranges from the expansion of non -Russian pipelines andthe diversion of gas supplies within the Baltic Sea Region to a stronger focus onLNG and new offshore projects for renew able energy. 2022 and 2023 have seen aremarkable degree of resilience and cooperation between Baltic states as a reactionto the increasing insecurity of regional energy systems.4 Cooperation on energy security and self -sustainability in the Baltic SeaRegionIn this regard, offshore wind power can make a significant contribution to energyself-sustainability in the Baltic Sea Region. To exploit this potential, the Balticstates are seeking to increase cooperation on accelerating the expansion ofrenewable energy sources and the corresponding in frastructure.Production of wind power from the Baltic Sea is set to increase sevenfold to 20GW by 2030. 20 GW would enable at least 20 million households to be suppliedwith power. This corresponds to more than the total current offshore wind capacityin the whole of the EU. By 2050, wind power capacity from the Baltic Sea is due toreach 93 GW. In spring 2023, German Federal Economics Minister, RobertHabeck, and his Danish opposite number, Dan Jörgensen, signed an agreementon a joint offshore project o ff the Danish island of Bornholm. According to Danishsources, wind power capacity there is to increase from two to three GW. Powercables will transmit the power generated to the German and Danish mainland.Germany and Denmark will share the power generat ed as well as the costs of theinfrastructure. According to the Danish energy ministry, a huge artificial energyisland is also to be built off the Danish North Sea coast to store the offshore windpower. This will contribute to achieving twin goals – energy security and climateneutrality. The increase in the importance of the wind power sector is particularlywelcome from the Hamburg perspective, too, since many companies from thissector are based here.5 Protection of critical underwater infrastructure in the Baltic SeaNo re mitHamburg Page 926 Funding mechanisms for cross -border transport infrastructure and the digitalsingle marketThe EU programme “Connecting Europe Facility” (CEF) is the most importantfunding instrument for developing trans -European networks with the goal of creatingmodern and effective infrastructure (transport, energy and digital) to connect theregions in Europe with one another. The Trans -European Transport Network s (TEN -T) encompass projects of common interest to create new or improve existingtransport infrastructure, to eliminate existing deficiencies and bottlenecks and todismantle technical obstacles to traffic flows between EU Member States. TheTrans -European Telecommunications Networks (e TEN) aims to eliminate digitalobstacles to completing the European digital single market. The CEF Regulationdefines what can be funded , to what extent and under what conditions. Funding isusually in the form of gran ts and aims to mobilise TEN investments and leveragefinancing from public and private sectors. In EU Member States outside theCohesion Fund (including Germany) , funding is possible up to a maximum of 50%of the costs (for further details see Reg. (EU) 2021/1153 of 7 Ju ly 2021 establishingthe Connecting Europe Facility). In the Baltic Sea Region, the Fehmarn Belt FixedLink is among the cross -border projects co -funded from CEF resources.7 Cooperation with businesses and civil society with regard to the greentransition in the Baltic Sea RegionThe Senat e fully supports the goals formulated here.8 Regular meetings of heads of government of Baltic statesNo remit9 Extension of sectoral ministerial conferences , e.g. in the spatial planning areaof responsibilityNo remit10 Expansion of INTERREG and synergie s with other Baltic Sea cooperationformatsHamburg profits intensively from international cooperation initiatives in the BalticSea Region. Th ese initiatives are supported by various EU funding programmes. Inthe current funding period (2021 –27), 31 Hamburg players are involved in 21INTERREG Baltic Sea Region projects. The INTERREG Baltic Sea Region iscurrently funding 85 projects. Correspondingly, Hamburg is involved in just under25% of all current INTERREG Baltic Sea Region projects. Against this backdrop, theSenate is in favour of continuing the INTERREG Baltic Sea Region programme inthe next funding period.Hamburg is also working with the other federal states to promote greater synergiesbetween the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and EU funding such asINTERREG but also other EU programme titles (cf. Resolution of the 93rdConference of Ministers for European Affairs on macro -regional strategies with afocus on the EUSBSR of 6–7 December 2023) .11 Social resilience in the Baltic Sea RegionThe Senate is particularly interested in promoting social resilience in the Baltic SeaRegion. Therefore it coordinates the education policy area in the EU Strategy for theBaltic Sea Region, which also covers research cooperation and labour market policy(for details of activities in the policy area, see Publication 22/13726).Hamburg Page 9312 Strengthening the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea RegionThe FHH was involved in the development of the EU Strategy for the Baltic SeaRegion and is intensively committed to its implementation. Since 2013, Hamburghas coordinated the education policy area. Numerous Hamburg offices are involvedin the implementation of this and other policy areas. Additionally, Hamburg has since2022 hosted the Baltic Sea Strategy Point , the EUSBSR secretariat (for details, seePublication 22/13726 ; cf. also the Resolution of the 93rd Conference of Ministers forEuropean Affairs on macro -regional strategies with a focus on the EUSBSR of 6–7December 2023).13 Democratic developments in Belarus and RussiaThe Senate has suspended all official relations with St Petersburg. Nevertheless,the criticism expressed is not directed against that part of Russian civil society thatopposes the war. Thus the Senate continues to support civil society cooperationssuch as the “Rainbow Exchange” between the LSVD (Lesbian and Gay Federationin Germany) and Russian LGBTIQ+ representatives now in exile in the Baltic states .14 Social sustainability along with the green and digital transitionsAs outlined in paragraph 11, promoting social resilience and thus also socialsustainability in the Baltic Sea Region is a central concern for the Senate. For somecountries in the Baltic Sea Region, early school leaving and the need to improve thetransition from school to working li fe are major challenges. New programmes for theunemployed and inactive, including younger people, plus targeted individual supportcan contribute to improving access to employment. The youth employment agenciesin Hamburg serve here as a best -practice example, which partners in the Baltic Searegion have adopted as part of the co -operation in the EU Strategy for the Baltic SeaRegion (Publication 22/13726 ). Social, green and digital transitions are dealt withtogether in the EUSBSR .15 Involvement of civil society in Baltic Sea policy activitiesThe FHH cooperates intensively with civil society stakeholders in its bilateral andmultilateral work with Baltic states (cf. Publication 22/13726).16 Involvement of young people in Baltic Sea policy activitiesYoung people are actively involved in Baltic Sea cooperation. A coordination officefor participation by young people in Baltic Sea cooperation is based at the Councilof the Baltic Sea States (CBSS). Among other things, the Hamburg Fire Serviceorganised the 2022 Baltic Sea Youth Dialogue entitled “Civil Security Edition – YourEngagement in a Safe and Secure Baltic Sea Region” i n November 2022 on behalfof the German p residency of the CBSS (2022/23) and as a member of the EUSBSRpolicy area “Secure” (cf. Publication 22/13726).Demo cratic resilience and digital challenges17 Countering disinformation campaignsThe Hybrid open working group of the federa l and state governments (BLoAG) hadits kick -off meeting in February 2022 in accordance with the 2021 autumn resolutionof the conference of home affairs ministers (IMK). Regular meetings continue to beheld at both working and management level s to address the topic o f “hybrid threatsand disinformation”. In the last IMK of autumn 2023, it was decided to establishpermanent structures in the federal states to combat hybrid threats includingdisinformation and to set up a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for these issues atboth federal and state level. Information exchange would then be via these SPOCs .Hamburg Page 94The Hybrid BLoAG defines disinformation as false or misleading information that isspread deliberately . This must be distinguished from false or misleading informationthat arises and is disseminated by mistake or without intent to deceive. The sendersof disinformation aim to deceive the recipients and induce them to disseminate falseand misleading information. Disinformation is used by non -state actors at home andabroad as well as by foreign state actors for various motives.18 Confidence in democratic structures and valuesThe Hamburg Senate employs various co -operative action strategies to reinforcesocial cohesion, civic engagement, democratic structures and the recognition ofdiversity. The cross -departmental basis for action for this continual task is providedin particu lar by the Hamburg programme for promoting de mocratic culture, andpreventing and combating right -wing extremism – “Hamburg – City with Courage”(Publication 20/9849) and its 291 9 update (Publication 21/ 18643). Please also seethe Statement by the Senate on implementing the Resolution of the 31st Baltic SeaParliamentary Conference , Publication 22/11249.With the public project for senior citizens “Political education for senior citizens ”(since 01.01. 2020), the Senate is also committed to enabling managers of seniorcitizens ’ meeting centre s to deal constructively with right -wing populist, xenophobicstatements and to work to prevent such situations in the future. Centre managersand those actively engaged in the senior citizens’ meeting centres are to be trainedin how to deal with right -wing populist, xenophobic statements and to be aware ofthe topic. This is to be achieved through targeted training of managers and staff. Theproject will work together with cooperation partners and external institutions (e.g. theHamburg advice service against right-wing extremism, the Hamburg centre forpolitical education). With the help of events, workshops or other forms of support,centre managers and active partici pants are to be empowered and prejudiceseliminated. A further goal is to sensitise and empower active participants in themeeting centres and to promote a constructive “culture of debate”.19 Rights and safety of vulnerable groupsProtecting vulnerable groups is a particular concern of the Senate (see Publication22/7497).Anti-discrimin ationThe Senate is committed to protecting the rights of people affected by discriminationand actively eliminating adverse treatment. To this end, the Senate is currentlyupdating its anti -discrimination strategy, which provides a cross -departmental basisfor this interdisciplinary task. In spring 2023, the Senate agreed the key points of itsanti-discrimination strategy (Publication 22/11417). The focus of these includescontinuing to increase anti-discrimination awareness and expertise in theadministration and in civil society and to provide even more effective support tothose affected by discrimination in asserting their right to non -discriminat ion byimproving counselling and complaints structures. The Senate thus also funds civilsociety -organised advice centres that support those affected by discriminationthrough individual consultations.LGBT QI+Hamburg’s aspiration as a forward -looking, diverse and cosmopolitan city is toenable everyone here to live free and self-determined lives and to actively promoteequality of opportunity for and acceptance of all citizens while confrontingdiscrimination. Our goal: Every person in Hamburg should ha ve the sameopportunities for fulfilment and the same possibilities to shape society irrespectiveof their gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.Hamburg Page 95In times of increasing discrimination against queer people and of worldwide conflicts,Hamburg is intensifying its efforts and becoming more targeted in its measures topromot e the acceptance of gender and sexual diversity than in previous years . Thisis reflected in the 2023 action plan, “Hamburg l(i)ebt viel fältig” (Ha mburg lives/lovesdiversely – Publication 22/11506) , whose focus is on an intersectional approach toqueer life realities. Additionally, Hamburg is committed to legal equality, equalparticipation and empowerment of queer people.The promotion of LGBT QI+ projects with an intersectional concept and theimprovement of visibility of queer ways of li fe in regular structures have a particularfocus. The projects include the “Refugee Sisters” contact point, advice andempowerment for queer female refugees and tr ans and intersex people; the “Älterwerden unterm Regenbogen” (growing older under the rainbow) project to promotequeer -sensitive work with senior citizens in senior citizens’ centres; and the“WELCOMING OUT” initiative to encourage allyship and raise awareness of thechallenges queer people face in coming out.Gender e qualityThe Third Framework Programme (GPR) agreed by the Hamburg Senate in 2023states: “Women are more likely than men to flee accompanied by children and runthe risk of experiencing s exual violence or becoming victims of human traffickingduring their flight.” This is also a reason why the GPR stresses the importance ofsafety and protection for female refugees in accommodation. This is part of theHamburg Integration Concept.The GPR also includes a measure – for which the Social Affairs Ministry is alsoresponsible – for providing advice and support services for integration in training o rwork offered by the Hamburg Welcome Center (HWC) for female migrants andrefugees, both o n arrival and once here. It must be pointed out that such labourmarket integration can only take place given the aforementioned guarantee of safetyand protection of basic rights.Senior citizensProject to promote queer -sensitive work with senior citize ns in senior citizens’centres: This project is intended to raise awareness of queer issues for centremanagers. Despite considerable success in society, discrimination against queerpeople is still present in many areas of everyday li fe – and this is also true for olderpeople, e.g. in social services institutions and geriatric care. The pilot project “Älterwerden unterm Regenbogen” (growing older under the rainbow) was introduced toencourage protected ageing for LGBT QI+ people in “open work with senior citizens ”centres.Jewish life and combating antisemitismThe Senate values Jewish life and combats antisemitism in Hamburg throughvarious measures. The y include the areas of security , advice, education,cooperation and networking as well as the promotio n of Jewish life in Hamburg .Details can be found in the regular reporting to the Hamburg Parliament by theSenator responsible ( cf. Publication 22/12150 for the first six months of 2022).Additionally, the Senate is in the process of developing a strategy to combatantisemitism in the FHH, intended to represent a cross -department al basis for thisinterdisciplinary task. This is expected to be completed in summer 2024.20 Sexu al and reproductive autonomy; right to reproductive healthSexual and reproductive autonomy is an expression of a comprehensive personalright. Everyone has t he right to control their own body. When it took office , theFederal Government announced reforms. This will also open the way to newperspectives in Hamburg. Apart from the abolition of Section 219a of the CriminalCode , however, it is still largely unclear how abortions will be regulated in the future.Hamburg Page 96The results of the Commission on Reproductive Autonomy and ReproductiveMedicine set up for this purpose are expected in mid -2024.Independently of developments at the federal level, Hamburg is looking at currentneeds in the area s of education, advice and care in order to ensure reproductiverights , as it is important to reinforce the structure of services for the future within thecurrent framework and to expand access to advice and education services so thatthose seeking advice can exercise their right to reproductive health unrestricted.Strengthening sexual and reproductive autonom y is a significant goal of the work ofthe Social Affairs Ministry and is a guiding principle for numerous fields of activity,since knowledge of one’s own body and one’s own boundaries protects againstunwanted pregnancy and sexual abuse. Concrete examples can be found, forexample, in the promotion of sexual education services from childhood on byindependent providers such as “pro familia”, pregnancy advice and basicgynaecological care for vulnerable groups, (multilingual) pregnancy conf lictcounselling for those with limited German language skills , and covering the costs ofcontraception for women on low incomes.In its strategy for the acceptance of gender and sexual diversity, the FHH observesfive basic principles: recognition, non -discrimination, autonomy and fairparticipation, self -acceptance and visibility, overall responsibility of society and thestate. These are also reflected in the updated action plan “Hamburg l(i)ebt vielfältig”(Hamburg lives/loves diversely – Publication 22/11506) and the 150 measuresformulated in it. The FHH therefore supports projects run by the Magnus -Hirschfeld -Centrum e.V. an d Intervention e.V. that help people to accept their sexual identitiesand lead self -determined lives. Projects that promote the acceptance of sexualdiversity also contribute to sexual autonomy.21 Legislation to protect democratic processes from cyber t hreatsOn the basis of the NIS 2 Directive, published on 27.12.2022 in the L333 OfficialJournal of the European Union , Member States must adopt the Directive in nationallaw within 21 months of it coming into force. The FHH is in close dialogue with theDataport member s (Bremen, Saxony Anhalt and Schleswig -Holstein) to jointlyimplement the minimum standards for increasing the overall EU cybersecurity levelrequired by the Directive. The FHH is currently developing a cybersecurity strategy.The FHH’s info rmation security management is drawing up IT emergencymanagement guidelines , which are to be agreed as a Senate publication and arecurrently being legally scrutinised. In a further step to respond to crises caused bycyber attacks, the FHH is aiming to conclude a cooperation agreement with theFederal Office for Information Security (BSI) in 2024. A project started in 2022involving public companies and the FHH to introduce an early warning system inHamburg to guard against cybercrime came to a successf ul conclusion in 2023 andis to be expanded in 2024 to include planned security projects.In order to improve the numerous existing legal provisions and measures that serveto protect democratic processes and institutions as well as the state from threatsfrom cyberspace in the operational area, the following measures, among others, willbe implemented: The data centre of the Hamburg administration’s service provider has beencertified and set up in accordance with the relevant BSI standards. Audit of the I T systems (cross -state). Information on p otential threats and attack vectors is exchanged via the stateCERTs , VCV, BSI, etc. to enable the fastest possible response .Hamburg Page 97 Awareness events are organised within departments to give staff moreconfidence in handling IT, data and systems so that, ideally, they canrecognise an attack and prevent or minimise damage. Meetings involving other states are held to exchange ideas and developsolutions for current problems, which are also incorporated into laws andregulations. The State Office for the Protection of the Constitution is in confidentialdialogue with business and is also responsible for the intelligence evaluationof relevant players. On the law enforcement side, there is a SPOC in Hamburg, as in every otherfederal state, acting as the central point of contact for persons or institutionswho have been affected and/or harmed.22 Digital literacy to mitigate disinformationThe Ministry for Schools and Vocational Training (BSB) is active in many areas toincrease digital skills and thus reduce the risks of misinformation and disinformation.This is also reflected in the BSB digitalisation strategy and the implementation of theDigitalPakt. The activities build on the foundations laid by the strategy “Bildung inder digitalen Welt” ( Education in a digital world – Conference of Ministers ofEducation and Cultural Affairs , KMK, 2016). This strategy sets out how the complexprocess of integrating the digital transition into the education system should beorganised (see Publication 21/19308) .Individual measures : Necessary provision of digital terminals and presentation equipment(completely implemented) The pilot project towards a fully digitalised school (Publication 22/10293) hasbeen implemented. The aim is to trial the progressive integration of digitalelements into education processes and to gain insights relevant to thecontinuing digitalisation process in Hamburg schools. Computer science will become a compulso ry subject for all from summer2025 – pilot phase from August 2024 in selected schools. The digital world skills cited in the KMK strategy will be integrated into thenew curricula as they are revised. The integration of skills regardingeducation in the digital world concerning the skills to be acquired by pupilscan be found in chapter 2 on page 7 ff. In addition, the guiding perspective“Living and learning in a digitalised world” has been included in the generalsection regarding teaching in Hamburg schools in point 3.3 of the curriculaon page 12 ff. Just how important artific ial intelligence is for the administration is clearlydemonstrated by the cooperation with ARIC (Artificial Intelligence CenterHamburg e.V ). In May and November 2023, the BSB organised symposia,each with more than 120 participants, to make it clear that a wide-rangingsocial dialogue is imperative. The BSB has made a total of €50,000 available for artificial intelligence fromthe “Media and Ed ucation in Hamburg” project fund. Digitalis ation is a compulsory element in teacher training (Learning in thedigital world handout).Hamburg Page 98 In the courses offered by the State Institute for Teacher Training (LI),digitalisation is a major focus, with 570 options offered and 10,061participants. The LI has set up an artificial intelligence (AI) skills unit. Additionally, in thefirst six months of 2023, the LI offered a total of 29 training courses with 1,566participants related to AI. The Hamburg Media Passport has been fully revised to include the topics ofbig data and fake news. It is available to all teaching staff as the newHamburg Media Passport via the LI website. The Counselling – Diversity, Health and Prevention department supportsschool specialist sta ff and those with a duty of care concerning the healthyand responsible use of digital media by pupils. In particular, the MediaEducation department offers a wide range of programmes for dealingresponsibly with misinformation and disinformation. Further guidance and resources on schools in the digital transition and awide range of material on AI is available to teachers on the new informationplatform infoPortal (lernen.hamburg).23 Ethical standards for digital platforms and technology companiesIn the development and use of technologies and in the selection of digital platformsto be used and service providers to be commissioned, the FHH is fully committed tothe restrictions imposed by the existing legal framework for safeguarding personaldata. This regards the rights of the data subject, as set down in Art. 12 –23 GDPR.This includes in particular the guarantee that data subjects shall not be subject todecisions based solely on automated processing and algorithmic determination (Art.22 GDPR). The Senate Chancellery is involved in the corresponding concretisationand expansion of EU data legislation (Data Governance Act, Data Act) and thecontroversial AI legislative process (AI Act) and provides comprehensible analysi sof the key aspects to affected FHH departments and holdings .24 Research and i nnovation in cybersecurityNo remit25 Ensuring responsible digital practicesThe FHH promotes ethically responsible behaviour in digital spaces. It does this inparticular with regard to the treatment of digital data and the use of AI technologies.As part of its “data ethics” data governance field of activity, the Senate Chancelleryhas developed two templates and two model canvases for FHH departments andholdings as a basis for the collaborative data-ethical classification of projects,programmes and technologies . Moreover, the FHH is developing common HamburgAI and Data Guidelines (Code of Conduct) that express our understanding of howwe deal with AI and data and, together with the legal framew ork (i.a. the AI Act) willform the basis for future AI governance in Hamburg. These will be used to ensurethe evaluation and regulation of ethically and legally acceptable applications of AItechnologies in administration. The “Public Data Responsibility ” discussion paper,which is part of the formulation of the data governance policy, addresses the aspectof the public sector’s re sponsibility and function as a role model regarding society’shandling of digital data. The concept has been developed from the business conceptof corporate social/digital responsibility and various academic/civil societyapproaches to data responsibility and underpins the FHH’s data strategy mission tomaximise how digital data is valued for the common good by protect ing, sh aring andusing it.Hamburg Page 9926 Cooperation on defence, energy security and cybersecurity in the Baltic SeaAreaNo remitResilience of maritime ecosystems27 Sustainable developmentThe Senate supports the ambitious actions urged by the BSPC and is currently inthe process, for example in the designation of suitable areas for wind farms , ofsolving conflicts of interest between climate policy and biodiversity preservation.28 Cooperation towards a clean Baltic SeaNo remit, as Hamburg is not connected to the Baltic Sea hydrological system29 Cooperation to reach the goals of the 2022 Lisbon DeclarationNo remit30 Reducing the outlet of nutrientsNo remit, as Hamburg is not connected to the Baltic Sea hydrological system31 New agreement on a sustainable plastics economyAs far as plastics waste is concerned, there are various directives at the EU level(Wast e Framework Directive, S ingle -Use Plastics Directive ) or even regulations ( thedraft Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) that have the clearly stated goalof reducing plastics waste. Measures include, for example, bans on certain plasticarticles, the establishment of reusable packaging systems or quotas for the use ofrecycled materials in ma nufacturing. Insofar as the federal legislator is called uponto act, these have either already been implemented (Packaging Act, DisposablePlastics Fund Act) or the re gulations are going through the legislative process.Hamburg supports these measures, and so can support the ambition to reduceadditional plastic pollution to zero by 2040 – even though this appears veryambitious from a technical perspective.32 Implementation of coastal management plansThe Ministry for the Environment , Climate, Energy and Agriculture (BUKEA)agrees with the call to implement coastal management plans to protect and restorecoastal ecosystems, which can act as carbon sinks and buffer zones against sea -level rise .33 Cooperation between marine protected areas in the Baltic SeaNo remit34 Entry into force of the High Seas Treaty/cooperation in the CBSS and HELCOMNo remit35 Implementation of the HELCOM action planNo remitHamburg Page 10036 Establishment and enforcement of fishing quotas for the Baltic SeaNo remit37 Regulations and enforcement mechanisms to prevent pollution and minimisethe discharge of pollutants into the Baltic SeaNo remit38 Controls on industry, shipping, and agricultureInputs of ha zardous wastes into the see is combated at the EU level by the Directiveon port reception facilities (2019/883) . It requires ports to provide infrastructure thatenables the disposal of ship -generated waste , largely free of charge. The system isfinanced by a ship levy borne by the entire shipping industry following the polluter -pays principle. The Directive has been fully implemented in Hamburg through theHamburg Ship Disposal Act and the Ship Waste Discha rge Ordinance . Adherenceto the rules is monitored as far as possible in Hamburg.39 Public participation in protecting the Baltic SeaThe Senate supports the call to raise public awareness of the importance of marineecosystems and the need for their conservation by conducting educationcampaigns, engaging local communities, and promoting citizens' initiatives toincrease a sense of responsibility and encourage public participation in efforts toprotect and restore the ecological health of the Baltic S ea.Climate resilience40 Limiting the temperature increaseThe call is welcomed and corresponds to ambitious national and Hamburg climategoals. In the Climate Change Act, t he German Federal Government has enshrinedin law the goal of achieving net greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045. In its Act toStrengthen Action on Climate Change (Klimaschutzstärkungsgesetz), Hamburg hasset itself the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 98% by 2045 compared to 1990levels and thus, in combination with sinks, to achieve carbon neutrality. A furtheraspiration is to reduce carbon emissions by 70% compared to 1990 levels by 2030.The Hamburg Act sets out regulatory requirements in this regard, and the HamburgClimate Plan outlines the measures taken by the FHH to ac hieve the climate targets.41 Common strategies and information exchange in the Baltic Sea RegionCommon strategies on climate change are coordinated within the framework of theEU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Action on climate change is not a separatepolicy area in the EUSBSR but is defined as a n interdisciplinary task. The Baltic SeaStrategy Point, in which the FHH is involved, seeks to support the 14 policy areas intheir activities towards climate change mitigation and adaptation and implementingthe goal of a climate -neutral EU (for details, see Publication 22/13726 ).42 Limiting CO 2 emissions by large emittersThis demand is explicitly welcomed. States with high CO 2 emissions in particularbear a great respons ibility and have great leverage to reduce their emissions.43 Shortening the permit process for wind and solar energy plantsHamburg Page 101The call to incentivise renewable energy development by shortening the approvalprocess, especially for wind energy plants, is welcomed. In this context, a rapidadoption in national law of the RED III Directive would leverage further potential foracceleration.44 Diversifying the energy mixThe paragraph addresses various energy policy objectives: Taking into account the supply of rare metals and raw materials, Implementing the strategy for a low -carbon energy system, Diversifying the energy mix, and Avoiding energy poverty and price increases.Each of these goals is in itself justified and worthy of support. Yet there are conflictsbetween these goals that are not addressed in the paragra ph. For example, thestrong expansion in renewable energy capacity is leading to a significant increasein demand for rare metals and raw materials. Also, decarbonisation necessitatesphas ing out conventional energy source s, which reduces diversification in theenergy mix. In addition, the high costs of transform ing energy supply lead to risingprices and higher risks of energy pover ty.45 Measures at the communal and regional levels to combat climate changeThe focus on the communal and regional levels is to be increased and awarenessto be raised in the responsible administrations. This demand is in line with FHHpractice, beginning with the Hamburg Climate Concept of 2007 –2012, the ClimateMasterplan and the Hamburg Climate Plan with its now second update of 2023 andthe envisaged sector responsibilities it contains.46 Support for increased research and innovation in climate change mitigationand adaptation technologiesHamburg is an important research location in the climate research area. Manyscientifically renowned and internationally recognised climate research institutionsare based in Hamburg and the surrounding area and receive funding from theSenate, including the excellence cluster Climate, Climatic Chance, and Society(CLICCS) at Universität Hamburg, the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS),the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, the German Climate Computing Center(DKRZ) and the Helmholtz -Zentrum HEREON .In a long -term research programme, t he excellence cluster Climate, ClimaticChance, and Society (CLICCS) is researching climate change in unparalleledbreadth: How is the climate changing and how does society change with it , therebyfeeding back on climate? Understanding these changes, inclu ding how societiesadapt, will enable the range of imaginable climate futures to be assessed withgreater confidence . The overarching question is which climate futures are possibleand which are plausible? The programme spans a wide range of topics from ba sicresearch on climate dynamics and social dynamics to the transdisciplinaryexploration of human –environment interactions.The t heme of climate is also one of the five key themes in the Hamburg InnovationStrategy agreed by the Senate. The new i nnovation strategy goes beyond thetraditional network of science and research with industry and promotes theparticipation of all player s from science, industry, society, administration and politics.Hamburg’s Innovation Funding Programme groups together all BWFGB (Ministry forScience, Research, E quality and Regions) innovation measures aimed at scienceHamburg Page 102and research institutions in Hamburg. The goal is to expand the multilateral transferof ideas between science, industry, society and politics.The Senate has set itself ambitious goals in the Hamburg Climate Plan: It aims forHamburg to be carbon -neutral by 2045 . Alongside concrete reduction goals, the plancontains measures and strategies to reduce CO 2 emissions.The Senate has strategically pro moted scientific cooperation in the Baltic SeaRegion in recent years. In 2021 , under the leadership of the City of Hamburg(represented by the BWFGB) , the Baltic Science Network (BSN) devised the so-called BSN Vision 2030, which defines the goals and future orientation of thenetwork’s cooperation. Among other things, the strategy aims to increasecooperation and collaboration in the areas of sustainability and climate.47 Climate change education and awareness -raising programmes in educationOn the one hand, this fits in with the objectives of the FHH and is thereforewelcomed. On the other hand, educational and awareness -raising measures onclimate change are not enough. These must be structurally anchored as aneducational mission in all areas of education, from early childhood education,schools, vocational schools and universities to extracurricular education.48 Regional climate initiatives in the Baltic Sea RegionSee paragraph 4149 Convening annual Baltic Sea Climate and Biodiversity SummitsNo remitResilience of biodiversity50 Halting biodiversity lossThe demand of the 32nd BSPC to make strong efforts to halt and reverse biodiversityloss by 2030 , among other things, is support ed without restriction against thebackdrop of the COP 15 in Montreal with its comprehensive agreement onbiodiversity protection .51 Implementing the Kunming -Montreal Global Bio diversity FrameworkThe FHH is committed to the conservation and enhancement of land in the FHH.52 Ecosystem -based management approachThe fundamental fields of action for the FHH here are a rewetting strategy formoorland, a programme to reverse soil sealing, especially in the highly compactedinner -city area, the designation of land worthy of protection and the restoration ofcontaminated soils. All of these programmes primarily serve to conserve and restoreland and its functions. This contributes directly to the preservation of biodiversitythrough the creation of soil habitats.53 Commitment to national policies with the goals of:a. Conserving carbon- rich ecosystemsb. Sustainable forest and peatland managementa. The majority of Hamburg moorland is al ready within nature reserves . Additionally,the FHH is planning to develop a strategy for rewetting peatland habitats inHamburg Page 103cooperation with land users. Excavated peat from construction projects in the FHHmust be utilised in a climate -neutral way.b. Sustainable management of peatlands should be established where possible.Photovoltaic systems, in particular, are also suited to use in areas with raised waterlevels.54 Plans to enhance the resilience of the Baltic Sea ecosystem to climate changeAs set out in paragraph 53, the FHH is planning to develop a strategy for rewettingpeatland habitats in cooperation with land users.55 Reversing land degradationThe FHH is committed to conserving, protecting and enhancing land in Hamburg.Central tools here include the plan for land worthy of conservation, encompassingan area of approx. 30,000 ha . In these areas in particular, efforts are being made tosafeguard this land during plannin g projects. In addition, a strategy is beingdeveloped to reverse soil sealing to restore soil habitats in highly sealed inner -cityareas.56 Improving nutrient management in agriculture, industry, and wastewatertreatment plantsImproving nutrient management in agriculture has been a policy goal for years.Hamburg has also complied with federal requirements resulting from the amendedFertiliser Regulation .57 Developing regional strategies for climate -related emergenciesThe Hamburg Fire Service is a cooperating organisation in disaster response,actively contributing practical expertise to the disaster response policy steeringgroup (see Publication 22/13726). The authorities responsible for civil protection inthe Baltic Sea states are represent ed in this steering group. There is an exchangeof expertise on current challenges, including changes in hazards due to climatechange. The Hamburg Fire Service participates in corresponding events andprojects by Baltic Sea Region partners, such as the re cent “Climate SecurityWebinar” series of events recently organised by the Finnish Council Presidency. Inaddition, the Hamburg Fire Service assumes a coordinating role to network theresponsible authorities in Germany with the Baltic Sea Region partners o n specifictopics.58 Measures to prevent new invasive species in the Baltic Sea RegionNo remitLATVIALatvia Page 105Latvia Page 1061AnnexAnswers to the Questions regarding the Implementation of the Resolution of the 32ndBaltic Sea Parliamentary ConferenceWhich measures, projects or actions have been:a) planned,b) initiated, andc) implemented in support of the 32nd BSPC Resolution, especially regarding the calls foraction?Answers provided by the Ministry of Foreign AffairsRegarding peaceful and reliable neighbourliness and intense cooperation in the Baltic SeaRegion based on fundamental values to1. strongly increase and intensify the efforts to strengthen democracy, rule of law, equality,and human rights in the Baltic Sea Region and beyond and acknowledge that these values intoday's shifting geopolitical realities are under threat in our own region .During Latvia’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (May -November 2023) Latvia paid particular attention to strengthening human rights, democracy andrule of law. Latvia strongly advocated for all possible support to Ukraine and Russia’saccountability for its crimes committed in and against Ukraine. The Latvian Presidencylaunched the work of the Register of Damage for Ukraine , established under the auspices of theCouncil of Euro pe, to document losses and damage caused by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.Latvia has engaged in the work of the International Coalition of States for the Return ofUkrainian children. The main goals of the Coalition are to support the safe return of Ukr ainianchildren who have been unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred by Russia, and to ensurethose responsible face appropriate legal consequences. As Latvia’s commitment towards thegoals of the Coalition, conference “Russia’s War on Children” was h eld in Riga at the end ofJanuary 2024./For further efforts made on a national level please refer to answers provided by the Ministryof Justice ./2. achieve in the fields of common political interest more significant progress by jointpractical measures - analogous to the handling of the topic of offshore wind and theagreement reached on it https://cbss.org/wp - content/uploads/2023/05/230509 berlin -declaration -on-baltic -offshore -wind -bv-cbss-foreian -ministers final consented.pdf - and thusdevelop the Baltic Sea region into a best -practice example for other macro -regions andacquire in this way push effects for further advancement within the framework of broadercooperation formats.From 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 , Latvia is the Presidency of the EU Strategy for the BalticSea Region (EUSBSR) National Coordinators (NCG -National Coordinators Group) . OnOctober 4 to 5, 2023 the 14th Annual Forum “Safe a nd Sustainable Baltic Sea Region for theFuture Generations” of the EUSBSR took place in Riga. The focus of the Forum was on threeoverarching themes, that go hand in hand with the Latvian EUSBSR Presidency priorities: theclimate affairs; green energy; an d involvement of youth in policy making processes.Discussions were held on tackling the ways of providing support to Ukraine’s reconstructionand path to EU accession. The Forum was a platform for boosting the joint work of the BalticSea Region to improv e interconnections between the countries in the region and beyond, todevelop renewable energy sources and to improve energy efficiency, to promote regional tradeand investment. EUSBSR Presidency’s goal by enhancing coordination and collaborationamong various actors is to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region.Latvia Page 1072AnnexLatvia is working on the updated National Climate and Energy Plan that will enable Latvia toachieve its 2030 climate target and strengthen all dimensions of the Energy union: sec urity,solidarity and trust, a fully integrated internal energy market, energy efficiency, climate action,decarbonising the economy, and research, innovation and competitiveness. / For further detailsplease refer to the answers provided by the Ministry of Climate and Energy, the Ministry ofEconomics and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development /. Latvianelectricity transmission system operator, together with Lithuanian, Estonian, and Polishelectricity transmission system operator s, is implementing a joint synchronization project thataims to synchronize the electricity grid of the Baltic region with the Continental Europeannetwork. Measures are taken to improve transport, maritime and aviation sectors, as well as themain project of Latvia contributing to interconnected, sustainable and resilient cross -bordertransport infrastructure, which is also a strategic project for military mobility, is Rail Baltica ./For further details please refer to the answers provided by the Ministry of Transport ./8. in view of the current geopolitical challenges that require more cooperation andcoordination of activities, return to meetings of heads of government, alternating with foreignministers.The current geopolitical changes imply to continu e with active high- level political dialogue andcooperation, including the meetings of the CBSS Foreign Ministers.9. extend sectoral ministerial conferences - as had been the case with the VASAB Conferenceof Baltic Sea region ministers responsible for spatial planning and development together withthe CBSS summit of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 1 -2 June 2023 in Wismar - to jointlytackle the relevant Baltic Sea region challenges in politically significant core areas.The CBSS usually holds Minist erial Sessions once per year. Following Russia’s aggression andillegal takeover of Ukrainian territory and military support to rebels in eastern Ukraine in 2014,the regular meetings were suspended. Since 2022 the annual ministerial meetings at the Foreig nMinisters level are resumed during annual Council Sessions. The sectoral ministers meet outsidethe framework of the CBSS to maintain important degree of political dialogue and practicalcooperation.12. strengthen the role of the EU strategy for the Ba ltic Sea region, focusing on the currentpolitical core challenges in the Baltic Sea region, expanding the involvement of thedemocratic neighbour countries, and including support for Ukraine during the war andafterwards for the reconstruction and strengt hening democracy in Ukraine.The total support of Latvia to Ukraine is at least 650 million EUR or as an average annualsupport of almost 1% of the GDP. Reconstruction of Ukraine cannot wait until the end of thewar, therefore Latvia is taking part in reco nstruction of Ukraine since mid -2022. Latvia isfocusing its efforts on Chernihiv region by taking part in reconstruction of social infrastructureobjects (educational and health facilities) and housing, psychological support for women,digitalization and knowledge sharing about the EU.Ukraine is the main priority in the field of development cooperation policy of Latvia. In orderto strengthen Ukraine’s democracy and enhance its further integration in the EU, developmentcooperation projects are being impl emented in areas like agriculture, SMEs, EU policies, goodgovernance, rehabilitation, support to women and many more.Latvia promoted and made contributions, including financially, to the Council of Europe ActionPlan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recover and Reconstruction” (2023 -2026) to support rebuildingprocess and recovery of the country./Also, for further information please refer to the answers provided by the Ministry of Culture,Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Transport./Latvia Page 1083AnnexThe EUSBSR had to quickly adapt to the new challenges after Russia’s full -scale invasion andwar of aggression in Ukraine. Many policy areas (for instance: Safe, Secure, Education, Nutri,Transport) have in various practical ways been involved in supporting Ukraine through projects ,in this way contributing to the country’s recovery and reconstruction. Under the LatvianEUSBSR Presidency the Update of the Strategy Action Plan 2021 has been initiated , with aimto make the functioning of the Strategy more agile and better adap ted to the core politicalchallenges.13. supporting democratic developments in the neighbouring countries of the Baltic SeaRegion, especially strengthening democratic stakeholders for a democratic development ofBelarus and Russia.Latvia continued to be vocal in condemning human rights violations in Russia and Belarus andmaintained dialogue with Russia’s and Belarus’s democratic forces and civil society.Latvia, with support from non -governmental organisations, continued providing assistance toindependent media and media workers who have been forced to leave Russia. Latvia’s supportenables them to continue their professional activities and provide alternative information foraudiences in Russia.16. support and perpetuate the no w-established involvement of youth in the CBSS work toinclude the concerns of the young generation in the core concerns of the Baltic Sea regionissues .One of the priorities of the Finland’s CBSS Presidency is the young people. The elections forthe Committee of Youth Representatives and Steering Group of the Baltic Sea Region YouthForum (BSRYF) are scheduled for 22 April 2024. The BSRYF is a youth -led body thatrepresents the voices and interests of the young peop le in the Baltic Sea Region. The CBSSengages in manifold ways, the Regional Identity unit focuses on the dialogue between decisionmakers and the youth , while almost all CBSS units include young generation in the projects andother activities.Regarding enhancing democratic resilience and boosting capabilities to face moderndigital challenges to17. consistently and resolutely counter the growing threat to the democratic community posedby disinformation campaigns, with a particular focus on information warfare carried out bythe Russian Federation.One of the priorities of the Latvian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council ofEurope was the promotion of freedom of expression, safety of journalists and digital agenda atthe Council of Eur ope. During the Presidency, Latvia organised an international conference inRiga, dedicated to protection of freedom of expression and safety of journalists, including inwartime. The conference also addressed the challenges posed by disinformation and the role ofindependent media in mitigating its impact. Keynote speakers and panellists explored strategiesto promote media diversity, uphold journalistic standards, and counteract the spread ofmisleading information in the digital era. The discourse also e ncompassed the importance ofsupporting independent media organisations and the obstacles they face in the context of digitalwarfare. During this conference the new Council of Europe’s Campaign on Safety of Journalistswas launched, to which Latvia made t he first voluntary financial contribution./For further information please refer to the answers provided by the Ministry of Culture,Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Economics./Latvia Page 1094Annex19. protect the rights and ensure the safety of refugees, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people,women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups who are particularly at risk in timesof war and threatened by intolerant attitudes.Latvia strongly condemns all forms of violence against women and domestic violence. Byratifying the Istanbul Convention on 30 November 2023, the Latvian Parliament hasdemonstrated a political commitment to tackle all forms of violence against women anddomestic violence./For f urther information please refer to the answers provided by the Ministry of Welfare./63. continue close cooperation between the CBSS, HELCOM, and other relevantorganisations to fill knowledge gaps, develop best environmental practices for riskassessment, and explore funding opportunities for the development and implementation ofthe best available techniques for environmentally sound and safe management.A joint meeting of HELCOM and CBSS senior officials was held on 24 April 2023 in order toexplore the possibilities of cooperation between HELCOM and CBSS on the issue ofunderwater munitions, following the expert round table on dumped munitions that was held inKiel on 12 – 13 December 2022 (Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and theMinistry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of Latvia took part). TheCBSS Ministerial Session in Wismar, Germany on 2 June 2023 welcomed the initiation of across -sectoral, multi -disciplinary and macro -regional dialogue on underwater mun itions. TheCouncil acknowledged the significant role of HELCOM in this field. It encouraged thecontinuation of CBSS cooperation with HELCOM and other relevant organisations with theaim of filling knowledge gaps, developing best environmental practices f or risk assessment, andexploring financing options for developing and implementing best available techniques forenvironmentally sound and safe management.Answers provided by the Ministry of Agriculture35. ensure a quick and strict implementation of the updated Baltic Sea Action Plan and itsassociated action documents within the agreed timelines in all democratic HELCOM memberstates to achieve a good ecological status of the Baltic Sea by the end of the decade andconsider as far as possible implementi ng further measures from the policy -relevantsuggestions for various policy areas in the HELCOM 2021 Climate Change in the Baltic SeaFact Sheet to reach this goal .36. establish and enforce recognisable, legally binding sustainable fishing quotas in theBaltic Sea Region with diversification for species, including regulations on fishing nets orother methods, ensuring that fish stocks remain healthy and sustainable in the long term. Allactions should be based on respected, up -to-date research. To prevent population crashes, theaim should be to reduce fishing quotas down to or below scientifically advised thresholds inthe Baltic Sea .The Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia and its entities have not undertaken any specific measures,projects or actions that would particularly be assigned in support of 32nd Baltic SeaParliamentary Conference Resolution. The Ministry of Agriculture and its entities however dohave an active ongoing cooperation within the countries of the Baltic Sea region in the area ofminist ry’s expertise.The agriculture ministers of the Baltic States hold regular meetings for up -to-date opinion andexperience exchange in the areas of EU agriculture issues.There is an active collaboration between agriculture and fisheries experts in the format of Balticand 3 Nordic States (Denmark, Sweden, Finland). The Ministry of Agriculture has a well -Latvia Page 1105Annexestablished cooperation with Baltic States within regional cooperation platform BALTFISH andEUROFISH as well as International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), jointlystrengthening cooperation, managing scarce marine resources and delivering on the EU'sclimate and fisheries commitments.The Ministry of Agricu lture regularly participates in HELCOM group meetings. /For furtherdetails please refer also to the answers provided by the Ministry of Environmental Protectionand Regional Development ./There is also cooperation and exchange of experience in the area of higher education within thecountries of the Baltic Sea Region. /For further details please refer to the answers provided bythe Ministry of Education and Science ./30. increase joint effo rts to reduce the outlet of nutrients, which contributes to eutrophication,biodiversity loss, and weakening the Baltic Sea as an attractive travel destination.55. reverse land degradation by 2030, and promote sustainable forest and peatlandmanagement gi ven their importance for climate and biodiversity.56. significantly increase efforts to fundamentally improve nutrient management inagriculture, industry, and wastewater treatment plants to reduce nutrient runoff into theBaltic Sea, which contributes to eutrophication and biodiversity loss.The Ministry of Agriculture as an associate partner is involved in projects with farmers' non -governmental organizations. The goals of the projects are to solve important agricultural issuesfaced by farmers today rel ated to circular nutrients for a sustainable Baltic Sea Region, reducingphosphorus load from agricultural lands , and searching for new export markets for farmanimals.An active cooperation is established between Baltic States in the context of internationalprojects like LIFE OrgBAlt, which aim is implementation of climate -change mitigationmeasures in management of nutrient -rich organic soils in cool temperate moist climate regionto contribute to the EU and national cli mate targets in post -2020 commitment period byreduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from organic soils in cropland, grassland andforest land.53. further, commit to protecting biodiversity and increasing carbon sequestration andnatural storage wit h common and national policies for:a. conservation of carbon -rich ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, seagrassmeadows and natural rivers;b. continuation of sustainable forest management.Latvia continues to implement and places emphasis on sustainable forest management, takinginto account the environmental requirements aimed at preserving the environment and thenature of Latvia.Latvia is willing to share its experience and present the role of IT solutions in the forest sector,introducing the LVM GE O platform as the leading IT solution in the forest sector in Latvia.Answers provided by the Ministry of Climate and EnergyRegarding peaceful and reliable neighbourliness and intense cooperation in the Baltic SeaRegion based on fundamental values to4. cooperate as closely as possible in pursuit of the goal of ensuring energy security, self -sustainability and security of supply by concrete measures and the development of jointstrategies, aiming to reduce dependency on Russian fossil resources, promot e clean andLatvia Page 1116Annexaffordable energy and the underlying industrial value chains, develop an integrated andresilient European energy market, as well as encourage deeper collaboration in energy andsustainability R&D.Latvia is working on the updated National Clim ate and Energy Plan that will enable Latvia toachieve its 2030 climate target and strengthen all dimensions of the Energy union: security,solidarity and trust, a fully integrated internal energy market, energy efficiency, climate action,decarbonising th e economy, and research, innovation and competitiveness. To better developand implement the plan, in October 2023 the draft plan was presented to our regional partners.One more discussion on the plan with our partners in the region is planned in 2024 as soon asall proposed additional measures will be added to the draft plan, and it will be finalised.Latvia is working on the Transport Energy Law. This Law prescribes the conditions for thecirculation of transport energy and development of infrastructure, the requirements for thequality of transport energy and conformity assessment thereof, as well as the procedures forsupervision. The aim of the Law is to promote the circulation of transport energy that is safe forhuman health and the environment, prom ote the use of renewable energy in transport andpromote the supply and demand of renewable energy in the market, as well as to ensuredevelopment of alternative fuel infrastructure and public awareness of available and usabletransport energy types in ord er to promote sustainable economic development and promotereduction of greenhouse gas emissions and emissions of air pollutants. The Law is currently inthe process of interinstitutional consultations.7. in view of the Glasgow Climate Pact and the commitments of the Paris Agreement, mobilizegovernment, businesses and civil society to jointly accelerate strategic cooperation in climatechange mitigation, preservation of nature and biodiversity, as well as just transition towardsa climate- neutral economy.Latvia continues to intensify its efforts in the area of climate change mitigation in cooperationwith different representatives of government, businesses, and civil society.In cooperation with the relevant stakeholders Latvia is currently finalizing work on the ClimateLaw and is working on the updated National Climate and Energy Plan (N ECP) that will enableLatvia to achieve its 2030 climate target. In the context of the NECP, we have met with morethan 40 stakeholders to address the concerns of different sectors.Regarding strengthening the resilience of climate and biodiversity to40. increase the efforts and speed to implement ambitious national climate targets andadapted extensions – correspond ing to the current scientific and measurement results – inline with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting the increase in the global average temperatureto well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre -industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit thetempera ture increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above those.Latvia is currently finalizing work on the Climate Law which inscribes greenhouse gas emissiontargets into Latvia’s legislation and establishes the framework for their implementation,including the sectoral responsibility principle. The main goal of the law is to provide legalframework for measures for mitigating climate change and facilitating climate resilience in orderto achieve climate neutrality by 2050.Additionally, Latvia is working on the updated National Climate and Energy Plan that willenable Latvia to achieve its 2030 climate target.42. urge at every opportunity the world's three largest CO2 emitters, which currently accountfor more than 50 % of global CO2 emissions, to step up their efforts to achieve ambitiousclimate targets.Latvia Page 1127AnnexLatvia uses every opportunity, including COPs, to remind t hat the climate change is a commonchallenge, that needs the involvement and contribution of all Parties.43. incentivise renewable energy development by shortening the permitting process for wind,solar, other clean and stable energy sources.There are several incentives undertaken to enhance the permit granting procedure forintroduction of new electricity power plants in Latvia. Firstly, a new Cabinet of Ministersregulation No. 821 “Regulations Regarding Permits for Increasing Electricity Pr oductionCapacities or the Introduction of New Production Equipment” has been adopted outlining newenhancements of the permit granting procedure. The new regulation stipulates repowering of apower plant and simpler permit granting procedure, updated requ irements for receiving a permitand improvements of other aspects of the procedure.Secondly, amendments to the Energy Law have been submitted to the parliament stipulating theintroduction of a single contact point for electricity generation permitting. The amendmentsforesee that the single contact point in Latvia would be the State Construction Control Bureauand would assist the applicant throughout permitting process with all involved authorities. Byhaving an assistance with receiving all the necessa ry permits, the applicant would also benefitfrom faster and more effective procedures.44. taking into account the risks connected with the increasing dependence of the Europeanmarket on the suppliers of rare metals and other raw materials, increase the speed inimplementing national strategies for transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards low -carbon energy systems, and wisely diversifying our energy mixes so that there is no shortageof energy, the energy comes from reliable sources and is econom ically viable, avoiding energypoverty and sudden price increases.Latvian electricity transmission system operator, together with Lithuanian, Estonian, and Polishelectricity transmission system operators, is implementing a joint synchronization project thataims to synchronize the electricity grid of the Baltic region with the Continental Europeannetwork. Additionally, an agreement has been reached on accelerating the synchronization andcompleting the project by February 2025. That would ensure the wit hdrawal from the BRELLnetwork and strengthen the energy security of the Baltic region. Furthermore, Latvia isimplementing an energy policy that is aimed at increasing the share of renewable energy in thenational energy mix.45. acknowledging the differe nt energy strategies and focuses in different states to reachthese goals, increase the focus on the communal and regional levels on implementingadequate climate change measures and to raise awareness in the responsible administrations.Latvia acknowledg es the important role of local governments to address the climate goals. It iscrucial to enhance regional efforts in implementing effective climate change mitigation andadaptation measures. Latvia actively works to enhance awareness -raising initiatives w ithinresponsible administrations of municipalities via developing the relevant climate policydocuments and defining responsibilities of local governments in achieving climate goals. Tosupport planning regions and municipalities in achieving climate neut rality and climateresilience, Latvia has developed several planning support tools , such as a training course formunicipal specialists, municipal climate profiles and data base of GHG emissions in regions ofLatvia , State cities and municipalities for the period 2020 -2021.41. strengthen regional collaboration and information exchange among the democraticBaltic Sea countries and the Arctic to intensify joint strategies and policies addressing climatechange and regularly adapt them to the newest research results, not neglecting the need toensure a socially just transition.Latvia Page 1138Annex46. support increased research and innovation in climate change mitigation and adaptationtechnologies, encouraging collaboration between academic institutions, industries, andgovernme nts.In 2023 Latvia has established state research programme "Decision -making support system forachieving climate neutrality" to create a decision -making support system based on IT solutionsfor achieving targets of energy sector and climate neutrality by 2050, which includes modellingalternative scenarios for achieving the targets, evaluating and optimizing the socio -economicimpact of the results, justifying the most economically, socially and environmentally beneficialsolutions for reducing GHG emissi ons and increasing carbon sequestration. At the beginning of2024 the agreement between scientific institution and Ministry of Education and Science toimplement this programme was signed.In April 2024 Latvia will be hosting the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scopingmeeting that will start the preparation work for the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities.The Special Report will look at how climate change affects cities, and address needs, challengesand opportunities it creates. By ho sting this event Latvia fosters research and collaborationbetween representatives of the academia from around the world and provides an opportunity todevelop cooperation between the academia, policy makers and the representatives of thegovernment.48. foster cross -border cooperation on regional climate initiatives, engaging neighbouringcountries and international organisations in joint efforts to address climate change in theBaltic Sea region.In October 2023 experts from Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia an d Poland which are involved in theprocess of preparation of National Energy and Climate plans, participated in a regional seminarin Vilnius, Lithuania. Seeking of new measures to tackle climate change, preparation ofprojections, ways of public engagemen t and other topics were discussed, and the best practicesshared.54. develop and execute plans to enhance the resilience of the Baltic Sea ecosystem to climatechange, including protecting coastal habitats and restoring wetlands.Latvia has prepared Latvian National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change until 2030. Theprincipal objective of the Plan is to reduce the vulnerabilities of the population, nationaleconomy, infrastructure, buildings and nature of Latvia to climate change impacts and topromote the use of opportunities derived from climate change. It includes strategic objective toprotect that nature values of Latvia have been preserved and the negative impact of climatechange thereupon has been reduced.Answers provided by the Ministry of Culture11. underline the continued importance of strengthening social resilience in the Baltic SeaRegion and support the ongoing process of setting up an annual award for local authoritiesto shine as a “Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pearl” by fostering re silience through culturalactivities.From 2023 to 2025, the project "Cultural Pearls of the Baltic Sea Region," funded by the InterregBaltic Sea Region Programme 2021 -2027, is being implemented. One of the project partners isthe Secretariat of the North ern Dimension Partnership on Culture, thus ensuring the intermediaryinvolvement and support of the Ministry of Culture as a representative in the Partnership'sSteering Committee. The title "BSR Cultural Pearl" is awarded to cities and municipalities,providing the awarded candidates with activity support programs to enhance their ability to useculture for strengthening social cohesion - engaging residents, improving their quality of life,fostering a sense of belonging, and building trust. Municipalities will have the opportunity toLatvia Page 1149Annexbuild stronger and more resilient communities against various future challenges. In 2024,Svendborg (Denmark), Keel (Germany), Jakobstad (Finland), and Rūjiena (Latvia) wereselected as recipients of the title from among 12 ca ndidates from Baltic Sea region countries.12. strengthen the role of the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region, focusing on the currentpolitical core challenges in the Baltic Sea region, expanding the involvement of thedemocratic neighbour countries, an d including support for Ukraine during the war andafterwards for the reconstruction and strengthening democracy in Ukraine.From 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, the Ministry of Culture holds the Latvian Presidency of theEUSBR PA Culture, with a particular e mphasis on issues concerning the recognition and fullinclusion of the cultural and creative sectors as a transformative and enabling force in alldevelopment and political processes leading to the achievement of the UN SDGs.14. underline the continued im portance of social sustainability along with the green anddigital transitions and pay insofar particular interest, on the one hand, to the demographicchange with an ageing population and the need for upskilling and reskilling along withadequate pension systems as well as, on the other hand, to the integration of migrants and allvulnerable groups in need of support to enter or remain in the labour market, and genderequality.The Ministry of Culture is an institution in Latvia in the area of integration delegated by theAsylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). Within AMIF Latvian language courses andintegration courses are provided to third -country nationals and beneficiaries of internationalprotection who are legally staying in Latvia.15. increa se and support the involvement of civil society in Baltic Sea policy activities.Civil society organi sations can apply for funding in the “NGO Fund” program financed by thestate budget. The aim of the “NGO Fund” is to support NGOs, thus strengthening the sustainabledevelopment of civil society and democracy in Latvia. Financing is available for a wide rangeof NGOs in an open calls’ procedure. In 2023, funding in the amount of 1 888 088 euros wasavailable in the “NGO fund”, and 105 projects received fund ing.Civil society organizations can also apply for co -financing for projects that are financed byforeign funds or projects where organi sations are involved as partners. The aim is to promotethe participation of Latvian NGOs in the implementation of proj ects financed by foreign funds,which are aimed at the development of a cohesive and civically active society. In 2023, fundingin the amount of 98 700 euros was available, and 9 projects were funded.Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia implements the "Regional NGO support program"and the "Minority NGO participation promotion program". The aims of both programs are: toensure a permanent support for the development of civil society in the regions of Latvia; topromote development and sus tainability of civil society; to strengthen the capacity of civilsociety organi sations, thereby promoting the effectiveness of their work. For 2022 -2025 thereare five NGOs (one in each region of Latvia) implementing the measures of both programs. Intotal funding in the amount of 250 000 euros is available for implementation of programs eachyear.There are three advisory councils on social cohesion issues at the Ministry of Culture of theRepublic of Latvia, in which NGOs are represented:1. Supervisory boa rd for the implementation of the guidelines for the development of acohesive and civically active society – six NGOs are represented. The aim of thesupervisory board is to promote coordinated implementation of the guidelines (nationalidentity and belong ing, democratic culture and inclusive citizenship, integration);Latvia Page 11510Annex2. Advisory council of minority NGO representatives – 16 NGOs are represented. Thecouncil aims to promote participation of non -governmental organi sations of minoritiesin civil society, preserv ation and development of the cultural identity of minorities inaccordance with the General Convention of the Council of Europe on the Protection ofNational Minorities;3. Advisory Council for the Promotion of Roma Participation – six NGOs are represented.The council aims to monitor and develop Roma participation measures in accordancewith the guidelines for the development of a cohesive and civically active society 2021 -2027 and the Council Recommendation on Roma Equality, Inclusion and Participation(2021 /C 93/01).Civil society has also been involved in development of the following policy documents asmembers of the working group:- Guidelines for the development of a cohesive and active civil society 2021- 2027;- Action plan for implementation of the Guidelines for development of a cohesive andactive civil society 2022- 2023 and 2024- 2027;- Plan for implementing measures of the Roma strategic framework 2022 -2023 and 2024 -2027;- Action Plan for the reduction of racism and Antisemitism for 2023 and 2024 -2027.17. consistently and resolutely counter the growing threat to the democratic community posedby disinformation campaigns, with a particular focus on information warfare carried out bythe Russian Federation.To mitigate the risks posed by disinformation, efforts are being made to strengthen professionaljournalism by providing financial support to commercial media outlets, as well as developingpublic media. Additionally, media literacy activities are being implemented for varioussegments o f society to enhance resilience among citizens against activities in the informationspace.18. point out again the necessity – particularly in times of war and crisis – of strengtheningefforts to increase confidence in democratic structures and values, t o counter digital hatespeech, promote tolerance and open -mindedness, freedom of media and expression, androbust democratic NGOs as cornerstones of democracies in the Baltic Sea region.Independent and high -quality media are one of the pillars of a functi oning democratic societyand ensuring freedom of speech. Therefore, both direct and indirect support mechanisms arebeing implemented to strengthen the media and to promote the safety of journalists.22. increase public awareness and digital literacy to en able citizens to identify and mitigatethe risks of misinformation and disinformation.Media literacy activities are being implemented for various segments of society to enhanceresilience among citizens against activities in the information space.Answer s provided by the Ministry of Defence5. intensify and deepen cooperation to develop better protection for critical shared underwaterinfrastructure.Attacks and sabotages against pipelines and undersea cables have raised concerns regardingvulnerability o f undersea infrastructure. Therefore, we must continue to focus on reducing risksof attacks and address protection of undersea infrastructure in a wider regional level because itcannot be protected only by physical security. Protection and ensuring busin ess continuity ofLatvia Page 11611Annexundersea infrastructure has to remain as one of the priorities for Baltic Sea Region as well asfor whole Europe.At the moment, there is no regulatory framework in Latvia that would determine proceduresregarding the protection of undersea infrastructure, all activities are carried out through generalmaritime legislation. Latvia’s underwater infrastructure is not included in the list of criticalinfrastructure.Since the beginning of 2023, by the decision of the Cabinet of Minister s, National Armed forcesare reinforcing monitoring of our territorial waters and ensuring guarding in the locations ofundersea communication cables.The undersea infrastructure of Latvia and other Baltic States is being addressed by JEF andNATO. At the end of November 2023, the JEF Defence Ministers agreed to activate the JEFResponse Option as a step towards defending undersea critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.The sea and air force capabilities of all 12 JEF countries, so including Latvia, were engaged.This activity took place in close cooperation with NATO as well as NATO’s enhanced forwardpresence (eFP) in the region. The decision to increase JEF presence in the Baltic Sea in orderto improve protection and surveillance of critical undersea infrastructure in the region was apowerful message of our ability and commitment to protecting the region together with ourallies and the prospect of activating the Joint Response Option must remain available as a viabletool in the future.12. strengthen the role of the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region, focusing on the currentpolitical core challenges in the Baltic Sea region, expanding the involvement of thedemocratic neighbour countries, and including support for Ukraine during the war andafter wards for the reconstruction and strengthening democracy in Ukraine.The BSR recognizes the success of the EUMAM UA mission and, therefore, support raising themission’s ambition. Latvia has trained more than 3000 members of the Ukrainian Armed forcesand intends to continue at the same rate in 2024.Addressing Ukraine’s priorities on the battlefield and the continuation of uninterrupteddeliveries of both lethal and non -lethal military support remain the top priorities of the BSR.In 2024, Latvia intends to continue with military deliveries to Ukraine from nati onal stocks, aswell as to procure jointly with other EU Member States.It remains crucial that the EU should multiply the efforts of the capability coalitions and notduplicate them, all the whilst recognizing the added value of co -operation with strateg ic non -EU partners. Latvia co -leads the drone coalition and also is taking part in the IT coalition (co -led by Estonia) and the de -mining coalition (led by Lithuania).It is vital to continue and increase the EU support provided to the Eastern Partnership countriesvia the EPF. Particularly noteworthy is the EC decisions to opening accession negotiations withUkraine and Moldova.Further, the BSR continues to emphasise the need to strengthen EU Defence readiness,industrial resilience and preparedness vis -à-vis the EDTIB, taking into consideration the lessonslearned in Ukraine, and stressing the urgency for Defence Industry development and capacityincrease, particularly in states with high exposure to the risk of materialisation of conventionalmilitary th reats.Lastly, the lack of finances allocated to Military Mobility, as one of the priority areashighlighted in the Strategic Compass, is regrettable.Latvia Page 11712Annex15. increase and support the involvement of civil society in Baltic Sea policy activities.As for Latvia , we are working on increasing and supporting the involvement of civil societythrough Comprehensive National Defence system. The aim of Comprehensive NationalDefence concept is to deepen the state’s cooperation between all institutions, ensure effectivepublic and private partnership mechanism development, increase the public's awareness of howto defend themselves, their families and Latvia as well as to create self -organization tools incase of crisis in order to promote the sustainability of society.Within the framework of Comprehensive National Defence, we are coordinating anddeveloping national resilience capabilities in accordance with NATO 7 baselines which affectall sectors and include civil defence measures as well as economic and financial se ctorresilience, psychological resilience, protection of critical infrastructure and businesscontingency.As we have been very involved in strengthening Comprehensive National Defence system, westrongly support national resilience as a tool for other Ba ltic Sea Region countries to guide themon a various range of crisis preparedness and resilience issues because the basis of resiliencebegins with the willingness of the society to participate in the defence of their country.17. consistently and resolute ly counter the growing threat to the democratic community posedby disinformation campaigns, with a particular focus on information warfare carried out bythe Russian Federation .Introduction of the comprehensive state defence system has been followed by p ublishing of the72-hour booklet “What to do in the case of crisis”. The booklet is used as the base for continuoussocial and traditional media content about preparedness culture, with the goal of strengtheningsocieties’ resilience. These information act ivities are aimed to tackle key Russian narrativesabout Latvia being the “weakest link in the Baltic region” and “not being worth protecting”.The Ministry of Defence (MoD), when necessary and possible, alerts society of planned Russianinformation acti vities. For example, the MoD has repeatedly pre -emptively informed the publicof the possibility of Russia repeating aggressive nuclear rhetoric.21. improve legislation and measures to protect democratic processes and institutions fromcyber threats;The MoD has launched a cybersecurity governance reform aimed at establishing an effectiveand systematic cybersecurity governance model. The new governance model will include theestablishment of the National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC), which will be the ma in nationalcompetent authority, whose functions will be implemented by the MoD in cooperation with theConstitution Protection Bureau and CERT.LV. The new governance model for cybersecurity isbeing followed by a refinement of the national regulatory fram ework: a National CybersecurityLaw is being developed to replace the current Information Technology Security Law.The main changes to the National Cybersecurity Law compared to the Information TechnologySecurity Law are as follows: the National Cybersecurity Centre is established; the draft law is supplemented with provisions deriving from the NIS2 Directive,including the definition and minimum cybersecurity requirements for essential andimportant entities, coordinated vulnerability disclosure process, monitoringmechanisms and enforcement measures (penalties), national cybersecurity strategyand the national cyber crisis management plan;legal provisions regulating:Latvia Page 11813Annex cybersecurity requirements for shared data centres; protection of ICT resources against denial of service (DDoS) attacks; the single national internet exchange point (GLV -IX); cybersecurity requirements for national ICT critical infrastructure.Latvian Information Technology Security Incident Response Institution (CERT.LV) togetherwith international partners (CAN, BE, USA, ENISA etc.) are conducting targeted threat huntingoperations in the public sector and Critical infrastructure resources. Ad ditionally, there arenumerous centralized services that CERT.LV and LV MoD are providing to public sectorinstitutions and critical infrastructure operators free of charge. These services are – DDoSprotection (centralized protection against DDoS (Distrib uted Denial of Service) attacks), GLV -IX (National internet exchange point), Early warning (EW) sensors, DNS firewall, Penetrationtests, Phishing/Malware tests, CERT.LV Security operation Centre (SOC) and Threat huntingoperations. Additionally, since 202 3 a Vulnerability Reporting platform (cvd.cert.lv) wascreated for reporting vulnerabilities identified in public systems.Similarly, to other areas, information and communication technology (ICT) is also utilized inthe electoral process and result aggre gation. To ensure the security of the ICT systems used inelections, it is essential to strengthen the ICT capacity of the Central Election Commission. In2023 work regarding the necessary improvements in the national election processes wascommenced.22. increase public awareness and digital literacy to enable citizens to identify and mitigatethe risks of misinformation and disinformation .The MoD, in cooperation with the National Armed Forces, organizes information seminars,lectures, discussions on how to act in the event of a crisis, focusing on the risks of disinformationand public awareness.The MoD continues its annual lecture series for primary schools “How We Protect Latvia”.More than 200 educational institutions have registered for the lectures , which inform pupilsabout security issues.The MoD annually participates in the conversation festival LAMPA, where experts discussissues about comprehensive national defence system and the involvement of the whole societyin crisis management.The MoD continued cycle of comprehensive national defence regional seminars, which wasorganized for the heads of municipalities, educational institutions, companies, non -governmental organizations, representatives of religious organizations, and representatives o fregional media on issues relevant to the security and defence. The format of the seminars isorganized to promote dialogue and to give everyone the opportunity to find answers to questionson comprehensive national defence and security challenges in Latv ia.The MoD are publishing various articles, up -to-date information on the website, infographics,which minimizes the risk of misinformation and public perception.In order to raise public awareness on what to do in case of a crisis, MoD prepared a book let“What to do in case of a crisis” in cooperation with the responsible services.The National Armed Forces organized a seminar “Rupors”, where representatives of the defencesector shared their experience on crisis communication with local public relatio ns officers.Latvia Page 11914Annex24. expand research and innovation capacities in cybersecurity and digital resilience .In 2023, the EU Digital Europe programme project was launched to strengthen the capacity ofthe National Coordination Centre (NCC -LV) established under the European CybersecurityCompetence Centre regulation (2021/887).One of the project activities is to develop a comprehensive study on cybersecurity in Latvia.The research “Cybersecurity in Latvia” covers three main areas – the national cybersecurityecosystem, its processes, and future perspectives. It provides an analysis of cybersecuritystrengths and challenges in Latvia. The research is a collaborative effort of professionals,scholars and government officials and is the first comprehensive study of the cyber environmentin Latvia.The NCC -LV project also includes financial support for third parties , in particular small andmedium enterprises. The programme will support the development of innovative technologiesand concepts for the transformation of cyber security, including the testing, piloting andpublication of these concepts and technologies. T he development of studies and other researchactivities will also be supported.To foster innovation, the NCC -LV actively encourages members of the cybersecuritycommunity to form consortia. For example, a Baltic -Nordic face -to-face matchmaking event isplanned for April this year in Finland to present the new Digital Europe calls, followed by anopportunity for companies to share their ideas and seek consortium partners from othercountries.25. promote responsible digital behaviour and ethics in the publ ic and private sectors andadopt ethical guidelines e.g. to ensure anti -discrimination and equality, codes of conduct, andaccountability mechanisms to ensure responsible digital practices and protect democraticvalues .In its messages, the MoD presents th e Latvian Armed Forces as value, where people are notdivided by ethnicity and everyone is equal.In cooperation with military -patriotic organizations, public awareness of national defence,security and foreign policy issues, active military -patriotic edu cation of young people, publicinformation on the country’s military cultural traditions and historical issues were raised.Cadet Force Centre implement National defence education, which is the basis for teachingyoung people patriotism, for building an ac tive, mobile and capable member of society, willingand able to defend themselves, their relatives and Latvia in a moment of crisis.In order to involve all members of society, the MoD has developed the guidelines for publicprojects in the Defence Sector 2022- 2024 to give everyone the opportunity to get the supportand to realize the project.An accessibility statement is produced annually for defence sector websites to ensure thatpeople with disabilities are able to perceive and understand the information available. A “easylanguage” function will be developed for the MoD website.Active work on public education and awareness raising has continued, including organizing andparticipating in various seminars, dissemination of information on cybers ecurity events, andpromotion of good cyber hygiene practices. Lectures and training sessions were also conductedfor employees of institutions and critical infrastructure companies, covering specific topicsselected by the organizations. During 2023, 143 educational events were organized, educating27,056 people about IT security and responsible digital behaviour and ethics. The largest eventwas hosted during European Cybersecurity Month, an international cybersecurity conferenceLatvia Page 12015Annexcalled CyberChess, attrac ting over 500 participants and experts from 18 countries, and at least6000 views from 39 countries through its live webcast.26. enhance the security and resilience of the Baltic Sea Region by strengthening cooperationin areas such as defence, energy se curity, and cyber security .Security of Baltic Sea region have been addressed in different platforms – EU, NATO, Nordic,JEF and others. In order to strengthen the security and resilience of Baltic Sea Region, theleaders of the surrounding countries of th e Baltic Sea are in regular contact and are addressingthe existing and potential security issues.From the military side, there are regular national and joined allied military exercises takingplace in Baltic Sea, where threat response and interoperabilit y are trained between allies.In autumn of 2024 there will be a JEF exercise Joint Protector taking place in Liepāja – city onWest coast of Latvia, where JEF countries will continue to strengthen their cooperation inreaching common security goals.Additi onally, close cooperation between the Baltic States is also in regards to exercises, whereLatvian National Guard Cyber Defence Unit is regularly conducting exercises in cooperationwith Estonia and Lithuania.The possibility of working more closely with t he Baltic and Nordic countries to exchangeinformation on a regional level is being explored. One of the potential projects could be relatedto uptake and development of cross -border cyber hubs, such as the Nordic -Baltic CyberConsortium (NBCC). Such coope ration would enable real -time monit oring of the cyber spacein the region, including analysis of telemetry and statistical data, as well as facilitate informationexchange among the cyber incident response institutions of the regional countries regardingcurrent cyber threats and incidents.Following the ministerial tasking to explore the possibilities to connect national internetexchange networks, technical level experts met in Riga on January 10, 2024. The generalconclusion was that a more in -depth risk analysis is necessary, as well as a more concreteunderstanding of potential issues in communication and availability of services in the region inthe case of disruptions in connections to global internet. As a first step, Latvia has proposed toorganize a Baltic Table Top Exercise that would allow to identify the specific questions thatneed to be addressed regarding the internet connectivity, governmental communicationchannels and availability.Answers provided by the Ministry of EconomicsRegarding pea ceful and reliable neighbourliness and intense cooperation in the Baltic SeaRegion based on fundamental values to3. ensure inclusive, socially and environmentally sustainable economic growth anddevelopment as well as energy security .In the upcoming years, the Latvian Ministry of Economics has planned significant investmentsin digitalization, innovation, and research activities , recognizing them as prerequisites forenhancing companies' productivity and sustainability.Over the next s even years, the Latvian Ministry of Economics , with support from the Recoveryand Resilience Mechanism Fund and the European Structural Funds' multiannual budget, willprovide substantial support amounting to 1.6 million euros. This funding aims to boostproductivity, reduce inequality, improve energy efficiency, promote digitalization, enhanceexport capabilities, and increase competitiveness – representing historically the highest fundingamount.Latvia Page 12116AnnexThe support is intended for a series of digitalization serv ices and solutions to revitalize businessmodels. Additionally, it aims to motivate and encourage the initiation of entrepreneurialactivities, support business incubation, facilitate international market entry, provide employeetraining (both technological and non -technological), and will be available through variousfinancial instruments.To promote the sustainable development of the Latvian catering service industry , stakeholdersinvolved in catering services, including government institutions, non -gover nmentalorganizations, higher education institutions, food producers, and distributors, signed amemorandum in 2023 committing to implementing sustainable business practices in thecatering service sector. The memorandum includes 19 responsible and sustain able businessprinciples to enhance understanding of sustainability principles among the involved parties andpromote their implementation in providing catering services.The main objectives of the Latvian Ministry of Economics for year 2024 are to ensure alignmentwith the Government's declared goals – promoting sustainable growth in domestic GDP,increasing productivity, encouraging investments, exports, and employment . Simultaneously, itis evident that the prerequisite for companies' competitiveness and sustainability lies in theirability to embrace technological modernization, innovation, and the enhancement of workforceskills.The goal is to continue developing sustainable instruments to maintain the capacity forincreasing export capabilities and in creasingly influence sustainable private financial sources,promoting sustainable investments in infrastructure.In 2023, 41 new projects in smart energy have been registered in Latvia , constituting 23% ofthe total number of new projects. Investors show interest in various sizes and at different projectstages, with information being prepared and visits organized. While not all of these projects willbe implemented, the overall interest is substantial.In the same year, seven success stories in smart ener gy were registered, potentially attracting338,860,500 euros in investments and creating 600 new jobs. These projects demonstrate highpotential for full realization.In accordance with the Cabinet of Ministers Order wind farm exploration zones (E1, E2, E3 ,E4, E5) have been established in which a licence may be obtained for the use of an offshore sitefor offshore wind power plant installation and related exploration.On 30 August 2022, eight European Union countries bordering the Baltic Sea signed theMarienburg Declaration, pledging to increase the production capacity of offshore wind energyseven times by 2030 - up to 20 GW (19.6 GW). The declaration emphasizes the significantpotential of offshore wind energy, which reaches up to 93 GW in the Baltic Se a. It is alsoplanned to explore the possibilities of joint cross -border renewable energy projects and identifythe necessary infrastructure improvements to integrate renewable energy into the common grid.This would ensure security of supply and energy at an affordable price for households andbusinesses, respecting the energy policy priorities of the Member States and the chosen energymix.Considering that Latvia has 15 GW of offshore wind energy potential, which is 16% of theBaltic Sea offshore wind en ergy potential, Latvia must use this resource to promote energyindependence, security and economic development.On 18 September 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed for a joint Estonian -Latvian project for renewable energy production, establishi ng an indicative roadmap andestablishing an institutional framework for cooperation in the development of the Latvian -Estonian offshore wind farm project (hereinafter - ELWIND) .Latvia Page 12217AnnexAt the end of 2020, the Latvian Ministry of Economics, in close cooperation with the EstonianMinistry of Economics and Communications and the Investment and Development Agency ofLatvia, as well as experts from the regional electricity transmission system operatorsAugstsprieguma tīkls and Elering, launched an intensive, producti ve and inclusive ELWINDimplementation process.The ELWIND joint project would develop a offshore wind farm with a total installed capacityat least 1000 MW by 2030, that annually will produce 3,5 TWh electricity, which in turn wouldcontribute to the long -term availability of Latvia's total electricity capacity under conditions ofincreasing electricity consumption on the Nordpool market and reduce the risks of sharpincreases in electricity prices in the Latvian trading area.On the Latvian side, the offs hore wind park area of the ELWIND project will be located betweenPavilosta and Jurkalne, approximately 15 -22 kilometers from the shore. It is the E4 territory inthe Maritine Spatial Planning.In 2023, the environmental impact assessment procedure has bee n started in Latvia, and it isplanned to be started in Estonia in 2024.On 10 July of 2023 CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment ExecutiveAgency) approved the joint project ELWIND for CEF Energy funding. CEF Energy fundingwill support with a grant of 18,755,000 euros the pre -development activities of this jointoffshore wind project, making sure that all necessary studies are done in order to receive permitsto use specific maritime areas (one in Estonian and one in Latvian maritime ar ea) for productionof offshore wind energy.Studies will be conducted till 2027. Auctions for wind farms are planned for 2027, andconstruction of wind farms and transmission infrastructure and connections for 2027 -2030.After 2030 the ELWIND project will start generating electricity.Since 2021, the "green channel" initiative which provides an opportunity for investment projectsin priority areas to receive certain services of state institutions in an accelerated manner hasbeen established and operates in Latvia under the Law on the Suppression of Consequences ofthe Spread of COVID -19 Infection. The priority areas are: Smart specialisation areas (IT;Bioeconomics; Smart materials and photonics; Biomedicine and Smart energy), InternationalBusiness Service Centres, Construction, Transport and Logistics.Regarding enhancing democratic resilience and boosting capabilities to face moderndigital challenges to17. consistently and resolutely counter the growing threat to the democratic community posedby disinformation campaigns, with a particular focus on information warfare carried out bythe Russian FederationThe Digital Services Act is being implemented in the European Union, which imposes certainobligations on large platforms to assess and prevent the ris ks they pose, including those relatedto interference in elections and damage to civil discourse.23. ensure that digital platforms and technology companies operate according to the ethicalstandards of the democratic countries around the Baltic Sea and ar e held accountable forinadequate content moderation practices, algorithms, and data handling.The main initiatives in the regulation of digital services, such as the Digital Services Act, comefrom the European Union. Latvia has been actively involved in the development of thisregulation. At the same time, with regard to the single digital market, the regulation of theEuropean Union and Latvia is basically about the single market of the European Economic Zoneas a whole, and not separately about the single market of the Baltic Sea States. Digital servicesLatvia Page 12318Annexhave a distinct cross -border nature. They should not and hardly can be restricted regionally.Accordingly, there are no separate initiatives in the field of digital services among the BalticSea States. At the same time, Latvia is open to cooperation with the other Baltic Sea States andis ready t o engage in initiatives that would serve the interests of all in the region. Currently, thebill introducing the requirements of the Digital Services Act is being reviewed in the Parliament.The bill is expected to enter into force this spring. The Consume r Rights Protection Center willsupervise compliance with the requirements of the Digital Services Act in Latvia.24. expand research and innovation capacities in cybersecurity and digital resilience .Innovations according to the main state planning strate gies have been outlined as one of themain directions to improve. Also, within the Europe’s Digital Decade guidelines, we havecommitted, to reach the average EU level in our in our areas of expertise.The Ministry of Economics is responsible for six of the fourteen identified areas: cloud computing; big data; Artificial Intelligence; SMEs with at least a basic level of digital intensity; unicorns; semiconductors.In accordance with the regulation of the Chips Act, the Ministry of Economics impleme nts thefollowing activities: nominates an applicant for the status of a national competence center, which will bedelegated to participate in the Joint Untertaking "Chips for Europe"; establish a single point of contact (one stop shop), with the task to m onitor the ecosystemand make forecasts, identify and gather the main market participants, as well as, ifnecessary, alert the European Commission in a crisis situation; ensure participation in the European Semiconductor Board and Committee.On 29 November 2022, a memorandum of understanding between the state, private andacademic sector was signed for the development of Latvia's capabilities in the supply chain ofchips necessary for electronics production.The memorandum includes three main direct ions:1. promote the development of the chip ecosystem in Latvia;2. develop educational opportunities and research in the field of chips in Latvia;3. increase development and production capabilities in chip supply chains in Latvia.In 2018 - 2021, out of 99 patent applications by Latvian residents, 22 patents were registered inthe European Patent Office in connection with the field of smart energy and clean technologies(EV, devices, energy; environmental technologies; engines, pumps turbines). Registered pa tentson innovative biomass burning equipment, biofuels, wind and solar energy technologies.Regarding strengthening the resilience of climate and biodiversity toClimate Change43. incentivise renewable energy development by shortening the permitting proc ess for wind,solar, other clean and stable energy sources.In order to attract investments, the "green channel" initiative was introduced. Under thisframework, entrepreneurs registered in Latvia who intend to implement investment projects inpriority sec tors are eligible to receive state services faster. Examples of these services includeLatvia Page 12419Annexstate administration services to be provided in the areas of construction, environmental impactassessment, migration, and spatial planning. Priority projects include th ose related to smartenergy, mobility, the bioeconomy, and —shortly —zero-emission technologies. Currently, theLaw on Support for Innovative Entrepreneurship and Priority Projects (Law), which is sets outthe further activities for the "green channel" is un der review in the Latvian Parliament.Smart energy and net -zero emissions technologies are identified in this Law as priority areasthat allow representatives of these areas to implement more such investment projects.46. support increased research and innovation in climate change mitigation and adaptationtechnologies, encouraging collaboration between academic institutions, industries, andgovernments.In the coming years, the Ministry of Economics foresees significant investments indigitalisation, in novation and research activities, which is one of the precondition for theproductivity and sustainability of companies.Over the next seven years, the Ministry of Economics will provide substantial support of €1.6billion through multi -annual budgetary in vestments under the Recovery and Resilience FacilityFund and the European Union's Structural Funds to increase productivity, reduce inequalities,promote energy efficiency, digitalisation, export capacity and competitiveness.Innovation and smart speciali zation coordination mechanismWithin the framework of innovation, we have established smart -specialization steering groupsin the main five strategies for the economic transformation. Biomedicine, medical technologies, pharmaceuticals; Information and c ommunication technologies; Photonics, smart materials, technologies and engineering systems; Knowledge -intensive bioeconomy; Smart energy and mobility.RIS3 steering groups are formed with the intention of creating a triple -helix format dialoguebetwee n the parties involved in the ecosystems of RIS3 value chains - companies, researchorganizations, policy makers (sectoral ministries).The RIS3 coordination model was established to strengthen and implement innovation. As aresult of the reforms, LIAA (Investment and Development Agency of Latvia) became involvedin the coordination of RIS3 sectors by establishing and leading the work of five RIS3management groups, within which representatives from businesses, science, and the publicsector come togethe r to discuss the challenges and obstacles of research and innovation, identifyopportunities for collaboration, and discuss the vision for future large -scale projects in eachRIS3 area. The key findings are consolidated in the long -term strategy developed by each RIS3area management group and its action plan, which can be regularly updated and reviewed.The goal of the RIS3 (Smart Specialization) strategy in the field of "Smart Energy and Mobility"is to effectively redirect European, national, regional, a nd private funding towards activities thatstrengthen the national research and innovation capacity in the energy and mobility sectors.Additionally, this area includes related industries and infrastructure such as ICT, transportation,construction, and in dustry, as well as issues related to the circular economy.In the energy sector, innovation is necessary to increase the volume of energy resources, makingthem sufficient not only for Latvia's consumption but also economically advantageous.Therefore, through research and targeted actions for the creation of new globally competitivesolutions, such as energy storage systems, it is possible to increase the volume of electricalenergy.Latvia Page 12520AnnexIn the field of mobility, investment in research and development is cr ucial. Leveraging Latvia'sregulatory framework, public and private funding, and scientific base, it is possible to establishtest and pilot environments for creating globally scalable innovative products, enhancing exportcapabilities.The strategy outlin es the following priority areas: Storage of renewable energy resources, improvement of existing solutions, andexploration of new solutions. Development of renewable energy technologies, including hydrogen. Implementation of circular economy principles in energy, e.g., biogas production fromwaste. Promotion of observability and automation in smart energy systems. Conversion of available bioresources in Latvia into sustainable energy sources. Sustainable energy for transportation, including the production o f sustainable aviationfuels (SAF). Implementation of innovative mobility solutions. Improvement of infrastructure for low -emission and zero -emission vehicles, includingcharging/fueling infrastructure. Data management and ICT solutions for energy producti on/consumption managementand innovative mobility solutions. Exploration of energy demand management solutions using various assets connected tothe electrical grid. Research on artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions for energy systemmanag ement (optimization algorithms). Standardization of communication for devices connected to the power supply system(charging stations, heat pumps, solar panel inventories, etc.).48. foster cross -border cooperation on regional climate initiatives, engaging neighbouringcountries and international organisations in joint efforts to address climate change in theBaltic Sea regionThe ELWIND joint project would develop an offshore wind farm with a total installed capacityat least 1000 MW by 2030, that annually will produce 3,5 TWh electricity, which in turn wouldcontribute to the long -term availability of Latvia's total electricity capacity under conditions ofincreasing electricity consumption on the Nordpool market and reduce the risks of sharpincreases in electricity prices in the Latvian trading area.In 2023, the environmental impact assessment procedure has been started in Latvia, and it isplanned to be started in Estonia in 2024.On 10 July of 2023 CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environmen t ExecutiveAgency) approved the joint project ELWIND for CEF Energy funding. CEF Energy fundingwill support with a grant of EUR 18,755,000 the pre -development activities of this joint offshorewind project, making sure that all necessary studies are don e in order to receive permits to usespecific maritime areas (one in Estonian and one in Latvian maritime area) for production ofoffshore wind energy.Studies will be conducted till the 2027. Auctions for wind farms are planned for 2027, andconstruction of wind farms and transmission infrastructure and connections for 2027 -2030.After 2030 the ELWIND project will start generating electricity.Latvia Page 12621AnnexAnswers provided by the Ministry of Education and ScienceRegarding enhancing democratic resilience and boosting capabilities to face moderndigital challenges to18.point out again the necessity - particularly in times of war and crisis - of strengtheningefforts to increase confidence in democratic structures and values, to counter digital hatespeech, promote tol erance and open -mindedness, freedom of media and expression, androbust democratic NGOs as cornerstones of democracies in the Baltic Sea region.22.increase public awareness and digital literacy to enable citizens to identify and mitigatethe risks of misinformation and disinformation.Regarding the chapter on enhancing democratic resilience and boosting capabilities to facemodern digital challenges, in education field special attention is paid to the issues of criticalthinking, cyber security and med ia literacy, which as transversal skills are an essential part ofour curriculum1 at all levels of education. It is important to build the learner's understanding ofinformation security, privacy protection and reliable use of e -services.Within the framew ork Recovery and Resilience facility, we are implementing a pilot project toincrease the digital literacy of the population. In addition, within the framework of EuropeanStructural Funds, the work continues on the implementation of two projects focused o nimproving digital skills. Both initiatives are included in National Digital Decade strategicroadmap for 2030.Regarding strengthening the resilience of maritime ecosystems to28. cooperate and act decisively towards a clean, healthy, and productive Balt ic Sea withresilient marine and coastal ecosystems .On the chapter strengthening the resilience of maritime ecosystems point 28, Latvian schoolscontinue to participate in the international Baltic Sea project ( https://b -s-p.org/ ), which is aninternational network of schools for achieving a sustainable future in the Baltic Sea region.Schools carry out various activities to learn how to preserve the natural environment and toengage in international cooperation. In 2023, 182 students from 8 schools participated in aninternational online competition on sustainability in the Baltic Sea region.39. raise public awareness of the importance of marine ecosystems and the need for theirconservation by conducting education campaigns, engaging local communities, andpromoting citizens' initiatives to increase a sense of responsibility and encourage publicparticipation in efforts to protect and restore the ecological health of the Baltic Sea .47. develop incentives and support for integrating climate change education and awareness -raising programmes into curricula, public campaigns, and professional developmentprogrammes.On chapter strengthening the resilience of climate and biodiversity , points 39 and 47: climatechange issues are included in our curriculum1 and learning outcomes in primary school (socialand civics and natural sciences), in Learning materials on the topic of climate change can befound in the electronic repository https://mape.gov.lv/1 https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/303768 -regulations -regarding -the-state-basic -education -standard -and-model -basic -education -programmeshttps://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/309597 -regulations- regarding -the-state-general -secondary -education -standard -and-model -general -secondary -education -programmesLatvia Page 12722AnnexAnswers provided by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development6. search for more streamlined funding mechanisms for the development of trulyinterconnected, sustainable and resilient cross -border transport infrastructure, as well as thetransition to a single European digital market resilient to internal and external threats.10. expand cross -border, transnational, and inter -regional cooperation (Interreg) andstrengthen synergies between the different Balti c Sea policy cooperation formats.In addition to other available mechanisms for improving the road infrastructure, Interregprogrammes have contributed to the development of cross -border transport infrastructure on thedirect border between Latvia and Lith uania, and Latvia and Estonia. The EU funding andnational co -funding was provided for improvement of the condition of cross -border roads andreconstruction of road sections, thus facilitating the border crossing and having a positive long -term impact on t he cross -border commuters from both sides of the borders.However, the Interreg funding could not be streamlined as a source of financing the transportinfrastructure across the border due to its limited resources and overall strategy of this financialinstrument. Therefore, other funding opportunities should be primary used for this purpose.The European territorial cooperation (and Interreg as its financial instrument) should be furtherstrengthened and developed with sustainable investments and influenc e on the socio -economicdevelopment of Baltic Sea regions and capacity building of institutions of various levels. Thisapplies also to the preparation for the next period post -2027 and in the context of the new andexpanded EU integration.Regarding stren gthening the resilience of maritime ecosystems to27. alongside the ambitious actions that the BSPC resolution urges concerning marineresilience and resilience of climate and biodiversity, also take into account other importantdimensions in achieving a s ustainable development in line with the Agenda 2030, such associal and economic aspects. Conflicting interests should be taken into account and analysed,for example those between climate policy and biodiversity preservation.28. cooperate and act decisiv ely towards a clean, healthy, and productive Baltic Sea withresilient marine and coastal ecosystems.29. intensify cooperation to reach the goals of the Lisbon Declaration adopted at the UNOcean Conference held in 2022.30. increase joint efforts to reduce the outlet of nutrients, which contributes to eutrophication,biodiversity loss, and weakening the Baltic Sea as an attractive travel destination.32. implement coastal management plans to protect and restore coastal ecosystems, whichcan act as car bon sinks and buffer zones against sea -level rise (WG/Climate 9).34. contribute to the rapid entry into force of the landmark international legally bindinginstrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areasbeyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) from 19 June 2023 and use its tools and po ssibilities inintensive cooperation within the CBSS and HELCOM to reach the goals mentioned above(WG/Biodiversity 16);35. ensure a quick and strict implementation of the updated Baltic Sea Action Plan and itsassociated action documents within the agree d timelines in all democratic HELCOM memberstates to achieve a good ecological status of the Baltic Sea by the end of the decade andconsider as far as possible implementing further measures from the policy -relevantsuggestions for various policy areas in the HELCOM 2021 Climate Change in the Baltic SeaFact Sheet to reach this goal.Latvia Page 12823Annex36. establish and enforce recognisable, legally binding sustainable fishing quotas in theBaltic Sea Region with diversification for species, including regulations on fishing nets orother methods, ensuring that fish stocks remain healthy and sustainable in the long term. Allactions should be based on respected, up -to-date research. To prevent population crashes, theaim should be to reduce fishing quotas down to or below scie ntifically advised thresholds inthe Baltic Sea .37. strengthen regulations and enforcement mechanisms to prevent pollution and minimisethe discharge of pollutants into the Baltic Sea .38. introduce stricter controls on industry, shipping, and agriculture to reduce inputs ofnutrients, hazardous wastes, and harmful emissions to protect biodiversity and the ecologicalbalance of the marine environment .39. raise public awareness of the importance of marine ecosystems and the need for theirconservation by c onducting education campaigns, engaging local communities, andpromoting citizens' initiatives to increase a sense of responsibility and encourage publicparticipation in efforts to protect and restore the ecological health of the Baltic Sea.Latvia is holding the rotating Chairmanship of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) for thetwo years period from July 2022 till 30 June 2024. Implementation of the Baltic Sea ActionPlan, which was updated in 2021 (BSAP 2021), is a priority for Latvia’s Chair manship. Latviawill host the Ministerial Meeting on the Baltic Sea Marine Environment on April 25, 2024 inRiga. The Ministerial Meeting will be an opportunity to review the progress made inimplementing the BSAP2021 and to decide on the next steps toward s reaching the vision of ahealthy Baltic Sea environment. The State of the Baltic Sea 2023 – Third HELCOM holisticassessment will also be presented and adopted at the Ministerial Meeting.During 2023 an interim assessment report on the implementation of Latvian maritime spatialplan (hereafter - Report) was developed. The Report has been prepared based on the Cabinet ofMinisters Order No. 232 of 21 May 2019. The aim of the Report is to involve public authorities,planning regions, coastal municipalities and members of the public, to promote coordinationand exchange of information on sectoral policy objectives and development interests, and tomonitor and assess the implementation of the Latvian marine spatial plan.The Report describes sectoral developme nts and regulatory changes related to the use of marinespace, analyses the administration and licensing process for offshore activities and theimplementation of the action plan and implementation indicators. Described sectors includebiodiversity, ecosys tem services, marine traffic, energy sector, national defence, fisheries,marine aquaculture, mineral resources, tourism sector.The main conclusions and proposals of the process concern the improvement of the legalframework and the updating of the Marine Spatial Plan, considering the information presentedin the Report, international policy statements on an integrated view of marine and coastalprocesses and resource management, and the ecosystem services approach. In line with theReport's proposals, Lat via's maritime spatial plan should be updated by 31 December 2027.To ensure integrated coastal zone management in Latvian coastal waters, National long -termthematic plan for public infrastructure development in Coastal area of Latvia (Coastal plan),what was approved in 2016, serves as guideline for the Integrated Coastal Zone Management(ICZM ).Within 2024 the 2nd interim report about the implementation progress of the Coastal plan andthe general coastal assessment will be prepared. It will focus on bo th periodic assessment ofanthropogenic pressures in coastal areas and new thematic scopes for integrated coastalmanagement development – blue economy, mobility, landscapes and ecosystem services andLatvia Page 12924Annexchallenges faced by local community, for example, impac t from improving tourism activities,offshore wind park development, access to sea, etc. The interim report will provide additionaldirections/guidelines for integrated planning strategy framework to balance human activitieswith protection of coastal and maritime ecosystems. It will also identify needed changes in thelegal framework.New themes in coastal planning and aspects are discussed within the Maritime and CoastalSpatial Planning coordination group, which consists of various stakeholders represent ing cross -sectoral interests. Solutions and challenges are designed collectively working on SWOTanalysis, afterwards identifying cross -cutting aspects and offering solutions or discussing them,also main stakeholders are mapped.On 20 September 2023 Latvi a signed an Agreement under the United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity ofareas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). Currrently Latvia is preparing for theratificati on of the BBNJ Agreement.31. aim at putting in place an internationally legally binding agreement that allows a shift toa more sustainable plastics economy that minimises plastics waste and its impact on theenvironment and human health with the goal of ending plastic pollution and the ambition toreduce additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040.As a Member State of the European Union, Latvia participates in the development of theinternational legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marineenvironment. It has been identified that the main obstacle in the development of this instrumentis the ongoing disagreements on the scope of this instrument, especially c oncerning themandatory extended producer responsibility schemes.33. expand the existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) network and improve cooperationand transboundary management between marine protected areas in the Baltic Sea to ensureproper enforceme nt to protect vulnerable habitats and specie s.50. make strong efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and contribute to makingthe democratic Baltic Sea region as much as possible a macro -regional best practice examplein this regard for the world.51. fully implement as fast as possible the Kunming -Montreal Global BiodiversityFramework (GBF) adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention onBiological Diversity (CBD -COP15) on 19 December 2022 with its mission to halt and re versebiodiversity loss by 2030, adapt the existing national and Baltic Sea broad strategies andprogrammes and to cooperate intensively among the democratic Baltic Sea States to realisea swift and effective implementation of the GBF so that the Baltic Se a region becomes aglobal best practice example in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework.52. consider an ecosystem -based management approach when revising and adapting actionplans and strategies to achieve these goals and implementing these measures. This meansmanagement that considers the whole ecosystem and all human activities, which is aware ofand incorporates all pressures and interactions and aims to protect, restore, or enhance theresilience and sustainability of the aquatic ecosyst em to ensure the sustainable provision ofecosystem services and maintain the biodiversity.In order to promote the conservation of biological diversity, including the fulfilment ofobligations under the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) to achieve a favourableconservation status of habitats, 74 new nature reserves for the protection of wet forests havebeen established in 2023, with plans to determine them Natura 2000 status in 2024. Within theframework of the LIFE project, work is being d one to prepare scientific justification forLatvia Page 13025Annexenhancing proposals for the marine Natura 2000 network.The inadequate compensation amount for restrictions in Natura 2000 territories is consideredthe most significant barrier to determining the conservation s tatus.Last year, the mapping of habitats of EU importance was completed across the entire territoryof Latvia. Also , within the framework of the EU Life projects, efforts are underway to reviewthe establishment objectives of Natura 2000 territories and t o define conservation objectives.The European Union Cohesion Fund project for implementing management measures inspecially protected nature areas and micro -reserves to improve the conservation status ofhabitats and species has been successfully carried out.49.convene annual Baltic Sea Climate and Biodiversity Summits to raise public awareness,track progress, share best practices, and refine regional strategies to accelerate increasedclimate action and adaptation.The 2024 Ministerial Meeting on the B altic Sea Marine Environment (HELCOM) will takeplace in Riga on 25 April 2024, and it will be hosted by Latvia as the current HELCOMchairmanship. The focus of the Ministerial Meeting will be on the results of the third holisticassessment (HOLAS 3) of th e Baltic Sea, and how these can be used to strengthenimplementation to reach the objectives and goals of Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP). In addition,the Ministerial Meeting will reflect on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the originalConvention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area.58.cooperate to prevent the introduction and spread of new invasive alien species, work toeffectively eradicate invasive species in the Baltic Sea Region and to develop and exchangebest pra ctices.Latvia has prepared and submitted to the European Commission the "Unified Action Plan forPriority Invasion Pathways of Species for Latvia 2023 -2028." Legislative drafts regulating themanagement of invasive species in Latvia have been submitted to the Latvian Parliament.59. the intensive consideration of the issue of dumped ammunition in the Baltic Sea by theCouncil of the Baltic Sea States during the German Presidency - and during the 20th sessionof the Council of the Baltic Sea States on 1 and 2 June 2023 in Wismar .60. the initiation of a cross -sectoral, multidisciplinary, and macro -regional dialogue onunderwater munitions in line with its previous demands during the round table of expe rts inKiel in December 2022 and the joint consultation of HELCOM and the CBSS in April 2023 .61. the German government's decision - based on the resolution of the German Bundestag toprovide € 100 million for this purpose - to initiate a national immediat e action programmefor the recovery of underwater munitions in the Baltic and North Seas, including thedevelopment of a mobile platform for munitions clearance, and to share the experiencegained from this .62. go beyond the previous agreements of the gov ernments and initiate a joint strategicapproach and effort of the democratic Baltic Sea states - as has been achieved concerningthe expansion of offshore wind capacities - , also based on the continuation of the cooperationbetween CBSS and HELCOM, as well as consider establishing a joint financial instrumentto succeed in the goal, which the BSPC considers of great importance, of eliminating thehazardous situation caused b y ammunition dumped in the Baltic Sea within the next 20 yearsat the latest.Concerning the sea -dumped munitions, Latvia supported the Our Baltic Ministerial conference(2023) “Commitments on UneXploded Ordnance (UXO) by the Baltic Sea Member States”(hereinafter – Our Baltic commitment). Daugavpils University Agency “Institute of AquaticLatvia Page 13126AnnexEcology” is a partner from Latvia in the Interreg Baltic Sea Region project “MUNIMAP: BalticSea Munition Remediation Roadmap” (01.03.2024 – 28.02.2027). The project wil l supportimplementation of the appropriate actions of the BSAP2021 and the Our Baltic commitment.Answers provided by the Ministry of Health20. defend sexual and reproductive autonomy and respect the right to reproductive health .Steps taken to enhan ce accessibility to sexual and reproductive health services and moderncontraceptives include:- Since July 1, 2022, the cervical cancer screening method for women aged 30 and abovewas changed from liquid cytology to the Human Papillomavirus test.- Epidural analgesia is now funded by the state budget at the patient's request for labouranalgesia, starting August 1, 2022, regardless of medical indications.- State -funded breast reconstruction is available for women after malignant tumoursurgery since 2 022.- From 2022, the state covers the cost of medical insemination procedures for women upto the age of 40 (previously available up to age 37).- Breast cancer screening examinations are assessed using the BIRADS method as of2023.- State -funded contraception (intrauterine system or contraceptive subcutaneous implant)is provided for socially excluded women starting January 1, 2024.- From January 1, 2024, pregnant women and those in the postpartum period receive state -funded ambulatory health care services as a priority.- As of January 1, 2024, germ cells (eggs or spermatozoa) can be collected, frozen, andstored at the state's expense for up to 10 years to support fertility preservation duringchemotherapy.- A new diagnosis, Leiomyoma of the uterus (D25), has been added to the list ofreimbursable medications, and the drug Relugolixum/Norethisteronum/Estradiolum isprovided for treating moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids.Additionally, there are planned measures , including the initiatio n of the Mother and ChildHealth Improvement Plan 2025 -2027. This plan aims to enhance maternal and child healththrough health promotion, disease prevention, early diagnosis, and timely treatment.Answers provided by the Ministry of Interior10. expand c ross-border, transnational, and inter -regional cooperation (Interreg) andstrengthen synergies between the different Baltic Sea policy cooperation formats.Agreements:Republic of Estonia Annual Action Plan on cooperation of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian public orderpolice units for the year 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. Cooperation protocol of West prefecture of the Republic of Estonia and VidzemeRegional Police Department of the Republic of Latvia. Cooperation protocol of South prefecture of the Republic of Estonia and VidzemeRegional Police Department of the Republic of Latvia. Joint planning of police actions on regional level.Latvia Page 13227AnnexRepublic of Lithuania Annual Action Plan on cooperation of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian public orderpolice units for the year 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022; 2023. Joint planning of police actions on regional level.Cases when the State Police received a request to provide international assistance – to sendresources (personnel, equipment, equipment, etc.) to another country: The State Police of Latvia received a request from Lithuania to provide internationalassist ance during the NATO summit 2023 which was held in Lithuania. Latvian Statepolice provided a riot police unit and sniper teams to support the Lithuanian colleagues. Regional support („Jūros šventė“ (Sea Festival) in Klaipėda city, Lithuania, 21 -22.07.2023., "BEACH BIKE FEST 2023" in Šventoji, Palanga City municipality,Lithuania, 19.08.2023.)Cases when the State Police requested for international assistance:The State Police of Latvia in 2022 requested the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board toprovide legal aid support in the demolition of occupation monuments.Multilateral agreements ensuring the work of NFIP network during which Latvia has requestedvisiting police delegations’ assistance during football matches.The State Police - projectsDuring the 2018 -2023 State police of Latvia has implemented three projects under LAT -LIT Interreg 2014 -2020 project program :Problems identified in all projects introducing difficulties – long deadline for implementationof projects (from the issue of application s to the evaluation and approval, sometimes it takes ayear or even more).Project implementation relates to heavy administrative enforcement:- the volume of documents and overlapping requirements;- non-compliance with the requirements of the program Ma nual when auditing (e.g.,suggestions have been required as a mandatory execution), unnecessary interpretationand time resource consumption;- variable pricing for both equipment and training service purchases, because of the longperiods since applicatio n.Heavy (national) procurement procedures, price fluctuations, usually increasing, as well ascertain changes in European standards (requirements for projects) during the implementation.The positive side is that projects are an opportunity to try, includ ing experiments, by creatingsolutions for unpopular decisions and activities. Successfully, if projects succeed in introducingand purchasing equipment, aids and carrying out training, involving field experts, strengtheningthe service capacity of State a nd local government institutions in creating a safe environmentfor society.Within the framework of the project:1. It is possible to introduce innovations in life and perform an analysis within a specified periodin order to draw conclusions, regarding the permanent implementation of the product or service.2. Personal contacts are established, making cooperation between institutions easier both incommunication and execution. Introduction of equivalent innovations (in particular jointtraining, generati on of services), which reduce misunderstandings in society.Latvia Page 13328AnnexSCAPE LLI -269The overall objective of the project to improve public safety by improving skills for nationalsecurity services and local government employees by using modern technology in their dailywork.Partners :Administration of Palanga's City Municipality (LT)Klaipėda County Police Hearquarters (LT)Liepāja city Municipal authority Liepaja Municipal Police (LV)The State Police of Latvia, Kurzeme region department (LV)During the project The State police of Latvia as a Project partner implemented :Purchased (Five procurement contests have been done):-) patrol bikes-) electroshock weapons’ sets-) night vision thermal cameras-) Traffic video recorders-) High power Drone with night vision and thermal video cameraSoft activities:-) Organisation of two day seminar (theory and practice with physical intention) tactics to usebikes as a police tool, bike patrolling and the most common mistakes and positive aspects ofusing individual body cameras on the daily basis of the police work seminar was held byprofessional former police officer on community policing from Netherlands.-) Participation in train the trainers, three day course for Taser (electroshock weapon) use inthe work of t he police. The training was held by the professional trainer from UK.-) Unmanned aerial vehicle driving training.-) Participation in training seminar – Police volunteer on daily basis – duties and challenges .-) Final conference with demonstration common training in Liepaja.-) Distributed informative posters (size A1) and fliers (size A6) for tourists in border areasbasic information on rules of public safety.Purchase of the individual body cameras ended without the result. Due to final dates of theproject Request for changes has been done. Reason – increase in costs and changes in qualitycriteria classifications.SCAPE II, LLI -451The overall objective of the project is to improve public safety in Lithuanian - Latvian borderregion by improving s kills of employees by using modern tools such as automatic numberplate recognition cameras, radio communication system, mobile safety cameras, electricquadracycles, digital ration system, Kevlar gloves, armoured vests and night visionbinoculars and comm unication and cooperation between police and municipalities.Partners:Klaipėda County Police Hearquarters (LT)Administration of Palanga's City Municipality (LT)Liepāja city Municipal authority Liepaja Municipal Police (LV)The State Police of Latvia, Kurzeme region department (LV)During the project The State police of Latvia as a Project partner implemented :-) Data storage servers.-) Night Vision Binoculars.-) Mobile video surveillance cameras with tablets.Purchased in addition out of the saved b udget:-) Informative screen.Latvia Page 13429Annex-) High performance desktop PC with video processor.-) Supportive wall for the screens.Soft activities:-) Two -day practical training in Liepaja on practice exchange (Planning of safe urbanenvironments by determining the importance of infrastructure).-) Final conference.ONLY SAFE! LLI -441The overall objective of the project is to improve efficiency of public services bystrengthening capacities and cooperation between institutions in the regions. Project goal isto imp rove cooperation and coordination between institutions responsible for the safety ofpeople in the water, readiness of rescuers and to ensure the daily use of modern rescueequipment.Partners:Administration of Palanga's City Municipality (LT)Liepāja city Municipal authority "Komunālā pārvalde" Beach Rescue service (LV)Liepāja city Municipal authority Liepaja Municipal Police (LV)The State Police of Latvia, Kurzeme region department (LV)Neringa municipality administration (LT)Fire and Rescue Depart ment of Lithuania (LT)During the project The State police of Latvia as a Project partner implemented :-) Off -road car (SUV) with tow hitch-) Quadricycle-) Trailer-) 5 Special rescue equipment kit sSoft activities:-) Training and workshop in Liepaja – rescue of drawing people during the low seasons(winter, autumn, spring)-) Training and workshop in Nida (LT) – first aid and rescue matters on Sea watersProject planned during the LAT -LIT Interreg 2021 -2027 project program :ONLY SAFE II! In progres s to be submittedMarch, 2024Project goal is to improve cooperation and coordination between institutions responsible forthe safety of people in the water, readiness of rescuers and to ensure the daily use of modernrescue equipment.Partners:Administration of Palanga's City Municipality (LT)Liepāja city Municipal authority "Komunālā pārvalde" Beach Rescue service (LV)Liepāja city Municipal authority Liepaja Municipal Police (LV)The State Police of Latvia, Kurzeme region department (LV)Neringa municipality administration (LT)Fire and Rescue Department of Lithuania (LT)During the project The State police of Latvia as a Project partner is planning to implement :-) full -fitted boat-) tourists’ navigation kits.-) night vision thermal video cameras. Monoculars.Latvia Page 13530AnnexSoft activities:-) practical trainings in water and costal rescue operations in the border area.-) large scale trainings in cases of missing people (country area).-) Unmanned aerial vehicle driving training.-) Theoretical and practical training - management and driving of water transport-) creation/ production of a short videos on joint rescue operations (in case of threats tosafety, health and life).In addition, The State Police, in cooperation with the Latvian State Bord erguard, Lithuanianlaw enforcement authorities and municipalities, implemented the Latvian -Lithuanian programproject LLI -082 "SYNERGY FOR SECURITY"/"Creation of a synergistic security platformon the border of Eastern Latvia and Lithuania". (2017 -2019) V arious modern and innovativetechnologies were purchased as part of the project, which contributed to the increase in theefficiency of the State Police and other institutions and introduced positive changes in theprovision of public order.The State Police has an agreement or cooperation protocol with the Western and SouthernPrefectures of the Police of the Republic of Estonia. The protocol has strengthened thecooperation of the order police, the cooperation of the criminal police and other cooperat ionissues.There are regular joint cross -border patrols as well as training and working meetings.Agreement and cooperation protocols with Estonia:Tripartite cooperation agreement (Cooperation protocol of West Prefecture of Estonian Policeand Border Gua rd Board of the Republic of Estonia and South Prefecture of Estonian Policeand Border Guard Board of the Republic of Estonia and Vidzeme Regional Police Board of theRepublic of Latvia for 2023/2024. Place: Latvia, Valmiera. Date: 05.04.2023.)FORMS OF IN TERNATIONAL COOPERATION•11 meetings at different levels during 2019• 9 joint patrols during 2019• 8 common trainings during 2019• 1 meeting at different levels during 2020• regular telephone conversations about Covid -19 issues 2021• 13 joint patrols during 2021• 12 meetings at different levels during 2022• 5 joint patrols during 2022• 1 common trainings during 2022• 12 meetings at different levels during 2023• 14 joint patrols during 2023• 3 common trainings during 202357. develop and adopt reg ional strategies to deal with transboundary emergencies, includingforest fires, eutrophication, and spreading pathogens, some of which are exacerbated byclimate change and pollution. The strategies should include research into the causes of suchemergenc ies, cooperation between rescue services, and joint monitoring programmes thatindicate the risks of such emergencies .02.01.2023 - 30.06.2024 : The State Fire and Rescue Service in cooperation with researchers ofLimited liability company “PricewaterhouseC oopers”, implements the “Track1” project of theEuropean Commission's civil protection financial instrument Program "Study: evaluation of thecurrent situation and study of solutions for 01.02.2024 -31.01.2026 to implement forest fireprotection and firefig hting functions in state and private forests.Latvia Page 13631AnnexThe aim of project is to improve the provision of forest fire protection and firefighting functionsin state and private forests, thus ensuring the fulfillment of the State Civil Defense Plan andcivil defense tasks.01.02.2024 - 31.01.2026 : The Interreg Latvi a - Lithuania program project "Improving cross -border cooperation in the field of peat fire prevention and response" will be implemented inLatvia and Lithuania.The aim of the project is to prevent and con trol peat fires by developing and implementingmodernized and effective methods of preventing and extinguishing transboundary peat fires.01.02.2024 - 31.01.2026 : The State Fire and Rescue Service will implement project "Improvingcross -border cooperation of fire and rescue services in the field of flood response in the regionsof Zemgale and Klaipėda" (FloodAdapt, LL -00105) with the aim to increase flood preparednessand response capabilities in the Latvia and Lithuania regions - Zemgale and Klaipėda, wh ichare essential when facing the risks caused by climate change. The main emphasis of the projectis placed on the cooperation of Latvian and Lithuanian rescue services. The capacity of therescue services will be increased through joint training, experie nce exchange visits andseminars, which will analyze flood -affected areas, such as Jēkabpils and Rusnes Island.Answers provided by the Ministry of Justice1. strongly increase and intensify the efforts to strengthen democracy, rule of law, equality,and h uman rights in the Baltic Sea Region and beyond and acknowledge that these valuesin today's shifting geopolitical realities are under threat in our own region.Courts in Latvia are recognized as an effective means of protecting national rights, as they ar eavailable to every person. On the other hand, if a person suspects the bias of the court, he canrequest a recusal of the judge, express objections within the appeal process and also turn to thePresident of the court, the Ministry of Justice or the Judi cial Ethics Commission with a relevantsubmission or complaint. Also, if a judge has committed a criminal offense, for example, madea knowingly illegal ruling in the interests of a person or a group of persons, or accepted somematerial benefit as a rewar d for a decision made, then his actions are assessed under the criminallaw procedure .Centre for Public Policy “Providus” in cooperation with Court Administration and Ministry ofJustice launched a project, within the framework of which a questionnaire wa s developed forevaluating the work of the courts. The questionnaire was distributed in every court (except theSupreme Court) and its respondents were people who went to the court to participate in thecourt session or submit documents to the court. The p urpose of the questionnaire was to evaluatethe work of the courts. The survey process took place in 2022 and 2023.Court visitors in general evaluate the work of the courts very positively, highly evaluating boththe work of the judge, as well as the assistance and support of the judicial process by courtemployees in progress. The respondents gave the highest rating for the attitude of the employeesand proceedings in the courtroom (4.6 points out of 5). Relatively the lowest rating is about howconve nient it is to get acquainted with the case materials (4.3 points out of 5).In order to ensure access to courts also in electronic form – when submitting documents tocourts, getting acquainted with case materials, etc., an e -case platform has been developed,which is constantly being improved, making it more convenient for its us ers. The regulationprovides establishing the possibility to log in the e -case portal with a username and passwordand differentiates the storage time of audit records.It is also necessary to indicate that in order to promote access to justice and courts , legalassistance is provided to individuals in extrajudicial proceedings, Constitutional CourtLatvia Page 13732Annexproceedings, civil cases, criminal cases, administrative cases and including cross -borderdisputes.At the same time, amendments have been made to several law s listed below, whichsimultaneously strengthen the rule of law and access to it.Amendments have been made to Article 55 of the law "On Judicial Power", establishing thepossibility to evaluate and determine in which cases of termination of criminal proce edings ona non -rehabilitative basis, the circumstances are such that, without endangering public trust inthe judiciary and the reputation of the judiciary, nevertheless allow a person to become acandidate for the position of judge. At the same time, tak ing into account the importance of thepositions of judges and prosecutors in the protection of a democratic state system, as well as thesimilarity of the regulation of Article 37 of the Office of the Prosecutor Law with the regulationof Article 55 of th e law "On Judicial Power", analogous amendments. The changes made inboth laws entered into force on 01.01.2024.The amendments to Civil Procedure Law and Arbitration Law introduce the possibility ofsetting aside the arbitral award, as well as specify th e grounds for refusal to issue a writ ofexecution for enforcement of arbitral award. It also allows to recognize and enforce all arbitralawards, not only the ones made by a permanent arbitration court.Also , amendments to Civil Procedure Law intend to a dd a new Chapter 65.1 on court assistancein arbitral proceedings. It is intended the courts in cases specified in Arbitration Law can decideon such matters: assisting the arbitral tribunal in taking evidence, issuing interim measures inrelation to arbit ration proceedings, decide whether the dispute is subject to arbitration, appointan arbitrator, decide on a challenge of arbitrator, decide on the termination of the mandate ofarbitrator. These amendments have been submitted to the Parliament for conside ration.Amendments were made to the Law on Administrative Liability which includes:1) prerequisites of digitalisation of administrative offence case materials (convertingdocuments into electronic form, electronic signature, right to submit and to access todocuments in electronic form);2) rules for administrative offence case proceedings in electronic environment;3) rules to improve automated decision -making process;4) new procedure for covering procedural expenditures for children (children arerelea sed from covering procedural expenditures).In order to transpose Directive (Eu) 2020/1828 of the European Parliament and of the Councilof 25 November 2020 on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests ofconsumers and repealing Directive 2009/22/EC, amendments were made in Civil ProcedureLaw and Consumer Rights Protection Law which came into force in 15.10.2023.On 15.06.2023. amendments to Criminal Procedure Law were adopted to ensure more effectiveprotection for persons who have suffered from criminal offences related to violence or the threatof violence committed by a person on whom the minor victim is materially or otherwisedependent, or committed by the victim's relative, ex -spouse or a person with whom the victimis or has been in a permanent intimate relationship, as well as more effective protection forminors who have suffered from a crime against morality and sexual integrity. After theamendments, criminal proceedings for threats to commit murder or to cause serious bodilyharm, as well as stalking, if made against a person with whom the perpetrator of the criminaloffense is in the first or second degree of kinship, or against a spouse or former spouse, oragainst a person with whom the perpetrator of the criminal o ffense is or has been in a permanentintimate relationship, or against a person with whom the perpetrator of the criminal offense hasLatvia Page 13833Annexa common (undivided) household, can be initiated regardless of the will of the person who hasbeen harmed. Also, changes w ere made in determining the advantage in providing a reasonableterm compared to other criminal proceedings, listing in priority order all criminal proceedingsthat have an advantage in providing a reasonable term compared to other criminal proceedings.In addition, a specific deadline was set for initiating criminal proceedings for prioritizedcriminal offenses, stipulating that criminal cases are initiated no later than four weeks afterreceiving it. The mentioned list was supplemented with the provision that the advantage inensuring a reasonable term is given to criminal proceedings for a criminal offense related toviolence or the threat of violence committed by a person on whom the minor victim is materiallyor otherwise dependent, or committed by a re lative of the victim, a former spouse or a person,with whom the victim is or has been in a permanent intimate relationship.The amendments were made to Section 43 and 43.1 of Civil Procedure Law that provide theright of a legal person governed by private law to request the court to decide on its exemptionfrom the obligation to pay the State fee for filing a statement and decide on its exemption fromthe obligation to pay security deposit for filing a complaint.21.improve legislation and measures to pro tect democratic processes and institutions fromcyber threats.24. expand research and innovation capacities in cybersecurity and digital resilience.On 17 November 2021, the Council of Europe adopted and opened for signature the SecondAdditional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on enhanced cooperation and disclosureof electronic evidence (hereinafter - Second Additional Protocol). During the past year, theDepartment of Criminal Justice reviewed the compliance of this Second Additional Pr otocolwith the national laws and regulations of Latvia. At the same time, the law on the ratification ofthe Second Additional Protocol and possible amendments to the Law on Criminal Procedure,the Law on Electronic Communications and other related regula tory acts, which need to becarried out for the ratification of the Second Additional Protocol, were prepared.On the other hand, in this year's plans, the Department of Criminal Justice has to consider issuesrelated to the European Parliament and Council Regulation (EU) 2023/1543 (July 12, 2023) onEuropean e -evidence production orders and European e -evidence preservation orders forobtaining e -evidence in criminal proceedings and the implementation of custodial sentencesafter criminal proceedings.The development of the UN Ad Hoc Committee on the Comprehensive InternationalConvention on Countering the Use of Information and Communication Technologies forCriminal Purposes also affects criminal law and criminal proceedings, therefore the Ministry ofJustice has applied to receive materials related to this Convention as the co -responsibleinstitution.Answers provided by the Ministry of Transport6. search for more streamlined funding mechanisms for the development of trulyinterconnected, sustainable an d resilient cross -border transport infrastructure, as well as thetransition to a single European digital market resilient to internal and external threats.The main project of Latvia contributing to interconnected, sustainable and resilient cross -bordertransport infrastructure, which is also a strategic project for military mobility, is Rail Baltica .Rail Baltica project is financed under Connecting Europe facility (CEF) as well as its MilitaryMobility financing, and national state budget co -financing. CEF focusses on building cross -border connections and interoperability.Large -scale railway infrastructure projects like Rail Baltica present diverse challenges yet alsoLatvia Page 13934Annexnumerous potential benefits compared to the required capital expenditure. Before the r esultsbecome tangible, large- scale investments are required.The future financing of Rail Baltica project holds the utmost importance, hence the Baltic Statesare joining efforts to secure the European Commissions’ continuous support to Rail Baltica inthe form of CEF financing also beyond the year 2027 (the new EU Multi -Financial Framework2028- 2034) as well as other fiscal solutions that might be beneficial to the projectimplementation.However, the so -far applied financing model of the project in the current project implementationphase (construction) has become a factor hindering its fast and smooth implementation.CEF Transport Calls (including the Military Mobility envelope) are announced once per year,the evaluation of the submitted applications t akes about six months with a further grantagreement preparation taking around four months.Also, Rail Baltica project competes on a par with other projects for financing, and there is noguarantee that the activities included in the application and necess ary for logical andconsecutive continuation of the earlier implemented activities will receive the EU funds – eitherat all or only partially which may cause construction downtime.In addition, not all elements of the Rail Baltica project are eligible for funding from CEF.Despite being indispensable to freight and passenger service operations on the Rail Baltica line,service facilities and other elements which are not categorized as railway infrastructure areconsidered non -eligible.According to the Rail Baltica Implementing Decision, the new Rail Baltica infrastructure hasto be functional by 2030.Forecasted EU -grant financing from CEF for Rail Baltica implementation until 2030 will notexceed 40% of capital investments required compared to the initial expectations of at least 80%.To overcome the financing gap and avoid as far as possible further implementation delays andunjustified cost overruns caused by construction downtime, project implementers are workingon a new improved financing model.- A vital aspect of the new model would be ensured state budget financing to (i) providebridge financing upon submission of the CEF application to the EC, (ii) cover cost ofindispensable elements of Rail Baltica that are not eligible under CEF (like stations,passenger and cargo facilities, infrastructure maintenance facilities) and other.- Also, financing models are being reviewed that would combine various financingsources. For this purpose, in 2023 a thematic committee was established that involvedexperts not only from the Ministry of Transport, but also from other relevant ministries.- In addition, alternative financing sources are being evaluated., e.g. public privatepartnerships be it DBO (design -build -operate) or DBFO (design -build -finance -operate)schemes could be used for Rail Baltica point -type elements like Rail Baltica CentralHub and Rail Baltica Station at the international Airport RIX or even track sectionsbetween service facilities.- At the beginn ing of 2024 DG REFORM approved a multi -country (3B) joint application(submitted 2023) for technical support in order to analyze possible solutions for accessto finance for the implementation of railway sector projects in order to facilitateintegration o f Baltic States in the European rail network.10. expand cross -border, transnational, and inter -regional cooperation (Interreg) andstrengthen synergies between the different Baltic Sea policy cooperation formats .Latvia Page 14035AnnexRoad transport sectorSLLC “Latvian State Roads” (LSR) participates in following projects aimed at strengtheningthe resilience of climate and biological diversity, as well as a single European digital market:The study "The impact of climate change on the sustainability of road infrastructure".The study "The impact of climate change on the sustainability of road infrastructure" waslaunched by LSR in September, 2023, within the framework of which the resilience of theexisting infrastructure under the influence of climate change will be evaluated , the possibilitiesof how to adapt the road network to climate change will be identified, the regulatory documentsof the industry will be revised, as well as the options in road network management (design,construction, maintenance) for reducing the impa ct on the climate and environment will bedefined. The research project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024, and based on itsresults changes in the management of various LSR processes might become possible.Compliance with the “Do No Significa nt Harm" (DNSH)” principle in the road infrastructuredesign, construction, and maintenance processes.In 2023 LSR application for the EU Technical Support Instrument (TSI) enhanced interestproject (flagship project) on the implementation of "Do No Significant Harm" principle in LSRroad management processes has been approved. Project activities include reviewing theprocesses led by LSR in relation to the application of the DNSH principle, as well as providingsupport for the implementation of both technical and legal solutions for the management ofpublic road construction processes (including procurement) to ensure the implementation of thisprinciple. Project activities are expected to be implemented in 2024. Partners from 8 countriesparticipate in the project (Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain).LIFE OSMO BALTIC project "Baltic wide web for Osmoderma eremita : the creation of anecological network in the Baltic region ".In 2024 LSR in cooperation with seven more partners from Latvia and Lithuania (LithuanianNature Foundation, Daugavpils University, Latgale Planning Region, Lithuanian Zoo,Zemaitija National Park Administration and Nemunas Loop Regional Park Administration) hasstarted implementing a 6.5 -year LIFE program project "Creation of an ecological network forthe protection of the leaf beetle in the Baltics" (LIFE22 NAT/LT/101113698 LIFE OSMOBALTIC). The aim of the project is to take measures to ensure the protection of the leaf beetleOsmoderma eremita by creating and managing "green corridors" or the species' migrationroutes, planning and implementing the necessary management measures both in the speciallyprotected natural areas (SPAs) within the Natura 2000 network and outside it (for example, inalleys, parks), as well as providing for the necessary research and preparation of justificationsfor the improvement of the Natura 2000 network. The implementation of the project includesvarious research measures related to determining the habitat areas of t he leaf beetle, assessingthe quality of habitats, etc. As one of the partners of the project, the main activities planned byLSR are related to the inventory of the state of alleys and tree rows within the right -of-way ofstate owned roads, in order to de termine their condition and the work to be done for the cleaningof alleys and tree rows, including the formation of tree crowns (arborists' work), the stateguidelines for the management of trees in road right -of-way, so that both environmental andtraffi c safety aspects are respected when planning and carrying out construction works andmaintenance in the state road network and the development of "green corridors" or speciesdistribution routes along state roads with the creation of new tree plantations i s promoted.MERIDIAN project "Managing European’s busiest TEN -T corridors fostering green, digitaland multimodal services".In the time period from October 2022 to the end of 2025 LSR together with 24 otherLatvia Page 14136Annexorganizations from 5 countries (Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland) isimplementing the project "Managing European's busiest TEN -T corridors fostering green,digital and multimodal services" co -financed by the European Climate, Infrastructure andEnvironment Executive Agency (CINEA) (2 1-EU-TG-MERIDIAN, 101075396), which aimsto modernize the transport infrastructure in the TEN -T general and core network by introducingand improving intelligent transport systems (ITS) in accordance with priority areas defined inDirective 2010/40/EU, and performing activities related to the implementation of cooperativeITS (C -ITS) services in accordance with the European C -ITS Strategy (COM (2016) 766). Themain project activities carried out by LSR are the implementation of smart solutions in theLatvia n TEN -T network (research and design of the necessary improvements at traffic countingpoints, improvement of at least 37 existing traffic counting points, installation of at least 20 newtraffic counting points, installation of pedestrian and cyclist coun ting points in lightedpedestrian crossings / in sections of cycling roads) and the implementation of digital solutionsfor the collection and management of transport infrastructure data (surveying of infrastructureobjects with indirect measurement method s, improvement of the asset management system,implementation of high -performance data infrastructure for data storage).Aviation sectorResearch on the possibilities of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in the Baltic region.By improving the int erstate cooperation of the Baltic States in the field of renewable energyresources, as well as promoting the energy independence and strengthening the competitivenessof the Baltic region, at the end of the year 2023, the Ministry of Transport of the Repu blic ofLatvia and the Ministry of Climate of the Republic of Estonia, submitted a project applicationto the European Commission's Directorate -General for Structural Reform Support (DGREFORM) for receiving support from the Technical Support Instrument (T SI) in 2024, - for aresearch on the possibilities of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in the Baltic region.In addition to strengthening energy independence and competitiveness, the results of thisresearch are expected to serve as a guide for i nvestors and provide valuable support to nationalpolicy makers in shaping future national policy frameworks, particularly for the futuredevelopment of the aviation industry, thus contributing to the reduction of carbon emissionsand the promotion of a gr eener, more sustainable future. The expected time of conducting theproject is the second half of 2024.Project "BSR Hydrogen Air Transport – Preparation of Baltic Sea Region Airports for GreenHydrogen" (BSR HyAirport)As a partner, Riga Airport participa tes in the project "BSR Hydrogen Air Transport –Preparation of Baltic Sea Region Airports for Green Hydrogen" (BSR HyAirport) supported bythe "Green Mobility" funding category of the Interreg Baltic Sea Programme. The initiator ofthe project is Hamburg Airport, and a total of 16 partners – airports, airlines, researchinstitutions and technology companies from Scandinavia, the Baltic States, Poland andGermany – and 24 associated organizations take part in it. From the Latvian side, the LatvianHydrogen Association, the Latvian University of Biosciences and Technologies and the aviationfuel supplier SIA “Gulfsteram Oil" are also involved in the project as partners, while thenational airline "airBaltic", Liepāja Airport, the Civil Aviation Agency and the Ministry ofTransport are among the associated participants.The aim of "BSR HyAirport" project is to create the preconditions for the adaptation of theairport infrastructure for hydrogen -powered aircraft, to prepare the airport for storage,processing, and delivery of green hydrogen as a future energy source in aviation.The project is implemented to revive regional air traffic in the future and to better connect theLatvia Page 14237AnnexBaltic Sea regions with existing air hubs; therefore, several smaller airports and regi onal airlinesare also involved in the partnership.Maritime sectorAs a good example of cross -border cooperation in the maritime sector can be mentioned theBaltic Sea E -Nav project , which is funded by Interreg BSR Programme. It focuses on S -100hydrograp hic standards, enhancing digital information exchange for navigational safety andenvironmental protection in the Baltic Sea region. The project involves 10 partners representing6 countries (SE, GER, DM, FI, EST, LV) and is led by the Swedish Maritime Adm inistration.Latvia is represented by the “Maritime Administration of Latvia”. Project implementation:November 2023 - October 2026.E-Nav project creates the next generation of navigational products and services compliant withnew international standards , enabling national authorities and other maritime organisations toensure safer, more harmonised and eco -efficient navigation at the Baltic Sea. When developingnavigational products from todays to the new S -100 standards, navigators will be able to planmore energy efficient routes, avoid safety risks and plan operations with extra sensitive areastaken into consideration. Full digitalisation of navigational charts (maps at sea) will help reducethe negative impacts of shipping on the marine ecosystem and make the sector more sustainable.The blue data will also be a valuable asset in marine spatial planning and for making betterdecisions when navigating at sea, especially to help all ocean activities to safely co -exist.It will as a consequence also affe ct the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Baltic SeaRegion ( EUSBSR ) and a transition to a sustainable blue economy. After implementing theBaltic Sea e -Nav base package, the partnership will continue to build upon the project's results,under a rob ust transnational governance model, even after the project ends.12. strengthen the role of the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region, focusing on the currentpolitical core challenges in the Baltic Sea region, expanding the involvement of thedemocratic neighbour countries, and including support for Ukraine during the war andafterwards for the reconstruction and strengthening democracy in Ukraine .Added value in addressing issues in the shipping sector is provided by the EUSBSR policy areasSHIP (clean s hipping) and SAFE, where all EU countries of the Baltic Sea region arerepresented. More detailed information about the policy areas: https://www.eusbsr.eu/pa -ship-about and https://www.eusbsr.eu/pa -safe-about .64. establish a two -year Working Group on Energy Security, Self -sustainability, Resilienceand Connectivity - based on the decisions of the BSPC Standing Committee - to submit a firstreport at th e 33rd BSPCDuring the meeting of the WG ESSRC, which took place on 16 October 2023 in Riga, Ministryof Transport presented numerous potential areas of cooperation for the Baltic Sea states,including the development of integrated railway networks, air co nnectivity within and beyondthe region, sea freight and passenger connections, broadband internet and 5G cooperation aswell as supporting energy interconnections.During the visit of the Rail Baltica construction site delegation of parliamentarians from theBaltic Sea region met with Latvia’s Minister of Transport, Kaspars Briškens, and the deliveryorganizations of Rail Baltica . The purpose of the meeting was to gain insight into the RailBaltica project and visit the construction site of the Rail Baltica Riga Central Hub. Discussionsrevolved around the strategic significance of the Rail Baltica project, the progress of itsimplementation in Latvia, and Rail Baltica’s integration into the European Un ion’stransportation network.Latvia Page 14338AnnexAnswers provided by the Ministry of Welfare14. underline the continued importance of social sustainability along with the green anddigital transitions and pay insofar particular interest, on the one hand, to the demographicchange with an ageing population and the need for upskilling and reskilling along withadequate pension systems as well as, on the other hand, to the integration of migrants and allvulnerable groups in need of support to enter or remain in the labour mar ket, and genderequalityLabour MarketThe labour market situation in Latvia continues to improve, with the level of employment andparticipation in the labour market (economic activity) increasing and the unemployment ratedecreasing. The State Employment Agency (PES) continues further development of activelabour market policy measures to make them more targeted, while helping the unemployed toovercome barriers to entering the labour market.The PES encourages people, particularly those with lower quali fication levels, to take part inupskilling and reskilling programmes, and digital skills have been among priorities. Forexample, the PES has developed partnerships with the private sector to promote employment ofits clients in digital occupations. The P ES has also made more use of the online learningplatforms (such as Coursera). Overall, digital skills programmes have been particularly effectivein supporting the PES clients on their way back to the labour market. The PES also supportsemployed persons within the framework of non -formal education and online learning platforms.Mobility support is also available as part of the training.As regards young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs), in 2024, Latviaplans to continue the approach previously developed within the Youth Guarantee (2014 -2018)focusing on interinstitutional cooperation and provision of support in an integrated way. Thus,young inactive NEETs will be assisted within activities implemented by the Youth InternationalProg rammes Agency, but unemployed NEETs – within the PES active labour market policymeasures. The support will include outreach activities, mentoring, vocational guidance, trainingand learning activities, vocational education, subsidised employment and other job-supportmeasures, including specifically for persons with disabilities, business start -ups, etc.To address the challenges related to ageing population , from the second half of 2024, the PESwill implement a European Social Fund Plus project “Promotin g longer and better workinglives” in cooperation with the social partners and the Occupational Safety and EnvironmentalHealth Institute. The project activities will include awareness raising, information and trainingactivities for employers and employee s, adaptation of workplaces and working environment,health checks, health -promoting measures etc.The PES continues supporting asylum seekers, refugees and persons with alternative status(subsidiary protection) to promote their integration into the Latvi an labour market byimplementing various active labour market policy measures, including career counselling,Latvian language training and other training courses, etc.Latvia also continues offering support to Ukrainian civilians who have found refuge in Latviaduring Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. To promote their integration into the Latvianlabour market, employment support includes: Job search assistance provided by the PES as for Latvian nationals; Relaxed conditions for employment; One-off payment (benefit in the amount of one minimum wage) when startingemployment or self -employment in Latvia.Currently, a PES modernisation project is being carried out in Latvia by OECD, with theLatvia Page 14439AnnexEuropean Commission Technical Support Instrument financin g. The aim is to harnessdigitalisation and boost the PES capacity to provide effective and efficient support tojobseekers, persons at risk of losing their job, and employers. Particular focus is set on profiling,skills assessment, matching, business int elligence, and analysis of linked administrative data tostrive for more evidence- informed policy making in the area of labour market policies.Since 2015, within the co -operation agreement between the public employment services of theBaltic States, the Baltic employment services carry out various information and experienceexchange activities. In 2023, the exchange of experience focused on external communication,key performance indicators, human resources, career guidance services and education, servicedesign, employment of persons with reduced workability, cooperation with social partners andmunicipalities, etc. In total, five events took place within the framework of the cooperationagreement. In 2024, cooperation activities will focus on the role of the PES call centres, recentreforms and the economic impact of the green transition as well as best practice exchangebetween regional offices.PensionsLatvia is currently developing a new long -term pension forecasting tool. To improvethe capacity of the staff involved in the project, study visits were organized in 2023 to Finland,Sweden and Norway to obtain information on solutions used in pension long -term forecasting.Regarding pension adequacy and sustainability, work is carried out at the EU level to producea new set of long -term projections of age -related expenditure reflected in the Ageing Reportand to evaluate adequacy aspects in the Pension adequacy report.Gender EqualityTo promote gender equality, the Gov ernment of Latvia adopted the plan developed by theMinistry of Welfare “On the Promotion of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Menfor 2021- 2023”. The aim of the plan is to ensure an integrated, targeted and effective policy thatpromotes equal rights and opportunities for women and men . To achieve this aim, actionsare taken in three directions:1) equal rights and opportunities for women and men in the labour market and education;2) prevention of domestic violence and gender -based violence;3) strengthening gender mainstreaming in sectoral policies.The Ministry of Welfare is currently working on a new plan for 2024 -2027 with a focus onpromoting equal opportunities for men and women in the labour market, fighting negativegender -based stereoty pes and fostering gender -mainstreaming in sectoral policies.Additionally, the Ministry of Welfare is currently coordinating the work on a plan for theprevention and combating of violence against women and domestic violence for 2024 -2029.The Plan is stru ctured in accordance with the four pillars of the Istanbul Convention:1) Preventive measures for the prevention of violence against women and domesticviolence;2) Ensuring protection and support measures for victims of violence and theirimprovement;3) Strengthe ning the responsibility of the perpetrator of violence, providing support andrehabilitation services;4) Creating a unified and coordinated policy in relation to violence against women anddomestic violence issues.19. protect the rights and ensure the safet y of refugees, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people,women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups who are particularly at risk in timesof war and threatened by intolerant attitudesLatvia Page 14540AnnexChildren at riskThe continuous and longstanding collaboration in the framework of the Council of the BalticSea States Children at Risk Expert Group has provided significant positive impact on theprotection of the rights of children as well as on the safety of children. Cooperation is based ontangible projects in line with the key priorities set by the Regional Strategy (2020 -2025) of theCouncil of the Baltic Sea States Children at Risk Expert Group:1) Strengthening child protection systems;2) Justice and recovery for child victims and witnesses of violence;3) Building part nerships for children’s rights, child protection and non -violent childhoods.Based on these priorities, the German Presidency of the Council of Baltic Sea States (July 2022- June 2023) devoted a special focus on protecting children from sexual violence an dexploitation. The Finnish Presidency (July 2023 – June 2024) focusses on preventing traffickingof children, in close collaboration with the Council of Baltic Sea States Task Force onTrafficking in Human Beings. The Finnish Presidency is also continuing paying attention tocounteracting violence against children.In addition to regional and international exchange of good practice events, the Council of BalticSea States significantly contributes via informative resources that are useful for professionalsworking with the child protection issues. Recent resources include mapping of national childprotection systems in the Baltic Sea region, registry of child protection practice, updatedaddendum to the guidelines on the promoting the human rights and the b est interests of the childin transnational child protection cases, etc.The Council of Baltic Sea States Children at Risk Expert Group has played a central role inleading and overseeing the development of the PROMISE Barnahus Network, and Latvia isits member since 2021. The Children at Risk Expert Group also contributed to promotingBarnahus by organising training on child forensic interviewing and therapeutic interventionsand facilitating dialogue and exchange between professionals. It is important to note that, inOctober 2023, Latvia opened Barnahus in Riga with the support of EEA/Norway Grants.LITHUANIALithuania Page 1471Regarding peaceful and reliable neighborliness and intense cooperation in the Baltic SeaRegion based on fundamental values toAs the war in Ukraine continues, justice remains even more important, and we must protectand commit to respect democratic values and the rule of law even more firmly. One of the main goalsof the Lithuanian Government is to increase transparency and publi c trust in justice institutions.People -centered justice systems are essential for strengthening democracy. Therefore, theGovernment of Lithuania seeks to:- ensure proper and efficient functioning of the judiciary and courts and access to justice,throu gh judicial map reforms, effective regulation, and distribution of the workload of the courts, andother regulatory measures, that ensure effective use of the resources allocated to the courts;- promote the use of digital technologies in courts in order t o ensure an even more convenientand accessible way to defend one's rights.- increase public trust in justice institutions, through openness and transparent activities ofthe courts.Lithuania acknowledges the importance to strengthen the role of the EU s trategy for theBaltic Sea region particularly in the current geopolitical context and the Russia’s aggression waragainst Ukraine. Therefore, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania is constantly acceleratingits efforts to enhance assistance for Ukra ine across all feasible avenues.On 28 February 2022, Lithuania became the first state in the world to request theInternational Criminal Court (hereinafter – ICC) to open an investigation into the situation in Ukraineunder the Rome Statute. The appeal se eks to prompt the ICC to undertake an investigation into thecircumstances surrounding war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Russia in Ukraine.Moreover, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania endorsed an initiative by the Ministry ofJustice to allocate a grant of EUR 300,000 to the ICC over the years 2022, 2023, and 2024 toinvestigate war crimes and crimes against humanity.On 2 March 2022, the first coordination meeting on judicial cooperation initiated by theRepublic of Lithuania, involving 31 countries, took place. To streamline the ongoing nationalinvestigations, on 25 March 2022 a Joint Investigation Team was established through thecollaborative efforts of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. This initiative garnered support fromadditional stakeholders, including Latvia, Estonia, Slovakia, Romania, the Prosecutor of theInternational Criminal Court, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation(Eurojust), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europ ol), and the UnitedStates.On 8 April 2022, the Ministers of Justice from the Baltic States announced their collectiveintention to synchronize their efforts regarding the accession to the ongoing case between Ukraineand the Russian federation at the Int ernational Court of Justice ( hereinafter – ICJ). This case, initiatedby Ukraine under the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of theCrime of Genocide, is of paramount importance. Notably, on 25 May 2022, the Government of theRepublic of Lithuania passed a resolution endorsing Lithuania's participation in the aforementionedcase on the side of Ukraine. This resolution authorized the Ministry of Justice to act as the legalrepresentative of the Republic of Lithuania. In September 2023, representatives of the Ministry ofJustice attended a hearing of the ICJ at which the intervening states in Ukraine v. Russia presentedtheir arguments on Russia’s abuse of the Genocide Convention and the Court's jurisdiction. Therepresentatives o f the Ministry of Justice highlighted Russia’s persistent aim to create an alternativeinternational law that denies the sovereignty of other states and the fundamental principles ofinternational law. Subsequently, on 2 February 2024, the ICJ issued a rul ing regarding theadmissibility of the case, with certain claims presented by Ukraine slated for further examination ontheir merits.Lithuania Page 1482As Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine continues, Lithuania further supports theglobal fight against impunity. I n January 2023, Lithuania joined an informal working group on theestablishment of a Special Tribunal on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.In March 2023, the Ministry of Justice formally joined a cross -border petition against Russia ,which was initiall y instigated by Ukraine and brought before the European Court of Human Rights.This petition accuses Russia of transgressing numerous articles outlined within the EuropeanConvention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, specifically Articles 3,4(2), 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14 of the Convention, along with Articles 1 and 2 of the First Protocol tothe Convention, and Articles 2 and 3 of the Fourth Protocol. Notably, an oral hearing for this case isscheduled to take place in June 20 24.Lithuania continuously contributes to strengthening a rules -based international order. Inorder to prevent impunity for the crime of aggression, Lithuania supported the opening of theInternational Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (hereinafter –ICPA), which was opened on 3 July 2023 in The Hague, the Kingdom of the Netherlands. ICPAserves as a pivotal hub for coordinating investigations into acts of aggression perpetrated againstUkraine. The primary objective of t he ICPA is to assist in the development of cases related toaggression crimes, ensuring the integrity of evidence and expediting the case preparation processduring its nascent stages.Action has also been taken at the expert level. In May 2023, the Ministry of Justice organisedan international conference to discuss possible solutions concerning the Lukashenko regime'sresponsibility for crimes against humanity. In addition, on 8 December 2023, Lithuania initiat ed anexpert discussion at the United Nations on responsibility for the crime of aggression. The event wasaimed at discussing the need to change the jurisdiction of the ICC regarding the crime of aggression.Finally, in other international formats, Lithua nia continues to promote the importance of universaljurisdiction in sharing the burden of prosecutions for international crimes committed in Ukraine.The cooperation formats of the Baltic States, both in trio and in conjunction with Poland, aswell as the NB8 framework in the field of internal affairs, have proven effective and steadilyadvancing. Additionally, in response to contemporary geopolitical challenges, a new format hasgained particular significance: cooperation of the Ministries of the Interior of Lithuania, Latvia,Estonia, Poland, Finland, Norway, and Ukraine – European countries bordering Russia and Belarus.On October 27, 2023, on the initiative of the Minister of the Interior Agnė Bilotaitė, a meeting of thisformat was organized in Vilnius .Discussions during the meeting focused on pertinent security challenges emanating from Russian warof aggression against Ukraine, issues pertaining to irregular migration and other hybrid threats as wellas support to Ukraine. A joint statement was adop ted by the participating countries, affirming theircommitment to deepening collaboration on internal security matters and bolstering the region'sresilience against shared threats.The consulting and coordination activities of the format will continue in 2024.Regarding the aspect of interregional cooperation, it is important to highlight , that during theimplementation of the cross -border cooperation programs of the European NeighbourhoodInstrument 2014 -2020 (Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus as well as Lith uania- Russia), challengesemerged since fraudulent elections in Belarus in August 2020 (followed by instrumentalization of themigrant flows by Belarussian regime) and February 2022 (Russian war of aggression againstUkraine). These factors had implication s on the cross -border cooperations programs, hindering theintended outcomes and causing difficulties for project institutions in consistently executing plannedactivities.Lithuania Page 1493Since October 2020, cooperation with the institutions of Belarus has been suspended and the paymentof funds to project partners from Belarus has been stopped. At the beginning of March 2022,immediately after the Russian Federation's military aggression against Ukraine, cooperation with bothneighbouring countries (Belarus and Russia) w as terminated.Pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2022/2192 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9November 2022, the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Instrument 2014 -2020cooperation programs continues only in Lithuania and Latvia.The programming activities of the European Neighbourhood Instrument programs for the period2021- 2027 were also terminated and in 2023, all funds of the European Regional Development Fundof the Republic of Lithuania were transferred to the 2021 -2027 INTERREG cross -border cooperationprograms for cooperation with Poland and Latvia.Regarding enhancing democratic resilience and boosting capabilities to face modern digitalchallenges toUnder Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 25 of the Constitution, the freedom to express beliefs,receive and disseminate information may be temporarily limited by law, if it is necessary to protectthe constitutional order, and when the freedom to express belie fs and disseminate information isincompatible with disinformation. The goals set out in points 17 and 18 are partially implemented bythe ban on rebroadcasting and (or) distributing on the Internet radio programs, television programsand (or) individual p rograms of entities established, directly or indirectly managed, controlled orfinanced by the Russian federation or the Republic of Belarus in the Republic of Lithuania fromSeptember 2022 (Law on Public Information), except for the specified cases, as we ll as the plannedextension of this ban.In order to protect journalists and human rights defenders who engage in public participationfrom manifestly unfounded or abusive proceedings (hereinafter – strategic claim), since the end of2022 a new procedure for the early dismissal of unfounded claims (hereinafter – the procedure) wasestablished in Article 951 of the Code of Civil Procedure of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter –the Code). This means that where the defendant considers that the claimant has brought a strategicclaim, the defendant has the right, in its statement of defence, to apply to the court for the applicationof the procedure. The court must assess the defendant's request for the procedure and the claimant’sresponse. Having found t hat the claimant has brought a strategic claim in bad faith, the court shallleave that claim unexamined.Articles 95 and 93(4) of the Code also provide other procedural rules against abuse ofproceedings:1) the person may be fined up to 5 000 EUR, up to 50 % of that fine may be awarded to theother person involved in the case (a so -called "private fine");2) the person may be ordered to compensate damages to the opposite party;3) where there are grounds for believing that the person is likely to abuse t he procedure, thecourt has the power to order that person to lodge a security to cover the costs of proceedings;4) the court may depart from the rules laid down for the allocation of costs, taking intoaccount whether the procedural conduct of the partie s was proper.Paragraph 1 of Article 29 of the Constitution of Republic of Lithuania consolidates theformal equality of all persons and Paragraph 2 of this article lays down the principle prohibiting thediscrimination of persons and the granting of privileges. The constitutional principle of the equalityof persons before the law means the innate right of an individual to be treated equally with others.Thus, Lithuania seeks to protect the rights of minor ities and to ensure the protection of their rights.Lithuania Page 1504Open discussions on various legislative topics (for example, practical issues of transgenderpeople) are continuously organized. Furthermore, legislative amendments ensuring protection ofvarious vulnera ble groups have been initiated (for example, draft law for Civil union law is currentlydiscussed in Seimas (e. i., the Parliament of Republic of Lithuania), draft laws concerning the removalof the possibility to restrict a person’s civil capacity are bei ng prepared.Regarding Strengthening the resilience of maritime ecosystems toThe co- operation in tourism among the Baltic States governments is coordinated with the Agreementon Co -operation in the field of tourism that was signed among the governments of Estonia, Latviaand Lithuania on June 26, 2002, based on which the general jo int activities to strengthen co -operationin tourism sector were defined.To ensure the implementation of the Agreement, the Baltic States have established a Joint TourismCommittee (JTC) consisting of tourism officials from the three countries. The aim of the Committeeis to implement joint proposals, programs and resolutions linked to the development of trilateral co -operation in the field of tourism. The last meeting took place in January 2024 in Tallinn.In 2024, Lithuania is organizing the traditional B2B event Baltic Connecting. The event connectsindustry professionals from long -haul travel markets with providers and DMCs in Lithuania, Latvia,and Estonia. It is the perfect place to build new relationships and discover new opportunities. Heldannually since 2016, Baltic Connecting aims to boost tourism flows to the Baltic region from distantmarkets including the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, andAustralia. The 2024 event will take place in the Lithuanian capita l Vilnius, and is co-organised by theLithuanian, Latvian and Estonian tourism boards.To promote Lithuania as a tourism destination, important international events will be organized inLithuania. The General meeting of the European Travel Commission with participation of tourismleaders from 35 countries will be held in Kaunas on May 22-24. The European SPA Congress withthe aim to promote health and Wellness Tourism will take place in resort Druskininkai on 25-27September.From September 12 to December 12, 2024, the Lithuania ’s season in France will be organized. Over200 events will unfold across France, featuring the participation of at least 500 artists, performers,and other cultural figures, alongside more than 120 bilateral cultural partnerships. The anticipatedturnout includes over half a million spectators and visitors.Regarding strengthening resilience of clime and biodiversity toActions to achieve clean, healthy and productive Baltic Sea concern a wide range of sectors and onlyclose inter -institutional and regional cooperation can contribute to the proper implementation of theactions and, considering the assessment of existing gaps, develop a follow -up action plan.In view of the vital importance of water, the activities associated with it are of great importance tothe state, society, the economy and the population, harmonising the various policies based on thecountry ’s traditions, the requirements of the European Union’ s, international conventions (incl. BalticSea Action Plan), resolutions, agreements and programmes, in 2022 the Government of the Republicof Lithuania approved the National Water Plan for 2022 -2027. The main objectives of the plan,involving differ ent institutions in its implementation, are to improve the status of surface water bodiesand groundwater bodies (by reducing pollution of water bodies from agricultural sources, reducingthe negative impact of hydromorphological changes on surface water b odies, reducing point pollutionLithuania Page 1515of water bodies, reducing pollution in the Baltic Sea area (eutrophication, chemical pollution(including chemical weapons buried at sea) and debris), halting the loss of biodiversity in the BalticSea, the degradation of th e quality of ecosystems and their services (with a strong focus on invasivealien species, disturbance of marine habitats, exploitation of commercial fish stocks, conservation ofhabitats of birds wintering at sea, etc.), strengthening the system of manag ement of water bodies andstate control of environmental protection in the water field.In 30 June 2021 Lithuania approved the National Climate Change Management Agenda, with thetargets and objectives for mitigation and adaptation. The goal of Lithuania ’s policy on adaptation toclimate change is to reduce the current and foreseeable vulnerabi lity of the country ’s naturalecosystems and economic sectors, to strengthen adaptive capacity, to cost -effectively mitigate risksand damage and to maintain and increase resilience to climate change, with a view to securing afavourable environment for pu blic life and sustainable economic activity so as to ensure foodproduction is not endangered.In water sector the key objectives for achieving the set target are as follows:1. to implement effective flood management, risk assessment and mitigation;2. to improve the management of surface water, groundwater and Baltic Sea water resources, to ensuregood groundwater quality, good environmental status of surface water bodies and the Baltic Sea;3. to modernise surface and rainwater run -off management infrast ructure and to ensure itsdevelopment in urbanised areas with a view to protecting them from the risks of excess water and toprevent pollutants from entering the environment and surface water bodies;4. when upgrading or creating rainwater collection and cooling infrastructure, priority should be givento green infrastructure and other solutions based on natural processes;5. to reduce the negative impact of water level rise, natural and catastrophic hydrometeorologicalphenomena on the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea by applying coastal management measures based onnatural analogues.One of the key objectives for achieving the set target in data and information collection anddissemination, is to continuously monitor and assess risks, vulnerability and ada ptation options indifferent sectors of the economy at international, national, regional and municipal levels is as follows:to participate in Baltic Sea Region and international climate monitoring programmes, to shareexperience, information and best prac tices on climate change adaptation in the most climate -vulnerable sectors of the economy.Coastal Management Plans for Ecosystem Protection and Climate ResilienceCoastal ecosystems play a crucial role in mitigating climate change impacts, acting as both c arbonsinks and buffer zones against sea -level rise. To safeguard and restore these vital ecosystems, effectivecoastal management plans are essential.In Lithuania, the Coastal Zone Law, in force since 2002 and subsequently amended, governs land andsea u se conditions, as well as economic activities within the coastal zone. The law mandates thatmeasures for preserving or restoring significant coastal features be outlined in the Coastal ZoneManagement Programme. This programme, initiated in 2003, is prepa red by the Ministry of theEnvironment and approved by the Minister of the Environment.Additionally, Lithuania fosters strong inter -institutional collaboration, particularly with scientificorganizations. These partnerships facilitate research, assessment of dune conditions, and evaluationof potential threats posed by severe storms, floods and climate change.Lithuania Page 1526By implementing robust coastal management plans, we can protect these valuable ecosystems andenhance our resilience in the face of environmental ch allenges.Marine Protected AreasLithuania owns a relatively small area of the Baltic Sea - 6512 km2, but the coverage of Lithuanianmarine protected areas is relatively high. Our marine protected areas cover 18.2 % (approx. 1190 km2)of Lithuania's Balt ic Sea waters.This goes well beyond the objective set in the Target of the Strategic plan of the Convention onBiological Diversity (adopted for the 2011 -2020 period) – by 2020 10 % of coastal and marine areasshould be protected. 34 % of Lithuania's ter ritorial waters and 6.3 % of Exclusive Economic Zone aredeclared as protected areas.All Lithuanian marine protected areas are also of international importance - they are included in theNatura 2000 network, and are also protected under the Helsinki (HEL COM) Convention. Ourprotected areas have been selected through a series of dedicated projects involving scientists fromvarious fields.We are discussing the possibilities of further enlargement following the targets set in the EUBiodiversity Strategy 2 030 and Kunming -Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.However, we still have challenges ahead: there are delays in setting the conservation objectivesrequired by the Habitats Directive and not all marine protected areas have their management plans.Specialists from the Ministry of Environment and scientists are actively working to address thesechallenges.Designation of "no -take" zones (any fishing, mining, drilling, or other extractive activities areprohibited) in particular parts of marine protecte d areas could be a solution for strict protection.Measuring the progress of conservation efforts, i.e. monitoring of marine areas, is a major challengedue to the need for special and expensive equipment (ships, aircraft, underwater cameras, etc.) andhighly skilled personnel.The proposal of EU Nature Restoration Regulation sets targets for marine ecosystem restoration. Theimplementation of them, filling knowledge gaps about the habitat state in marine areas will also be adifficult task for Lithuania.Baltic Sea Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Protection of Marine Mammals and Birds)The Baltic Sea Animal Rehabilitation Centre under the Lithuanian Sea Museum started operating inKlaipėda in autumn in 2022.The goal of the Centre is to nurse and treat seal s and birds that suffered from human activities. TheCentre aims to create a system for research and rescue of marine animals while meeting modernscientific and practical standards and to promote education for common society.In 2023 22 grey seal pups w ere taken to rehabilitation, 19 survived. 16 pups were tagged and releasedduring summer months.In the future we see the Centre as body responsible for sea mammal monitoring at national level andgood forum for organizing meetings among Baltic Sea Sta tes to discuss and agree on actions aimedto protect of the Baltic Sea.Marine biodiversity research, Capacity BuildingLithuania Page 1537Additionally, it should be mentioned that recently the Lithuanian State Service on Protected Areas andKlaipėda University joined international project ,,Enabling comprehensive effective and efficientprotection and restoration measures for a resilient Baltic Sea ecosystem ”, so called PROTECTBALTIC project. 17 partners of 7 Baltic Sea States participate in it.We believe the Project will enable to strengthen the management and monitoring of Lithuanian marineprotected areas (Natura 2000 areas) and ensure implementation of nature protection measures inthese territories.Invasive speciesAdditionally, in 2023 the Ministry of Environment and Nature Research Centre (scientific institution)finished the EU funded project ,,Invasive and potentially invasive species in Lithuania ” which aimsat marine wildlife research as well. The results of the Project will be use d for more effective invasivespecies management policy making.The main priorities in Lithuania are to prevent the introduction and spread of new invasive alienspecies (IAS), effectively eradicate invasive species in the Baltic Sea Region and to develop andexchange best practices.We focus on prioritization of high -risk pathways of IAS, harmonization of policies, the developmentof surveillance and early detection systems, sharing of data and best practices, IAS managementstrategies among countri es, support of research and innovation to develop new IAS managementstrategies and innovative eradication methods, engagement of local communities in monitoringefforts, organization of public awareness campaigns and education of stakeholders and enhance mentregional cooperation for coordinated action.EU Nature Restoration RegulationLithuania supports the proposal on the EU Nature Restoration Regulation as an important tool forimplementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and as well as an initia tive to halt the loss ofbiodiversity, including marine biodiversity, to contribute to the management of climate change andthe implementation of international obligations.Nature restoration goals set in the proposal will boost protection of marine area s as well.We believe the EU co -legislators will adopt the regulation shortly.It is important for Lithuania that sufficient flexibility is given in implementing the new provisions forecosystem restoration, taking into account national circumstances.In addition, it is crucial to ensure the necessary funding to achieve the goals of nature in the future.We strongly support the aim at putting in place an internationally legally binding agreement thatallows a shift to a more sustainable plastics ec onomy that minimizes plastics waste and its impact onthe environment and human health with the goal of ending plastic pollution and the ambition to reduceadditional plastic pollution to zero by 2040.In Lithuania we strongly believe that the principle of extended producer responsibility is key tosustainable plastics economy. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) can be implemented throughthe EPR schemes or so -called producer responsibility organisations. But it can also be implementedthrough the dedic ated taxes directly to the government. We trust that every country can choose themost suitable type or mix of types of extended producer responsibility. In Lithuania, the combinationof mandatory EPR scheme driven solely by the packaging producers and the pollution taxes to thegovernment led to the solely producers -financed deposit -refund system already collecting 95 percentLithuania Page 1548of plastic bottles and recycling them all back to bottles, therefore minimizing the need of primaryplastic production and at the sa me time preventing littering.In the last 2 years, Lithuania has done a lot of work to digitalize processes, which will allow us foran improvement in the condition of rivers, lakes and Baltic Sea in the near future. From 2020 togetherwith the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment is preparing technical assistance forthe balanced use of fertilizers. Fertilization methodology was updated with the support ofagrotechnology scientific institutions. Next to the Crop Declaration System, a fertil izer declarationsubsystem has been created and is already operating, fertilizer declaration subsystem is designed todeclare the amounts of used fertilizers at the field level. Last year a project was started to create afertilization tool that is free an d simple, farmers can create a fertilization plan for each field, accordingto the optimal fertilization rates. It is expected that the system will be connected to soil databases,which would reduce the need for individual soil tests for farmers. We believ e that the fertilization toolwill help farmers to use mineral and organic fertilizers in a more balanced and sustainable way, thefertilization tool will be economically useful for farmers, and we will achieve the main goal - reducethe leaching of nutrie nts into the water environment, and gradually improve the condition of waterbodies.The status of water bodies depends on the amount and characteristics of pollutants entering them.Many pollutants enter surface water bodies through discharges of wastewat er from point sources intothe natural environment. Under wastewater regulations in Lithuania, wastewater must be treated (incompliant wastewater management systems) before it is discharged into the natural environment.Only wastewater that has been treat ed to the required standards can be discharged into the naturalenvironment. The standards (for nitrogen/phosphorus) are also set for individually treated wastewater.As regards the treatment of centrally collected wastewater (from agglomerations), the req uirementsare becoming stricter with the new amended Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive coming intoforce. Efforts will be required, which will involve financial/administrative and other implementationchallenges, but this should contribute significantly to reducing nutrient runoff into the Baltic Sea.The dumped ammunition problem in the Lithuanian waters of the Baltic Sea was first investigated in2003 with the research of the sunken chemical weapons area by the scientific ship "Vėjas". Bottomsediment samples were taken for arsenic testing, which includes chemicals such as Clark I and II,adamsite, lysite, and others. Arsenic was detected, but its concentrations were not as high as in otherparts of the Baltic Sea. The study concludes that water depth, direction and velocity of water currents,temperature, oxygen concentration are factors that may prevent the development of harmfulsubstances, but they need to be monitored and further investigated. Further research took place in theframework of various international projects (CHEMSEA, MODUM, DAIMON), in which theEnvironmental Protection Agency was also a project partner. The projects involved scanning theseabed with modern technology, identifying and classifying more and more objects on the seabed,and detecting chemical weapons or other munitions at sea. Samples of water, bottom sediments andmarine organisms (fish, mollusks) were also taken, as well as concentrations of chemical weaponssubstances and their decomposition products. Biological research is also being carried out todetermine whether a chemical weapon affects the marine ecosystem and the organisms that inhabitit. In the case of offshore economic activities (fishing, gas pipelines, wind farms, etc.), specificcoordinates and detailed info rmation on chemical weapons graves are essential for the safety of all,both at sea and for us.The results of the surveys carried out in Lithuanian waters showed that chemical weapons are notcurrently a major threat in the Lithuanian economic zone - although traces of chemical weaponsagents were detected, they were found only at great depths and at low concentrations compared toother parts of the Baltic Sea. However, the problem may increase in the future, as studies have shownthat chemical warfare ag ents can accumulate in marine organisms, including fish. The removal ofchemical weapons from the seabed should be considered on a case -by-case basis, taking into accountLithuania Page 1559the risks, the quantities of buried weapons, the degree of corrosion of the objects, the release ofmaterials into the environment, etc. This requires detailed information, which is what the currentinvestigations are seeking to achieve, which is why we must continue to monitor the sinking ofchemical weapons in the Baltic Sea.At the regi onal level, the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) is focusingon chemical weapons buried in the Baltic Sea. The format of this organisation brings togetherinternational cooperation, knowledge and experience sharing. The environmenta l risks of dangerousunderwater objects are currently being addressed in the HELCOM SUBMERGED Working Group.On the HELCOM website, a map provides information on areas of buried chemical weapons andother munitions in the Baltic Sea, fishermen's reported d etections, etc.https://maps.helcom.fi/website/mapservice/index.htmlMonitoring of the potential impact of chemical weapons dumped in the Baltic Sea on the marineenvironment and on humans, participation in international organisations to share experience andinformation, and assessment of observational data on the potential impact of chemical weapons areforeseen as part of the implementation of the National Water Plan for 2022 -2027.Lithuania will participate in MUNIMAP project which addresses the threat of dumped munitions inthe Baltic Sea and Skagerrak, aiming to accelerate and coordinate remediation efforts at the BalticSea Region level. Duration of this project is 2024 -2027.POLANDPoland Page 1571Information on activities carried out by the Polish institutionsin order to implement Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) Resolutionadopted by the 3 2th BSPC on 29 August 2023 in BerlinMinistry of the Interior and AdministrationRegarding peaceful and reliable neighbourliness and intense cooperation in the Baltic SeaRegionCivil protectionThis cooperation is carried out within the framework of the CBSS Civil Protection Network . Thenetwork partners involve, among others, state i nstitutions (emergency services, crisis managementand civil protection agencies), academic entities, NGOs and local governments from the 10 CBSScountries.Member states taking over the annual presidency implement their priorities which at the sametime correspond to and implement the provisions of the Resolution. This approach enablesexchange of experience in various fields by experts from each member country, parallelly fosteringsynergies and new projects. The current Finnish presidency is pursuing the priorities ofcomprehensive security, shelters, emergency preparedness, cross -sector cooperation and buildingresilient societies. The German presidency was offshore wind energy, dumped munitions in theBaltic Sea and the role of youth in the area of civi l protection. The Norwegian presidency focusedon accelerating cooperation on green transformation, fostering regional identity and cooperation,civil society, working with young people, children at risk as well as human trafficking, organizedcrime and cy bercrime.The CBSS Secretariat together with the Swedish Contingency Agency (MSB) coordinates activitiesunder the Policy Area SECURE ("PA SECURE") of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region(EUSBSR).Polish representatives in the steering groups for cooperation within the CBSS Civil ProtectionNetwork and PA SECURE are representatives of the National Headquarters of the State FireService of Poland (KG PSP).The main areas of ongoing and planned initiatives include preparedness for threats arising due tothe security situation in the region, engagement of volunteers in civil protection activities,education of adults and children, effective crisis communication, psychological assistance, supportfor Ukraine in the challenges of Russian unjustified aggre ssion and gaining unique experience inthe operation of emergency services and civil protection administration during wartime.Cooperation within the EUCooperation of an operational nature is carried out within the framework of the EU CivilProtection Mec hanism (UCPM), a system for coordinating rescue and humanitarian assistanceafter disasters and crises.Assistance under the UCPM is sent by 37 participating countries. Requests for support can comefrom all countries of the world and authorized internatio nal organizations. The Polish 24 -hourcontact point coordinating the collection and dispatch of aid from the country is run by theNational Headquarters of the State Fire Service of Poland (KG PSP).Ukraine is a member of UCPM since 2023. Completed in record time (in less than a year), Ukraine'sjoining to the UCPM was supported by the transmission to the European Commission of a jointdeclaration signed in Warsaw in September 2022 by the heads of eme rgency services of Poland,Poland Page 1582Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine, as well as a series of activities aimed at transferringknowledge to Ukraine deriving from the experience of other countries cooperating within theUCPM.February 15, 2022. Ukraine launched its request in UCPM due to the threat of Russian aggression,which evolved into a full- scale armed attack. Since then, the ERCC (Emergency ResponseCoordination Center in Brussels) has received approximately 200 requests or updated lists ofneeds from Ukr ainian authorities.Given the increasing number of attacks on energy generation and transmission facilities, Ukrainehas consistently emphasized the need for passive protective devices for energy infrastructure,such as gabions and sandbags.Ukraine's needs related to the energy sector, as well as medicines, ambulances, trauma equipmentand CBRN equipment, remain further valid. In addition, demining is also a priority for the Ukrainianauthorities.Through the UCPM logistics hub in Poland (run by the Gover nment Strategic Reserves Agency),nearly 90,000 tons of aid from various UCPM countries, including Poland, have so far beendirected to Ukraine.Near Rzeszow, the UCPM also continues to operate (until November 30, 2024) as a hub formedical evacuation of patients from Ukraine, who are deployed to hospitals across Europe. Todate, more than 3,200 patient transport operations have been carried out. The hub is run by thePolish Center for International Aid in cooperation with the Ministry of Health.Representatives of the State Fire Service were involved in the activities of multinational expertteams (EUCPT - European Union Civil Protection Team) coordinating UCPM operations conductedin Poland in connection with the war in Ukraine.In response to di verse threats (natural, man -made disasters and other humanitarian crises), UCPMstates maintain permanent resource for international operations:Within the European Civil Protection Pool - resources declared by UCPM states from among thosealready establis hed in these countries (from Poland: civil protection modules ofthe State Fire Service and the Polish Center for International Assistance).Poland Page 159337 UCPM countries - involvement of the State Fire Service of Poland and the Governme ntStrategic Reserves Agency)The provisions of the Resolution are also implemented through bilateral cooperation of the StateFire Service of Poland with foreign partners based on the organization of various joint initiatives,including conferences, exercises, or projects. As examples of specific Baltic initiatives, within theframework of which the member states an d the State Fire Service have recently conductedcooperation, one can find in particular:- In Autumn 2024, the State Fire Service is planning to host firefighters from Lithuania, Latviaand Estonia in Poland, jointly forming the "BaltFloodCombat" high -capac ity pump module forflood operations, with the aim of comparing the experience of forming rescue groups for floodoperations.- The State Fire Service, together with its Lithuanian partners, is currently applying for aninvestment and training project within the INTERREG VI -A Lithuania -Poland 2021 -2027funds.Poland, alike other member states, is implementing a project to build a modern universal civilprotection system. The State Fire Service’s project entitled “Expansion of the warning and alertsystem”, im plemented under the MIAA program “Resilience to Crisis - Optimization of theInfrastructure of the State Security Services”, developed for the National Plan for Reconstructionand Resilience Improvement”. The most innovative, organizationally complex and t echnologicallyadvanced project implemented in the thirty -year history of the State Fire Service.Poland Page 1604Poland's experience in assisting Ukraine and its citizens was the subject of a study visit by theCBSS Civil Protection Network in 2022. It was attended by e xperts from Estonia, Finland,Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Sweden and the CBSS Secretariat. During the migration crisis related toRussia's aggression against Ukraine, the State Fire Service’s activities included, among others:organization and logistical se curity of reception points, logistical security at border crossings,railroad stations, organization of refugee transportation. The experts were as well introduced withtasks of other entities providing assistance during the Ukrainian migration influx.State Fire Service organizational units are implementing projects under the Polish Aid program,aimed primarily at the training area (expansion of training centers, preparation of trainingmethodologies, train the trainer and specialized counseling) and socia l prevention (creation of piloteducation rooms and development of methodologies/social campaigns). There are currently 6 PSPprojects underway for Ukraine under the Polish Aid.Due to the outbreak of Russia's war with Ukraine, Polish firefighters are supp orting Ukrainianrescuers through equipment collection from the State Fire Service and the Volunteer Fire Serviceunits. By the end of 2023, Polish firefighters had donated 2,895 pallets of equipment throughlogistics hubs operated by the State Fire Servi ce and 259 fire vehicles. They also coordinated thetransfer of firefighting equipment from other countries (in addition to activities undertaken underthe UCPM).On February 28, 2023, a conference on rescue and civil protection was held at the Belvedere,with the participation of the directors general of civil protection from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia andEstonia, organized by the National Security Bureau in cooperation with the State Fire Service. Thepurpose of the consultation was to analyze the challen ges for national civil protection systems inthe context of, among other, the experience of full -scale hostilities in Ukraine and pandemics. Theconference was also attended by representatives of Polish NGOs. One of the themes of theconference was the use of experience from the crises to increase the resilience of Poland and theBaltic States to threats and to build interoperability of emergency and civil protection services.Also discussed were the topics of strengthening international cooperation in resc ue operations,cooperation between state institutions and NGOs, the idea of "citizen rescue" and the use of newtechnologies to support civil protection systems.International Rescue Exercise COOPERATION 2023 - was held on September 4 -5, 2023 in theMazovian province. The exercises involved rescue subdivisions from the State Fire Service andspecialized rescue groups from Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, Moldova and Romania. During themaneuvers, the participants checked and perfected cooperation according to t he exercise scenario,which included the implementation of rescue tasks in the event of CBRNE threats related tochemical, biological and radiological rescue, as well as extinguishing large -scale forest fires with theuse of, among other, aircraft.On Sept ember 5 -8, 2023, an international rescue exercise "New Wave Poland 2023" took placeon the territory of Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki district (towns: Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, NowySecymin, Nowe Grochale), implemented within the framework of UCPM. The exercises wereattended by rescue groups from: Poland, Ukraine, Finland, Austria, Czech Republic, Belgium andCroatia. The scenario of the exercises included the occurrence of flood hazards along the Narewand Vistula rivers, and some of the episodes were related to, evac uation of the population withthe use of rescue boats, pumping water from flooded areas, supplying food to cut -off areas andflood containment.On 28- 29.09.2023, officers of the Civil Protection Department of the State Fire Service took partin an internat ional team of observers in the CREVEX 2023 (crisis evacuation exercise) crisismanagement exercise organized in Tallinn - the capital of Estonia. The main objectives of theexercise were to test: conducting rescue operations in an industrial area, crisis m anagement planand mass evacuation plan, cooperation and simultaneous operation of various crisis managementPoland Page 1615structures, crisis communication management, including the use of SMS notification and activationof emergency sirens.CASCADE project - "Local gov ernment action to support adaptation to climate change and relatedhazards." The result of the initiative is a ready- to-use kit for estimating risks related to climatechange risks (https://www.cascade -bsr.eu/toolbox) for local authorities, among others. O n thePolish side, the project involved the Main School of Fire Service, on the Swedish side - the SwedishContingency Agency and the Baltic University Program coordinated by Uppsala University;FIRE-IN project - a Polish- Swedish initiative. Established a pan-European network of securitypractitioners. In January 2022, a representative of the State Fire Service took part in the MEDEA& FIRE- IN videoconference, the purpose of which was to present solutions in the civil protectionmarket and enable contact w ith potential users. Polish institutions participating in the project werethe Main School of Fire Service and the Józef Tuliszkowski Scientific and Research Center for FireProtection - National Research Institute. The Swedish side was represented by the SwedishContingency Agency;NEEDS project - "Needs -based Education and Studies in Social Security." The goal of the NEEDSproject is to enhance the development of demand - and needs -based education by strengtheningcooperation between higher education insti tutions, experts and practitioners in the field. On thePolish side, the Main School of Fire Service participated in the project, while the Swedish DefenseUniversity was a partner. The project was co -financed by the European Union's Erasmus+program;BALTinnoSEC project - the purpose of the initiative was to analyze existing projects in the area ofcivil protection, with the aim of creating a cross -sectoral database of end -users (emergencyservices and civil protection), researchers, universities, technolo gy manufacturers and otherinnovative solutions from the countries of the Council of the Baltic Sea States for cooperation onspecific risks in this area. The project from the Polish side was implemented by the NationalHeadquarters of the State Fire Servi ce and the Main School of Fire Service. The SwedishContingency Agency was a partner. The project was funded by the Swedish Institute under theProject Support Facility for 2021 (PSF).UkraineThe legal basis for cooperation between the National Headquarters of the State Fire Service ofPoland and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine is the Agreement between the Governmentof the Republic of Poland and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on Co operation and MutualAssistance in the Field of Prevention of Disasters, Natural Disasters and Other ExtraordinaryEvents and Removal of Their Consequences, signed in Warsaw on July 19, 2002, which enteredinto force on January 21, 2004.Under this agreement cooperation between schools and universities is particularly noteworthy.The Fire Academy (former Main School of Fire Service) is implementing an agreement with theLviv State University for Life Safety to jointly conduct full- time, second -cycle studie s, and full -time,first-cycle studies jointly with the Cherkassy Institute for Fire Safety named after the Heroes ofChernobyl. Meanwhile, the Central School of the Polish Fire Service in Częstochowa hosted aworkshop on high -altitude rescue, and the Schoo l of Aspirants of the Polish Fire Service in Krakoworganized a training course on the methodology of teaching medical rescue for representatives ofthe State Emergency Service of Ukraine.Exemplary cooperation with the Ukrainian partner is marked by the p rovincial HQs of the StateFire Service in Krakow, Rzeszow, Lublin and Olsztyn, as well as the City HQ of the State FireService in Siedlce, which through the implementation of various initiatives, the organization ofmeetings and joint exercises, strength en the sense of security in the field of rescue and civilprotection, and build the Polish brand in the region.Poland Page 1626LithuaniaBilateral cooperation in the field of rescue is based on the Agreement between the Governmentof the Republic of Poland and the Govern ment of the Republic of Lithuania on cooperationand mutual assistance in case of disasters, natural calamities and other serious accidents, signed inWarsaw on April 4, 2000. The bodies responsible for the implementation of the above mentionedagreement and direct cooperation at the central level are the National Headquarters of the StateFire Service of Poland and the Department of Fire Protection and Rescue under the Ministry ofInternal Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. The agreement on the regiona l level is executed onthe part of the Republic of Poland by the Podlaskie Voivode and the Podlaskie Provincial ChiefCommandant of the State Fire Service in Bialystok, and on the part of Lithuania by the Departmentof Fire Protection and Rescue of the Min istry of Interior.The results of the cooperation carried out are presented at annual meetings of the Commissionon Rescue and Civil Protection in Emergency Conditions, operating under the Polish -UkrainianIntergovernmental Coordinating Council for Interre gional Cooperation. The co -chairs of this bodyare the Commander -in-Chief of the State Fire Service and the Head of the State EmergencyService of Ukraine.Police cooperationSupport for UkraineWithin the framework of international cooperation and coordin ation, officers of the PoliceHeadquarters analyse and record the protocols of interviewing witnesses (including victims). Aspart of the Joint International Investigation Team, they carry out activities in Ukraine using 3Dlaser scanners to document war d amage to public administration and civilian buildings (offices,schools, courts, houses and apartment blocks).Police Headquarters officers are implementing a project entitled: ‘Collection of evidence using 3Dlaser scanners during the inspection of event sites resulting from disasters, terrorist attacks or actsof war’, which aims to support the National Police of Ukraine with the latest technology (3D laserscanner ) in documenting war damage in Ukraine. The main objective of the project was to train agroup of Ukrainian police officers in the collection of evidence from complex incident sites resultingfrom disasters, terrorist activities or war damage using a 3D laser scanner. During the training,participants gained theoretical and practical knowledge o f in the field of:- the use of 3D laser scanners in criminal proceedings (legal aspect) as a tool for the rapidcollection of evidence of war damage, disasters and terrorist attacks on vast and inaccessibleterrain;- the possibility of using 3D laser scanner s (technical aspect) to record damage to criticalarchitecture (e.g. production plants, power stations, refineries, bridges) resulting from war,disasters and terrorist acts;- documenting damage to large -scale objects and surfaces, e.g. blocks of flats, str eets, shoppingcentres, etc;- modelling and combining images of scanned objects;- visualisation and presentation of the collated model of scanned objects for the needs of lawenforcement agencies and the judiciary (the Police, Prosecutor's Offices, Courts).From 18 to 21 December 2023 in Kiev, representatives of the National Police Headquartershanded over equipment worth PLN 500,000 to officers of the National Police of Ukraine, i.e. aphased- array laser scanner Z+F IMAGER 5016, a thermal imaging camera, two tripods, a tabletfor mobile work with the scanner, the Z+F LaserControl Office Premium Z+F software togetherwith a software including Plane ToPlane module, carrying case.Poland Page 1637Refugee arrival activitiesDue to the influx of refugees, 34 reception points were set up in Poland and the criminal servicecarried out operational tasks around the clock to ensure the safety of refugees, maintainingconstant contact with the administrators of the reception points. These activities were primarilyaimed at filtering ind ividuals and groups offering their assistance to refugees. In addition, theywere aimed at identifying potential victims of human trafficking and perpetrators of humantrafficking. Police officers of the criminal division were directed to serve in the bord er region. Allpolice officers who had contact with refugees from Ukraine additionally used instruments indicatedin the internal regulations of the Police (order of the Police Chief Commander) concerning humantrafficking. Since the beginning of the opera tion, the Police have carried out a total of 938 convoys(domestic and international) involving 205,096 persons, of whom 2.30 % (4708) were third -country nationals. From March 2023 until now, 21 police officers from other garrisons in thecountry and from the Police Headquarters (rotations take place on a weekly basis) have beensupporting the Central Bureau of Investigation of the Police during operations conducted withinthe framework of the operation conducted by the Rzeszów Police Headquarters.Humanit arian assistanceThe police are supporting the Ukrainian officers by providing the necessary equipment. The firstshipment of supplies already took place on 2 March 2022. At that time, 5214 bulletproof vestsand 954 ballistic helmets were handed over. The Central Forensic Laboratory of the Police andthe Police Logistics Bureau of the NHQ have the largest share in the transfer of the assortment.Activities of the criminal justice serviceBearing in mind that Ukrainian citizens, in particular women and chi ldren and unaccompaniedminors, may become a group at risk of human trafficking and related crimes, cooperation has beenintensified with the Ukrainian partner, which is increasingly providing signals on organised criminalgroups aiming to use Ukrainian ci tizens in this procedure. One of the newly observed trends wasattempts to carry out illegal adoptions of Ukrainian children evacuated from Ukrainian territory.Also observed trends was attempts to carry out illegal adoptions of Ukrainian children evacuate dfrom the territory of Ukraine. Within the framework of Police activities related to incominginformation in this respect, the rights of children were secured by establishing a legalrepresentative for them, which is a Polish institution. Thanks to such a ctions, the possibility ofchildren being illegally removed from the territory of Poland and becoming victims of humantrafficking was prevented. In addition, the Polish Police, as part of the work of individual operationalplans created under the EMPACT T HB platform, carry out activities aimed at combating andpreventing human trafficking. Particularly noteworthy is the creation of a specially dedicated groupin connection with the war situation in Ukraine. The group is tasked with identifying and combatin gorganised criminal groups trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual, labour or otherforms of exploitation in and within the EU, where the suspects and/or victims are from EasternPartnership countries (in particular Ukraine). A particular fo cus of the work has been on theexploitation of Ukrainian refugees.Within the framework of the maritime policy of the Republic of Poland, Polish Police carried outtasks related to combating organised and serious crime in the area of the countries of the BalticSea, in particular focusing on combating criminal groups moving and using ferries operating on theBaltic Sea to transport stolen and smuggled property. Two editions of OP TRIDENT activities werecarried out as part of the cyclical activities condu cted under EMPACT OPC 2.9.The first edition took place on 22- 26.05.2023 in Malmo (Sweden), the second edition on 10 -13.10.2023 in Copenhagen (Denmark). The activities on the Polish side involved the Police, BorderGuard and the National Revenue Administr ation, with representatives of the Police General HQPolice and the Border Guard present at the operations centre.Poland Page 1648In connection with the identification of this threat, the Central Bureau of Investigation hasdeveloped the „Preludium” project, which deals with the preparation of services of selectedEuropean countries (including training for officers from Lithuania and Ukraine) to counter thesmuggling of weapons from the territory of Ukraine, after the end of hostilities on its territory. The„Preludium” project was submitted on 3 April 2024, the decision to undertake implementation isexpected in the third quarter of 2024.Preventive and preventive actionOn 18th of October 2021 the Police have launched activities under the nationwide project entitled„Identification of victims of human trafficking as a basis for the victim to obtain suport”,implemented with funds from the EU Internal Security Fund, the Instrumen t for PoliceCooperation, Preventing and Combating Crime and Crisis Management. The project wasimplemented to the end of October 2023. The aim of the project was to increase the effectivenessof the police in identifying victims of human trafficking. The project included the development ofa social spot and an information brochure addressed to representatives of the public. It should benoted that although the project was not directly aimed at Ukrainian citizens (the political andeconomic situation was completely different at the stage of submitting the project application andreceiving funding), subtitles were developed for the social spot in four language versions (Polish,English, Ukrainian and Romanian). It should be noted that the social spot was broa dcast on onlineplatforms and social media of the police organisational units and is shared by police officers withpublic offices, non -governmental institutions, partners, etc. The film footage in question, withsubtitles in four language versions, was pr ovided to the police organisational units in order to usethis tool during their prevention tasks.In addition, the Police developed leaflets (in two language versions: Polish and Ukrainian - 500,000pieces) on the issue of human trafficking and missing pe rsons. The printed leaflets were handedover to all Provincial Police Headquarters/Municipal Police Headquarters in Warsaw . In additionto the printed leaflets, a graphic design was handed over to all PCCs/CSPs and police schools,which were able to add t o them on their own if necessary. The leaflets were distributed andhanded over by the Provincial Police Headquarters/State Police Headquarters to informationpoints, reception points, places of gathering and residence of refugees. On an ongoing basis, the reis cooperation with non -governmental organisations providing assistance to refugees as well as tovictims of crimes including crimes of a sexual nature or human trafficking.Training cooperation and other initiativesTraining on the investigation of wa r crimes entitled „The War Crimes Responder Training inContingency Forensics and Mass Fatality Awareness” organised by the UK Home Office from11.02- 24.02.2023, 4.03- 17.03.2023 and 18.03 -31.03.2023. This was a continuation of thetraining series started i n 2022. Each edition was attended by 20 representatives of the NationalPolice of Ukraine. The Police Training Centre in Legionowo provided accommodation and teachingfacilities as well as logistical support for the events in question.Training for 8 officers of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine of the Ministry of Internal Affairsof the Republic of Ukraine within the framework of a project implemented by the JapanInternational Cooperation Agency (JICA) in cooperation with the International SolidarityFoundation for the Ukrainian Emergency Service in the operation of the ALIS mine detector. ThePolice Training Centre in Legionowo's participation in the project consisted of providing access toland and premises as well as logistical and organisational s upport (date of implementation: 3 -7.07.2023).Training entitled „External examination of a corpse at the scene of its finding”, organised for 15officers of the National Police of Ukraine. The training took place within the framework of thePoland Aid 2023 programme, and was conducted by police teachers of the Special Training Unitof the Police Training Centre in Legionowo. As part of the project, four forensic cases and onePoland Page 1659camera were purchased and handed over to the Ukrainian side four forensic cases an d one camera(implementation date: 11 -15.09.2023).Border servicesRegarding para. 5 - intensify and deepen cooperation to develop better protection for criticalshared underwater infrastructure:The Border Guard vessels carry out activities in the field o f protection of common criticalunderwater infrastructure by physically patrolling the indicated areas, as well as constantobservation of the areas through the underwater infrastructure with using surveillance systems.An analysis of shipping traffic is c arried out on an ongoing basis in terms of assessing non -standardbehaviour of vessels deviating from the standards adopted in shipping. In addition, the BorderGuard vessels, while conducting border activities consisting in patrolling Polish maritime areas,carry out tasks related to escorting ships entering Polish ports with LNG cargo or other dangerouscargo, which may be the object of a terrorist attack. It should also be noted that there is a widecooperation between the services and institutions invol ved in ensuring the safety of underwaterinstallations, which is carried out by the Border Guard both at the national and international level.Regarding para. 10 - expand cross -border, transnational, and inter -regional cooperation(Interreg) and strengthen synergies between the different Baltic Sea policy cooperationformats:As in previous years, the Border Guard implements multilateral cooperation within the Baltic SeaRegion Border Control Cooperation Forum (BSRBCC). As a platform for cooperati on betweenborder and police services at the regional level, the BSRBCC focuses on ensuring border security,preventing and combating cross- border crime, with particular focuses on illegal migration,smuggling of goods, as well as violations of maritime re gulations. The BSRBCC includes ongoinginformation exchange, exchange of experts, improvement trainings, marine and land operations,expert- level meetings on selected cooperation issues, as well as common analysis of threats in theregion. The BSRBCC cooperates with a number of border security interoperability forums. Themain partner of the forum is the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).In 2024, the rotating presidency of the BSRBCC, as previously declared, was taken over by theFinnish Bo rder Guard. During the presidency of the Finnish Border Guard in 2024, the borderand police services of the following countries of the Baltic Sea Region cooperate in the forum:Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Polish, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Swed en. Iceland hasobserver status on the forum. The strategic partner supporting the activities of the BSRBCCpresiding state is the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). The same as in thecase during the Polish (Border Guard) Presidency of the BSRBCC in 2023, the Finnish BorderGuard does not invite representatives of Russia to participate in activities implemented with theBSRBCC Action Plan 2024.On March 9- 21, 2024, during the first meeting of the Baltic Border Committee (BBC) organizedas part of the Finnish Presidency of the BSRBCC forum, the Estonian side proposed to includeUkraine in the BSRBCC cooperation. The priority of the Estonian presidency within the Forum(2025), will be strong support for the Ukrainian partner (by the organizatio n of common workshopsand specially dedicated projects).The Polish side expressed the opinion that Ukraine's participation in the activities carried out bythe BSRBCC may be considered in terms of participation in meetings during which sensitive datawill not be exchanged. It should be noted that it is up to the state holding the presidency of theBSRBCC to decide whether to invite a country that is not a formal member of the forum toparticipate.Regarding enhancing democratic resilience and boosting cap abilities to face modern digitalchallengesPoland Page 16610Regarding para. 21 - improve legislation and measures to protect democratic processes andinstitutions from cyber threats:- participation in the process of opinions and agreeing on legal acts on the national cyber securitysystem and other areas of cybersecurity in Poland.- Regular training in the field of ICT security for officers, which help to increase awareness ofthreats and teach good practices, such as safe use of computers and mobile devices.- regular updates of the BG's software and ICT systems containing the latest security patches,eliminating known threats to potential adversaries.- Setting up and maintaining strong firewalls and antimalware/anti -APT software – which helpsto block and detect malware, and un authorized access,- Limiting access to the Border Guard's ICT systems only to those employees who need it canminimize the risk of security breaches. Privilege management, including regular reviews andupdates,- implementation monitoring of event and inciden t response (SIEM) systems as part of the BGcybersecurity system enabling quick detection of unusual activities and taking appropriateaction in the event of an attack,- Create backups of the data of relevant BG systems regularly prevents data loss of a fai lure orother incident that may lead to data loss,- Keeping up with the latest trends and developments in the field of ICT security in the changinglandscape of cyber IT threats.Regarding para. 22 - increase public awareness and digital literacy to enable citizens to identifyand mitigate the risks of misinformation and disinformation- Training in ICT security for officers and employees of the Border Guard. They help to increasethe awareness of the Border Guard staff, also in terms of the current tec hnical capabilities ofpotential adversaries in the field of deliberate disinformation, e.g. using fake accounts or theuse of artificial intelligence techniques,- informing the Border Guard personnel on an ongoing basis by the Security Operations Centerteam of the Border Guard about the currently ongoing campaigns that can be used againstthe Border Guards,- promoting government forms of instant communication (such as the Threema OnPremcommunicator), limiting the attack area using more widespread communica tors such asWhatsapp.Regarding para. 26 – enhance the security and resilience of the Baltic Sea Region bystrengthening cooperation in areas such as defence, energy security, and cyber security- Cooperation with government entities and institutions in the field of counteracting currentthreats to ICT security- Cooperation with providers of security services and solutions used in the Border Guardinfrastructure – allows access to knowledge about vulnerabilities in these solutions even beforeit is disclosed/ published,- participation in conferences and trainings that enable the sharing of experiences and bestpractices in the field of ICT security,Poland Page 16711- participation in nationwide exercises and simulations of cyberattacks helping to improve theability to respond to incidents and identify areas for improvement,- cooperation with research institutions (such as NASK), thanks to which it is possible to gainaccess to extensive knowledge in the field of new ICT security solutions present on the market.Regarding strengthening the resilience of maritime ecosystemsRegarding para. 35 - ensure a quick and strict implementation of the updated Baltic Sea ActionPlan and its associated action documents within the agreed timelines in all democratic 272HELCOM member sta tes to achieve a good ecological status of the Baltic Sea by 273 the endof the decade and consider as far as possible implementing further 274 measures from thepolicy -relevant suggestions for various policy areas in the HELCOM 2021 Climate Change inthe Baltic Sea Fact Sheet to reach this goal:As part of HELCOM, joint patrols are carried out with the use of Border Guard vessels, in whichinspectors from the locally competent Provincial Inspectorates of Environmental Protection andMaritime Offices partic ipate. The purpose of these projects is to control compliance with theregulations on the protection of the marine environment, as well as to conduct research on thequality of this environment, observation and assessment of its condition and changes takin g placein it. To this end, as part of the monitoring of transitional and coastal waters, inspectors from thedeck of Border Guard vessels take water samples in the territorial sea and internal sea waters.Ministry of Family, Labour and Social PolicyThe main activities undertaken by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy since the adoption ofResolution XXXII of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in the field oflabor market policy include:1. Preparation of a draft act on the labor market and employment services, which aims tostrengthen public employment services so that they can act more effectively to increase the levelof professional activity (in response to demographic changes) and improve the qualifications ofworking, unemployed and job -seeking people. Currently, the project is at the stage of internalarrangements.2. Preparation of a draft act on foreigners' access to the labor market, which is intended tosort out the issues of integration of immigrants in the Polish labor market and improve the qualityof their service by public employment services. Currently, the project is at the stage of internalarrangements.3. Establishment of the Council for Women in the Labor Market, which is a consultative andadvisory body of the minister responsible for labor matters. The tasks of the Council include, inparticular, initiating activities for equality between women and men, as well as developing andgiving opinions on proposals for solutions in this area.4. Finalization of the program ent itled "Together We Can More - First Edition of theActivation Program for Foreigners for 2022 -2023", which is a pioneering project supporting theintegration of immigrants in Poland.5. Launching projects under the FERS program, which are aimed at support ing particularlysensitive groups in entering the labor market and at better preparing the Polish labor market forchanges resulting from the EU climate policy:• "Development and implementation of a system for strategic forecasting the demand forskills in the area of green and digital economy."Poland Page 16812• "Coordination of support for young and long -term unemployed people on the labor marketand strengthening its effectiveness at the national level."Ministry of Climate and EnvironmentThe most important action related to the implementation of Resolution of the 32 Baltic SeaParliamentary Conference is the planned strengthening of the protective role of forests in thecoastal zone of the Baltic Sea , in particular the anti -erosion role (protection against wind activity).This action is to be implemented, among others: by amending the Nature Protection Act and theAct on Forests.These changes include, among others: including in the process of prepar ing a forest managementplans the authorities competent in the areas affected by the forest management plan. In the fieldof nature protection, it is planned to agree on a forest management plan with the regional directorof environmental protection or the General Director of Environmental Protection, who will seekthe opinion of the relevant regional nature protection council. In the scope affecting the coastalstrip, for which a forest management plan is not prepared by the director of the maritime office ,the planned change requires the plan to be agreed with the director of the maritime office. Areliable assessment (verification) of the forest management plan by the minister responsible forthe environment requires, at the stage of preparing the forest management plan, opinions orarrangements for the draft plan in specialized areas in which the forest management planinterferes. This includes, among others: management of forests in the coastal zone, for which aforest management plan is not prepared by the director of the maritime office.Therefore, the Ministry of Climate and Environment submitted an application to enter the draftamendments to the Forest Act into the list of legislative works of the Council of Ministers. Theproject includes, among ot hers: changes in the procedure for preparing a forest management plan,providing for, among others, the above -mentioned agreements on the forest management planwith the director of the maritime office in the scope affecting the coastal strip, for which th e forestmanagement plan is not prepared by the director of the maritime office.In addition, forests in coastal areas will also be affected by other proposed modifications to theprovisions of the Act on Forests regarding changes to the procedure for preparing a forestmanagement plans. The planned changes will also include direct and indirect inclusion of societyin the process of preparing a forest management plans. Direct inclusion will ensure publicparticipation at every stage of preparing a forest ma nagement plan, including: by introducing formsof public consultations enabling active participation of stakeholders, providing information aboutthe adopted solutions in the draft forest management plan in a non -specialized language,conducting educationa l and information activities, and ensuring access to consultations for peoplewith special needs. Indirect public participation will consist of introducing the obligation to providean opinion on the draft forest management plan by municipality council in the territory for whichthe forest management plan is being prepared, and to consider the annual reports of the foresterby municipality councils on the implementation of forest management plans.Regarding para. 43 - incentivise renewable energy developme nt by shortening the permittingprocess for wind, solar, other clean and stable energy sources;Currently, we are working on implementing the RED3 provisions on shortening the permit –granting procedures in line with Articles 16 and 16b of the Directive. Our main goal is to ensurethat such a procedure will not exceed two years for renewable energy projects outside therenewables acceleration areas.Poland Page 16913Lengthy and complex procedures were defined as one of main bottlenecks for acceleration of thedeployment of renewable energy sources. Although the implementation of the RED3 provisionsremains a demanding challenge for the civil service and administrative bodies, such a measure isof a key importance in the context of achieving our climate goals.Furthermore, the Ministry of Climate and Environment of Poland, in cooperation with otherdedicated administrative bodies, is working on implementation of renewables acceleration areas inaccordance with Article 15c of RED3 Directive. The permitting procedures inside s uch areas willnot exceed one year.The areas will be designed and adopted in accordance with the guidelines from dedicatedDirective’s articles, on designated land, inland water or sea areas, where the deployment ofrenewable energy infrastructure is not expected to have a significant impact on environment –mostly on artificial surfaces, excluding Natura 2000 sites and other areas designated under naturalprotection schemes.Regarding para. 60 - the initiation of a cross -sectoral, multidisciplinary, and macro- regionaldialogue on underwater munitions in line with its previous demands during the round table ofexperts in Kiel in December 2022 and the joint consultation of HELCOM and the CBSS in April2023;The Chief Inspector of Environmental Protection takes part in the work specified in point 60 ofthe resolution. Representatives of the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection take anactive part in the work of the Interministerial Team for Hazardous Materials in the Maritime Areasof the Republic of Poland, established by Order No. 345 of the Prime Minister of the Republic ofPoland of October 20, 2022. A representative of the Chief Inspectorate of EnvironmentalProtection, authorized by the Minister of Climate and Environment, serves as the third deputychairman.The Chief Inspector of Environmental Protection has been monitoring arsenic, PAHs and the oilindex since 2015 in transitional and coastal waters of the Polish Marine Areas. Moreover, the ChiefInspector of Environmental Protection included substances that potentially may be released fromchemical weapons or fuel from wrecks in the update of the monitoring programme of the marinewater, and monitors substances in organisms and sediments for the purposes of assessing thestate of the marine water environment .Ministry of Foreign AffairsThe Baltic Sea Region has become , as a result of political and security changes in the internationalenvironment, particularly important both for Poland and for the strategic and security interests ofNATO and the European Union.It is becoming one of the key pillars of European security and stability. Poland and the Nordic andBaltic countries present a similar posi tion in the face of the threat from Russia and the need toprovide support to Ukraine in the military, economic and political dimensions, which provides goodbasis for the development of not only active bilateral, but also regional cooperation that refers toforeign and security policy , European policy and sectoral relations.Regional challenges cover a wide spectrum of issues: from civil security and building the resilienceof societies, counteracting human trafficking, through improving the natural envir onment andPoland Page 17014water management, innovation, safe and clean maritime navigation, to youth cooperation,education, culture and tourism.Poland is actively engaged in building effective formats of regional cooperation in the Baltic SeaRegion , already without Russia. For us it is primarily the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS),the only intergovernmental organization grouping all the NATO and EU countries active in theBaltic Sea area. CBSS. I n terms of political dialogue, CBSS provides a platform to advance theissues important for long -term development and cooperation in the Baltic Sea region. Practicalcooperation, aimed at delivering concrete results, is based on three CBSS long -term priorities –Regional Identity, Safe and Secure Reg ion and Sustainable and Prosperous Region. Taking intoaccount the changing security environment, the main focus is on the activities placed in theframework of the Safe and Secure issues de strengthening resilience and sustainability.In the framework of EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region , Poland cooperates closely withDenmark, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Germany. This cooperation it carried outat various levels: governmental, regional and local, with the participation of research and academiccentres, structures of regional cooperation, non -governmental organizations and business. Theactivities of the stakeholders of EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region focus both on practicalaspects of local importance and cover the most impor tant political challenges in the Baltic SeaRegion.The issue of support for Ukraine is constantly present in the discussion at the forum of the Groupof National Coordinators and Poland treats the Strategy as a tool enabling the implementation offurther initiatives in this area. Possibilities and proposals for cooperation and support are constantlyanalysed and if they are positively assessed, put in practice.Regarding Ukraine - energy security:Poland is concerned by the repeating reports of Russian attacks launched against Ukraine’s criticalinfrastructure that undermine energy security for Ukraine and the whole our region. To face this problem,we undertake numerous activities, including:1) Providing Ukraine with in -kind support. State Agency for Strategic Reserves runs „rescEU Energyhub” – EU channel of acquisition and transfer of energy equipment. Only between January and April 2024we transferred i.e. power generators, equipment and vehicles. Since the beginning of war around 700 tonnesand 100 train carriages of energy support have been shipped. We provide ongoing support related toemergency power supply to UA to balance their grid.2) Advocating for Ukraine’s energy security on the international levelPoland, together with Norway and Denmark, leads the Peace Formula 3rd Working Group. The focus of thePeace Formula is to establish a framework for future peace agreements between Russia and Ukraine, andits 3rd (out of 10) group focuses on securing Ukraine's energy security.Re. Ukraine - cybersecurity:Ensuring cybersecurity is one of the major challenges in light of the Russian attack on Ukraine. To face it,Poland decided to join the “Tallinn Mechanism” that was launched last year (December, 20). Its aim is tostrengthen the cooperation of NATO Allied States in coordinating their activities to support Ukraine in thearea of cybersecurity. As part of this initiative, Poland has agreed to act as a Back Office for Ukraine . Therole of the Back Office is to (1) gather Kyiv’s cybersecurity requirements and ( 2) gather offers of assistanceto Kyiv from the group members.Re. activities in the international arena that contribute to minimizing the threats resulting fromthe presence of hazardous materials at the bottom of the Baltic SeaPoland Page 17115Poland supports all act ivities in the international arena that contribute to minimizing the threatsresulting from the presence of hazardous materials at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. This applies inparticular to chemical weapons. In this context, Poland has been working for ye ars at theOrganization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to convince our partners and theOPCW to address the issue of dumped chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea. This is a difficult andlengthy process, considering the fact that the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) provides forthe possibility for the parties to the convention to exclude issues related to the dumping ofchemical weapons at sea, provided that it took place before January 1, 1985.In order to attract interest of other countries in the topic, Poland periodically organizes events onthe sidelines of the Conference of States Parties to the CWC in The Hague to promote theproblem of dumped chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea. The last on e took place at the end ofNovember 2023 and was co -organized with Germany and Lithuania. One of the invited expertswas prof. Jacek Bełdowski from the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.In 2023, Poland also actively sought to incl ude the issue of dumped chemical weapons in theagenda of the 5th CWC Review Conference (May 2023). In preparation for the ReviewConference, we have prepared a joint document devoted to this issue (Broadening InternationalCooperation on Sea- Dumped Chemic al Weapons and Promoting the OPCW as a Forum forVoluntary Cooperation on the Issue), which was supported by 15 countries (Bulgaria, Colombia,Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, NorthMacedonia, Polan d, Romania and Ukraine). For the first time, it was also possible to introduceprovisions regarding dumped chemical weapons into the EU's priorities for the ReviewConference.During the Conference, the Polish delegation managed to negotiate provisions re garding OPCWsupport for voluntary cooperation of states parties to the convention in counteracting andminimizing threats related to dumped chemical weapons, but ultimately it was not possible to adoptthe final document of the Review Conference, proceedi ng on the basis of the consensus principle,because it was blocked by Russia.We intend to continue promoting the issue of dumped chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea, also inthe context of Poland's current membership in the OPCW Executive Council (two -year termstarting from May 12, 2024).Regarding the issue of safety and security of Ukrainian nuclear installations currently beingoccupied by Russian troops, Poland constantly supports both politically and logistically the IAEA inits mission to monitor and verify situation in and around the facilities, in particular ZNPP. We aregrateful to the IAEA for informing in ternational community about the situation in the Ukrainiannuclear facilities, what gives the necessary data for preparing new resolutions at the IAEA Boardof Governors and the IAEA General Conference.Regarding para 13. Supporting democratic development s in the neighbouring countries of the BalticSea Region, especially strengthening democratic stakeholders for a democratic development of Belarusand Russia;BelarusPoland actively supports the aspirations of the Belarusian people to have their own indep endent anddemocratic state. Belarusian issues are constantly raised by Poland at international platforms, particularly theEU. We remain especially active in working to bring those involved in human rights violations in Belarusunder international sanctio ns.Poland Page 17216Poland invariably express es its support for the activities of the Belarusian democratic opposition circles andadvocate the recognition of the pro -European aspirations of Belarusians and their place in the Europeanfamily. Poland continued its open -door policy by becoming home to tens of thousands of Belarusians forcedto leave the country of their citizenship.We took it upon ourselves to counteract the effects of the regime's legislative changes, which deprived theBelarusian diaspora of access to basic consular services.We maintain working contacts with the Belarusian authorities and use these contacts to call for the releaseof all political prisoners and dialogue with independent circles.RussiaPoland consequently su pports all kinds of activity of representatives of Russian society (especially opposition,activists and journalists) aiming at weakening current authoritarian system in Russia and claiming democraticvalues.Poland has been providing emergency support an d issuing national visas for Russian citizens (activists,representatives of opposition and independent media) for couple of years now. Our main criteria for issuingvisas are: risk of persecution in Russia, history of involvement in independent activities and anti -war stance.Since 2021 we have issued around 2500 humanitarian visas for Russian citizens.The Polish MFA cooperates closely with PL -based NGOs offering support for Russian civil societyrepresentatives in exile (Solidarity Fund, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, WOT Foundation, FreeRussia Foundation, Mieroszewski Centre). These organizations assist Russian HRDs at risk supporting theirvisa applications, offering legal advice, psychological support, language courses, and networkingopportunities.The Polish MFA, together with partners, organizes annual event With Russians about Russia in order toactivate, integrate and map the independent d iaspora in Poland.Poland has established a relatively small scholarship program dedicated to Russian students who were unableto continue with education for political reasons (or could not start studies for these reasons).Since the beginning of Russia's armed invasion of Ukraine, Poland has continued its policy of completelyisolating Moscow. We have also played a significant role in initiating exclusion of Russia from internationalorganizations and formats of international cooperation.Ministry of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentRegarding para. 12 of the resolution :• A representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is acting as a focalpoint in the Bioeconomy thematic area of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region(SUERMB). A meeting of the Steering Group under the Bioeconomy thematic area was held onFebruary 20, 2024.Regarding para. 28 of the resolution :• The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has taken measures to reduce theimpact of fisheries on marine ecosystems, including, among others, through the introduction ofareas with increased protection of Baltic harbor porpoises from incidental catch (under ECDelegated Regulation 2022/303), as well as through the establishment of areas f ree from bottomtrawling (Regulation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on the size andprotection periods of marine organisms and detailed conditions for commercial fishing (Journal ofPoland Page 17317Laws 2019, item 1701, as amended), which contributes to increased protection of underseahabitats.• The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has commissioned the Marine FisheriesInstitute - PIB to carry out the task entitled Developing a concept for the analysis of the impact ofdeposited hazardous materials on the ichthyofauna of the Baltic Sea and the fisheries sector,together with a description of the current status. The purpose of the task is to develop acomprehensive research program for the Baltic Sea to assess the impact of hazardous materi alsdeposited on the seabed on ichthyofauna and fisheries in Polish marine areas.Regarding para. 35 of the resolution :• Poland is actively involved in the implementation of tasks under the HELCOM Baltic SeaAction Plan, including through participation in H ELCOM meetings, providing data and informationon activities related to fisheries management and reducing the impact of fisheries on marineecosystems (this applies especially to BSAP activities: S40, S41, S33, S44, S46, S47), as well asthrough participat ion in the implementation of action B8 (action dedicated to porpoise) and actionB18 (action dedicated to sturgeon).Regarding para. 50 of the resolution :• Poland is implementing the provisions of the resolution adopted by the 32nd Baltic SeaParliamentary Conference on the maintenance of biodiversity.• As a member of the European Union, Poland implements the provisions of Regulation (EU)No. 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on theCommon Fisheries Policy (CFP).• The CFP is an exclusive competence of the EU and requires that a country's fishing andaquaculture activities be, in the long term, environmentally sustainable. Therefore, the CFPpromotes the application of a precautionary approach to fisheries management an d aims to ensurethat the exploitation of living marine resources rebuilds and maintains populations of harvestedspecies above levels that achieve maximum sustainable yield.• EU member states, including Poland, protect fish stocks in accordance with the be stavailable science. Scientific opinions, issued annually by the International Council for theExploration of the Sea (ICES), are the basis for the EU Council to set fishing quotas in the BalticSea and adopt appropriate conservation measures.• Poland tak es an active part in the implementation of tasks within BALTFISH (Baltic SeaFisheries Forum), where it is currently completing its annual presidency.• Cooperation also takes place within the regional advisory organization BSAC (Baltic SeaAdvisory Council ), where the process of shaping Baltic fisheries policies at the regional level issupported. BSAC provides advice on fisheries management in the Baltic Sea and supports theimplementation of the objectives of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.• In addition, u ntil the Russian aggression against Ukraine, there was also cooperation withinthe framework of the Polish- Russian Joint Commission on Fisheries Management. So far, thecooperation has concerned the execution and control of sea fisheries in the shared wate rs of theVistula Lagoon.• In the area of the waters of the Vistula Lagoon, every year, within the framework of thefunds of the minister responsible for fisheries, resource surveys are carried out by the Sea FisheriesInstitute - National Research Institut e in order to ensure that the management of living fishresources is carried out there in a sustainable manner.• With regard to the activities included in the above -mentioned resolution of actions onbiodiversity, the Strategic Plan for the CAP for 2023 -2027 has implemented conditionality, whichis an essential element of "green architecture." It is a combination and reinforcement of therequirements of cross- compliance and greening, which were in effect until 2022.• Conditionality is mandatory for a farmer a pplying for direct payments, among other things.It is also the basis for defining requirements for additionally paid, voluntary measures taken by thefarmer. Conditionality, like cross -compliance, consists of: the Good Agricultural and EnvironmentalPoland Page 17418Condi tion of Land (GAEC) standards, or GAEC standards, and Statutory ManagementRequirements (SMRs), or SMRs.• Ecoschemes are also an instrument for achieving the environmental and climate goals ofthe new CAP. They are a new pro -environmental component of the direct payment system,supporting the implementation of practices that benefit the environment, climate and animalwelfare. These are annual, voluntary and extra -paid practices, tailored to national conditions andneeds, to protect soil, water, climate, animal welfare and biodiversity resources in agriculturalproduction. In Poland, the ecoschemes are designed to promote practices that translate intoagricultural income by increasing soil fertility, rational fertilization, improving crop quality. This isprimarily served by the Carbon Agriculture and Nutrient Management ecoscheme, under whichfarmers can choose from eigh t available practices those that best meet the needs of their farm.• In addition, agri -environmental- climate payments are being implemented for the measuresincluded in the aforementioned biodiversity resolution, under the Strategic Plan for the CAP 2023 -2027 as well as the Rural Development Program 2014- 2020. Beneficiaries implement 5- yearcommitments consisting of specific requirements that favor the natural environment in rural areas.Particularly important in the context of biodiversity are nature interv entions aimed at restoring ormaintaining traditional and extensive use of valuable meadows and pastures both for Natura 2000areas and beyond.• In the issue of strengthening climate and biodiversity resilience to climate change in termsof encouraging the development of renewable energy sources by shortening the permittingprocess for wind, solar and other clean and stable energy sources (paragraph 43), Poland hasintroduced legal regulations to facilitate and accelerate the preparation and implementation o finvestments in agricultural biogas plants, as well as energy cooperatives. The Law of July 13, 2023on Facilitation of Preparation and Execution of Investments in Agricultural Biogas Plants, as wellas their Operation (Journal of Laws of 2023, item 1597) introduces facilitation in the process ofconstruction and operation of agricultural biogas plants.• On October 17, 2023, Resolution No. 193 of the Council of Ministers was adopted toadopt an update to the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Rural Are as, Agriculture andFisheries 2030 (SZRWRiR 2030). The Strategy is the basic strategic document of the state'sagricultural and rural development policy. The document presents the objectives, directions ofintervention, activities and strategic projects pl anned for implementation in the 2030 perspective.The purpose of updating the strategy was to strengthen public action in the area of ensuring foodsecurity and increasing the resilience of the agri -food sector to crises.Ministry of InfrastructureIt is estimated that shipping is responsible for the global transfer of over 10 billion tons of ballastwater annually, as a result of which approximately 10,000 marine species are transported in ballastwater every day. An example of Poland's cooperation to prevent the introduction and spread ofnew invasive alien species in the Baltic Sea region may be the fact that from 2020 Poland is aparty to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Waterand Sediments, 2004 (BWM Convention). This is the first international convention that introduceslegal and technical instruments regarding the risks arising from the movement of organisms inballast water. The purpose of the BWM Convention is to prevent, reduce and, where possible,eliminate the transmission of alien organisms and pathogens through the control and managementof ships' ballast water and sediments. Poland, in compliance with the requirements of theConvention, ensures that in designated ports and terminals where clean ing or repair of ballasttanks takes place, there are appropriate facilities for receiving sediments. At the Port of Gdańsk, itPoland Page 17519is possible to dispose of ballast water that does not meet the requirements of the Conventionusing specialized devices.Poland acts decisively towards a clean, healthy and productive Baltic Sea, with resilient marine andcoastal ecosystems, including e.g. by applying a ban on throwing plastic waste into the sea. Inaddition, in Poland it is prohibited to load waste or other subst ances intended for dumping in theBaltic Sea on ships. Only the disposal of dredging material into the sea is permitted if it was carriedout in accordance with the provisions of the Convention on the Protection of the MarineEnvironment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1992 - provided that an appropriate permit is obtained.Moreover, organotin compounds which act as biocides (in particular tributyltin - TBT) are notallowed on ships flying the Polish flag. Poland prohibits the use of hazardous substances, such asdichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its derivatives (DDE and DDD), polychlorinatedbiphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs), as well as hazardous substances aspesticides (e.g. aldrin) in the Baltic Sea and its catchment area.Acidic pr ecipitation resulting from the reaction of water with gases absorbed from the air, such assulphur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), contributes to the acidification of the sea andocean environment. This is just one of many manifestations of the negative impact of thesechemical compounds on the environment. Poland's actions for a clean and healthy Baltic Sea arealso reflected in compliance with strict regulations regarding emissions of sulphur oxides andnitrogen oxides from the combustion of marin e fuels.Activities within the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic SeaArea (Helsinki Convention / HELCOM)Poland actively participates in the activities carried out by HELCOM, thus fulfilling its legalobligations in the field of protection of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea. HELCOM's workwas carried out within 8 working groups and many expert groups in order to fully use the experts'potential and focus on the overriding goal, which is to achieve good environme ntal status of theBaltic Sea by 2030.HELCOM's main work focused on continuing efforts to implement the 2021 updated Baltic SeaAction Plan (BSAP), officially adopted together with the accompanying Ministerial Declaration atthe Ministerial Conference on 20 October 2021 in Lübeck, Germany. It is expected that individualactivities under the updated BSAP will be implemented at the HELCOM level or by individualParties to the Convention (national level). Monitoring and implementation of these a ctivities by theParties to the Convention has been entrusted to individual HELCOM working formations (workinggroups and expert groups).In addition, HELCOM has completed work on the third HELCOM holistic assessment (HOLAS 3)which provides a comprehensiv e overview of the ecosystem health of the Baltic Sea, covering theassessment period of 2016– 2021. Furthermore, five thematic assessments were released,covering the topics of economic and social analyses; spatial distribution of pressures and impacts;hazardous substances, marine litter, underwater noise and non -indigenous species; biodiversityand eutrophication.The last HELCOM ministerial meeting was held in Riga (Latvia) on 25 April 2024. The meeting wasattended by the ministers and high -level repres entatives of the Ministries of the Environment,Poland Page 17620respectively of Climate, of Infrastructure and of Maritime Affairs of eight Baltic Sea coastal statesand the European Union. The participants reaffirmed their strong commitment to continued jointefforts to reach a healthy Baltic marine environment. A Ministerial Declaration (Riga Declaration),as well as a statement on the geopolitical situation , are the outputs of the meeting.The Riga Ministerial Declaration recognizes the interconnectedness of environmental health andeconomic prosperity and the importance of stressing the economic benefits of preserving theBaltic Sea ecosystem. As shown by the latest Holistic Assessment of the Baltic Sea (HOLAS 3),achieving good environmental status by the year 2040 can yield economic benefits of 5.6 millioneuro per year for people around the Baltic Sea.The ministerial debate focused on better targeting and prioritizing efforts to implement the 2021Baltic Se a Action Plan, based on the new insights gained from HOLAS 3 and on continuing tosuccessfully implement the HELCOM goals against the background of the challenging geopoliticalsituation in the Baltic Sea region.a) The Maritime Working Group (Maritime WG )The HELCOM Maritime Working Group (WG Maritime) works to prevent any pollution from ships– including deliberate operational discharges as well as accidental pollution.Poland participates in the activities of the Maritime WG, which mainly discussed t heimplementation of the updated BSAP concerning air pollution from ships, non -indigenous species,biofouling, anti -fouling systems (AFS), regional implementation of the Ballast Water Management(BWM) Convention, sewage from ships and port reception facil ities (PRF) and safety of navigation.Moreover, Poland participates in the works of subordinated experts groups: Expert Group forMutual Exchange and Deliveries of AIS & Data (EG AIS EWG), Expert Group on Safety ofNavigation (EG SAFE NAV), Sub -group on G reen Technology and Alternative Fuels for Shipping(GREN TEAM), the Joint HELCOM/OSPAR Task Group on Ballast Water Management Convention(BWMC) and Biofouling (JTG BALLAST & BIOFOULING) and Cooperation Platform on PortReception Facilities (CP PRF) - the results of the work of these expert groups were presented anddiscussed at the last session of the Maritime WG which was held on 24 -26 October 2023.b) The Working Group on Reduction of Pressures from Sea -based sources (HELCOM WG Sea-based pressures)The Working Group on Reduction of Pressures from Sea -based sources (WG Sea -based pressures)works to reduce the input, impacts, and risks posed by litter, disturbance, and loss of the seabed,submerged hazardous objects, non -indigenous species (NIS), and the level of impulsive andcontinuous underwater noise in the Baltic Sea. It is also tasked with monitoring the status of theBaltic Sea related to these pressures, as well as implementing relevant mitigation measures.The Working Group operates at the interfa ce of science and policy, ensuring that sufficienttechnical expertise and information are available to support national and regional decision -makingand implementation processes,Poland Page 17721Poland participates in the activities of WG Sea -based Pressures, which mainl y deals with theimplementation of the updated BSAP concerning marine litter, underwater noise, physical damageto the sea floor, hotspots (discussion on the designation of new hotspots related to marine litterand submerged hazardous objects) and follow u p on HOLAS 3 in relation to the work of the group.Moreover, discussions were initiated in relation to the need for developing harmonized thresholdvalues for substances in dredged sediments, as well as on carbon capture and storage (CCS) andthe scope of the Helsinki Convention related to CCS under the seabed.Moreover, Poland participates in the works of subordinated experts groups, inter alia in the ExpertGroup on Environmental Risks of Submerged Objects (EG SUBMERGED). The group contributesto the reg ionally coordinated actions regarding dumped munitions and explosives as well as othersunken potentially dangerous objects in terms of their impact on the marine environment of theBaltic Sea. In 2023 the group started working on a report on wrecks lying at the bottom of theBaltic Sea.c) Response Working Group (Response WG)The Response WG deals with all spill response issues, ensuring that the Baltic Sea region isprepared to respond to various oil and chemical spill incidents.Poland participates in the work of WG Response, which examines the following topics: riskasses sment and safety of navigation, recent anti -pollution operations, national and regional anti -pollution capacity at sea and on the seashore, wrecks and other dangerous submerged objects,aviation surveillance and pollution detection, recommendations and upd ates HELCOM ResponseManual, scope of tasks of the WILDLIFE expert group, conclusions from the annual BALEX DELTAspill response exercises and plans for the future - in 2025 these exercises will take place in themaritime areas of the Republic of Poland.d) Joint HELCOM -VASAB Maritime Spatial Planning Working Group (HELCOM -VASAB MSPWG)The Working Group was established to ensure cooperation among the Baltic Sea Region countriesfor coherent regional Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) processes in the Baltic Sea.Poland participates in the work of HELCOM -VASAB MSP WG, which deals with implementing theRegional MSP Roadmap via the workplan of the group for 2022 -2024 and the MSP relevantactions in the 2021 BSAP especially on the actions that are shared with o ther HELCOM groupse.g. related to bird and fish migration, climate change and economic and social analyses.Hazardous materials dumped in the Baltic SeaHaving regard to the protection of the marine environment, Poland appreciates and supports allefforts carried out in regional and international forums, including the Council of the Baltic SeaStates (CBSS) and the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM), in the fieldof hazardous materials dumped in the sea. It should be emphasized that this is an issue thatrequires common, international solutions, both in terms of management and ensuring a dedicatedPoland Page 17822source of funding for research and neutralization, including possible extraction of dumpedhazardous materials.During preparation o f the Ministerial Declaration for the 20th Ministerial Meeting of the Councilof the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), which took place in Wismar (Germany) on June 2, 2023, Polishrepresentatives submitted comments regarding the important role of HELCOM in creatin g anenvironment for exchange of experiences and best practices related to the management ofdumped weapons and the negative impact of dumped weapons on the "blue economy".The Polish representative took part in the work on the content of the commitments that wereadopted on September 29, 2023 in Palanga (Lithuania) during the second ministerial conference"Our Baltic Conference 2.0". This document is a political declaration defining the framework forfuture cooperation between countries regarding the remo val of unexploded ordnance (UXO)dumped in the Baltic Sea.During development of actualization of the European Union's maritime security strategy (EUMSS)and the EUMSS Action Plan, which lasted from March 2023, the Polish representative supportedthe incl usion of the issue of oiled wrecks in the draft and requested the addition of a wordingsupplementing the provision for the inclusion of a new appropriate financing mechanism in thedesign of the framework plan. In both cases, Poland argued that similar ch allenges are being facedby all countries in whose maritime areas there were intense military operations, and the costsassociated with the necessary technologies and coordinated actions in the long -term perspectiveare huge.Order No. 345 of the Prime Min ister of 20 October 2022, on the Inter -Ministerial Committee onHazardous Materials Deposited in the Maritime Areas of the Republic of Poland entered into forceon November 16, 2022.The tasks of the Inter- Ministerial Committee include in particular:• coordinating public administration cooperation in the field of dumped hazardous materials;• recommending activities for the identification of hazardous material lingering on theseabed;• recommending actions aimed at adapting monitoring and manners of neutralization toidentified threats;• monitoring existing regulations in terms of their adequacy to the changing state of affairsand preparing recommendations for possible further changes in the regulations.In 2023 five meetings of the Commit tee were held. The sixth took place on March 26, 2024.During each meeting, and also between them, if appropriate circumstances occurred, theCommittee Members presented information on the actions taken, including, among others,proposed legal regulations, participation in training, national and international meetings andconferences, and reports received on identified hazardous materials or related issues. Activitiesundertaken by Polish representatives participating the work of the Expert Group of EU Memb erStates on Maritime Safety and Surveillance (MSEG MSS), the EU Council Working Group onMaritime Affairs - European Maritime Safety Strategy (WP EUMSS) and the Baltic MarineEnvironment Protection Commission, in particular in the work of the EG Submerged group (ExpertGroup on Environmental Risks of Submerged Objects) were also discussed.Poland Page 17923Ministry of EducationSupport to mainstream climate change education and awareness -raising programmes inschool curricula, public campaigns and professional developmen t programmesIssues in the field of environmental education – in accordance with the objectives of educationand teaching content, established in the core curriculum, are currently implemented at alleducational stages, including pre -school education. Broa dly understood education about theenvironment has been conducted and developed in Polish schools for many years at all educationalstages. This is done as part of pre -school education, integrated education in grades I -III and subjectteaching at subsequen t stages of education, i.e. classes in nature, geography, biology, chemistry,physics, knowledge about society, history, history and present.The requirements, which are set out in the core curriculum, allow teachers to raise important topicsin the field of environmental education, including providing up- to-date knowledge on climatechange, biodiversity, global warming, etc. The obligation to implement issues such as climate andenvironmental protection during classes with educators has been introduced since the school year2020/2021.In 2022, a joint working group on environmental education, including climate education, and thepromotion of ecological living conditions was set up, composed of representatives of the YouthClimate Council, the Youth Ecological Council and the Youth Climate Strike.As a result of the cooperation of the Ministry of National Educati on with the Ministry of Climateand the Environment, 40 lesson scenarios were created, including 16 for primary schools and 24for secondary schools, which deal with issues related to protection and climate change. S cenarioswere placed on the Integrated E ducation Platform run by the Minister of Education.In addition, training of pedagogical staff in the field of environmental education is included in theannual work plans of the Centre for Education Development (an institution subordinate to theMinistry) and regional centres for teacher improvement. The content of the training isinterdisciplinary.Initiatives aimed at pupils and schools are constantly being developed. The educational programme“Forest School with Climate” was launched in 2021, aimed at organising practical activities innatural areas. The next editions of the “School with Climate” competition are also announced. In2022, the nationwide competition “I am Eko” for classes IV- VIII was launched.Currently, the Ministry of National Education is working with the Ministry of Climate and theEnvironment to develop a Strategic Action Plan in the field of environmental education .Measures taken for environmental education in the vocational training systemThe vocational training system provides v ocational training that takes into account the conditionsresulting from the green transition. New professions have also been introduced, which are relatedto waste management, including, among others, an auxiliary employee in waste management (aprofessio n for people with a slight intellectual disability). The industry to which these professionsare assigned has been named: “chemical industry and environmental protection”. From 2024,Poland Page 18024schools have been able to provide education in another new profession: el ectromobility technician(Automotive Industry).Core ecological skills of a cross -cutting nature are included in the core curriculum of education forall professional education professions. These skills include knowledge, understanding andcompliance with environmental principles and addressing environmental risks in the workplace andin the performance of professional tasks.In response to the expectations of employers and in response to the demand of a modern, greeneconomy, vocational education schools may also offer pupils the preparation to acquire additionalprofessional qualifications in selected occupations, additional professional skills or free -marketqualifications (e.g. “Medical waste management in places of production”, “Management of the farmin the organic farming system”), functioning in the Integrated Qualification System.Extending education to new professions and reviewing the core curriculum taking into accountthe determinants of the green transition is one of the objectives of the “VET Action Plan 2022 -2025” adopted by the Council of Ministers, including actions implementing the CouncilRecommendations of 24 November 2020 on VET for sustainable competitiveness. It is plannedto cooperate with representatives of 120 economic fields in or der to respond quickly to the needsof the labour market and to obtain information on the demand for new skills, including thoserelated to the green transition. In cooperation with employers, the offer of vocational training willbe monitored on an ongoing basis, which will be extended to include further occupations andqualifications needed on the labour market, taking into account ecological skills.One of the objectives of the National Reconstruction Plan for Poland is to support thedevelopment of mo dern vocational education, higher education and lifelong learning, includingthrough the launch of the Industry Skills Centres (BCU). BCU’s task will be to prepare young peopleand adults to enter the labour market by equipping them with skills and profess ional qualifications,including ecological skills, responding to the needs and expectations of the modern economy.The BCU’s innovation and development activities will increase the transfer of knowledge and newtechnologies to education and disseminate in novations and innovative solutions in a given field,taking into account the digital and green transitions. BCU’s educational and training activities,aimed at developing the professional skills of pupils, students, teachers and other adults, willprovide vocational training and industry courses, themes of which will necessarily include acomponent related to digitalisation and green transition to improve digital and green skillscompetences. A list of examples of green skills has been developed in BCU based on the Europeanclassification of ESCO skills, competences, qualifications and occupations.The development of human resources competences for the climate and energy transition will alsobe implemented by updating the existing Sector Qualifications Fram ework (SRK). SRKs are a toolto facilitate the creation and comparison of qualifications in a given sector, as well as to identifyskills gaps and which can influence changes in education and training programmes. It is planned toupdate the SKR in the construction, water, waste management and energy sectors, in particularby including skills needed to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal and climateneutrality by 2050, including skills related to renewable energy sources (EESR).Raising publi c awareness and digital education to enable citizens to identify and mitigate risksof misinformation and misinformationPoland Page 18125Ensuring the increase of public awareness and digital competences related to the risks emergingin the environment saturated with new t echnologies requires action at the level of the educationsystem. The existing core curriculum for general education provides for the development of skillssuch as: search, order, critical analysis and use of information from various sources. Nowadays,network resources are usually the first place where a person looking for information and datadirects their eyes. The curriculum basis for computer science for classes VII -VIII emphasizes ethicalhandling of information, which, to be believed, also refers to using it reliably and not leading tomanipulation.The most important strategic document organizing Polish educational policies – Integrated SkillsStrategy provides for the development of information literacy (including the ability to assess thereliabil ity of sources and awareness of the risks associated with disinformation). Operationalizationof these assumptions are the provisions of the draft Policy for Digital Transformation of Education(PTCE); they will relate to the development of competences rel ated to the assessment of thereliability of information obtained from network resources. The PTCE project identifies theefficient, responsible and safe use of these resources as one of the pillars of digital education.Ministry of HealthDefend sexual and reproductive autonomy and respect the right to reproductive health .The Ministry of Health expresses its will to strongly respect and treat patients' rights as a priorityin its current activities. According to the declarations expressed in the exposé of the Prime Minister,Donald Tusk, the intention of the current Council of Ministers is that every woman feels safe inthe context of pregnancy, motherhood and safe abortion, in a situation that requires it.In the area of women's health security, the issues in which actions will be taken to fully respectpatients' rights, including the right to services and the right to information, is broadly understoodreproductive health and perinatal care. The health safety of patients in this area includes, a mongothers, the availability of abortion procedures. In this field, first of all, emphasis was placed oncompliance by all participants of the health care system with applicable regulations.In May 2024 Minister Izabela Leszczyna appointed the Team for Im proving Women’s HealthSafety. The team’s work will focus on reproductive health and perinatal care.In April 2024 entered into force the Regulation of the Minister of Health on the Pilot Programmefor Pharmacist’s Services on Reproductive Health, enabling the availability of emergencycontraception for persons from the age of 15 on the basis of a pharmaceutical prescription.Polish Ministry of Health launches in vitro programme. The main goal of the programme is equalaccess to IVF for couples facing infertility, as well as the protection of reproductive material ofpeople needing to undergo oncology treatment, which can take away their ability to have children.Cybersecurity and digital resilience .The Ministry of Health regularly conducts information act ivities on cyber threats, both for theMinistry’s employees and for entities of the health care sector, including operators of key services.These activities consist primarily of communicating about the risks associated with disinformationcampaigns, with particular reference to the information campaign conducted by the RussianFederation.In order to provide support to health sector entities, including operators of key services,in removing the effects of cybersecurity incidents, the Minister of Health app ointed a sector-specific CSIRT (Computer Security Incident Response Teams) for health care in September 2023.The Ministry of Health, together with the Ministry of Digital Affairs and the Research and AcademicComputer Network, regularly organizes cybersec urity training courses for medical staff in primaryPoland Page 18226healthcare facilities, taking into account the specifics of the activities of entities providinghealthcare services.With regard to increasing security and resilience to cyber threats, the Ministry of Health,in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Affairs and the National Health Fund, implementedsolutions aimed at increasing the level of security of systems supporting the provision of healthcare services. Healthcare providers receive funding to fin ance the construction of cybersecurityinfrastructure, backup systems and infrastructure restoration after a possible cybersecurity failureor attack.In addition, the Ministry of Health regularly takes measures aimed at improving the security ofauthoriza tion in health care systems, e.g. double authentication in the login process.In the process of planning the implementation of projects by the Ministry of Health, the followingresults are taken into account:•implementing mechanisms and measures to increa se resilience to cyber -attacks;• implementing or updating information security management systems;• development of risk assessment methodology;• raising the level of knowledge and competence of staff;• conducting cybersecurity audits aimed at verifying the level of resilience to cyber threats;• compliance with new legal regulations coming into force.Ministry of Economic Development and TechnologyMinistry of Economic Development and Technology work s together with entrepreneurs,employees and social organizations to create the best possible conditions for the developmentof Polish companies, which are the driving force of the economy. Both the largest ones,associated with high industrial potential, as well as the smaller and smallest ones.The strategic goal is to modernise our economy in technological and ecological terms (Industry4.0, digitalisation and automation, green technologies, circular economy) so that it becomesmore competitive in global markets.The subject of our activities is also to support the development of Polish craft, so as to help it– on the one hand – preserve tradition, and on the other hand – keep up with the times. Weshape our investment policy to take into account the sust ainable development of the countryin terms of investment saturation and rewarding the creation of high-quality jobs.We work for the development of construction in Poland, increasing the availability of housingand socializing the real estate market. To this end, we carry out multidimensional activities –from debureaucratization and modernization of spatial planning procedures and constructionprocesses, to programs for the construction of new apartments, dissemination of new housingmodels, and promotion of the idea of smart cities.We are implementing the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, aimed at rebuilding thedevelopment potential of the economy, lost as a result of the pandemic, and supporting thesustainable competitiveness of the economy and increasing the standard of living of thesociety in the long term.The National Recovery Plan is an action aimed at transforming towards an economy based onmodern technologies and innovations. An economy that at the same time cares about thePoland Page 18327needs of citizens, i.e. clean and green energy, housing, thermal modernization of multi-familybuildings, good jobs and drug security.The Ministry of Economic Development and Technology is responsible for 7 projects with atotal value of over EUR 1.4 billion, including EUR 432 million from the state budget. Theseactivities include:- further reduction of regulatory and administrative burdens (continuation of thecomprehensive reform of economic law);- reform of spatial planning and development;- creating the conditions for the transition to a circular economy model;- development of the national system of monitoring services, products, analytical tools andservices and accompanying infrastructure using satellite data;- clean air and energy efficiency measures;- improving the conditions for the development of renewable energy sources;- reform of housing construction for low- and middle -income households, taking into accounthigher energy efficiency of buildings.MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERNMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 185Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 1861STATEMENTby the State Government of Mecklenburg-VorpommernRegarding the Implementation of the Resolution Adopted by the 32nd Baltic SeaParliamentary Conference(Berlin, 27–29 August 2023)In the following statement, the State Government of Mecklenburg -Vorpommern reports on theimplementation status of the resolution adopted by the 32nd Baltic Sea Parliamentary Co nference,which took place on 27 –29 August 2023 in Berlin .Herewith the State Government fulfils the request of the State Parliament to submit the re spectivereport by 31 March 2024 .1The statement only covers those areas, which are within the competence of the State Governmentor are viewed to possess overriding importance for Mecklenburg -Vorpommern.1 See Landtagsdrucksache 8/2816 from 29 November 2023. STATE PARLIAMENT OF MECKLENBURG -VORPOMMERN8th electoral term Printed paper 8/35969 April 2024Unofficial translationForwarded together with the letter from the Head of the Sta te Chancellery from 8 April 2024 .The Ministry of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs is the lead ministry.Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 1872In their unanimously adopted resolution, t he participants of the 32nd Baltic Sea ParliamentaryConference (BSPC) call on the Governments in the Baltic Sea Region, the CBSS and the EU,Regarding peaceful and reliable neighbourliness and intense cooperation in the Baltic SeaRegion based on fundamental values toItemNo. Resolution Text Statement by the State Government ofMecklenburg -Vorpommern1 strongly increase and intensify the effortsto strengthen democracy, rule of law,equality, and human rights in the BalticSea Region and beyond andacknowledge that these values in today'sshifting geopolitical realities are underthreat in our own region; The promotion of Eur opean integration andcross- border cooperation, particularly inthe Baltic Sea R egion, are enshrined asstate objectives in the Constitution of thestate of Mecklenburg -Vorpommern. Thesustainable transformation of the economyand society, the protection of the BalticSea, coping with demographicdevelopment and securing the provision ofbasic needs in rural areas are commonchallenges of our time. Mecklenburg -Vorpommern is endeavouring to work evenmore closely with partners in thedemocratic Baltic Sea R egion to tacklethese challenges.On 16 January 2024, the StateGovernment adopted the Strategy of theState Government of Mecklenburg -Vorpommern for Cooperation in the BalticSea Region (MV Baltic Sea Strategy).According to this strategy, Baltic Seacooperation is to become a constitutivecomponent of the state ministries’specialised policies.2 achieve in the fields of common politicalinterest more significant progress by jointpractical measures – analogous to thehandling of the topic of offshore wind andthe agreement reached on ithttps://cbss.org/wp -content/uploads/2023/05/230509_berlin -declarati on-on-baltic- offshore -wind- by-cbss- foreign -ministers_final_consented.pdf – andthus develop the Baltic Sea region into abest-practice example for other macro -regions and acquire in this way pusheffects for further advan cement withinthe framework of broader cooperationformats; In its Strategy for Cooperation in the BalticSea Region, the State Government hasdefined a number of political priorities forcooperation . In doing so, it will build onexisting structures and for mats. The StateGovernment is ready to become involvedin further political processes and practicalmeasures in order to further develop thedemocratic Baltic Sea R egion as aEuropean model region for participation,innovation and sustain ability.Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 18833 ensure inclusive, socially andenvironmentally sustainable economicgrowth and development as well asenergy security; Russia's war of aggression againstUkraine in violation of international law hasa significant impact on energy security inthe Baltic Sea R egion. Numerous pipelinescross the Baltic Sea, and these couldbecome potential targets in the future.Added to this is the increasinginterconnection of the European power gridwith the Baltic Sea states, e.g. Baltic -Connector. There are also numerous newoffshore wind farms and their connectinglines. The initiative to reduce energydependence on Russian energy is to bewelcomed.4 cooperate as closely as possible inpursuit of the goal of ensuring energysecurity, self- sustainability and securityof supply by concrete measures andthe development of joint strategies,aiming to reduce dependency onRussian fossil resources, promoteclean and affordable energy and theunderl ying industrial value chains,develop an integrated and resilientEuropean energy market, as well asencourage deeper collaboration inenergy and sustainability R&D;The geopolitical situation and dependenceon certain energy sources make the regionmore susceptible to possible disruptions inthe energy supply and in the security ofenergy supply. Close coordination in thisarea is expedient (c f. point 3) .For Mecklenburg -Vorpommern, theregenerative energy research expertise inthe field of hydrogen- based research atLIKAT Rostock, Fraunhofer -IGP Rostockand INP Greifswald and their collaborationwith Polish, Baltic, Finnish , and Swedishpartners should be emphasised inparticular. The research competences inthe field of high -temperatureplasma/nuclear fusion research at the MaxPlanck Institute for Plasma PhysicsGreifswald with Polish cooperationpartners should also be highlighted.5 intensify and deepen cooperation todevelop better protection for criticalshared underwater infrastructur e; In principle, the protection of criticalinfrastructures lies within the responsibilityof the respective operators. However, italso requires support from the relevantministries (for energy,telecommunications, etc.). Internationalcooperation at the respective departmentallevel is therefore to be welcomed.6 search for more streamlined fundingmechanisms for the development of trulyinterconnected, sustainable and resilientcross- border transport infrastructure, aswell as the transition to a single The EU’s trans -Europ ean transportnetwork (TEN- T) provides a conceptualapproach for concentrating funding onspecific cor ridors. The revision of TEN- T,which is about to be finalised, wi ll take intoMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 1894European digital market resilient tointernal and external threats; account the objectives of the EuropeanGreen Deal and the EU Climate Law for thefurther expansion of the network. To thisend, the sustainability of transport modes,the compatibility of new constructionprojects with environmental goals and thecreation of an infrastructure for the use ofalternative fuels have been defined as keyrequirements for future network expansion.The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) isthe central EU funding instrument forfinancing infrastructure investments inEurope. It is used to implement the Trans -European Networks (TENs) for thetransport, energy and telecommunicationssectors, with a specia l emphasis on theformer.In Mecklenburg -Vorpommern, DB Netz isthe operator of the lines that are part of thesuperordinate railway network. TheFederal G overnment is also responsible forfinancing cross -border rail transport.7 in view of the Glasgow Climate Pact andthe commitments of the ParisAgreement, mobilize government,businesses and civil society to jointlyaccelerate strategic cooperation inclimate change mitigation, preservationof nature and biodiversity, as well as justtransition towards a climate -neutraleconomy; The state of Mecklenburg -Vorpommernhas set the goal to become greenhousegas-neutral by 2040. To this end, the StateClimate Protection Law to achieve theaforementioned goals is currently beingdrafted.8 in view of t he current geopoliticalchallenges that require more cooperationand coordination of activities, return tomeetings of heads of government,alternating with foreign ministers; This demand is primarily directed at theFederal Government. The StateGovernmen t supports the foreign policyactivities of the Federal Governmentthrough bilat eral regional cooperation.Regional partnerships with the Polishvoivodeships of West Pomerania andPomerania as well as the SouthwestFinland region are of central importance. Atthe same time, the state is involved invarious formats, such as the HelsinkiCommission (HELCOM) or the Conferenceof Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR),the Baltic Sea Commission (BSC), theBaltic Sea Parliamentary Conference(BSPC), and t he Southern Baltic SeaParliamentary Forum, in order to continueshaping the democratic Baltic Sea region.Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 19059 extend sectoral ministerial conferences –as had been the case with the VASABConference of Baltic Sea regionministers responsible for spatial planningand development together with theCBSS summit of the Ministers of ForeignAffairs on 1 -2 June 2023 in Wismar – tojointly tackle the relevant Baltic Searegion challenges in politically significantcore areas; This demand is primarily dire cted at theFederal Government. The StateGovernment supports the FederalGovernment's foreign policy activitiesthrough regional conferences. In 2022, theState Chancellery launched the Baltic SeaBusiness Day (BSBD). The BSBD is to beestablished as a re gular platform for jointeconomic and politi cal dialogue in theBaltic Sea R egion. This businessconference for entrepreneurs from BalticSea states takes place every two years.The 2nd BSBD will be organised in Rostockon 18 April 2024. Another example is theGerman -Finnish Business Forum 2023,which took place in Rostock on 27 –28September 2023 and covered topicsincluding cyber security ( cf. point 26).Mecklenburg -Vorpommern is also amember of VASAB.10 expand cross -border, transnational, andinter-regional cooperation (Interreg) andstrengthen synergies between thedifferent Baltic Sea policy cooperationformats; In addition to being a funding instrument,European Territorial Cooperation is also asymbol of the benefit of Europeancooperation across national borders. It isgeared towards both European and localneeds and thus serves the long- termcohesion of the European Union. The StateGovernment therefore supports theimplementation of the Interregprogrammes for the EU funding period2021 t o 2027 and is committed tostrengthening them in the subsequent EUfunding period.11 underline the continued importance ofstrengthening social resilience in theBaltic Sea Region and support theongoing process of setting up an annualaward for local authorities to shine as a“Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pearl” byfostering resilience through culturalactivities; The State Government considers itimportant to strengthen social resilience,for example by promoting cultural activitiesin cities and municipa lities.The State Government therefore supportsthe specific initiative to designate culturalcapitals of the Baltic Sea region. The StateGovernment encourages municipalitiesfrom Mecklenburg -Vorpommern to takepart in the upcoming application rounds.12 strengthen the role of the EU strategy forthe Baltic Sea region, focusing on thecurrent political core challenges in theBaltic Sea region, expanding theinvolvement of the democratic neighbourcountries, and including support forUkraine during the war and afterwardsfor the reconstruction and strengtheningdemocracy in Ukraine; Shortly after Russia's war of aggressionagainst Ukraine, Mecklenburg -Vorpommern started sending aidshipments to Ukraine. On 17 January2024, the state of Mecklenburg -Vorpommern concluded an agreement oncooperation with the Chernihiv region inUkraine with the aim of a future regionalpartnership. In the long term, the state isMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 1916aiming for cooperation in the areas ofbusiness, regional development,renewabl e energies, agriculture, culturalexchange, education and science. Anamount of 100,000 euros has beenearmarked in the 2024 –2025 budget tosupport this partnership.13 supporting democratic developments inthe neighbouring countries of the BalticSea Reg ion, especially strengtheningdemocratic stakeholders for ademocratic development of Belarus andRussia; Russia's war of aggression againstUkraine has fundamentally changedcooperation in the Baltic Sea Region.Against this current geopolitical backdrop,cooperation with Russia and Belarus hasbeen discontinued.The basis for partnership -basedcooperation are shared values such asdemocracy and the rule of law, humanrights, diversity, tolerance, freedom andthe welfare state. As long as Russia orBelarus do not share these fundamentalvalues, cooperation is only possible to avery limited extent.Through the programme “Expansion ofCooperation with Civil Society in theEastern Partnership Countries and Russia”(EaP programme), the German FederalGovernmen t is promoting measures toestablish permanent, civil societystructures for cooperation betweendemocratic non-state ac tors in Armenia,Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republicof Moldova, Ukraine, and Russia and theirnetworking with German civil society.The aim is to support civil society in theprogramme countries in their role asimportant actors for democraticdevelopment and to support the ongoingtransformation processes in theprogramme countries.The entire spectrum of cultural andeducat ional project work can be supportedthrough related programme areas: media,science, education and vocational training,culture, language and youth work.The priorities of the 2024 programme yearinclude:1. the preservation and reconstruction ofdemocratically orientated civil societystructures in the region or in temporaryexile,2. strengthening the resilience of societies,particularly in the face of disinformation,and3. special support for vulnerable groups.Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 1927The State G overnment welcomes thepromotion of the democratic developmentwithin Russia or Belarus undertaken by theFederal G overnment.14 underline the continued importance ofsocial sustainability along with the greenand digital transitions and pay insofarparticular interest, on the one hand, tothe demographic change with an ageingpopulation and the need for upskillingand reskilling along with adequatepension systems as well as, on theother hand, to the integration ofmigrants and all vulnerable groups inneed of support to enter or remain in thelabour market, and gender equality; Gender equality is an important topic forthe State Government, which is enshrinedin Article 3 Paragraph 2 of the GermanConstitution and Article 13 of the StateConstitution of Mecklenburg -Vorpommern.Against this background, the StateGovernment has defined various steps inthe coalition a greement. The core elementin this regard is the devel opment of across- departmental framework programmethat should further strengthen equalitybetween women and men. Mentoringprogrammes in science, business, the artsand creative industries as well as i nadministration will be continued.A new mentoring programme has beenlaunched to increase the share of femaleleaders in the justice sector. In addition, aspart of the Baltic Sea Strategy, measuresare being considered for a transnat ionalexchange on gender equality policy issuesin the Baltic Sea Region. The integration ofthe unemployed into the labour market isfundamentally a federal task (implementedby the Federal Employment Agency andjob centres). The State Governmentsupports gender sensitive labour marketintegration thr ough target group -orientedmeasures.The State Government regularlyexchanges information with the F ederaland other State G overnments on the topicof social entrepreneurship and issupporting the work of the 4.0Mecklenburg -Vorpommern “mv-works”competence centre – a project forcompanies, employees and social partnersto overcome digital challenges in thetransf ormation of the economy and labour .The stat e continues to support the“CORRECT!” consultation centre againstlabour exploitation, human tra fficking andforced labour in Mecklenburg -Vorpommern , thus counteracting thefailure to meet minimum standards in thelabour market regardless of origin, genderor ideology of those seeking advice.In the development and implementation ofthe Skilled Labour S trategy ofMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 1938Mecklenburg -Vorpommern , skilled labourmigration, initial and further training, thelabour market integration of peopleseeking protection and measures for equalopportunities on the l abour market alsoconstitute important elements for copingwith the demographically inducedshrinkage of the potential workforce andthe consequences of furthertransformation processes.From 2022 to 2027, the state ofMecklenburg -Vorpommern , in cooperationwith state job centres, will support the long -term unemployed or people at risk of long -term unemployment, including people frommigrant backgrounds , in their gradualintegration into the labour mar ket throughprojects under the Guideline for thePromot ion of Social Integration Projects .Local c ompanies generally have access tofunding opportunities offered by theQualification Directive for thevocational/company training of theiremployees in order to receive financialsupport for their own qualificati on activitiesto cope with the challenges of thetransition .15 increase and support the involvement ofcivil society in Baltic Sea policy activities; In its strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, theState Government attaches greatimportance to strengthening the ability ofMecklenburg -Vorpommern to cooperatewith the democratic Baltic Sea Region. Thegreater involvement of civil society poses aparticular challenge here, as civil societyinvolvement often takes place on avoluntary basis. The MV Baltic SeaStrategy provides starting points forstrengthening this commitment forcooperation in the Baltic Sea Region,including in the areas of youth, sport s andculture. The State Government also relieson good cooperation with relevantassociations an d organisations, such asthe State Youth Association Mecklenburg -Vorpommern (Landesjugendring e. V. ).16 support and perpetuate the now -established involvement of youth in theCBSS work to include the concerns ofthe young generation in the coreconcerns of the Baltic Sea region issues; The State Government welcomes theincreasing involvement of young people inthe processes of Baltic Sea cooperation,for example in connection with themeetings of the foreign ministers of theCouncil of the Baltic Sea States, the BalticSea Parliamentary Conference, theMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 1949Southern Baltic Sea Parliamentary Forumor as part of the annual forums of theEUSBSR. In addition to the participation ofyoung people in these top -level formats,the State Government also recognises theimportance of and supports encounte rsbetween young people from the Baltic SeaRegion in sporting, cultural andeducational events.Regarding enhancing democratic resilience and boosting capabilities to face moderndigital challenges to:ItemNo. Resolution Text Statement by the State Government ofMecklenburg -Vorpommern17 consistently and resolutely counter thegrowing threat to the democraticcommunity posed by disinformationcampaigns, with a particular focus oninformation warfare carried out by theRussian Federation; The Mecklenburg -Vorpommern StateCentre for Political Education(Landeszentrale für politische Bildung)provides relevant information throughevents, publications and materials viawww.politik -mv.de on the topics of mediaand democracy, thereby promoting publicawareness. In addition, the state supportscomprehensive political educationprogrammes. The impact and reach ofdisinformation can be effectivelycountered with a wide range of mediaeducation, media literacy and democracy-strengthening measures.In addition, the Federal Ministry of theInterior has been working on a joint actionplan between the Federal Governmentand federal states against disinformationand for a resilient democracy since 2023.The proposed measures should contributeto strengthening social resilience againstdisinformation. The state centres forpolitical education, other providers ofpolitical education as well as federalprogrammes such as “Live Democracy!”and state programmes will contribute tothe implementation of the action plan. Oneof the aims is to strengthen citizens’ mediaand news literacy.18 point out again the necessity –particularly in times of war and crisis – ofstrengthening efforts to increase The promotion of democracyunderstanding and the associatedobservance and protection of fundamentalMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 19510confidence in democratic structures andvalues, to counter digital hate speech,promote tolerance and open-mindedness, freedom of media andexpression, and robust democraticNGOs as cornerstones of democraciesin the Baltic Sea region; rights within the constitutional state areessential preventative tasks carried out bythe Office for the Protection of theConstitution. The Office pays specialattention to cooperation in the area ofdemocracy promotion. In particular,cooperation within the fr amework of thestate programme “ StrengtheningDemocracy and Tolerance Togethe r!” hasbeen a high priority within the Office for theProtection of the Constitution for manyyears. It has become clear that democracypromotion is a joint societal task that canonly be accomplished through cooperationbetween state and non -state actors. Inaddition, the Office for the Protection of theConstitution organises ad hoc meetingswith non -state actors to discuss particulardevelopments.The State Centre for Political Educationimplements the state program titled“Strengthening democracy and tole rancetogether!” in cooperation with the StateCoordination Office for Democracy andTolerance an d provides financial supportfor a large number o f projects . In particular ,financial assistance is provided toassociations, initiat ives and institutions(e.g. sports and cultural organisations ,rescue and civil protection services,organisations working in the fields ofequality, migration and integration, as wellas churches) that are committed todemocratic and tolerant coexistence .Funds f rom the “ Live De mocracy!” federalprogramme, the European Social Fundand state funds are available for thispurpose.All citizens and institutions, such asschools, the police and local authorities,also have access to competent and well -connected advisory and support structuresfor strengthening democracy via the state -wide “Democracy and Tolerance” advisorynetwork.Political education programmes aim toenable citizens to form political opinion sand to strengthen their trust in andacceptance of democratic structures andprocedures by providing them withcomprehensive information.Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 19611It is worth mentioning t he joint project ofthe Mecklenburg -Vorpommern StateOffice of Criminal Investigation and theState Centre for Political Education called"Heroes instead of Trolls"(https://www.helden- statt-trolle.de/Start.html ), which aims to preventradicalisation and at the same timeincrease protection against politicallymotivated crime on the Internet. The aim isto define measures in order to prepareinsecure youn g people and activists forhate and hate speech on the Internet andto enable them to react appropri ately. Theproject raises awareness and sharesinformation on hate and hate speech. Inaddition to strengthening knowledge andskills, the program me aims to show youngpeople and multipliers from educationalinstitutions existing alternatives for actionagainst hate speech and offers furthertraining.19 protect the rights and ensure the safetyof refugees, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+people, women, children, the elderly andother vulnerable groups who areparticularly at risk in times of war andthreatened by intolerant attitudes; The Federal States Conference ofMinisters and Senators on GenderEquality and Women's Affairs (GFMK),which Mecklenburg -Vorpommernparticipates in, has repeatedly addressedthe issue of hate speech and intolerantattitu des in the digital space and theprotection of women in particular.The State G overnment has set up an anti -discrimination office within the Ministry ofJustice, Equality and ConsumerProtection, which works closely with theanti-discrimination structures in the state.The advice and support networkMecklenburg -Vorpommern for assistancein cases of dom estic and sexualizedviolence offers protection and advice tothose affected, regardless of origin orgender.The re sponsibility of the Ministry of Interior,Building and Digitalis ation includes thereception and accommodation of asylumseekers at the initial reception centre s(pursuant to Article 44, Paragraph 1 of theGerman Asylum Act ), the distribution offoreigners who are no longer obliged to li vein the reception centre in municipalities(Article 53, Paragraph 1 of the Asylum Actin conjunction with Article 2, Paragraph 1of the Refugee Act of Mecklenburg -Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 19712Vorpommern (FlA G MV )) as well as theexercise of technical supervision over themunicipalit ies in the area of reception andaccommodation. In regard to the initialreception centres, c ommissioned facilityoperators are obliged to provide site-specific viol ence protection concepts inaccordance with the tender criteria, whichensure the protection of vulnerable groupsfrom physical, sexual or psychologicalviolence during their stay at the respectivefacility . According to the EU ReceptionConditions Directive, the following groupsare defined as particularly vulnerable:- (unaccompa nied) minors,- disabled people ,- elderly people,- pregnant women,- single parents with minor children,- victims of human trafficking,- persons with serious physicalillnesses, persons with mental disordersdisorders and persons who have beensubjected to torture , rape or other seriousforms of psychological, physical or sexualviolence,- as well as religious minorities andLGBTQ+ persons.In accordance with the violence protectionconcept, the following measures are beingimplemented at initial reception centres:- establishment of a “shelter” for theaforementioned groups of people,- accommodation of people from certaincountries of origin in different buildings,- regular training measures (d e-escalationtraining, prevention of sexualised violence,sensitisation to LGBTQ+ and many more),- appointment of violence protectioncoordinators by the facility operator,- setting up emergency plans for the eventof suspected violence and assault ,- appointment of complaints managers forthe accommodated persons,- provision of information materials on thecounselling and support network in thelocation region,- documentation and monitoring.If basic needs (e.g. for those requiringspecial care) cannot be adequately met atthe initial reception centre , suitableaccommodation outside the centre wouldMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 19813be sought. The task of accommodatingasylum seekers distributed in districts andcities is carried out independently by thecities and district s in question. As part ofthis task, municipalities are alsoresponsible for implementing therequirements of the EU ReceptionConditions Directive and supplementaryregulations for the protection of particularlyvulnerable persons. Even though v iolenceprotection concepts are not mandatory formunicipal s hared accommodationfacilities, the majority of such facilities havealready adopted them or are in the processof drawing them up on their own, so it maybe assumed that violence protectionconcepts would be omnipresent in thefuture. The care provision guidelinedefines the basic standards for careprovision in Mecklenburg -Vorpommern.The main areas of support are :- orientation aid in the living environment,- mediation and advice in administrativematte rs,- assistance with visits to the doctor (ifnecessary),- information about rights and obligationsin various legal areas , in particular inregard to the asylum procedure andresidence law as well as the respectivesocial benefits law,- arranging care services (e.g.psychosocial counselling, family andpregnancy counselling, mother and childcare),- referral to counselling services offered byother inst itutions and associations (e.g.language courses, addiction counselling,marriage and family counselling, debtorcounselling, arrangement of leisureactivities),- help in coping with general personal andsocial problems (especially concerningliving together with people from differentcultural backgrounds, family reunification,school integ ration, job search andplacement ).In order to ensure and improve theacceptance, toleran ce and equality ofLGBTQ+ persons, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has adopted its own StateAction Plan for Equality and Acceptance ofSexual and Gender Diversity (LAPMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 19914Diver sity) in 2015. This action plan was re-evaluated by the State Government in2020 and is currently being updat ed. Frommid-2024, the updated LAP Diversity willset priorities for the State G overnment inindividual policy areas. These includemeasures in the areas of family education,child and youth welfare as well as sports orin the areas of health, care and assistancefor the elderly. In addition to implementingthe measures of the LAP Diversity, thestate’s continuous financi al support forcounselling centres for LGBTQ+, theirrelatives , and other interested partiescontributes to the protection of the rights ofLGBTQ+ persons.The Ministry of Social Affairs, Health andSports contributes to the support ofmigrants through va rious services forsuccessful social participation. On the onehand, the Ministry, in cooperation with thedistrict of Ludwigslust -Parchim, managesthe Welcome Portal Mecklenburg -Vorpommern , which provides assistancefor migrants and volunteers . The conten t ofthe welcome p ortal is available in severallanguages. In addition to information, theportal offers an interactive map showingthe location of migration counsellingservices and language courses as well astheir contact details. In addition, the statesupports various projects in the area ofsocial integration and psychosocialcounselling. Existing psychosocialcounselling centres offer psycho logicallystressed and traumatis ed refugees low-threshold couns elling for short andmedium- term support and, if necessary,introductory steps for further treatment inthe regular medical system.The Ministry of Social Affairs, Health andSports also supports migration counsellingat the Stern Buchholz initial recepti oncentre. This project serves to support theintegration of asylum seekers andrefugees with prospects of remaining inGermany by providing early orientationand information in preparation for theirarrival in the municipalities. Initial socialand labo ur market -specific questions areclarified and individual protection needsare explored. These are further consideredMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 20015when allocating the respective persons inmunicipalities.The Ministry of Social Affairs, Health andSports also funds measures to support andpromote the integration of Jewishimmigrants initiated by the Central WelfareOffice for Jews in Germany. The aim is topromote the equal societal participation ofthis immigrant group . To this end, theCentral Welfare Office provides specialadvice and support services, offersassistance with professional integrationand supports volunteer work to developand build a social infrastructure byimmigrants for immigrants.The M inistry also promotes language andcommunication skills by developing andexpanding language mediation services.The removal of language barriers isessential for successful social integration.To this end, the state also supports thenetwork of migrant s elf-organisations“MIGRANET M-V”, which has beensuccessfully pursuing the goal ofstrengthening the active participation andsocial and political commitment ofmigrants for many yea rs.20 defend sexual and reproductiveautonomy and respect the right toreproductive health; Every person has the right to makeindependent decisions concerning theirown body ; therefore, the sexual andreproductive autonomy of each individualis not to be questioned. Self -determinationis enshrined in Article 1 of the GermanConstitution . Accordingly, the StateGovernment protects the right of everyperson to reproductive heal th.21 improve legislation and measures toprotect democratic processes andinstitutions from cyber threats; The term “democratic process” refers toelections, among other things. Free andfair elections must be protected from cyberthreats. This is achie ved, for example, byensuring that data is only transmittedbetween the district electoraladministrations and the state electoraladministration via the state’ s own CN -LAVINE network. The protection of freeand fair elections, however, constitutesonly a small part of the issue addressed.Many different structures and institutionsmust be protected against cybercrimes,such as internal party democraticprocesses and the servers of the StateMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 20116Parliament . General protection againstcyber threats does not lie within theresponsibility of the digital administration.It is responsible for the information securityof the state administration and supportslocal authorities, which operate their ITsystems indep endently and are thereforeresponsible for their own informationsecurity.The Office for the Protection of theConstitution is also aware of the dangersand challenges posed by hybrid threatsand disinformation.Because various areas o f society are alsoaffected by cyber threats, the Office for theProtection of the Constitution hasorganised a joint meeting withrepresentatives from the respectiveministries and departments. In addition toraising awareness among individualdepartments, the meeting emphasised theimportance of a joint approach. In thefuture, better exchange and cooperation atthe level of public communication isneeded. Coordinated communication willlead to broader public awareness andpotentially prevent the dissemination ofdisinformation.22 increase public awareness and digitalliteracy to enable citizens to identify andmitigate the risks of misinformation anddisinformation; The state supports c omprehensivepolitical education programmes andcorresponding projects. The impact andreach of misinformation and disinformationcan be effectively countered with a widerange of democracy- strengtheningmeasures , such as promoting mediaeducation and media literacy.Since 2023 , the Federal Ministry of theInterior has been working on thedevelopment of a joint action plan betweenthe Federal Government and federalstates against disinformation and for aresilient democracy . The proposedmeasures should contribute tostrengthening social resilience againstdisinformation. The stat e centres forpolitical education, other providers ofpolitical education as well as federalprogrammes such as "Live Democracy!"and state programmes will contribute tothe implementation of the action plan. Oneof the aims is to strengthen citizens’ medi aand news literacy in order to recognise andcounteract disinformation.Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 20217Schools in Mecklenburg -Vorpommernpromote the development of digital skillsthrough courses on Media S tudies a ndComputer S cience, which are taught fromyear 5 onwards. Other subjects such asSocial Studies and H istory also teach t hecritical use of sources and narratives.The increasing use of digital media in theclassroom also makes it possible todiscuss and reflect on digital content andcreate the necessary awareness that isrequired in our democratic and pluralisticsociety in order to deal with digital mediain a self- determined, safe and openmanner.24 expand research and innovationcapacities in cybersecurity and digitalresilience; The Rostock University is working oncyber security issues at various levels. Atthe Institute of Computer Science, cybersecurity issues are addressed in the use ofmaritime data (analysis of shipmovements), building data (buildi ngautomation) and medical data, researchinto information security management inthe digital administration of localauthorities and the architecture for cybersecurity in Germany's fede ral system. TheInstitute for Applied Microelectronics andData Technology (IMD) is conductingresearch into cyber security and digitalresilience as part of several externallyfunded projects.Research and innovation in the field ofcyber security is also carried out by theFederal Cyber Agency2 based in Halle(Saale) .25 promote responsible digital behaviourand ethics in the public and privatesectors and adopt ethical guidelines e.g.to ensure anti -discrimination andequality, codes of conduct, andaccountability mechanisms to ensureresponsible digital practices and protectdemocratic values; Digitalisation offers great opportunities forpromoting social participation and genderequality. At the same time, digitalparticipation, digital use and the technicalimplementation of digitalised offers andservices are often gender- insensitive anddiscriminatory. The State G overnment isaware of this ambiva lent situation and istherefore working at various levels on thetopic of “ Making digitalisation gender -equitable” (e.g. within the framework of theFederal States Conference of Ministers2 https://www.cyberagentur.de/Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 20318and Senators on Gender Equality andWomen's Affairs).26 enhance the security and resilience ofthe Baltic Sea Region by strengtheningcooperation in areas such as defence,energy security, and cyber security; The State G overnment supportscooperation in the area of cyber security.For example, on 27– 28 September 2023,it organised the German -Finnish BusinessForum together with the German -FinnishChamber of Commerce in the Hanseaticand University City of Rostock. Companiesfrom Germany and Finland as well asrepresentatives from governments,parliaments and other public institutionstook part in the event. The confe rencefocussed on the topic of “ Cyber Security –Strategies and Tools for S MEs and CriticalInfrastructure .”The video messages from the MinisterPresident of Mecklenburg -Vorpommern ,the Finnish Foreign Minister and theopening speech by the Minister of theInterior, Building and DigitalisationMecklenburg -Vorpommern emphasisedthe importance of cybersecurity forcompanies, public administration s andprivate households. They underlined that ajoint approach to challenges andexchange across national borders is asecurity gain for everyone.In their keynote speeches, pitches anddiscussions, participants engaged inintensive dialogue about strategies andtools for SMEs and critical infrastru cture.The presentations by Finnish and Germancompanies showed examples of practicalsolutions and new approaches.Current research on the cyber security ofthe water and energy supply was alsoaddressed at the event.Within the remit of the Ministry of theInterior, Building and Digitalisation, theCERT network is conducting cooperationwith the Federal Government, otherfederal states and local authorities. Theabbreviation CERT stands for “ ComputerEmergency Response Team” and is anallianc e of German security and computeremergency response teams with over fortymembers.Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 20419The CERT network p ursues the followingobjectives, among others:- ensuring the protection of nationalinformation technology networks,- rapid and joint response in the e vent ofsecurity incidents.Regarding strengthening the resilience of maritime ecosystems toItemNo. Resolution Text Statement by the State Government ofMecklenburg -Vorpommern27 alongside the ambitious actions thatthe BSPC resolution urges concerningmarine resilience and resilience ofclimate and biodiversity, also take intoaccount other important dimensions inachieving a sustainable developmentin line with the Agenda 2030, such associal and economic aspects.Conflicting interests shoul d be takeninto account and analysed, forexample those between climate policyand biodiversity preservation; The S tate Government of Mecklenburg -Vorpommern supports the FederalGovernment’s efforts to achieve these goalswithin the framework of HELCOM andthrough the implementation of the EU MarineStrategy Framework Directive (MSFD).28 cooperate and act decisively towardsa clean, healthy, and productive BalticSea with resilient marine and coastalecosystems; As far as the u niversity sector is concerned ,close cooperati on within the framework of theEuropean University for Sma rt Urban CoastalSustainability ( EU-CONEXUS ) deservesparticular mention here. This consortium ofnine European universities, including RostockUniversity, conducts researc h into thesustainability of (semi) urban coastal regions.In addition to research , all partner universitiesalso offer a wide range of opportunitie s andprogrammes for students.In terms of research, the Leibniz Institute forBaltic Sea Research (IOW) also contributestowards these objectives with its holisticscientific strategy . It is involved in thecollection, processing and provision of dataas part of the so -called Baltic S ea monitoringon behalf of the F ederal Government and inimplementation of corresponding HELCOMdecisions . Reference is made to point 27.30 increase joint e fforts to reduce theoutlet of nutrients, which contributes toeutrophication, biodiversity loss, andweakening the Baltic Sea as anattractive travel destination; The state supports the Federal Government’sefforts to achieve these goals within theframework of HELCOM and through theimplementation of the EU Marine StrategyFramework Directive (MSFD), the EU WaterMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 20520Framework Directive (WFD) and the EUNitrates Directive (e.g. fertilis er regulations).32 implement coastal management plansto protect and restore coastalecosystems, which can act as carbonsinks and buffer zones against sea -level rise (WG/Climate 9) ; The restoration of coastal -flooded peatlandsis one of the state ’s goal s and a field of acti onin the Peatland Protection Strategy.33 expand the existing Marine ProtectedAreas (MPAs) network and improvecooperation and transboundarymanagement between marineprotected areas in the Baltic Sea toensure proper enforcement to protectvulnerable habitats and species; Mecklenburg -Vorpommern has an extensivenetwork of Natura 2000 sites in the coastalsea. The implementation of existingmanagement plans is a priority task. Theplans and projects of third parties in theterritorial sea are competently observed bythe responsible authorities within the scope oftheir respective responsibilities.35 ensure a quick and strictimplementation of the updated BalticSea Action Plan and its associatedaction documents within the agreedtimelines i n all democratic HELCOMmember states to achieve a goodecological status of the Baltic Sea bythe end of the decade and consider asfar as possible implementing furthermeasures from the policy -relevantsuggestions for various policy areas inthe HELCOM 2021 Climate Change inthe Baltic Sea Fact Sheet to reach thisgoal; Reference is made to point 27.36 establish and enforce recognisable,legally binding sustainable fishingquotas in the Baltic Sea Region withdiversification for species, includingregul ations on fishing nets or othermethods, ensuring that fish stocksremain healthy and sustainable in thelong term. All actions should be basedon respected, up- to-date research. Toprevent population crashes, the aimshould be to reduce fishing quotasdown to or below scientifically advisedthresholds in the Baltic Sea; Together with the Federal G overnment andthe federal state of Schleswig -Holstein,Mecklenburg -Vorpommern is supporting theactivities and initiatives of t he Baltic SeaFisheries Forum (BALTFISH) and is workingalongside the Federal G overnment toestablish adequate regulations for thesustainable management of Baltic Sea fishstocks within the framework of the CommonFisheries Policy (quotas, technicalregulations).37 strengthen regulations andenforcement mechanisms to preventpollution and minimise the dischargeof pollutants into the Baltic Sea; The state supports the Federal Government’sefforts to achieve these goals within theframework of HELCOM and through theimplementation of the EU Marine StrategyFramework Directive (MSFD), the EU WaterFramework Directive (WFD) and the EUNitrates Directive (e.g. fertilizer regulations)Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 20621and their application approval procedures, forexample.38 introduce stricter controls on industry,shipping, and agriculture to reduceinputs of nutrients, hazardous wastes,and harmful em issions to protectbiodiversity and the ecologicalbalance of the marine environment; Controlling activities of the responsibleauthorities in Germany and in Mecklenburg -Vorpommern are already at a comparativelyhigh level.In the field of agriculture, technicalinspections are carried out in accordance withfertilis er law and plant protection law. Inaddition, compliance with the basicrequirement of farm management as well asgood agricultural and ecological condition ofland are controlled within the framework ofthe Common Agricultural Policy. Theseinspections serve to en sure compliance withspecialised legislation and thus, a mong otherthings, to protect the environment from theinput of nutrients and pollutants.Internationally applicable environmentalregulations are of crucial importance forglobal maritime shippin g. For example, aspart of the Fit- for-55 package, the EuropeanCommission has set binding requirements forthe use of shore power for container andpassenger ships with a gross tonnage ofmore than 5,000. The Alternative FuelsInfrastructure Regulation (AFIR) requirescore and comprehensive network ports(MSRL) t o secure a large part of theirelectricity requirements starting from 2030 ifa certain number of calls is exceeded.Correspondingly, the regulation on the use ofrenewable and low -carbon fuels in maritimetransport (FuelEU Maritime) stipulates,among oth er things, a general ship -sideusage obligation at berth in TEN- T ports(starting from 2030) and other EU ports(starting from 2035). In addition, steadilyincreasing greenhouse gas limits for shipenergy consumption will apply from 2025.This will contribute to the increased use ofenvironmentally friendly fuels. In 2024,maritime transport will be included in theEuropean emissions trading scheme.Relevant r evenues will benefit projects toimprove water qu ality and promote alternativepropulsion technology. In addition, therevision of the Energy Tax Directive stipulatesthe abolition of tax benefits for conventionalfuels.At the end of 2020 , the admini strativeagreement between the Federal and StateMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 20722Governments on the construction of shore -side power plants came into force. It aims tosupport the reduction of emissions in sea andinland ports and provides federal states withfinancial assistance for correspondingprojects until 2025. In addition , theBords tromTech II guideline of the FederalMinistry for Digital and Transport, which wasextended last year, can be used until 2026 atthe latest.39 raise public awareness of theimportance of mar ine ecosystems andthe need for their conservation byconducting education campaigns,engaging local communities, andpromoting citizens' ini tiatives toincrease a sense of responsibility andencourage public participation inefforts to protect and restore theecological health of the Baltic Sea; Within the framework of the Federal/StateWorking Group on the North Sea and theBaltic Sea (BLANO), the Federal Governmentand coastal states promote such measuresas part of the national implementation of theMSFD. Specific measures are listed in theGerman national program me of measures.Reference is also made to point 28.Regarding strengthening the resilience of climate and biodiversity toItemNo. Resolution Text Statement by the State Government ofMecklenburg -VorpommernClimate Change40 increase the efforts and speed toimplement amb itious national climatetargets and adapted extensions –corresponding to the current scienti ficand measurement results – in line withthe Paris A greement's goal of limitingthe increase in the global averagetemperature to wel l below 2 degreesCelsius above pre-industrial levelsand pursuing efforts to limit thetemperature increase to 1.5 degreesCelsius above those; The state of Mecklenburg -Vorpommern aimsto reach greenhouse gas neutral ity by 2040.To this end, a State Climate P rotecti on Law iscurrently being drafted in order to assist inachieving these goals.43 incentivise renewable energydevelopment by shortening thepermitt ing process for wind, solar,other clean and stable energysources; In accordance with Section 10 (6a) of theFederal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) ,the Federal Government is responsible forthe length of the approval procedure s forinstallations requiring approval underimmission control legislation (does not applyto solar installations). Once the applicationdocuments are complete, t he approvalprocess takes seven months for formalprocedures and three months for simplifiedMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 20823procedures, plus a three- month extensiondue to the difficulty of the examination. TheBImSchG is a federal law. In this respect, theFederal G overnment would be responsiblefor shor tening the approval procedures bylaw.The State Government of Mecklenburg -Vorpommern does not support the proposalto shorten existing deadlines , because theyguarantee effective permitting procedures inaccordance with the BImSchG.Since the length of the permitting process forwind turbines has extended far beyond thestatuto ry deadlines, in particular due tolacking responses , it is the task of the state toimprove the efficiency of the relevantprocedures . A number of i nitial measureshave already been introduced.44 taking into account the risksconnected with t he increasingdependence of the European marketon the suppliers of rare metals andother raw materials, increase thespeed in implementing nationalstrategies for transitioning away fromfossil fuels and towards low -carbonenergy systems, and wiselydiver sifying our energy mixes so thatthere is no shortage o f energy, theenergy comes from reliable sourcesand is economically viable, avo idingenergy poverty and sudden priceincreases; The further diversification of the energy mixmust remain a priority against the backdrop ofthe experience with one -sided dependencies.The reliability of partners and the security ofsupply are of particular importance in thisregard .For Mecklenburg -Vorpommern , it includesthe improvement of import infrastructures [inparticular the seaports and (cross -border)pipeline infrastructures] in addition to theconsistent expansion of renewable energies(photovoltaics, onshore/offshore windenergy, geothermal energy). The StateGovernment is activel y working to achievethis goal (e.g. at the Federal Council or aspart of the consultations on the hydrogen corenetwork). The rapid establishment of an LNGimport infr astructure (Lubmin/Mukran) inMecklenburg -Vorpommern makes animportant contribution to energy securitythroughout Europe.Energy d iversification not only reduces therisks of ( one-sided) dependence on fossilfuels, but also helps to reduce green housegas emissions and to stabilis e prices. TheBaltic Sea Region p ossesses particularpotential in this area.With regard to dependency on rare metals,greater emphasis must be placed on circulareconomy and recycling. The developmentand promotion of technologies for moreefficient use and recycling is essential in thi sregard . This could also reduce dependenceMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 20924on imports and at the same time promote amore sustainable use of resources.Further intensive cooperation at theEuropean and international level s isimportant in order to develop a joi nt strategyfor dealing w ith common challenges . Thiscould include the exchange of best practices,joint research and development and thecreation of joint energy i nfrastructures ( cf.point 64).46 support increased research andinnovation in climate changemitigation and adaptationtechnologies, encouragingcollaboration between academicinstitutions, industries, andgovernments; The MV Baltic Sea S trategy foresees theorgani sation of an international hydrogenconference for the Baltic Sea R egion inStralsund. This is already being implementedas part of a joint project between the districtof Vorpommern -Rügen and the StralsundUniversity of Applied Sciences. Relevantprojects, e.g. the Northern German Living Lab(NRL) , “HyPerformer” Rügen -Stralsund,“HyStarter” Wismar and Mecklen burg LakeDistrict, “Campfire” and the Interreg projects“HYTruck” and “Green Industrial Areas”,enjoy political support .In addition to financial assistance fortechnological development , the Ministry ofEconomic s, Infrastructure, Tourism andLabou r is responsible for the HydrogenResearch Factory (ForschungsfabrikWasserstoff ), in which three researchinstitutions are pooling their expertise tojointly develop holistic and application -oriented solutions f or the transition towards aclimate -neutral maritime hydrogen economy.In addition, the German Aerospace Center(DLR) in Neustrelitz, the Leibniz Institute ofAtmospheric Physics (IAP) in Kühlungsbornand the Ocean Technology Campus (OTC) inRostock Marie nehe focus their missionstatements and overall strategies oncooperation with commercial andgovernmental users for specific research andinnovation services.Please also refer to point 28.47 develop incentives and support forintegrati ng climate change educationand awareness -raising programmesinto curricula, public campaigns, andprofessional developmentprogrammes; The state of Mecklenburg -Vorpommern aimsto reach greenhouse gas neutrality by 2040.To this end, a State Climate Protec tion Act iscurrently being drafted in order to achieve thisgoal. The Ministry of Economic s,Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour isinvolved in the developm ent of the MasterMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 21025Plan for Educat ion for SustainableDevelopment (ESD) for vocational educationand training, which is being drafted under theleadership of the Ministry of Education andDaycare Facilities for Children (IQ) fornurseries, schools and vocational training.Climate change is already an essential part ofthe ESD and is therefore anchored as acrosscutting topic in the curricula of allgeneral education courses.In Geography, Biology and Philosophy, thethemes of climate protection, animal welfareand global justice are identified as mandatoryand contribute to the acquisition of skills. InSocial S tudies, the possibilities of managingclimate change sustainably through globalregulation are addressed. In conn ection withthe creation of the Master Plan for Educat ionfor Sustainable Development (StateParliament resolution printed matter 8/2233),concrete measures are currently beingdeveloped for nurseries, schools andvocational training.49 convene annual Baltic Sea Climateand Biodi versity Summits to raisepublic awareness, track progress,share best practices, an d refineregional strategies to accelerateincreased climate action andadaptation; A potential annual summit would not beexpedient, would require substantial time andmaterial resources and would not reach thepublic . Therefore, t he State Governmentdoes not support this proposal.ItemNo. Resolution Text Statement by the State Government ofMecklenburg -VorpommernBiodiversity50 make strong efforts to halt and reversebiodivers ity loss by 2030 andcontribute to making the democraticBaltic Sea region as mu ch as possiblea macro- regional best practiceexample in this regard for the world; Through the implementation of Natura 2000,including the pledge and review process(voluntary commitment s of the MemberStates to implement concrete improvementtargets for selected EU protected areas), thestate of Mecklenburg -Vorpommern can makea decisive contribution to curbing the loss ofbiodiversity in the coastal sea.51 fully implement as fast as possible theKunming -Montreal Global BiodiversityFramework (GBF) adopted at the 15thConference of the Parties to theConvention on Biological Diversity(CBD -COP15) on 19 December 2022 Through the implementatio n of the necessarypermission requirements f or plans andprojects on the one hand and theimplementation of necessary conserv ationmeasures on the other, Mecklenburg -Vorpommern can meet its obligations underMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 21126with its mission to halt and reversebiodiversity loss by 2030, adapt theexisting national and Baltic Sea broadstrategies and programmes and tocooperate intensively among thedemocratic Baltic Sea States torealise a swift and effectiveimplementation of the GBF so that theBaltic Sea region becomes a globalbest practice example in implementingthe Global Biodiversity Framework; European law in accordance with the HabitatsDirective and the EU Birds Directive . Thestate thus contributes to the implementationof the EU Biodiversity Strategy , alongsideother democratic Baltic Sea states.52 consider an ecosystem -basedmanage ment approach when revisingand adapting action plans andstrategies to achie ve these goals andimplementing these measures. Thismeans management tha t considersthe whole ecosystem and all humanactivities, which is aware of andincorporates all pressures andinteractions and aims to protect,restore , or enhance the resilience andsustainability of the aquaticecosystem to ensure the sustainableprovision of ecosystem services andmaintain the biodiversity; The State Biodiversity Strategy and thecatalogue of measures with approaches toecosystem -based management are currentlyupdated with a view to the nationalBiodiversity S trategy , currently indevelopment . Furthermore, theimplementation of the relevant EUenvironmental directives and the regularlyupdated management plans contribute s tosustainable development in terms of goodecological status.As part of the departmental consultations onspatial planning and regional developmentissues, attention is paid to sustainablybalancing resource protection and use. Thenecessary technical documentation is underdevelopment .It should be noted that the guiding principle ofspatial planning is that of sustainable spatialdevelopment, which reconciles social andeconomic demands with ecological functions[Section 1 (2) of the Spatial Planning Act(ROG)].53 further, commit to protectingbiodiversity and increasing carbonsequestration and natural storage withcommon and national policies for:a. conservation of carbon -richecosystems such as forests,wetlands, seagrass meadows andnatural rivers;b. continuation of sustainable forestmanagement; The preservation an d sustainablemanagement of forest s are defined as theforest policy objective of the state and areenshrined in the State Forest Act. They arealso included in the State Climate ProtectionAct.In addition, the state is developing a PeatlandProtection and Use Strategy forMecklenburg -Vorpommern .54 develop and execute plans toenhance the resilience of the BalticSea ecosystem to climate change,including protecting coastal habitatsand restoring wetlands; The restoratio n of coastal -flooded peatlandsconstitutes a state goal and a field of action inthe Peatland Protection and U se Strategy. Aseries of planned measures and projects forthe implementation of Natura 2000 andmeasures from the European pledgesprocess also serve to increase the resilienceMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 21227of the Baltic Sea ecosystem and coastalhabitats to climate change.55 revers e land degradation by 2030,and promote sustainable forest andpeatland management given theirimportance for climat e andbiodiversity; Part 2 of the Soil Protection Program meMecklenburg -Vorpommern assesses thecondition of local soils and shows the diverseneeds for action to reduce soil degradation inthe state .However, the program me also makes it clearthat the implementation of the necessarymeasures to protect local soils againstchemical, physical and biologicaldegradation, e.g. compaction, erosion,acidification, humus degradation, pollutantinputs or sealing, generally lies within theresponsibility of respective stakeholders inaccordance with legal regulations :Agricultural soils: t he implementation of theErosion Event R egister and the as sociatedtechnical proposals, including the ordering ofsoil conservation measures, counteract soildegradation on agricultural land.Agri-environmental and climate protectionmeasures promote the creation of erosioncontrol areas as well as land ma nagementpractices that contribute to soil protection(e.g. strip- till and direct sowing methods ororganic farming). The implementation ofGAEC 5 and 6 also promotes theconservation and improvement of agriculturalland.Furthermore, as part of the techni calconsultations on soil protecti on, options forsoil-conserving cultivation are transmitted toagricultural actors and stakeholders (e.g.avoiding compaction, conservation tillage,building up humus).Soils used in forestry and forest soils: t hestate of Mecklenb urg-Vorpommern isdeveloping a State C limate Protection Act tohelp achieve the aforeme ntioned goals. Thefocus here lies on the sustainablemanagement of the forest . The importance offorests for climate protection and biodiversitypreser vation are taken into account in theintegrative management of the forests .Settlement and transport areas: the Ministryfor Climate Protection, Agriculture, RuralAreas and the Environment currentlyestimates that the goal of reversing soildegradation in Mecklenburg -Vorpommern by2030 will not be achieved.Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 21328In Mecklenburg -Vorpommern , around 5,300sites suspected of being contaminated andalmost 400 contaminated sites have beenrecorded. The se figures will decrease by2030 due to t he ongoing review andremediation of contaminated sites – but notsignificantly. In addition, there are thousandsof brownfield sites and therefore considerablepotential for unsealing in Mecklenburg -Vorpommern .The state Ministry is not aware of any fundingopportunities for Mecklenburg -Vorpommernto combat soil degradation by means ofcontaminated site remediation, unsealing orsoil reculti vation.New land use and the associated soildamage caused by construction and sealinghave remained at a pleasingly low level overthe last ten years, but wil l increase sharplyagain as a result of the expansion ofrenewable energy plants (in addition to thegrowth of other settlement and transportareas ).The Ministry supports the general reduction inthe use of new land and soil sealing, as wellas land- saving and soil -conserving control ofthe expansion of renewable energies. Soildamage and degradation should be reducedto an unavoidable level through theintroduction and integration of pedologicalconstruction monitoring for larger or sensitiveconstruction projects.The future State Climate Protection Act couldcontribute to reversing soil degradation by2030. It should address the legal protection ofpeatland soils as well as the improvement ofcarbon sequestration in agricultural andforestry soils and t argets for land -saving, soil -conserving and sealing- reducedconstruction.With regard to the reversal of biological soildegradation (soil biodiversity loss), theexpansion of organically farmed agriculturalland should also have a positive effect.56 significantly increase efforts tofundamentally improve nutrientmanagement in agriculture, industry,and wastewater treatment plants toreduce nutrient runoff into the Baltic Within the framework of relevant legalregulations , respective water authorities areresponsible for ensuring that water bodies aremanaged sustainably. This includes, inparticular, the protection of water bodies fromdetrimental changes in water characteristicsMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 21429Sea, which contributes toeutrophication and biodiversity loss; and the protection of the marine environment(cf. Article 6 of the Water Resources Act ).Permissions and authorisations for the use ofwater bodies must be refused in the case ofexpected changes to the water body or if legalrequirements are not met (see Article 12 ofthe Water Resources Act ).All wastewater treatment plants inMecklenburg -Vorpommern comply with thestate of the art and often exceed it in theirpurification performance due to theconsideration of the immission principle.Around 90 per cent of the population isconnected to public wastewater treatmentplants.A total of 151 public wastewater treatmentplants, correspondi ng to 92.9 per cent of thetotal size of all wastewater treatment plants inMecklenburg -Vorpom mern , have targete dnitrogen reduction. 88.57 per cent of thenitrogen load gene rated with municipalwastewater is thus retained before beingdischarged into water bodies.A total of 122 public sewage treatment pl ants,corresponding to 92.1 per cent of the t otal sizeof all sewage treatment plants inMecklenburg -Vorpommern , have targetedphosphorus elimination. 94.16 per cent of thephosphorus load produced with municipalwastewate r is thus retained before it isdischarged into water bodies.The programmes of measures forimplementing the Water Framework Directivecontain further actions, for example on smallwastewater treatment plants, which arenecessary to achieve good water status.In addition, the then Ministry of Agricultureand Environment of Mecklenbur g-Vorpommern and the associations ofMecklenburg -Vorpommern wastewatercompanies signed a joint declaration on thereduction of phosphorus inputs from publicsewage treatment plants of size classes 1 to3 in August 2018 . The aim of this jointdeclaration i s to improve – throughoptimisation or investment s – the phosphoruspurification performance of wastewatertreatment plants with treatment capacities ofup to 10,000 population equivalents (SC 1 to3), for which there are currently nostandardised national requirem ents forphosphorus elimination .Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 21530The current amendment drafts for the EUUrban Wastew ater Treatment Directive(UWWTD) provide for increasedrequirements for the elimination of nutrients inwastewater treatment plants with apopulation equivalent of 10,000 or more.If these come into effect when the UWWTDcomes into force, nutrient inputs fromwastewater treatment plants into waterbodies will be further minimised bothinternationally and nationally.However, this will also requ ire considerableinvestment s in infrastructure.Fertiliser law regulates good professionalconduct with regard to plant nutrients. As partof official consultations , farmers ar e providedwith tools, e.g. the programme fordetermining fertiliser requirements, in order tooptimally match the use of nutrients to plantrequirements. In addition, information isprovided on how to optimise the use ofnutrients so that nutrient losses , e.g. due toleaching , can be m inimised.The effectiveness of legal regulations isconstantly reviewed through an evaluationprocess (DüV impact m onitoring) andadjustments are made if necessary .Furthermore, as part of the requirements forreaching good agricultural and ecologicalstatus, erosion -reducing measures must beimplemented in crop cultivation in order tominimise the direct nutrient input into waterbodies. The requirement for minimum soilcover is intended to protect soils withoutvegetation during the most sensitive period s.Furthermore, legislation in the waste sector(e.g. the Waste Sewage Sludge Ordinance)promotes the recovery of nutrients for theireventual re- use (e.g. in fertiliser production).The state provides financial support for suchpurposes.57 develop and adopt regional strategiesto deal with transboundaryemergencies, including forest fires,eutrophication, and spreadingpathogens, some of which areexacerbated by climate change andpollution . The strategies shouldinclude research into the ca uses ofsuch emergenc ies, cooperationbetween rescue services, and joint In principle, these issues lie within theresponsibility of the Federal Government .In the area of disaster control , a transnationalcapability management system has beenimplemented upon the initiative of theNational Forest Fire Protection working groupfor the effective supra- regional combating offorest fires. Cross -border agreements onmutual information and assis tance alreadyMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 21631monitoring programmes that indicatethe risks of such emergencies; exist for cross -border disaster situations,which are also reflected in the correspondingdisaster control plans.Cross-border cooperation is also conductedin the field of rescue services. On the basis ofthe cooperation agreement concluded in2020 between the district of Vorpommern -Greifs wald and the West Pomeranianvoivodeship, German and Polish emergencyservices can be deployed on either side of theborder if necessary. This means that patientsno longer have to be transferred to therespective rescue service at the border.Language training for rescue service staff andsimulation training at the training centre in thePolish Baltic resort of Misdroy (Miedzyzdroje)were financed by EU projects. Cooperation isthe basis for mutual assistance inemergencies. Rescue services from Polandalso took part in the latest national disastercontrol exercise at the end of September2023.Considering the special attention the BSPC devoted to the issue of dumped ammunitionin the Baltic Sea, particularly during the Presidency of the German Bundestag, theConference strongly welcomesItemNo. Resolution Text Statement by the State Government ofMecklenburg -Vorpommern59 the intensive consideration of theissue of dumped ammunition in theBaltic Sea by the Council of the BalticSea States dur ing the GermanPresidency – and during the 20thsession of the Council of the Ba lticSea States on 1 and 2 June 2023 inWismar; The Ocean Technology Campus (OTC) inRostock -Marienehe has actively partic ipatedin this discussion proces s via its supportingstructure – the S ubsea Monitoring Network(SMN) – on a cross- national basis. Furtherinvolvement took place through the requestedprovision of specific research and innovationservices for commercial and governmentalusers.The S tate Government welcomes theprovisi on of 100 million euros by the FederalGovernment as part of the immediate actionprogramme fo r explosive ordnance in thesea. These funds are intended for an offshoreplatform for testing the removal of explosiveordnance on an industrial scale , which is tobe put into operation by the end of 2025. Arelevant concept for the long -term financingof this t ask should be developed by theMecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 21732Federal Government in consultation with thefederal states.60 the initiation of a cross -sectoral,multidisciplina ry, and macro -regionaldialogue on underwater munitions inline with its previous demands duringthe round table of experts in Kiel inDecember 2022 and the j ointconsultation of HELCOM and theCBSS in April 2023; The responsible authorities in Mecklenburg -Vorpommern are involved in such processesvia the Federal Government, which isresponsible for external represe ntation (leadministry: the Federal Ministry for theEnvironment, Nature Conservation, NuclearSafety and Consumer Protection).61 the German government's decision –based on the resolution of the GermanBundestag to provide € 100 million forthis purpose – to initiate a nationalimmediate action programme for therecovery of underwater munitions inthe Baltic and North Seas, includingthe devel opment of a mobile platformfor munitions clearance, and to sharethe experience gained from this; In princ iple, this lies within the responsibilityof the Federal Government, while the coastalstates have an advisory role.The decision of the German Bundestag iswelcomed. However, it only represents thefirst tentative step in view of the scale of theproblem , which will certainly take severaldecades to solve and which must under nocircumstances be placed solely on theshoulders of the coastal states in financialterms.Nevertheless, the State Governmentwelcomes the provision of 100 million eurosby the Fe deral Government as part of theimmediate action programme for explosiveordnance in the sea. These funds areintended for an offshore platform for testingthe removal of explosive ordnance on anindustrial scale, which is to be put intooperation by the end of 2025. A relevantconcept for the long -term financing of thistask should be developed by the FederalGovernment in consu ltation with the federalstates ( cf. point 59).in light of the foregoing, the BSPC calls on th e Governments in the Baltic Sea Region, theCBSS, and the EU toItemNo. Resolution Text Statement by the State Government ofMecklenburg -Vorpommern62 go beyond the previous agreements ofthe g overnments and initiate a jointstrategic approach and effort of thedemocratic Baltic S ea states - as hasbeen achieved concerning theexpansion of offshore w ind capacities-, also based on the continuation ofthe cooperation betw een CBSS and This proposal is to be welcomed, as theproblem can o nly be solved supranationally(“water has no borders” ) due to the diffusionof pollutants from explosive ordnance that donot stop at national borders.However, no additional financial re sourcesare available from the s tate of Mecklenburg-Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Page 21833HELCOM, as well as considerestablishing a joint financialinstrumen t to succeed in the goal,which the BSPC considers of greatimportance, of eliminating thehazardous situation caused byammunition dumped in the Baltic Seawithin the next 20 years at the latest; Vorpommern for the establishmen t of a jointfinancial instrument.Furthermore, the Conference Decides toItemNo. Resolution Text Statement by the State Government ofMecklenburg -Vorpommern64 establish a two -year Working Groupon Energy Security, Self -sustainability, Resilience andConnectivity - based on the decisionsof the BS PC Standing Committee - tosubmit a first report at the 33rd 470BSPC and Energy security , self -sustainability, resilienceand connectivity w ill remain important issuesin the foreseeable future ( cf. point 44). Aworking g roup could contribute to advancingand coordinating joint efforts in the Baltic SeaRegion. However, new structures duplicatingthe existing exchange formats should beavoided. In the event that s uch a workinggroup is established , the State Governmentsuggests to conducts an evaluation of theneed to continue its work after its report forthe 33rd BSPC.N O RWAYNorway Page 220Mr Himanshu Gulati MPThe StortingI am writing with reference to your letter of 12 February this year concerning theresolution from the 32nd Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Berlin 27-29 August2023.Norway continues to attach great importance to the cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region.Russia’s war against Ukraine is the biggest security challenge of our time. This makesthe cooperation between the countries in the Baltic Sea Region even more important fordefending our common values, strengthening our resilience and security, andcontributing to the green and digital transition.The emphases in the resolution from the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Augustcorrespond closely to the Norwegian view and priorities. The enclosed report summarizesour approach and support for the issues that were given prominence in the resolution.Yours sincerely,Espen Barth EideNorway Page 22115 April 20 24Norwegian comments to the resolution adopted by the 32nd Baltic Sea ParliamentaryConference (BSPC) on 29 August 2023Key observationsNorway is strongly committed to cooperation and cohesion among the countries of the BalticSea Region. The region’s security and sustainable development are crucial also for our ownnational security and sustainability.Russia's war on Ukraine is the biggest security threat of our time. It brings death andsuffering u pon millions of Ukrainians. Ukraine's defense against Russia's aggression is also astruggle for democratic values and security in our region . We stand firmly together with ourallies and partners in response to Russia’s war.Norway remains resolute in its unwavering support for Ukraine and its citizens, and will standwith them, for as long as it takes. We have a 5-year support programme, comprising militaryand civilian support to Ukraine (The Nansen programme for Ukraine 2023 -2027). The supportis both long -term and flexible, based on Ukraine's needs.The Norwegian government attaches great importance to interparliamentary cooperation invarious formats, including the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference. The BSPC sessions are akey forum for discussing opportunities and challenges facing the region. We appreciate theopportunity to consider and comment om the resolutions that are adopted annually.Additional commentsThe Norwegian government notes and supports the premises and recommendations of the32nd BSPC resolution.We support the emphasis on democracy, rule of law, equality, and human rights , which arethe backbone s of our societies, and fundamental for the sustainable development of ourregion.Through the EEA and Norway Grants, Norway contributes to the reduction of social andeconomic disparities in Europe. Poland and the Baltic states are among these 15 beneficiaryStates. A draft agreement has recently been reached with the EU Commission and the threeDonor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) for a fourth funding period (2021 -2028)focusing on 1) democracy, good governance, and the rule of law; 2) green transition; and 3)social inclusion and resilience . Norway supports the emphasis pla ced by the BSPC on theimportance of close collaboration to ensure energy security. The security environment inEurope after Russia’s illegal full -scale invasion of Ukraine has put pressure on energy supply.We have a common interest in stable energy markets to stop Putin from being able toweaponize energy.Norway Page 22215 April 20 24Norway’s most important contribution to European energy security is gas export from ourcontinental shelf. We cooperate closely with other European countries to provide morerenewable energy and stable energy markets, to reach our goals for climate, energy, anddevelopment of green industry.Norway fully endorses the resolutions emphasis o n the protection of critical sharedinfrastructure . We have put in place enhanced measures for protection of criticalinfrastructure.We welcome NATO’s strengthened role in protecting the physical energy infrastructure. It willbe important to follow up the NATO Vilnius Declaration establishing NATO’s Maritime Centrefor the Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure within NATO’s Maritime Command(MARCOM). Moreover, it is i mportant also to follow up the network at NATO HQ that bringstogether NATO, Allies, private sector, and other relevant actors to improve informationsharing and exchange best practice.Norway welcomes the Conference ’s focus on democratic and digital resilience. Digitalresilience is a longstanding priority for Norway, reflected in the new law on digital securityfrom 2023. The government is launching a new digitalization strategy this year, with artificialintelligence among the focus areas . We emphasize the need for broad internationalcooperation on AI, including the involvement of private sector. Norway has increased its AIresearch efforts by approximately 85 million Euro over the next five years. Norway has alsoinitiated a new strategy to strengthen resilien ce against the spread of disinformation, to belaunched in 2025.Norway will work closely with N ATO allies and partners on cyber defence and digitalresilience. A closer public -private partnership is essential in the time to come. In a world witha complex digital threat -landscape and a high number of cyberoperations, Norwayunderscores the need for str engthened compliance with international law and the globallyagreed norms for responsible behaviour of states in cyberspace. The UN processes are key tothis. Norway has launched its candidacy for hosting the Internet Gove rnance Forum in 2025.Norway supports the BSPC’s continued focus on climate change, biodiversity and marineecosystems. As Co-Chair of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, which nowhas 65 members , Norway has taken on a leading role in the negotiations of a global plasticstreaty , which should be in place by the end of 2024 Together we call for legally bindingtargets and measures throughout the entire life cycle of plastics .Norway shares around 90% of our fishing resources with other countries , and sets quotasboth nationally and internationally based on the best available scientific advice. Climatechange also brings new challenges.Norway manages large sea areas in the Barents Sea, the Norwegian Sea, the North Sea andSkagerrak. Ensur ing a sustainable management of our marine living resources, as well ascomplying with international resolutions and regulations on sustainable fisheriesNorway Page 22315 April 20 24management (includ ing the UN's sustainability goals and the UN Lisbon Declaration ) are keyobjectives .Norway invests in research, mapping and monitoring related to the sea. The cross -sectoralmapping program Mareano has until 2024 mapped the seabed in detail in approximately300,000 km2 of Norwegian sea areas.The EU Water Framework Directive has been implemented in Norwegian law through theWater Management Regulations. Through Norway’s River Basin Management Plans andProgrammes of Measures, Norway takes action to protect coastal ecosystems. Furthermore,Norwa y has implemented an ambitious action plan to restore the Oslofjord.Furthermore; t he Norwegian government has proposed revised regulations on production,storage and use of fertilizers, aimed at limiting the levels of phosphorous in soil and water toimprove water quality and water environment.Norway is in the process of further improving fisheries control and ensuring fair competitionbetween the actors .Norway supports BSPCs continues attention to the issues of dumped ammunition in theBaltic Sea and appreciate the German government ’s initiatives in this field.Finally, Norway congratulates the Conference on the decision to establishing a working groupon Energy Security, Self-sustainability, Resilience and Connectivity.SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEINSchleswig-Holstein Page 225Annex 1: Report of the State Government on the status of implementation of theResolution of the 32nd Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in August 2023On 13.12.2023, the State Parliament of Schleswig -Holstein called on the StateGovernment (Official Records 20/1596 (new)) to report on the implementation of theResolution of the 32nd Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference o f 29.08.2023 (OfficialRecords 20/1458) as part of the Baltic Sea Report 2023/24.For the purposes of structuring, the sections of the Resolution to which the parts of thereport refer and the departments from which th ey originate are listed.Schleswig-Holstein Page 2261 Regarding peaceful and reliable neighbourliness and intense cooperation inthe Baltic Sea Region based on fundamental values (Preamble andparagraphs 1 -16)The Baltic Sea policy is always also a peace policy , and Schleswig -Holstein adheresto this even in times of Russia's attack on Ukraine in violation of international law.In line with this approach , Schleswig -Holstein has actively contributed to Baltic Seacooperation across a range of areas outlines in the Preamble and paragraph s 1-16.This can be seen in the attached Baltic Sea Report 2024.The entire State Government will continue to fulfil the commitment outlined in theBaltic Sea Report without compromise , albeit without the Russian partners, who arestill suspended from many cooperation contexts due to comprehensive sanctions.The Ministry for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature(MEKUN )Re paragraph 4The State Government welcomes the joint declaration of intent adopted by Denmarkand Germany on March 28, 2023 for the construction of a pipeline (Hyper link 3) forgreen hydrogen from western Denmark to Schleswig -Holstein . It is scheduled forputting into operation in 2028. This will reduce dependence on natural gas andincrease security of supply in the region.Re paragraph 7Schleswig -Holstein aims to become the first climate -neutral industrial state by 2040.The Energy Transition and Climate Protection Act (EWKG) is the central politicalinstrument of climate protection policy in Schleswig -Holstein.The use of renewable energies has grown consistently in Schleswig -Holstein overrecent years. The State Government reports on the development of the greenhousegas emissions reduction and energy -related indicators of climate protection policy inthe energy transition and climate protection monitoring reports1.1 schleswig -holstein.de - Energiewende und Klimaschutz - Monitoring Energiewende und Klimaschut zSchleswig- Holstein (Stand: 19.12.2022)Schleswig-Holstein Page 227The Ministry of the Interior, Municipal, Housing and Sport (MIKWS )Re paragraph 5The state, economy , and society rely on a large number of technical and socialinfrastructures on a daily basis. Infrastructures that are of particular importance to thefunctioning and well -being of society are considered "critical". To safeguard thesecritical infrastructures, a comprehens ive legal framework is currently beingestablished at the national ( CRITIS Umbrella Act ) and European ( EU CriticalEntities Resilience ) levels. In recent years, NATO has also increasingly focused onthe strategic challenges associated with the protection o f such infrastructures.However, the attacks on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in September 2022and the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia in October 2023have brought to the fore a dimension a previously overlooked aspect , namely thecritical infrastructure s in the maritime area. These are of particular importance inat least three sectors: energy, food , and communication.However, while the discussion about critical infrastructures on land in Germany and atthe European level is already well advanced, a comparably systematic discussion oncritical maritime infrastructures in Germany has yet to take place.Due to its strategic vastness and the opportunities for covert action, the maritime areahas become an important arena for global great power rivalry. In the context of theongoing conflict and the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, the Baltic Sea hasbecome a focal point for geopolitical interests and conflicts . This is evidenced byan increase in hybrid activities, from a cts of sabotage to the use of unidentifieddrones. All of this serves as a reminder to the western states of the Baltic Sea regionof their dependence on fossil resources, critical maritime infrastructure , and securetrade routes . In response to the war in Ukraine and the activities of the Russian navyin the Baltic Sea, neighboring countries have put their militaries on high alert . With theaccession of Sweden and Finland to NATO, the Baltic Sea is now surrounded bymember states, with the exception of the two areas around Kaliningrad and St.Petersburg .Schleswig-Holstein Page 228Key challenges arise from the peculiarities of the maritime area. These include itsvastness and, accordingly, the geographical extent of the infrastructures built there.The shallow depth of the Baltic Sea compared to the world's oceans as a wholemakes its critical infrastructures relatively vulnerable to various possible impacts(including divers, underwater drones , submarines, trawl nets, and trawl anchors).Furthermore , the maritime area is character ized by a differentiation of state privilegesand responsibilities in the various maritime zones under international law;consequently , numerous maritime infrastructures are located different legal areas.There are a number of potential solutions to the ch allenges facing the Baltic Searegion , including the following :CRITIS Umbrella LawThe governing parties of the traffic light coalition in Berlin have agreed in the coalitionagreement to bundle the physical protection of critical infrastructures in a CRITISUmbrella Law . Cross -sector al minimum requirements for resilience measures andreporting obligations for disruptions are intended to further enhance the resilience ofcritical infrastructures in Germany. Th e law is currently being drafted at full spee d andwill be submitted to the Bundesrat as an approval law due to the involvement of therights of the federal states.Center of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters (COE CSW),KielThe COE CSW is a NATO -accredi ted international military organization based inKiel. The geographical focus of the Center of Excellence is the North Sea and theBaltic Sea, as well as the coastal areas and the military port facilities in these regions .The operational focus of the COE CSW is on maritime reconnaissance from theseabed to space as well as the development of operational capabilities for theAlliance and its partners.Schleswig-Holstein Page 229Today, the COE CSW consists of ten participating Alliance members . Previously ,there have been discussions with Finland regarding the possibility of joining as apartner nation. The German part of the Center of Excellence collaborates with theFederal Ministry of Defense , the Naval Command , the Federal Police , and the StatePolice .The COE CSW and the Schleswig -Holstein State Government maintain regular,selective coordination on a range of security -related topics. These include nationaland cross -border exercises, port protection and civil -military cooperation.The Ministry of Agric ulture, Rural Areas, European Affairs and ConsumerProtection (MLLEV )Re paragraph 8The Schleswig -Holstein State Government is advocating a return to the tradition ofmeetings of heads of government at all appropriate points. The current securityand energy policy situation makes it necessary to convene at the highest governmentlevel within the framework of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (see Baltic SeaReport , Chapter 1.3). Hardly any other European region offers such good conditionsfor effective, goal-oriented , and democratic discourse between governments.Re paragraph 9The establishment of sector al ministerial conferences is very much in theinterests of the State Government . This would be particularly welcome in the area ofoffshore wind energy and other sources of renewable energy (hydrogen) and is oneof the state's core demands in the Baltic Sea Cooperation committees. This is alsodemanded within the framework of BSSSC .Re paragraph 10Interreg has always consistently served as the primary vehicle of implementing theSchleswig -Holstein agenda in the Baltic Sea region. For this reason, the Ministry ofEurope chairs the German Committee of the Baltic Sea Program and represe ntsGermany on the international monitoring committee alongside two representativesfrom the federal government.Re paragraph 11Strengthening social resilience in the Baltic Sea region is an important issue forSchleswig-Holstein Page 230the State Government and is also a key objec tive of the BSR Cultural Pearls projectwith the aim of awarding an annual title of the same name to small and medium -sizedcities in the Baltic Sea region. The project is led by the Council of the Baltic SeaStates . Three partners from Schleswig -Holstein are very actively involved (MLLEV,Heinrich Boell Foundation, Ars Baltica). The EU (Interreg Baltic Sea Program) isproviding funding of 2.8 million EUR for the project with from January 2023 toDecember 2025. The BSSSC annual conference in Kiel organized by the Ministry ofEurope will provide a special forum for this project approach in September 2024 inorder to promote the visibility and sustainable establishment of the BSR CulturalPearls.Re paragraph 12The State Government wholeheartedly endorses the EU Strategy for the Baltic SeaRegion. The Kiel Declaration of August 2022 and the Baltic Sea Cooperation 2030Action Plan updated in spring 2022, address topics that are highly relevant to the EUStrategy for the Baltic Sea region , including the development of new technologies inthe context of the green transformation (hydrogen), the recovery of dumpedammunition and the promotion of innovative AI Baltic Sea projects. The StateGovernment is also utilizing Schlesw ig-Holstein's Presidency of the Baltic Sea StatesSubregional Cooperation (BSSSC) network 2024/2025 for this purpose, for examplethrough an intensified exchange with the Baltic Sea Strategy Point of the EU Strategyfor the Baltic Sea Region . Furthermore , the Ministry of Europe is direct ly responsib lefor an important policy area of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region through itslong-standing experience of coordinating the policy area of culture. Support forUkraine is a focus of Schleswig -Holstein's current BSSSC Presidency and is also animportant component of the BSSSC Annual Conference in Kiel in September 2024.Re paragraph 13Supporting democratic development in the Baltic Sea region is one of the centralcommit ments of the Schleswig -Holstein BSSSC Presidency in 2024/2025. Thisincludes the fight against disinformation and fake news on the Internet, which plays aspecial role in the BSSSC’s youth activities and also at the BSSSC AnnualConference 2024 in Kiel.Schleswig-Holstein Page 231Re paragraph 15The State Government is committed to supporting the involvement of civil societyin Baltic Sea policy activities, for instance within the framework of BSSSC or the EUStrategy for the Baltic Sea Region's culture policy area .Re paragraph 1 6Strengthening youth cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, which is of even greatersocio -political relevance these days , is right at the top of the State Government 'sagenda.In collaboration with the northern German states, Schleswig -Holstein has succes sfullyadvocated the institutionalization of the Baltic Sea Youth Platform at the Secretariat ofthe Council of the Baltic Sea States (letter from the northern German states to theForeign Minister Baerbock of 8.6.2022). In January 2023, the Baltic Sea Reg ionYouth Forum (BSRYF) began its work in Stockholm and can now continue to fosteryouth cooperation for an unlimited period of time.The state provides support to the work of the BSRYF through activities for youngpeople. The second Baltic Sea Region Hack athon financed by the state is alreadybeing planned for July 2024 in Lübeck.The Ministry of Social Affairs, Youth, Family, Senior Citizens, Integration andEquality ( MSJFSIG )Re paragraph 14The State Government concurs with the Resolution insofar as ensuring an adequatestandard of living in old age is a crucial element in maintaining social cohesion andtherefore also solidarity and peace in the Baltic Sea region. The ageing of society inparticular presents major financial challenges for the social insurance sector ofstatutory pension insurance with its pay -as-you-go system. One of the mostsignificant challenges facing social policy in the coming years will be to ensure anadequate standard of living for older people while maintaining a sustainable burdenon younger working generations. The aim must be to uphold the intergenerationalcontract and at the same time ensure a fair distribution of the burden. Legislativecompetence for shaping the pension insurance system in Germany lies with theFederal Government . The State Government supports the projects within the scope ofits ability to exert influence and is committed to achieving an appropriate balanceSchleswig-Holstein Page 232between the interests of the different generations.An important compo nent of the pension system in modern society characterized bylabour migration is the consideration or aggregation of periods of employment indifferent countries. In light of the fundamental freedoms in the EU internal market andin particular the free movement of workers, the rec ognition or consideration of periodsof employment subject to social security contributions is standardized in EU legalacts. International agreements are required with third countries outside the EU, whichare also negotiated and concluded at the federal level.2 Regarding enhancing democratic resilience and boosting capabilities toface modern digital challenges (paragraphs 17 to 26)The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Areas, European Affairs and ConsumerProtection (MLLEV )Re paragraphs 17 and 18The Baltic Sea Region Hackathon 2023 took place in the Hanseatic City ofLübeck on July 6–9, 2023 . The event was organized under the leadership andfunding of the State Chancellery and MLLEV in cooperation with the Council of theBaltic Sea States (CBSS) and the Technical University (TH) Lübeck. The aim of theevent was to showcase the perspectives of young people and innovative solutions tocombat disinformation and enhance digital and social resilience in the Baltic SeaRegion (BSR), as well as address the interplay between technology, democracy , andthe environment.The event provided 45 young people aged 18 to 25 from Denmark, Germany,Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland , and Sweden with a platform tojointly develop digital solutions under the guidance of professors and experiencedemployees from TH Lübeck.Schleswig-Holstein Page 233The six groups worked on the following topics :1) Disinformation #1: Detection of echo chambers, bot detectio n, and (dis)informationflow2) Disinformation #2: Deepfakes3) Disinformation #3: Journalistic forms and media disinformation4) Artificial intelligence: AI text detector5) Democracy: Theory and practice of budget allocation6) Environment: Visualization of marine and environmental dataThrough collaborative group activities and under the guidance of experts, the youngparticipants developed digital tools to tackle these challenges.The Ministry of the Interior, Municipal, Housing and Sport (MIKWS )Re paragraph 26See "Re paragraph 5".3 Regard ing strengthening the resilience of marine ecosystems (paragraphs 27to 39)The Ministry for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature(MEKUN )Re paragraph 27Socio -economic aspects are also considered in the status reports in accordancewith the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD )2 , which will be reportedto the EU Commission by 15.10.2024.Re paragraph 28These objectives are reflected in the environmental objectives of the MSFD and theHELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) and are implemen ted within this framework(see s ection 5.4 of the Baltic Sea Report ).2 Current 2024 version is available from 15.10.2024 at: https://mitglieder.meeresschutz.info/de/be -richte/zustandsbewertungen -art8-10.htmlSchleswig-Holstein Page 234Re paragraph 30The joint efforts to reduce inputs of nutrient s into the Baltic Sea are shared by the EUWater Directives and the HELCOM BSA P. The effective implementation of themeasures set out in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the MSFD is crucialto achieving the goal. Specific measures have also been included in the Baltic Sea2030 Action Plan (see section 33).Re paragraph 31The goal of ending plastic pollution and reducing additional plastic pollution to zero by2040 is reflected in the environmental goals of the MSFD and the HELCOM BSAPand is being implemented within this framework. In Schleswig -Holstein, for example,the WWF has initiated a pilot project in September 2023 to help track down andrecover lost fishing gear in Schleswig -Holstein's coastal waters of the Baltic Sea.The state is providing funding for this from the EMFAF and the MSFD.Re paragraph 32MEKUN is funding a GEOMAR pilot project for the reintroduction of seagrassmeadows . Intact seagrass meadows play an important role in the Baltic Sea as acarbon sink.Re paragraph 33Measures to enhance marine protected areas were part of a consultation process inSchleswig -Holstein in 20233 on the protection of the Baltic Sea. Suggestions from thisprocess were incorporated into the State Government 's Baltic Sea 2030 Action Plan4presented to the public on 19.03.2024.The Baltic Sea 2030 Action Plan demonstrates the necessity for an integrated andholistic approach . In order to effectively protect the Baltic Sea, various measures thataddress all sources of pollution affecting the Baltic Sea must be interlinked. In d oingso, it focuses on the measures implemented or initiated by the state of Schleswig -Holstein that can achieve significant progress in the protection of the Baltic Sea.3 https://www.schleswig -holstein.de/DE/landesregierung/themen/kueste -wasser -meer/konsultations -prozess -ostsee/downlo ads/downloadsKonsultationsprozess/download abschlussbe richtecc.html?nn=87ad3a1c -25a5 -4bdc -978c -509ba66c29374 https://www.schleswig -holstein.de/DE/landesregierung/ministerien -behoerden/I/ startseite/Arti -kel2024/I/240319 pk ostseeschutz.html?nn=8103cc54 -0c42 -4647 -bf7f-ac7b2404512aSchleswig-Holstein Page 235The key points of the Action Plan for improved protection of the Baltic Sea are asfollows:• Effective marine protected areas: 12.5% of Schleswig -Holstein's Baltic Sea will beplaced under strict protection. To this end, three new marine nature reserves willbe established and three existing Natura 2000 areas will be given stricterprotection status.• Effective protected area management and educational work: Key measuresinclude the establishment of an Integrated Baltic Sea Station to coordinate natureconservation work, including the marine protected areas, and also links tourism,environmental education , and environmental protection and makes them tangible,as well as the establishment of a centrally coordinated and structured network ofenvironmental education and information facilities and nature experience offers onthe Baltic Sea.• Reduction of inputs of nutrient: To reduce inputs of nutrient into the Baltic Sea,existing instruments and measures will be continued, such as the implementationof the Fertilizer Ordinance, water protection consulting for the agricultural sector,and improvements to wastewater treatment plants. In addition , target agreementsfor additional measures will be concluded with the agricultural sector with theobjective of reducing the phosphorus and nitrogen loads discharged into the BalticSea by 10% in the short term, i.e. by 2030, and by a further 10% in the m ediumterm, i.e. by 2035, and measures will be developed and implemented to improvethe retention of substances in the landscape.• Engagement of all stakeholders: A collaborative approach is used to engage keystakeholders in the protection of the Baltic Se a.• Further measures in the sea: The state of Schleswig -Holstein is continuing anddriving forward the measures that address the identified deficiencies and pressuresdirectly in the sea . These include the restoration of structures such as reefs,seagrass b eds and mussel beds, the salvage of dumped ammunition , and thedetection and recovery of lost fishing gear (so -called ghost nets).Schleswig-Holstein Page 236Re paragraph 35The actions of the HELCOM BSAP are implemented for Schleswig -Holstein via thenational MSFD Action Program5 and are also reflected in the Baltic Sea 2030 ActionPlan (see section 33). The status of implementation of the measures6 is updatedannually.Re paragraph 37The Master Plan for Wastewater and Water Protection has been developed inSchleswig -Holstein with the objective of prevent ing the discharge of pollutants into theBaltic Sea, particularly via wastewater. The MSFD program of measures provides foradditional targeted measures to support this .Re paragraph 39In order to raise awareness of the importan ce of marine ecosystems and the need fortheir conservation , the public was actively involved in the consultation process forBaltic Sea Protection 2023 , and the critical environmental status of the Baltic Seawas brought to public attention. The feedback from this process has demonstrated aclear consensus on the need for the enhanced protection of the Baltic Sea . Ideas andproposals were put forward as to how this can be achieved and how the individualstakeholders can also contribute . This momentum shoul d be leveraged to enhancethe protection of the Baltic Sea. Accordingly, the Baltic Sea 2030 Action Plan (seesection 33) also relies on cooperative approaches and the engagement ofstakeholders. Extensive participation is planned, including, among other t hings:• Integration of marine science• Engagement of local stakeholders such as municipalities, tourism operators, watersports enthusiasts, land users, companies and their associations and chambers,and development of a partner program• Qualification of faci lities and providers• Involvement of coastal communities, fisheries, agriculture, forestry , and nature5 Current program of measures under the MSFD (2022 -2027) . The measures are listed in Annex 2 withreference to their international references: https://mitglieder.meeresschutz.info/de/berichte/mas -snahmenprogramm -art-13.html?file=files/meeres schutz/berichte/art13 -massnahmen/zyk - lus22/MSRLArt13 Aktualisierung Maßnahmenprogramm 2022 Rahmentext.pdf&cid=14126 https://mitglieder.meeresschutz.info/de/berichte/massnahmenprogramm -art-13.html?file=files/mee -resschutz/berichte/art13 -massnahmen/%C3%9 Cbersichtsdatei%20Umsetzungs -stand%20Ma%C3%9Fnahmenprogramm.pdf&cid=1301Schleswig-Holstein Page 237conservation associations .Furthermore, plans are in place to establish a chain of educational and informationservices along Schleswig -Holstein's Baltic Sea coast in order to raise publicawareness of the importance of the Baltic Sea as a marine ecosystem.The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Areas, European Affairs and ConsumerProtection (MLLEV )Re paragraph 30In addition to current legislation, consultin g of the agricultural sector is a keyinstrument for improving water protection. In Schleswig -Holstein, a state -wide waterprotection consulting service s are offered free of charge with the aim of reducingnitrogen and phosphorus inputs into ground and surface waters. Permanent, widewaterside strips, which have already been established on a voluntary basis on manyrivers as part of the Alliance for Water Protection and reduce nutri ent inputs into thewaters, are another focus of water protection consulting .The natural water and nutrient retention in the lowlands of Schleswig -Holstein will befurther improved in the future. In order to achieve this , the State Government iscurrently developing a Lowland Strategy 2100. The strategy will also help to furtherreduce eutrophication in the Baltic Sea and further increase biodiversity7 .Re paragraph 36The regulatory measures addressed here do not fall within the state's legi slativecompetence with regard to specific fishing regulations. They are adopted within theframework of the Common Fisheries Policy at the EU level.While the requirements set out in paragraph 36 can largely be considered met andimplemented, a collapse o f the western cod stock, for example, could not beprevented. As a result, targeted fishing for this stock had to be discontinued since2022.7 https://www.schleswig -holstein.de/DE/landesregierung/themen/kueste -wasser -meer/niederun -gen/downloads/draftLowlandStrategy.pdf? blob=publicationFile&v=1Schleswig-Holstein Page 238In the three years prior to 2022, the Council of the EU Fisheries Ministers had settotal catches that were below the scientific recommendations of the InternationalCouncil for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). Scientific forecast ing is associated withinherent uncertainties, especially in a brackish marginal sea such as the Baltic Sea.For example, natural mo rtality caused by climate change, the spread of dead zonesand predation, among other things, was apparently underestimated by scientists. Inorder to clarify the data situation, Schleswig -Holstein is therefore currently funding astudy that is specificall y looking at the impact of cormorants on the codpopulation in the western Baltic Sea. In order to improve the scientificrecommendations for sustainable management, greater attention must be paid infuture to recording and considering the natural causes o f mortality.Re paragraph 38In order to improve the monitoring of the Fertilizer Law, a procedure for establishing areporting system is currently being developed for the agricultural sector at federallevel in a project phase. In Schleswig -Holstein, an electronic reporting system hasalready been introduced for data subject to documentation under the FertilizerLaw. The aim is to review the effect of the current legislation and develop regionaland differentiated measures in agriculture in order to furthe r reduce inputs of nutrient sin the future. The introduction of the electronic reporting system has made it easier tomonitor agricultural businesses with regard to compliance with fertilizer law. This hasled to increased awareness among agricultural businesses of the issue and acorresponding increase in compliance with the regulations .Schleswig-Holstein Page 2394 Regarding strengthening the resilience of climate and biodiversity(paragraphs 40 to 58)MEKUNRe paragraph 43In order to accelerate the expansion of onsh ore wind energy, it was agreed as part ofthe partial update of the regional plans and the state wind energy development planwith a key decision at the end of 2023 that the height limits for onshore windturbines (OWT) would no longer apply and that the e xclusion areas for wind planningwould be defined as spatial planning objectives in the state development plan. Themunicipal opening clause also allows for urban land -use plans outside regionalplanning priority areas. A state law regulation is intended t o align municipal planningwith the regional planning that runs in parallel. The spatial planning amendmenthas streamlined and accelerated the preparation of spatial development plans andspatial impact assessments . Processes have been digitized , duplicat e reviews havebeen eliminated , and the duration of the procedure has been limited to six months.Changes to the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, among others, haveadvanced the planning and approval of renewable energies and electricity grids.A revised version of the Solar Decree will be published in 2024, which will providemunicipalities with guidance on planning ground -mounted solar installations.Re paragraph 44Schleswig -Holstein aims to become the first climate -neutral industrial state by 2 040.The Energy Transition and Climate Protection Act (EWKG) is the primaryinstrument for achieving the climate targets. It is currently being reviewed andambitiously developed further. The key topics here are renewable energ y powergeneration and the he ating transition.More electricity is already being produced from renewable energies in Schleswig -Holstein than the state consumes . Electricity generation from onshore renewableenerg y sources fed into the grids in Schleswig -Holstein increased significantlybetween 2022 and 2023 from 18.9 TWh in 2022 to 20.7 TWh in 2023.Schleswig-Holstein Page 240This reflects the expansion of generation facilities, particularly for onshore windenergy, but also for photovoltaics.With the draft Climate Protection Program 2030 of 30.01.2024, the StateGovernment has set higher targets for electricity generation from renewable energy :According to this, electricity generation from onshore renewable energy plants of atleast 40 -45 terawatt hours (TWh) is to be achieved by 2030. The share of heat fromrenewable energies in heat consumption should reach 38 -50% by 2030 according tothe draft Climate Protection Program 2030 .Re paragraph 45A Climate Protection Pact between the state and the municipalities is currentlybeing coordinated.Re paragraph 46In the autumn of 2023, the Recommendations for the Further Development of theHigher Edu cation System in the State of Schleswig -Holstein commissioned by theMinistry of General and Vocational Education, Science, Research , and Culture of theState of Schleswig -Holstein (MBWFK) from the German Science and HumanitiesCouncil were published. The Council recommends focusing energy transitionresearch in Schleswig -Holstein on the topics of wind energy, grid integration,hydrogen , and transformation research (including acceptance research).The objectives of the interdepartmental strategy discussions on energy transitionresearch in Schleswig -Holstein are a stronger strategic focus and profile ofapplication -oriented energy transition research that is visible beyond the region andmakes substantial contributions to climate protection, the further deve lopment of theenergy transition , and strengthening of business and science .The State Government provides support to universities in submitting applications aspart of the Federal Government's Energy Research Program and various other callsfor funding fr om federal ministries or the EU. The state also offers financial support forapplication -oriented energy transition research via various (ERDF) funding measures.Schleswig-Holstein Page 241Re paragraph 48MEKUN supports the Interreg ’s ClimatePol project led by Prof. Sebastian Mer nild(University of Southern Denmark) as a network partner. The objective of the projectis, among other things, to consolidate climate change knowledge in the border regionand provide cross -border solutions at the regional and municipal level s in order tosupport the development of the project region into a climate -resilient region.Re paragraph 50Reference is made to the Baltic Sea Action Plan in paragraph 33, the implementationof the state biodiversity strategy Natura 20308, and the project for the reintroduction ofseagrass meadows under paragraph 32.Re paragraph 51This objective is being implemented jointly by the Baltic Sea states as part of theactivities already mentioned (HELCOM, MSFD, the National Biodiversity Strategy ).Re paragrap h 52An ecosystem -based management approach is also provided for under the MSFDand the HELCOM Convention.Re paragraph 53For seagrass meadows, refer to paragraph 32. In Schleswig -Holstein, the forBiological Climate Protection through Moorland Protection and New ForestFormation Program addresses the restoration, strengthening , and preservation of(terrestrial) ecosystems that can bind CO 2 from the atmosphere and store it in thelong term. These include, above all, moors and forests, but also t he conversion ofarable land into species -rich permanent grassland. In the moorland area in particular,moors have already been secured and rewetting measures have been implemented .Re paragraph 56With regard to the MEKUN measures, reference is made to th e extensive range ofwater protection consulting services for agricultural businesses . Since 2021, willbe offered nationwide, including the eastern hill country, which is an importanthttps://www.schleswig -holstein.de/mm/downloads/Fachinhalte/Biodiversitaet/20211216_KursNa -turLF.pdf Schleswig-Holstein Page 242catchment area for the protection of the Baltic Sea. Since 2023, water protectionconsulting service s have also been funded nationwide with EAFRD funds, which hasincreased the financial volume.In Schlei model region , a number of projects are currently being implemented withthe objective of reducing nutrient inputs into the Schlei (the Sly Firth) . For example,the Schlei model project provides agricultural businesses with a range of agricultural,environmental , and climate protection measures , including flower strips on the edgesof watercourses or taking low areas in the fields out of use so that they can contribut eto nutrient retention. The Christian -Albrechts University of Kiel (CAU) is utilizingmodel farms to assess the impact of the hybrid farming model on the nutrientbalance . The CAU is also testing the use of sensors to record nutrient discharge inreal time for the purpose of water protection at the Füsinger Au River .Re paragraph 58Alien and possibly invasive species are the target of a measure of the German MSFDAction Program , in which the Schleswig -Holstein State Office for the Environment isactively involved.Ministry of General and Vocational Education, Science, Research, and C ulture(MBWFK )Re paragraph 47Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Schleswig -Holstein is nowcharacterized by various interlocking structures, which have been developed orfurther developed at Schleswig -Holstein schools primarily with the suppor t of the statecoordination of ESD funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment (BMZ) and the district specialist advisory services for nature andenvironmental education / ESD as part of the sustainability strategy, the ESDstrategy, and the biodiversity strategy and which increasingly influence teaching andschool development. Schleswig -Holstein is funding conferences, projects , andtraining courses in the field of ESD, which, among other things, educate people onclimate change and raise awareness of this issue , with 63,000 EUR (starting from2024, it increased to 78,000 EUR ). These include, for example, trainingschoolchildren to become SDG ambassadors, tree planting campaigns, variousSchleswig-Holstein Page 243 training courses on outdoor learning , and a climate parliament.Awareness -raising and education also take place in more than 200 Schools of theFuture, financially supported by budget funds amounting to 11,000 EUR , and in othernetwork schools.During the reporting period, the information cha nnels for students , teachers , andother school staff interested in ESD were expanded. In addition to the existing ESDinformation on the MBWFK website, there is also the portal https://bne -in-sh.de/seiten -bne-sh/start/, the digital ESD newsletter , and the Education forSustainable Development (ESD) tile on the specialist portal of the Institute for QualityDevelopment at Schools in Schleswig -Holstein (IQSH)((https://fachportal.lernnetz.de/sh/themen/bildung -fuer-nachhaltige -ent- wicklung.html )and the t ile for Schools of the Future ((https://fachportal.lern -netz.de/sh/themen/zukunftsschule.html ). They refer to a wide range of projects,activities , and current offers and provide further information and materials on the topicof ESD. These include the state strategy and biodiversity strategy and the orientationframework for the learning area "Global Deve lopment", old and new projects, events,results of conferences , and best practice examples from Schleswig -Holstein andother states.Another project titled “ Anchoring ESD & L tE in schools, university course and teachertraining” (Lt E: Learning through Enga gement) funded by the BMZ has developed aperspective for stronger structural anchoring in teacher training.Education and awareness -raising also take place to a large extent in cooperationwith a broad network of extracurricular learning locations. People and institutionsinvolved in ESD in non -formal education are NUN- certified by Schleswig- Holsteintogether with extracurricular networks. NUN stands for "nord deutsch undnachhaltig“ (North German and sustainable ). The focus is on teaching therespective content based on the concept of ESD in order to promote the idea ofsustainable development across all sectors of society. The facilities supported by thestate include the Trappenkamp Adventure Forest and the Multim ar Wattforum. TheMultimar Wattforum supports the MBWFK with a part-time teaching position. Otherfacilities, such as the Neustadt Environmental House or the Ringstedtenhof, aresupported with additional secondment hours.Schleswig-Holstein Page 244According to the subject requirem ents, the topic of climate change is addressed atlower secondary level (Sekundarstufe I ) in a cross -curricular manner within theframework of education for sustainable development and in a subject -related manner ,e.g. in the subjects of geography and econ omics/politics. In the subject of geography,the "ability to analyze human -environment relationships in spaces [...]" is understoodto mean, among other things, that students can outline , systemically explain , andpresent climate change as an effect of the use and design of spaces. In the subject ofeconomics/politics, climate change is addressed in the subject area of ecology andeconomics in the topics of ecological challenge s and strategies of national and globalenvironmental policy.Schleswig -Holstein Institute for Vocational Education and Training (SHIBB ):Integration of ESD in to the curricula:ESD as a cross -cutting dimension is being or will be implemented in all curricula inSchleswig -Holstein. Curricula in the area of vocational education and trainingtherefore either already contain references to ESD, or they are being adapted in thecourse of continuous adjustment to incorporate ESD as a cross -cutting theme.At SHIBB, a number of projects are being implemented in the "Curriculum " work area.Long -established curricula with ESD content:1. The "Environmental Technology" curriculum for vocational secondary schools hasbeen in place since 2014 and focuses in particular on the aspects of mobility, theenvironment, renewable energy , and w aste management.2. Since 2015, topics such as energy efficiency, energy saving , and renewableenergy have been covered in BFS III (Berufsfachschule III) in accordance with thecurriculum with a focus on " Energy Technology ".Explicit, up -to-date curricula on ESD.3. In August 2023, the curriculum for the subject "Sustainable Development" waspublished for vocational secondary schools. This curriculum aligns with the 17Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN in 2015. This electivesubject can complement other subjects on the timetable .Schleswig-Holstein Page 2454. In August 2023, the curriculum for the technical college in the field of computerscience / focus on sustainable digitalization was published. The aim of furthereducation in the field of technology is to qualify specialists with relevant vocationaltraining and professional experience for solving sustainable, technical, organizational ,and business management problems, for leadership roles in operational managementat middle management level , and for entrepreneurial independence.The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Areas, European Affairs and ConsumerProtection (MLLEV )Re paragraph 56In recent years, numerous measures have been taken in agriculture to further reduceagricultural inputs of nutrient s, particularly nitrogen and phosphate s, into the BalticSea. These include extensive adjustments to the Fertilizer Ordinance at thefederal level , which helped to reduce the use of nitrogen - and phosphate -containingfertilizers in agriculture. Overall, the Thünen Institute confirms that the measurescurrently being taken in agriculture have led to a significant reduction in nutrients inthe Baltic Sea9 .The Ministry of the Interior, Municipal, Housing and Sport (MIKWS )Re paragraph 57The INTERREG VI A project DanGer112 makes a major contribution to dealing withtransboundary emergencies described in section 57.Here, the players work together to p ool expertise, resources , and technicalknowledge in the German -Danish border region in order to ensure the best possiblecross -border cooperation and support for the emergency response systems in theevent of an emergency.The main focus is on developing and expanding the cross -border network forknowledge sharing, preparatory planning, reconnaissance as well as joint training andexercises to ensure the best possible support and safety for the populationthroughout the border region. It does not matter whether it is an everyday emergency,a mass casualty incident ( MCI), a major incident , or a catastrophic event.9 https://www.thuenen.de/media/publikationen/thuenen -report/Thuenen Report 108.pdfSchleswig-Holstein Page 246Principles of DanGer112The DanGer112 project is based on the fo llowing two principles:• The border must not be an obstacle to fast, uncomplicated help.• No resource should be left unused on one side of the border if it is needed onthe other side, whether it is an ambulance, a fire engine, a turntable ladder, arescue h elicopter, or a lifeboat.HistoryDanGer112 is an Interreg follow -up project in the third round and part of Interreg VI AGermany -Denmark, which, as part of the EU's structural policy, aims to ensure thatnational borders are not an obstacle to the balance d development and integrationof the European area in order to promote the harmonious economic, social, greenand territorial development of the EU as a whole.The network commenced its collaboration with Interreg IV A - Beredskab udengrænser ("Readiness without borders") back in 2011. The actors then proceededto continue their successful cooperation wi th "Interreg V A - Beredskab u den gr ænser2.0" immediately afterwards. Since 2022, "Interreg VI A - DanGer112" has beenbuilding on the projec t's previous success .Project partnersThe network currently consists of the coordina ting lead partner Brand og Red ningSønderjylland, the project partners City of Flensburg, the district of North Friesland,the district of Schleswig -Flensburg, the municip ality of S ønderborg, the Syddanmarkregion and the Danish Coastal Authority .The project now has 16 network partners who regularly provide active support inachieving the project goals.Schleswig-Holstein Page 247Implemented project goalsSince the network was established, a wide variety of jointly defined project goals havebeen achieved. Among other things, municipal cooperation agreements have beenreached in the area of local fire departments in the border region, as well ascooperation in the area of rescue services and MCI situations between theneighboring municipalities.The creation of cross -border alerting structures for mutual support in the area offire departments and rescue services, as well as the clarification of legal issuesrelevant to operations, are project goals of the network that have now beenimplemented.As of today, German rescue vehicles such as ambulances, rescue helicopters , andemergency medical vehicles regularly provide support in Danish municipalities.German and Danish firefighters also regularly work together on firefighting andrescue missions in the border region .Various joint exercises and training courses, the organization and implementation ofspecialist conferences, as well as the development of joint analyses andrecommendations to facilitate cross -border cooperation and mutual support can alsobe cited as successfully implemented project objectives.The project also supports political work at the district, regional, state , and nationallevels in both countries, in particular in order to adapt legal requirements for jointcooperation in the border region.OutlookWork is currently being carried out in various work packages to update andconsolidate existing municipal, regional , and national agreements, as well as tomodernize outdated agreements. Another goal is to create a continuous, regular,joint working and exchange forum for as many administrative and organizationalunits as possible with security tasks for the border area.Schleswig-Holstein Page 248A joint collection and exchange of knowledge and the development ofstandardized solution strategies should facilitate cooperation as well as eliminate/reduce cultural and language differences.With the commencement of tunnel construction between Fehmarn and Lolland -Falster and the new challenges that this new border form brings with it, theDanGer112 network is also to be extended to the Fehmarnbelt in order to make theprevious project experience in the areas of fire department, rescue service, disasterprotection, and coa stal protection available to the responsible institutions.5 and 6 Regarding dumped ammunition in the Baltic Sea (paragraphs 59 to63)The Ministry for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature(MEKUN )Re paragraph 59At the 20th meetin g of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in Wismar, the foreignministers decided to continue the close cooperation between CBSS and HELCOMwith regard to the discussion of the issue of dumped ammunition in the Baltic Sea10 .The meeting commenced with an exchange on the topic and technical presentations.Re paragraph 60The close cooperation between CBSS and HELCOM continued and was evidentduring the annual conference of the Baltic Sea States Subregion al Cooperation(BSSSC ) network in Riga in Oct ober 2023.Re paragraph 61The German government's emergency program for recovery of underwater munitionsin the North Sea and the Baltic Sea has been launched with 100 million EUR and iscurrently under way . In the initial phase , pilot salvage operations are to be carriedout in the Bay of Lübeck starting in mid-2024 ,10 https://www.auswaertiges -amt.de/en/newsroom/news/cbss -2023/2600134Schleswig-Holstein Page 249the main aim of which is to gain as much knowledge as possible about technicalpossibilities and economies of scale. In addition, a development partnership iscurrently being prepared to develop a mobile disposal system.Re paragraph 63In addition to the close cooperation between CBSS and HELCOM, both organizationsare also involved in the I NTERREG Baltic Sea Program -funded project MUNIMAP11 .11 https://cbss.org/p roiects -cbss/munimap/SWEDENSweden Page 251Promemoria2024 -03-28UD2023/16930UtrikesdepartementetEuroatlantiska och säkerhetspolitiska avdelningen,Enheten för Östeuropa och CentralasienEva Ekmehageva.ekmehag @gov.seUppföljning av rekommendationer antagna på den 32:aparlamentariska Östersjökonferensen (BSPC) 2023Nedan följer Regeringskansliets samlade återkoppling på rekommendationerantagna på den parlamentariska Östersjökonferensen (BSPC) i Berlin den 29augusti 2023.Regarding peaceful and reliable neighbourliness andintense cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region based onfundamental values to1. strongly increase and intensify the efforts to strengthen democracy ,rule of law, equality, and human rights in the Baltic Sea Region andbeyond and acknowledge that these values in today’s shiftinggeopolitical realities are under threat in our own region;Sweden has continued its intensified work in defence of our valu es anddemocracy following Russia’s illegal and unprovoked aggression againstUkraine. Sweden remains deeply committed to protecting and promotingdemocracy, human rights, and the rule of law, globally, regionally, andnationally. Sweden continues to be a strong political and financial supporterof the multilateral system.The continued democratic recession and the increased threat posed byautocracies represent a threat to global security, economic and socialdevelopment of the work to counter climate chan ge, respect for humanrights, and for the rule of law including respect for international law.Sweden Page 2522 (35)Strengthening of alliances between democracies has been one importanteffort. During Sweden’s Presidency of the European Union, democracy andthe rule of law was among the main priorities. Sweden has also worked inclose collaboration with other democracies within the framework of thethird Summit for Democracy recently held in Seoul, South Korea.2. achieve in the fields of common political interest more signific antprogress by joint practical measures – analogous to the handling ofthe topic of off -shore wind and the agreement reached on ithttps://cbss.org/wp -content/uploads/2023/05/230509_berlin -declaration -on-baltic -offshore -wind -by-cbss-foreign -ministers_final_consented.pdf -- and thus develop the Baltic Searegion into a best -practice example for other mac ro-regions andacquire in this way push effects for further advancement within theframework of broader cooperation formats;Ensuring safety and resilience , promoting the green transition and people -to-people contacts , not least between young people, are at the helm of theCBSS cooperation. Collaboration on civil security has become even moreimportant in times of instability. Other areas of increased importance arecooperation with Ukraine on anti -trafficking measures and children andyouth at risk .3. ensure inclusive, socially, and environmentally sustainableeconomic growth and development as well as energy security:The Swedish government has tasked relevant authorities with severalassignments related to energy security, including developing energypreparedness, electricity resource adequacy and emergency repair capacitywithin the electricity sector.4. cooperate as closely as possible in pursuit of the goal ensuringenergy security, self -sustainability and sec urity of supply by concretemeasures and the development of joint strategies, aiming to reducedependency on Russian fossil resources, promote clean and affordableenergy and the underlying industrial value chains, develop anintegrated and resilient Europ ean energy market, as well as encouragedeeper collaboration in energy and sustainability R&D;Sweden Page 2533 (35)Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU has worked intensively on energymatters, such as sanctions on oil and coal from Russia, council regulationson measur es regarding electricity savings, price cap on natural gas, security ofsupply measures for natural gas and deployment of renewable energy. In theEU, Sweden actively supports ending the European dependency on Russianenergy, not least on fossil fuels, as soon as practically possible.The Swedish government has tasked relevant authorities with severalassignments related to energy security, including developing energypreparedness, electricity resource adequacy and emergency repair capacitywithin the elect ricity sector.Sweden participates in relevant fora for security of supply including the Gascoordination group, Oil coordination group and Electricity coordinationgroup within the EU, as well as relevant fora within the IEA.5. intensify and deepen cooperation to develop better protection forcritical shared underwater infrastructure;Sweden is currently working together with international partners, forexample NATO and EU, to increase resilience on critical underwaterinfrastruc ture, including in the Baltic Sea.6. search for more streamlined funding mechanisms for thedevelopment of truly interconnected, sustainable and resilient cross -border transport infrastructure, as well as the transition to a singleEuropean digital market resilient to internal and external t hreats;Sweden has facilitated projects applying for funds under the ConnectingEurope Facility Digital, aimed at developing 5G Transport Corridors, 5G forSmart Communities, and underwater infrastructure for electroniccommunications.The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) and Policy AreaTransport Sweden has during its presidency 2022/23 focused on re -startingoperations after the pandemic. The Swedish Transport Administration areactive in Policy Area Transport and has during the Swedish Pre sidencypromoted cooperation to strengthen and develop the implementation andcommunication of the Strategy and the Action Plan.Sweden Page 2544 (35)Three comprehensive measures have been identified: 1) improveconnectivity of the regions and cooperation with third countries ; 2)development of measures geared towards climate -neutral and zero -pollutiontransport; and 3) facilitate innovative technologies and solutions in the BalticSea Region.For example, Best Ace (Biogas - Established Sustainable Technology in ACircular Ec onomy) is a project led by Sweden in collaboration with partnersin Finland, Latvia and Estonia which relates to the objectives of PATransport, approved by the Monitoring Committee of EUSBSR. The aim ofthe project is to provide conditions for the use of liquefied biomethane andshow the necessary key -actions to enhance its implementation. In Swedenthat includes two strategically important projects in Sweden which bothsupport an interconnected transport infrastructure in the Baltic: electrichigh-speed hydrofoil passenger boats for urban mobility in Stockholm andshore -side electricity supply for tankers in the Port of Gothenburg.Sweden is also active within the Trans -European Transport Network (TEN -T), Motorways of the Sea , and the Scandinavian -Mediterr anean corridor.7. in view of the Glasgow Climate Pact and the commitments to theParis Agreement, mobilise government, businesses and civil society tojointly accelerate strategic cooperation in climate change mitigation,preservation and of nature and b iodiversity, as well as just transitiontowards a climate -neutral economy;Sweden’s main message in global climate negotiations continues to be“Urgency and opportunity” – urgency based on science, opportunity basedon the new jobs and growth that the tra nsition to climate neutrality brings.To inspire others to step up their efforts, Sweden will continue showcasingthe opportunities of the climate transition. In this regard, the Swedishprivate sector has a key role to play as a front runner when it comes totechnological solutions and climate innovation.Moreover, Sweden will continue to highlight the opportunities andchallenges of a just transition, including the need for effective socialdialogue, transition of the workforce, creation of productive em ploymentwith decent working conditions and gender equality, with the aim of creatinggreater acceptance for climate measures and thereby higher ambitions.Sweden Page 2555 (35)8. in view of the current geopolitical challenges that require morecooperation and coordination of activities, return to meetings of headsand government, alternating with foreign ministers;There are currently no plans to hold a summit.9. extend sectorial ministerial conferences – as had been the case withthe VASAB Conference of Baltic Sea region min isters responsible forspatial planning and development together with the CBSS summit ofMinisters of Foreign Affairs on 1 -2 June 2023 in Wismar – to jointlytackle the relevant Baltic Sea region challenges in politicallysignificant core areas;Civil prot ection, anti -trafficking measures, and children and youth at risk areparticularly mentioned as important areas of closer CBSS cooperation. Theseareas are also envisaged to be highlighted as key sectors for joint activities atministerial level.10. expan d cross -border, transnational, and inter -regional cooperation(Interreg) and strengthen synergies between the different Baltic Seapolicy cooperation formats;As part of EU's Cohesion Policy, Sweden participates in 12 differentcooperation programmes (Inte rreg). The program mes are financed by theEuropean Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and focus on Nordic cross -regional cooperation and cooperation in the Baltic Sea region.As Interreg NEXT programmes with Russia are suspended, the programmearea of Interreg Aurora and Interre g Central Baltic have expanded to includeregions bordering Russia. Furthermore, ERDF Funds have been reallocatedfrom Interreg NEXT programmes with Russia to Interreg Aurora andInterreg Central Baltic.The transnational Baltic Sea Region (BSR) programme has via an initiativeby the Swedish Institute within the framework of the Baltic Sea Strategy,opened for projects with organisations in Ukraine.Under the "Sustainable waters" priority, the BSR programme also finances aproject that develops systems for finding dumped ammunition in the BalticSea.Sweden Page 2566 (35)11. underline the continued importance of strengthening socialresilience in the Baltic Sea Region and support the ongoing process ofsetting up an annual award for local authorities to shine as a “BalticSea R egion Cultural Pearl” by fostering resilience through culturalactivities;Sweden supports the ongoing process of setting up an annual award for localauthorities to shine as a “Baltic Sea Region Cultural Pearl” by fosteringresilience through cultural act ivities.12. strengthen the role of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region,focusing on the current core challenges in the Baltic Sea Region,expanding the involvement of the democratic neighbour countries,and including support for Ukraine during the w ar and afterwards forthe reconstruction and strengthening democracy in Ukraine;Between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023, Sweden chaired the rotating one -yearPresidency of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). In June2023, the Swedish Presiden cy organised a final event for EUSBSRstakeholders in Visby, Gotland. The agenda included, among other things, aworkshop on collaboration forms for support to Ukraine; a follow up of theUkraine conference initiated in December 2022. In late October 2024,Sweden will host the Annual Forum of the EUSBSR in Visby, Gotland. TheForum will be a follow -up of the Swedish Presidency and Ukraine will beduly reflected in the programme. Furthermore, Sweden is actively working toreinforce the security policy cooper ation in the Baltic Sea region, including inour role as coordinator of the Nordic (N5) and Nordic Baltic (NB8)cooperation during 2024.Sweden supports Ukraine with military, economic, humanitarian, and civilianin-kind assistance and material, plus suppo rt for recovery, reconstruction,and EU integration. Since Russia’s full -scale invasion, Sweden has supportedUkraine with more than 37 billion SEK (2,6 billion euros). This includesfifteen military support packages.Given that private sector engagement is instrumental for resilience andreconstruction of Ukraine, Sweden has explored instruments and levers forsupporting the private sector in Ukraine.Sweden Page 2577 (35)One such instrument that will be launched by Sweden is export creditguarantees for companies to give them safer opportunities to exportimportant goods to Ukraine and thus contribute to continued economicdevelopment.In order to optimise the international support and donor funds to Ukraine,Sweden partakes in the Multi -Agency Donor Coordination Platform forUkraine. This body plays an important part in supporting Ukraine tonavigate among the support measures, conditionalities an d reformrequirements presented by bilateral donors and multilateral partners.13. supporting democratic developments in the neighbouringcountries of the Baltic Sea Region, especially strengtheningdemocratic stakeholders for a democratic development of Belarus andRussia;Sweden provides extensive support for democratic development andenhanced respect for human rights, including freedom of expression andrule of law, in Russia. The support is directed exclusively to independentcivil society, human righ ts defenders, and independent media. In 2023, thetotal volume of this support amounted to 90 million SEK.Sweden’s support for democratic development in Belarus is guided by theregional Strategy for reform cooperation with Eastern Europe for 2021 -2027. S upport to Belarus continues to be aimed at independent actorsconsidered to have the ability to contribute to democratic development,increased openness, and greater respect for human rights.14. underline the continued importance of social sustainability alongwith the green and digital transitions and pay insofar particularinterest, on the one hand, to the demographic change with an ageingpopulation and the need for upskilling and reskilling along withadequate pension systems as well as, on the other hand, to theintegration of migrants and all vulnerable groups in need of support toenter or remain in the labour market, and gender equality;Regarding social sustainability along with the digital transition, the SwedishGovernment has assigned the Swedi sh Post and Telecom Authority topropose measures to improve digital inclusion in society.Sweden Page 2588 (35)Regarding social sustainability along with the green transition, the SwedishGovernment presented the new Climate Policy Action Plan on 21st ofDecember 2023 . One of the main principles underlying Sweden’s climatework going forward is that the transition must be conducted in a sociallysustainable manner. This means taking people’s pre -conditions and economyinto consideration and providing opportunities to influence the transition.For instance, there is a national law on consultations that stipulate a legalobligation for governments and state agencies to consult the Sami people onmatters that concern them .To encourage upskilling and reskilling to support the gree n transitionSweden is supporting an expansion of the Higher Vocational Education thatcombines theoretical and practical studies in close cooperation withemployers and the industry. Programmes are offered in specific fields wherethere is an explicit dem and for competence. Sweden has also presented theintent to put forward a strategy to increase the number of students in theSTEM -fields which are critical for the green transition.The green transition requires a whole of society -approach based on trust andlegitimacy. To ensure broad commitment and acceptance for the necessaryclimate policies and measures, great consideration is given to how peopleand businesses in different parts of the country are affected by climatechange. To benefit from the EU’s Social Climate Fund, the SwedishGovernment intends to draw up a social climate plan with measures for ajust and inclusive green transition.15. increase and support the involvement of civil society in Baltic Seapolicy activities;Sweden is actively working with the involvement of civil society in the civilprotection area. There are a few examples of this work: establishment of anetwork between voluntary organisations in the BSR, crisis communicationprojects and initiatives which contribute to better preparedness of the wholesociety . Additionally, Sweden is supporting Ukraine in establishing a schoolfor adults according to the Nordic model.Moreover, Sweden is coordinating the ”Secure” Policy Area in the EUStrategy for the Baltic Sea Re gion. Union of the Baltic Cities and the Finnishvoluntary organisation SPEK are active members of the Steering Group andconstitutes a direct link to the civil society.Sweden Page 2599 (35)16. support and perpetuate the now -established involvement of youthin the CBSS work to include the concerns of the young generation inthe core concerns of the Baltic Sea region issues;Sweden supports and actively participates in the involvement of you ngpeople in key areas of the CBSS cooperation .Through the Baltic Sea Region Youth Fo rum, Youth Working Groups,Youth Ministerial, Youth Dialogue, Youth Camp s, Children and YouthAdvisory Board on child trafficking, Hackathon, and other youth formats ,CBSS ensures that young people’s perspectives have a n impact onpolicymaking in the Balti c Sea region .Regarding enhancing democratic resilience andboosting capabilities to face modern digital challengesto17. consistently and resolutely counter the growing threat to thedemocratic community posed by disinformation campaigns, with aparticular focus on information warfare carried out by the RussianFederation;Sweden continues working on enhancing democratic resilience in the wakeof continued democratic backsliding, as highlighted in the Statement ofForeign Policy 2024. Since Russia’s full -scale invasion of Ukraine, Swedenhas intensified its efforts to strengthen domestic resilience, increase security,and enhance global efforts to protect and promote democracy, human rights,and the rule of law.In 2022, a new Swedish authority, the Agency for Psychological Defence,was established with the aim to counter disinformation and increaseresilience. The purpose of Sweden’s psychological defence is to safeguard anopen and democratic society, the free formation of opinion, Sweden’sfundamental freedoms and ultimately Sweden’s independence. Since theBerlin conference, the Agency has continued its work to strength en theSwedish population’s ability to detect and resist malign influence campaignsand disinformation.Sweden Page 26010 (35)Sweden will actively participate in the upcoming Summit for Democracyheld in Seoul, South Korea, where one of the focus areas will be AI/DigitalTechn ology and Democracy.Sweden provides extensive support for democratic development andenhanced respect for human rights, including freedom of expression and therule of law, in Russia and Belarus. The support is directed exclusively toindependent civil society, human rights defenders, and independent media.18. point out again the necessity – particularly in times of war andcrisis – of strengthening efforts to increase confidence in democraticstructures and values, to counter digital hate speech, promo tetolerance and open -mindedness, freedom of media and expression,and robust democratic NGOs as cornerstones of democracies in theBaltic Sea region;Sweden believes that the most effective weapon against hate speech anddisinformation is democratic resi lience. Democratic institutions, free,independent, and pluralistic media, a strong civil society, an open debate, andcritical thinking create resilience against attempts to spread manipulatedfacts.Sweden is one of the largest donors to free, independe nt, and pluralisticmedia in the world. Supporting independent journalism, ensuring safety forjournalists, and promoting freedom of expression online and offline are keycomponents in our efforts to defend and promote democracy and humanrights. In Decemb er last year, the Swedish Government adopted a newreform agenda for our development assistance, which set our priorities forthe coming years. Online freedom and strengthened efforts to strengthencapacities within digitalisation and cyber security is an important part of thisagenda.In order to uphold the principle of an open, free and secure internet,governments must maintain continuous dialogue with tech platforms. Weneed to push for safer digital spaces and encouragement to enable users todistingu ish facts from fakes, as well as strengthen support to a free civilsociety and free media.In 2024, we have increased our support to organisations such as Prague CivilSociety centre and European Endowment for Democracy, who provideSweden Page 26111 (35)support to media actor s and independent media, as well as civil societyactors and human rights defenders.Sweden continues to support projects, organisations, and institutions indemocracy, human rights, and rule of law through its developmentcooperation.19. protect the rig hts and ensure the safety of refugees, ethnicminorities, LGBTQ+ people, women, children, the elderly and othervulnerable groups who are particularly at risk in times of war andthreatened by ignorant attitudes;Sweden upholds that all individuals are bor n free and equal in dignity andrights. The principles of the equal value of all individuals and of non -discrimination are fundamental in safeguarding and promoting human rights.A society free from discrimination is a central objective of Sweden’s work onhuman rights. Sweden is a strong international actor in efforts to promoteand increase respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.Sweden acts bilaterally and regionally, within our Nordic and Nordic -Balticrelations and the EU, to maximise the impact of our human rightscommitment. Sweden also raises these issues in bilateral political dialoguesand in multilateral contexts such as the UN Human Rights Council, the UNGeneral Assembly and the OSCE and the Council of Europe.Sweden has a long -standing commitment to upholding international refugeeprotection, including through a well -established asylum and receptionsystem, a long -standing commitment to refugee resettlement andcomprehensive integration efforts. Within the EU, Sweden is a strong voicefor greater solidarity and responsible sharing and for fair EU asylum policiesand practices in line with international standards. Sweden stands by Ukraineand has taken several measures to support both Ukraine and Ukrainiancitize ns residing in Sweden.Gender equality and the enjoyment of human rights of all women and girls ishighly prioritised. For example, Sweden is a member of the core group thatpresented the Human Rights Council resolution on promoting, protecting,and respe cting women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights inhumanitarian situations. The resolution was adopted by the Human RightsCouncil with consensus in 2020 and contributes to developing the normativework on the topic.Sweden Page 26212 (35)Sweden consistently stands up f or human rights and equal opportunitiesregardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.Sweden is, through our development cooperation one of the largest donorssupporting LGBTIQ persons full enjoyment of human rights by global,regional, and local initiatives and organisations.The aim is to strengthen the LGBTIQ movement, increase the capacity ofLGBTIQ actors, promote advocacy against violence and discriminationagainst LGBTIQ persons, and provide emergency support for those u nderthreat. Key partners include ILGA World, the world's largest LGBTIQhuman rights network, the US State Department/Global Equality Fund(GEF), and USAID.Sweden is a member of the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC) which works tocounteract violence and dis crimination against LGBTIQ people worldwide.Sweden is also a member of the UN LGBTI Core Group, which is aninformal cooperation group in the UN that meets in connection with theUN General Assembly in New York and pushes for LGBTIQ issues to beintegrate d into the UN's work. Actively supporting the Independent Experton protection against violence and discrimination based on sexualorientation and gender identity mandated by the Human Rights Council isanother important part of our efforts.The rights of the child are at the core of Swedish international developmentcooperation. The Government’s new reform agenda for developmentassistance clearly states that attention must be paid to children, theirexperiences, and their life situations when Swedish deve lopment assistance isimplemented. Among other support directed towards children, Sweden isone of the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF’s, largest bilateraldonors. The Government highlights the organisation’s important work tomeet the needs of chil dren not only in development contexts andhumanitarian crises, but also through their normative work for the rights ofthe child globally.On 7–8 December 2023, the National Coordination against Prostitution andTrafficking in Human Beings at the Swedish G ender Equality Agencytogether with the Council of the Baltic Sea States organised “The EuropeanForum against Human Trafficking for Forced Labour and LabourExploitation” in Stockholm. The Forum approached the issue of labourSweden Page 26313 (35)exploitation from a broad per spective and gather participants, such asdecision -makers from the national level and EU level, trade unionrepresentatives, national focal points, labour inspectorates, law enforcementagencies, migration agencies, lawyers and national coordinators, civil societyorganisations and academia.In March 2024, the Swedish Government granted 2,8 million SEK insupport of a new CBSS Secretariat project to strengthen the work againsttrafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation and thework a gainst demand within the Baltic Sea Region. Women and childrenconstitute the vast majority of victims of this type of trafficking, but theproject also include activities focusing on vulnerable groups such as youthand LGBTQ -persons. The purpose is to bot h strengthen the long -termstrategic work in this field as well as to support professional groups whocome into contact with victims of human trafficking.20. defend sexual and reproductive autonomy and respect the right toreproductive health;Since June of 2023 Sweden has a new action plan for sexual andreproductive health and rights. The action plan will contribute to thestrengthening and developing of the national work with sexual andreproductive health and rights. The action plan constitutes a joint platformfor these efforts and will be in force for 10 years.The action plan is based on the national strategy presented in 2020 by theSwedish Public Health Agency and has six prioritised areas: to develop andfurther integrate SRHR in public health pol icy, strengthen health promotionand preventative efforts, increase the public knowledge about SRHR,promote equal access to care, support, and treatment, increased coordinationand cooperation and lastly, to strengthen the production of knowledge aswell as assessment and evaluation.The action plan contains actions on national, regional , and local level andincludes a broad variety of actors such as civil society, academia, nationalauthorities, decisionmakers and relevant professions.Contributing to goo d health and health care for women and girls isprioritised by the Swedish Government. Therefore, the National Board ofHealth and Welfare has been assigned two missions: 1) to carry out efforts toSweden Page 26414 (35)achieve a more equal healthcare, focusing on diseases that primarily affectwomen and girls, and 2) to carry out efforts to support an equal andknowledge -based healthcare for persons that have been exposed to sexualviolence.Furthermore, the Health and Social Care Inspectorate have also beenassigned a mission to strengthen the inspection of maternal health care inSweden from 2023 to 2025, and the National Board of Health and Welfarehas been commissioned to develop a national plan for maternity care, whichincludes supporting the development of more equal car e and addressingunjustified differences between different groups of women.Through its foreign policy, Sweden will continue to work for the fullenjoyment of human rights for all, including sexual and reproductive healthand rights. In December last year , the Swedish Government adopted a newreform agenda for our development assistance, which set its priorities for thecoming years. Gender equality and SRHR are among the thematic priorities,and Sweden will continue to promote the opportunity for women an d girlsto freely decide over their lives and bodies. Based on the new politicalpriorities, the Government will develop a new global developmentcooperation strategy for, among other issues, SRHR.21. improve legislation and measures to protect democrati c processesand institutions from cyber threats;Sweden highly prioritises cybersecurity and aims to create the necessaryconditions for stakeholders to manage cybersecurity risks.The EU -directive (EU) 2022/2555 on measures for a high common level ofcybersecurity across the Union entered into force in January 2023, thisdirective (NIS2) also covers public authorities. In Sweden, a commission ofinquiry has been appointed by the Government to make a proposal on thenational implementing legislation and set tings for the NIS2 and CERdirectives. The commission presented its proposal regarding the NIS2 -directive in March 2024 and the proposal is now sent for formalconsideration to relevant actors. The Government awaits comments on theproposal and will therea fter continue the work with the implementation.Sweden is also increasing our international engagement in the field of cyberdiplomacy. A dedicated strategy for Sweden’s foreign and security policySweden Page 26515 (35)regarding cyber and digital issues is under preparation. S weden supportsefforts to protect democratic processes against malicious cyber activities.Sweden’s psychological defence must be adapted to current societalconditions and contributes to the preservation of free speech, knowledge,and information. A capa ble psychological defence is an essential componentin a modern total defence. The Swedish Psychological Defence Agency is,amongst other things, set out to identify, analyse and counter foreign maligninformation influence including disinformation directe d at Sweden or atSwedish interests. In 2021, the Swedish Electoral Authority established apermanent national election network in cooperation with relevant actors.Hence, the relevant governmental agencies have a good and closecooperation before upcoming general elections, as well as the upcomingEuropean elections 2024.22. increase public awareness and digital literacy to enable citizens toidentify and mitigate the risks of misinformation and disinformation;The Swedish Agency for Psychological Defence was established with the aimto counter disinformation and increase resilience. The Agency is set out tostrengthen the population’s ability to detect and resist malign influencecampaigns and disinformation.During spring 2024, the Agency will analyse an d identify FIMI directed atSweden or Swedish interest linked to the EU elections in June. Moreover,the Agency will conduct trainings and meetings to increase the awarenessregarding mis -and disinformation spreading during election periods.23. ensure tha t digital platforms and technology companies operateaccording to the ethical standards for the democratic countries aroundthe Baltic Sea and are held accountable for inadequate contentmoderation practices, algorithms, and data handling;The Swedish Government is implementing the EU Digital Services Act,which aims to create a safer digital space where the fundamental rights ofusers are protected and to establish a level playing field for businesses tofoster innovation, growth, and competitiveness, by assigning relevant andcompetent authorities. A complementary law will be presented to theSwedish Parliament during spring 2024.Sweden Page 26616 (35)24. expand research and innovation capacities in cybersecurity anddigital resilience;Regarding cybersecurity research and innovation, Sweden is establishing aCybercampus to carry out agile and cutting -edge cybersecurity research,education, and innovation vital for a resilient Sweden that goes beyond whatis possible for an individual uni versity, institute, agency, or company.Regarding resilience, the Swedish National Coordination Centre (NCC -SE)supports cooperation between Swedish research institutes, companies, andgovernmental agencies to promote development of cybersecure solutions.NCC -SE cooperates closely with their counterparts in the region.Lastly, Sweden has facilitated projects aimed at developing underwaterinfrastructure for electronic communications.25. promote responsible digital behaviour and ethics in the public andprivate sectors and adopt ethical guidelines e.g. to ensure anti -discrimination and equality, codes of conduct, and accountabilitymechanisms to ensure responsible digital practices and protectdemocratic values;The Swedish Agency for Psychological Defence was established with the aimto counter disinformation and increase resilience. The Agency is set out tostrengthen the population’s ability to detect and resist malign influencecamp aigns and disinformation.26. enhance the security and resilience of the Baltic Sea Region bystrengthening cooperation in areas such as defence, energy security,and cyber security;Since the last BSPC in Berlin, Sweden has participated in several newinitiatives and increased cooperation in activities already in place. Sweden hascontributed to the launch of EU’s CER -Directive, the NIS2 -directive, theupdate of EU’s Maritime Security Strategy, and participated in the work toincrease cooperation between E U and NATO.Several have been initiatives launched to increase coordination, cooperationand information -sharing between the Government, governmental agencies,Sweden Page 26717 (35)private sector, and industry to increase robustness, resilience, protection,redundancy, and pr otection of critical infrastructures in the Baltic Sea.Additionally, the cooperation with JEF was increased during 2023.Regarding strengthening of the maritime ecosystemsto27. alongside the ambitious actions that the BSPC resolution urgesconcerning ma rine resilience and resilience of climate andbiodiversity, also take into account other important dimensions inachieving a sustainable development in line with the Agenda 2030,such as social and economic aspects. Conflicting interests should betaken in to account and analysed, for example those between climatepolicy and biodiversity preservation;Sweden has taken the lead in marine spatial planning, most notably in theHELCOM VASAB group and has also developed a tool to supportadministrations in analy sing areas of conflicting interests in marine planning.With higher demand for marine geographical areas, it is increasinglyimportant to study the possibilities for coexistence between different areasof interest. In addition, the regional aspects are bec oming increasinglyimportant to be able to take cross border effects into account. Both ofwhom are being managed through the regional cooperation within, forexample, VASAB.28. cooperate and act decisively towards a clean, healthy, andproductive Baltic Sea with resilient marine and coastal ecosystems;The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM) has beengranted additional funding to strengthen the national implementation of theBaltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) in Sweden, which is of key import ance foractively driving both national and joint regional implementation forward.Sweden also made an extra contribution to HELCOM to support specificprojects to strengthen the cooperation and work towards a clean and healthyBaltic Sea. In Sweden, the n ational support and funding for the developmentof aquatic protection, with a special focus on the Baltic Sea, is strengthenedparticularly. This includes safeguarding the functionality of a network ofmarine protected areas.Sweden Page 26818 (35)Sweden has also given additional contributions to the BSAP -fund, managedby the Nordic Investment Bank and NEFCO to finance projects for theBSAP implementation.The BSAP -fund has served well for financing actions to promote large -scaleprojects reducing pollution and improving the Baltic Sea ecosystems.In September 2023 the European Commission organised the 2nd edition ofthe Our Baltic Conference in Palanga (Lithuania). This high -level eventbrought together ministers and state secretaries from the 8 EU countriessurrounding the Baltic Sea (Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,Poland, Finland, and Sweden). Commissioner for Environment, Oceans andFisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius invited an assessment of progress since thefirst Our Baltic Conference in 2020 focusing on the main topics:environment and fisheries, economic activities linked to the sea (blueeconomy) and unexploded munitions. State Secretary Dani el Westlénparticipated at the event and underlined the importance of a coherentimplementation of the EU Water Framework Directive, the Marine StrategyFramework directive, the Baltic Sea Action Plan and the strategic plans ofthe EU agriculture policy as crucial for a policy consistency.29. intensify cooperation to reach the goals of the Lisbon Declarationadopted at the UN Ocean Conference held in 2022;The Lisbon Declaration and UN Ocean Conference held in 2022 was aunique opportunity to mobilise furt her action and promote science -based,innovative solutions for global ocean action. The Lisbon Declaration calledon governments to do more to prevent, reduce and eliminate marine plasticlitter. The EU and Sweden are now taking a leading role in the globa l actionon plastics, including an ambitious and effective treaty covering the entireplastics lifecycle to end plastic pollution by 2040.30. increase joint efforts to reduce the outlet of nutrients, whichcontributes to eutrophication, biodiversity loss , and weakening theBaltic Sea as an attractive travel destination;Sweden continues the structured work to reduce nutrient loads to the BalticSea, adapting and improving implementation of measures through theframeworks of the EU -related directives for w ater (WFD) and marineenvironment (MSFD). A national fund is available for municipalities andSweden Page 26919 (35)NGOs to finance efficient measures to reduce nutrient losses from land -based sources and internal loading. The Swedish Agency for Marine andWater Management (SwA M) has funding reserved for catchment facilitators.The facilitators will work with coordinating and supporting the local workon measures to reduce the outlet of nutrients, from eutrophied catchmentsand coastal areas. To improve the financial mechanisms for measures againsteutrophication, the Water District Authorities are investigating the legal andpractical possibilities to develop a system to reduce eutrophication withcompensatory measures. It will be reported in September 2024.31. aim at putting in place an internationally legally bindingagreement that allows a shift to a more sustainable plastics economythat minimises plastics waste and its impact in the environment andhuman health with the goal of ending plastic pollution and theambition to reduce additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040;Sweden prioritises that the negotiation process results in an ambitious andlegally binding instrument on plastic pollution, covering the full life cycle ofplastics. The Nordic countries has released a common report, “Towardsending plastic pollution by 2040”, listing several potential policy decisionswhich also contribute to reducing marine pollution. Additionally, Swedenhas joined the High Ambition Coalition to end plastic pollution (HAC) – aninitia tive by a group of likeminded countries committed to develop anambitious international legally binding instrument. HAC is co -chaired byNorway and Rwanda.32. implement coastal management plans to protect and restorecoastal ecosystems, which can act as carbon sinks and buffer zonesagainst sea -level rise (WG/Climate 9) ;The basis for Sweden's application of integrated coastal zone planning is theSwedish municipalities' physical planning and dialogue with citizens andothers concerned. Additionally, coas tal county administrations develop greeninfrastructure plans, which are supporting the development of marine greeninfrastructure aiming to protect and restore coastal ecosystems.33. expand the existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) network andimprove cooperation and transboundary management between marineSweden Page 27020 (35)protected areas in the Baltic Sea to ensure proper enforcement toprotect vulnerable habitats and species;The Swedish Govern ment intends to work to expand and strengthen marinearea protection and for the areas to form a representative, ecologicallycoherent and functional network in order to reach the objective of 30percent marine area protection by 2030 which has been adopte d within theEU's biodiversity strategy, the regional sea commissions HELCOM andOSPAR , as well as the new global framework for biodiversity in theConvention on Biological Diversity (CBD).In Sweden, the national support and funding for the development of aquaticprotection, with a special focus on the Baltic Sea, is being strengthened. Thisincludes safeguarding the functionality of a network of marine protectedareas.34. contribute to the rapid entry into force of the landmarkinternational legally bin ding instrument on the conservation andsustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond nationaljurisdiction (BBNJ) from 19 June 2023 and use its tools andpossibilities in intensive cooperation within the CBSS and HELCOMto reach the goals mentioned above (WG/Biodiversity 1 6);Sweden took a leading role in the negotiations of the international legallybinding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marinebiological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), which wasconcluded during the Swedish EU Council Presidency. Sweden stronglysupports activities facilitating its rapid entry into force, including enablingsupport from the GEF to facilitate the swift entry into force.35. ensure a quick and strict implementa tion of the updated Baltic SeaAction Plan and its associated action documents within the agreedtimelines in all democratic HELCOM member states to achieve agood ecological status of the Baltic Sea by the end of the decade andconsider as far as possible implementing further measures from thepolicy -relevant suggestions for various policy areas in the HELCOM2021 Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Fact Sheet to reach this goal;The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM ) has beengranted additional funding to strengthen the national implementation of theSweden Page 27121 (35)Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) in Sweden, which is of key importance foractively driving both national and joint regional implementation forward.Sweden also made an ex tra contribution to HELCOM to support specificprojects to strengthen the cooperation and work towards a clean and healthyBaltic Sea. In Sweden, the national support and funding for the developmentof aquatic protection, with a special focus on the Baltic Sea, is strengthenedparticularly. This includes safeguarding the functionality of a network ofmarine protected areas.Sweden has also given additional contributions to the BSAP -fund, managedby the Nordic Investment Bank and NEFCO, to finance projects for theBSAP implementation. The BSAP -fund has served well for financing actionsto promote large -scale projects reducing pollution and improving the BalticSea ecosystems.Sweden continues to work for increasing the ecological status of the BalticSea by adapting and improving implementation of measures through theframeworks of the EU -related directives for water (WFD) and marineenvironment (MSFD). A national fund is available for municipalities andNGOs to finance efficient measures to reduce nutrient l osses from land -based sources and internal loading.36. establish and enforce recognisable, legally binding sustainablefishing quotas in the Baltic Sea Region with diversification for species,including regulations on fishing nets or other methods, ensur ing thatfish stocks remain healthy and sustainable in the long term. Allactions should be based on respected, up -to-date research. To precentpopulation crashes, the aim should be to reduce fishing quotas downto or below scientifically advised threshold s in the Baltic Sea;Sweden implements the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), whichapplies a precautionary approach to fisheries management and aims toensure that exploitation of fishing stocks does not overreach the maximumsustainable yield. The negotiation of fishing opportunities falls within theCFP, where exclusive EU competence applies.The Council of the European Union reached an agreement on the fishingopportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2024 in October 2023 following the EUCommission’s p roposal, which is legally binding for all member states. TheSweden Page 27222 (35)agreement follows the process based on the scientific knowledge providedby the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).Taking stock of the specific environmental situation of the Baltic, theCouncil has decided to set by -catch allowances for some stocks and to keepexisting remedial measures for e.g., eastern cod. A total available catch limitwas also set for other EU -shared stocks in the Baltic Sea. For example, twoherrin g stocks closure periods was introduced to protect aggregation ofspawners. The combined measures aim to create opportunities for therecovery of these fish stocks.37. strengthen regulations and enforcement mechanisms to preventpollution and minimise the discharge of pollutants into the Baltic Sea;In EU and within the HELCOM work, there are several processes whichaim to strengthen the regulation of pollutants. The most important is theupdate of the EU urban wastewater treatment directive. When fullyimplemented, the directive will have significant effects on reducing the loadsof several polluting substances to the Baltic Sea, including nutrients andmicropollutants.38. introduce stricter controls on industry, shipping and agriculture toreduce inputs of nutrients, hazardous waste, and harmful emissions toprotect biodiversity and the ecological balance of the marineenvironment;Sweden actively participates in processes within the EU and HELCOM,which aim to strengthen the regulation of pollutants. Re garding controls onagriculture, the work in HELCOM in terms of the development ofrecommendations for Best Available Technology (BAT)/BestEnvironmental Practice (BEP) to reduce ammonia and greenhouse gasemissions from livestock housing, manure storage a nd spreading willstrengthen the regulation and enforcement when implemented. Equally, therevision in HELCOM of the Recommendation on “Measures aimed at thereduction of emissions and discharges from agriculture” will strengthen theregulation and enforce ment for reducing ammonia emissions fromagriculture.39. raise public awareness of the importance of marine ecosystemsand the need for their conservation by conducting educationSweden Page 27323 (35)campaigns, engaging local communities, and promoting citizens’initiatives t o increase a sense of responsibility and encourage publicparticipation in efforts to protect and restore the ecological health ofthe Baltic Sea;Ocean literacy is prioritised during the UN Decade for ocean research insupport of sustainable development, 2021- 2030, both in Sweden andinternationally. The purpose of the Decade is to reverse the negativedevelopment of the environmental state of the sea and improve theconditions for a sustainable development of the sea and coast. The SwedishGovernment has tasked a committee including several GovernmentAgencies to contribute to the UN Decade for the Oceans. The committeegives special focus to ocean literacy, which aims at increasing society's oceanawareness. Activities involve establishing networks and pl atforms forcollaboration between different actors, conducting education campaigns, andengaging people in efforts protecting and restoring the sea.Regarding strengthening the resilience of climate andbiodiversity to40. increase the efforts and speed to implement ambitious nationalclimate targets and adapted extensions – corresponding to the currentscientific and measurement results – in line with the ParisAgreement’s goal of limiting the increase in the global averagetemperature to well below 2 degr ees Celsius above pre -industrial levelsand pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degreesCelsius above those;Sweden adopted the Climate Act, including the Climate Policy Framework in2018. The framework includes climate goals for 2030, 2040 and 2045. By2045 at the latest, Sweden is to have net -zero greenhouse gas emissions, andnegative emissions thereafter. An independent Climate Policy Council hasalso been established to assess the Government policies’ compatibility withthe ta rget. The law also states that the Government must present a Climatepolicy action plan at the beginning of each parliamentary cycle, and reporton implementation annually. On 21 December 2023, the SwedishGovernment presented the new Climate policy action plan, which describeshow the long -term emission target for 2045 is to be achieved.Sweden Page 27424 (35)Impact Innovation is the next generation's strategic innovation programme,which will accelerate the transition to a sustainable society. Behind theinitiative are three a gencies: The Swedish Energy Agency; Formas, a SwedishResearch Council for Sustainable Development; and Vinnova, Sweden’sInnovation Agency. In the programmes, a wide range of actors willcollaborate from business, public sector, academia, and civil societ y. One ofthese programmes aims towards establishing a sustainable and resilientindustry through the Net Zero Industry Programme, which entailsaccelerating the Swedish manufacturing industry's development towards netzero emissions. This programme focuse s on two key areas for change:extreme resource efficiency and resilience. The goals include, among otherthings, a 75 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.Sweden has two major investment programmes aiming to contribute toachieving the national climate targets. The Climate Leap is an investment aidfor local and regional investment measures to reduce emissions of carbondioxide and other gases which negatively affect the climate. It wasestablished in 2015 and can be applied for by a wide range o f organisationsincluding, amongst others, companies, regions, municipalities, municipalcompanies, associations, and foundations. Projects that have been grantedinvestment support include charging infrastructure, electric agriculturalmachines, and recov ery of residual heat from industry processes.The Industrial Leap was established in 2018 and supports technologicaladvances that can contribute to the transition within three areas:• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from industry processes• Negative carbo n dioxide emissions/BECCS• Strategically important initiatives within industry that support thenet zero emission transition on a societal level.Funding can be given to all types of research and innovation projects, as wellas investments. Projects that ha ve been granted investment support includeproduction of fossil free steel, battery recycling, and carbon capture andstorage.41. strengthen regional collaboration and information exchangeamong the democratic Baltic Sea countries and the Arctic to inten sifySweden Page 27525 (35)joint strategies and policies addressing climate change and regularlyadapt them to the newest research results, not neglecting the need toensure a socially just transition;The Swedish Government and the Swedish Environmental ProtectionAgency parti cipates in several regional and international collaborations. Forinstance, through work in the Arctic Council, Nordic environmentalcooperation (Nordic Council of Ministers) and through the United NationsEconomic Commission for Europe (UNECE). In additio n, Swedencooperates with the countries around the Baltic Sea through the Council ofthe Baltic Sea States.Within a Nordic project on Ocean Planning and Climate 2021 -24,researchers from the Nordic countries down -scale climate scenarios for theNordic Oce ans, including the Baltic Sea (NorCen). The results of the projectwill focus on the effects of climate change on the marine environment andthe marine eco -systems.42. urge at every opportunity the world’s three largest CO 2 emitters,which currently account for more than 50 % of global CO 2 emissions,to step up their efforts to achieve ambitious climate targets;Sweden will continue to push the EU to urge the world’s largest emitters, inparticular G20 countries, to accelerate their climate action.As stipulated in the new strategic direction for Swedish developmentassistance, which was presented by the Governme nt in December 2023,Sweden aims to expand its climate aid and make it more efficient. Moreeffective action will be achieved through increased focus on major emissionscountries, including middle -income countries, adaptation efforts in alreadyvulnerable countries through the engagement of local authorities and thebusiness sector, mobilising private capital, and cooperating with majorclimate funds and development banks and striving for their enhancedeffectiveness.Furthermore, Sweden will continue to le ad, support and be active ininternational initiatives and collaborations aiming to strengthen globalclimate efforts.Sweden Page 27626 (35)For instance, through the Leadership Group for Industry Transition(LeadIT), which Sweden leads together with India. At COP28, LeadITinitiated its second phase, LeadIT 2.0, marking a joint commitment bymember countries and companies to shape policy frameworks andinternational cooperation for an inclusive industry transition.43. incentivise renewable energy development by shortening thepermitting process for wind, solar, other clean and stable energysources;Sweden prioritises the work of streamlining permit processes to increase thepace of the green transition and resist climate change.In May 2023, within the frame of the government commission (Dir.2023:61), the Swedish Government appointed an inquiry commission withthe task of analysing how the regulations for the use of marine areas whenestablishing wind power can be improved and how the permitting processfor offshore windfarms in Sweden's economic zone can become moreefficient. The aim is to create a permitting process that provides theconditions for an increased expansion of offshore wind power, while othersocietal interests are considered.In June 2023, within the frame of the government commission (Dir.2023:78), another inquiry commission was appointed by the SwedishGovernment. This time with the task of reviewing and submitting proposalson how the permitting processes, according to the environmental code, canbe simpli fied and shortened. Among other things, this will promote aneffective permitting process for clean and stable energy sources.Additionally, state budget investments have been made for the permittingauthorities to make the permitting processes more effic ient.A legal council referral is currently being circulated for consultation. Thereferral aims to shorten the permitting processes to renew, reinforce andexpand the power grid to meet the increasing demand for clean and stableenergy sources.Sweden is also actively working with national implementation of EU'sRenewable Energy Directive (RED III).Sweden Page 27727 (35)In accordance with article 15c in RED III Sweden will identify areas whererenewable energy implementation may be accelerated, where permit -grantingshall be further streamlined and accelerated.44. taking into account the risks connected with the increasingdependence of the European market on the suppliers of rare metalsand other raw materials, increase the speed in implementing nationalstrategie s for transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards low -carbon energy systems, and wisely diversifying our energy mixes sothat there is no shortage of energy, the energy comes from reliablesources and is economically viable, avoiding energy poverty an dsudden price increases;The Swedish Government has tasked the Swedish Energy Agency withidentifying and proposing measures to strengthen the natural gas security ofsupply. Multiple measures are being taken to improve the speed andefficiency of permitt ing power lines and energy plants. Amendments to theEnvironmental Code and the Electricity Act will enter into force in July 2024and further facilitate the permitting procedure. Sweden is also revising itsmarine spatial plans and investigating how the p ermitting procedure foroffshore wind can be made more efficient through a Governmental inquiry.45. acknowledging the different energy strategies and focuses indifferent states to reach these goals, increase the focus on thecommunal and regional levels on implementing adequate climatechange measures and to raise awareness in the responsibleadministrations;Since Russia’s full -scale invasion of Ukraine, the Baltic states, includingSweden, have been working actively to implement restrictive measuresregarding Russian energy export. During this process, it has been importantto point out different states’ capabilities in terms of transitioning away fromRussian energy.46. support increased research and innovation in climate changemitigation and adaptati on technologies, encouraging collaborationbetween academic institutions, industries, and governments;Sweden contributes to accelerating the development and spread of technicalsolutions in areas such as energy use, transport, and heavy industry, whichSweden Page 27828 (35)contribute to reduced global emissions of greenhouse gases and to climateadaptation.Several prioritised research and innovation collaborations, including withinnew emerging technology areas, with strategic partner countries are to beestablished or furthe r developed in collaboration with the private sector andTeam Sweden until 2026.Fossil Free Sweden is working to increase the pace of the climate transition.Fossil Free Sweden was started at the initiative of the Swedish Governmentin 2015 and the goal i s to build a strong industrial sector and to create morejobs and export opportunities by going fossil free. By working withcompanies, industries, municipalities and regions, Fossil Free Sweden isidentifying obstacles and opportunities in order to accele rate developments.On that basis, Fossil Free Sweden produces political proposals that arepresented to the Government and brings together actors to implementmeasures.47. develop incentives and support for integrating climate changeeducation and awarene ss-raising programmes into curricula, publiccampaigns, and professional development programmes;In 2020, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the SwedishMeteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) issued a report to followup on their gov ernment mission to take stock of possibilities and conditionsfor Sweden's implementation of Article 12 on Actions for ClimateEmpowerment (ACE). The report informed the recently adopted ClimateAction Policy Plan.The Government has commissioned the Swed ish Meteorological andHydrological Institute (SMHI) to inform the public about the latest findingfrom the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). When theIPCC released the Synthesis Report for the Sixth Assessment Report, SMHIheld a national IPCC conference together with other government agencies inautumn 2023. During the conference, SMHI also presented the Swedishtranslation of the report’s Summary for Policymakers.48. foster cross -border cooperation on regional climate initiatives,engaging neighbouring countries and international organisations injoint efforts to address climate change in the Baltic Sea region;Sweden Page 27929 (35)The Swedish Government and Government Agencies are act ive inimplementing the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR), whichaims to meet the challenges common to the countries in the Baltic SeaRegion today. The Strategy has three main objectives: saving the sea,connecting the region, and increasing prosperity. During the SwedishPresidency of the EUSBSR 2022 -2023, the focus was on strengthening anddeveloping implementation of the Strategy and its action plan, including bydeveloping new forms of cooperation; spreading knowledge of how theStrategy c ontributes to societal development; and creating the conditionsthat enable more people to take part in cooperation within the Strategy.49. convene annual Baltic Sea Climate and Biodiversity Summits toraise public awareness, track progress, share best pr actices, and refineregional strategies to accelerate increased climate action andadaptation;To mark the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Convention and HELCOM,Latvia, currently holding the Chairmanship of HELCOM, will host acelebration on 25 April 202 4 in Riga. The event will be preceded bya Ministerial Meeting of the Contracting Parties in the morning of the sameday. The event will reflect the achievements of the first 50 years ofHELCOM while looking forward to future challenges.50. make strong efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030and contribute to making the democratic Baltic Sea region as much aspossible a macro -regional best practice example in th is regard for theworld;Sweden supports harmonising the work of HELCOM overall, and theimplementation of the 2021 BSAP, with relevant initiatives, such as theKunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, making the Baltic SeaRegion a macro -regional b est practice example.The Swedish Government intends to work to expand and strengthen marinearea protection and for the areas to form a representative, ecologicallycoherent and functional network in order to reach the objective of 30percent marine area protection by 2030 whi ch has been adopted within theEU's biodiversity strategy, the regional sea commissions HELCOM andOspar, as well as the new global framework for biodiversity in theConvention on Biological Diversity (CBD).Sweden Page 28030 (35)51. fully implement as fast as possible the Kunm ing-Montreal GlobalBiodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted at the 15th Conference of theParties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD -COP15) on 19December 2022 with its mission to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by2030, adapt the existing nati onal and Baltic Sea broad strategies andprogrammes and to cooperate intensively among the democraticBaltic Sea States to realise a swift and effective implementation of theGBF so that the Baltic Sea region becomes a global best practiceexample in imple menting the Global Biodiversity Framework;The Kunming -Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adoptedduring the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) is ahistoric Framework, which supports the achievement of the SustainableDevelopment Goals and builds on the Convention’s previous StrategicPlans, sets out an ambitious pathway to reach the global vision of a worldliving in harmony with nature by 2050 .Sweden supports harmonising the work of HELCOM overall, and theimplementation of the 2021 BSAP, with relevant initiatives, such as theKunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, making the Baltic SeaRegion a macro -regional best practice example. The Swedish Governmentintends to work to expand and strengthen marine area protection and for theareas to form a representative, ecologically coherent and functional networkin order to reach the objective of 30 percent marine area protection by 2030which has been adopted within the EU's biodiversity strategy, the regionalsea commissions HELCOM and OSPAR , as well as the new globalframework for biodiversity in the Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD).52. consider an ecosystem -based management appro ach whenrevising and adapting action plans and strategies to achieve thesegoals and implementing these measures. This means managementthat considers the whole ecosystem and all human activities, which isaware of and incorporates all pressures and inter actions and aims toprotect, restore, or enhance the resilience and sustainability of theaquatic ecosystem to ensure the sustainable provision of ecosystemservices and maintain the biodiversity;Sweden Page 28131 (35)The ecosystem -based management approach is fundamental to H ELCOMBaltic Sea Action Plan, as well as the EU marine policy. The Swedish Agencyfor Marine and Water Management is actively supporting the developmentof ecosystem -based marine management in the Baltic Sea Region, and inSweden’s coastal zone and sea.53. further, commit to protecting biodiversity and increasing carbonsequestration and natural storage with common and national policiesfor:a. conservation of carbon -rich ecosystems such as forests,wetlands, seagrass meadows and natural rivers;b. continuation of sustainable forest management;The Swedish Government has therefore initiated a long -term project withthe purpose of restoration of wetlands, investing 3 665 million SEK in theperiod 2024 -2030. The aim is primarily re -wetting of degraded peatland toreduce carbon emissions and promote biodiversity but also to benefit fromother ecosystem services.It is important for Sweden to continue to work with sustainable forestmanagement and conservation of forests to ensure that biodiversity isprotected, and carbon sequestration and natural storage is possible. Forestsprovide climate benefits, both by contributing with renewable materials andbioenergy, as well as by a continuous net uptake of carbon dioxide in forests,soil, and wood products. It is also important to preserve Swedish forests asan environment for plants, fungi and animals with varying habitat demandsand vulnerability for climate change.54. develop and execute plans to enhance the resilience of the BalticSea ecosystem to climat e change, including protecting coastalhabitats and restoring wetlands;The Swedish Government has recently presented a National ClimateAdaptation Strategy which also contains an action plan that describes thegovernment's direction for various areas lin ked to climate adaptation. TheNational Adaptation Strategy underlines the negative impact of climatechange on the marine ecosystem, and the importance of a healthy sea toprotect the carbon rich marine ecosystems.Sweden Page 28232 (35)Climate change needs to be integrated a nd incorporated into both ocean andwater management. To achieve good environmental status in the marineenvironment, an adaptive management strategy is needed. Sweden has a longcoast with different conditions, which is why the needs for climateadaptatio n look different along the coast and in different sea basins.To strengthen the resilience of the sea, the National Climate Adaptationconfirms the Swedish Government’s intention to expand and strengthenmarine area protection and for the areas to form a representative,ecologically coherent and functional network in order to reach the objectiveof 30 percent marine area protection by 2030 which has been adopted withinthe EU's biodiversity strategy, the regional sea commissions HELCOM andOSPAR , as well as the new global framework for biodiversity in theConvention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The National ClimateAdaptation Strategy also acknowledges the importance of coastal and marinespatial planning in developing managing climate adaptation strateg ies.55. reverse land degradation by 2030, and promote sustainable forestand peatland management given their importance for climate andbiodiversity;Healthy peatlands play an indispensable role in tackling climate change andare hot spots for biodiversit y. At the same time, they play an important rolein climate adaptation since they can reduce the risk for floodings, droughtand fires. The Swedish Government has therefore initiated a long -termproject with the purpose of restoration of wetlands, investin g 3 665 millionSEK in the period 2024 -2030. The aim is primarily re -wetting of degradedpeatland to reduce carbon emissions and promote biodiversity but also tobenefit from other ecosystem services.Forests play an important role for the climate and biod iversity. Forestsreduce negative climate impact since they provide renewable materials thatcan substitute fossil fuels and materials. It is important for Sweden to workpreventatively to ensure that forests can provide climate benefits, both bycontribut ing with renewable materials and bioenergy, as well as by acontinued net uptake of carbon dioxide in forests, soil, and wood products.It is also important to preserve Swedish forests as an environment for plants,fungi and animals with varying habitat de mands and vulnerability for climatechange.Sweden Page 28333 (35)56. significantly increase efforts to fundamentally improve nutrientmanagement in agriculture, industry and wastewater treatment plantsto reduce nutrient runoff into the Baltic Sea, which contributes toeutrophication and biodiversity loss;In EU and wit hin the HELCOM work, there are several processes whichaim to strengthen the regulation of pollutants. The most important is theupdate of the EU urban wastewater treatment directive. When fullyimplemented, the directive will have significant effects on r educing the loadsof several polluting substances to the Baltic Sea, including nutrients andmicropollutants.One objective in the new CAP -regulation (EU) 2021/2115) is to fostersustainable development and efficient management of natural resources suchas water, soil, and air, including by reducing chemical dependency. Swedenhas several interventions within CAP with positive impact on water qualityand reduced eutrophication. Sweden has both investments support andenvironmental commitments to increase t he water quality.57. develop and adopt regional strategies to deal with transboundaryemergencies, including forest fires, eutrophication, and spreadingpathogens, some of which are exacerbated by climate change andpollution. The strategies should inclu de research into the causes ofsuch emergencies, cooperation between rescue services, and jointmonitoring programmes that indicate the risks of such emergencies;The Swedish Government and the Swedish Environmental ProtectionAgency participates in sever al regional and international collaborations forcreating joint responses to transboundary emergencies.For instance, through work in the Arctic Council, Nordic environmentalcooperation (Nordic Council of Ministers) and through the United NationsEconomi c Commission for Europe (UNECE). In addition, Swedencooperates with the countries around the Baltic Sea through the Council ofthe Baltic Sea States.Through these collaborations, Sweden has adopted common policies such asthe Baltic Sea Action Plan, the Arctic Search and Rescue Agreement, and theBest Available Technology (BAT)/Best Environmental Practice (BEP)recommendations within HELCOM.Sweden Page 28434 (35)Sweden continues to participate in the cooperation within HELCOMresponse.58. cooperate and prevent the introducti on and spread of new invasivealien species, work to effectively eradicate invasive species in theBaltic Sea Region and to develop and exchange best practices;Sweden supports regional cooperation in order to prevent the introductionof invasive alien species in the Baltic Sea region. Measures to eradicateinvasive alien species or to reduce their ecological impact should be taken,and the experience from such efforts should be exchanged.Considering the spe cial attention the BSPC devoted tothe issue of dumped ammunition in the Baltic Sea,particularly during the Presidency of the GermanBundestag, the Conference strongly welcomes59. the intensive consideration of the issue of dumped ammunition inthe Baltic Sea by the Council of the Baltic Sea States during theGerman presidency – and during the 20th session of the Council ofBaltic Sea States on 1 and 2 June 2023 in Wismar;The Swedish government is committed to work within HELCOM and otherfora to suppor t and take necessary steps to fill the knowledge gaps, todevelop the risk assessment, and to develop and implement the bestavailable techniques for management and clean up.60. the initiation of a cross -sectoral, multidisciplinary, and macro -regional dialogue on underwater munitions in line with its previousdemands during the round table of experts in Kiel in December 2022and the joint consultation of HELCOM and CBSS in Apr il 2023;See the response to para 59 above.61. the German government’s decision – based on the resolution of theGerman Bundestag to provide € 100 million for this purpose – toinitiate a national immediate action programme for the recovery ofSweden Page 28535 (35)underwater munitions in the Baltic and North Seas, including thedevelopment of a mobile platform for munitions clearance, and toshare the experience gained from this;See the response to para 59 above .in light of the foregoing, the BSPC calls on theGovernments i n the Baltic Sea Region, the CBSS, andthe EU to62. go beyond the previous agreements of the governments andinitiate a joint strategic approach and effort of the democratic BalticSea states - as has been achieved concerning the expansion of offshorewind capacities -, also based on the continuation of the cooperationbetween CBSS and HELCOM, as well as consider establishing a jointfinancial instrument to succeed in the goal, which the BSPC considersof great importance, of eliminating the hazardous situ ation caused byammunition dumped in the Baltic Sea within the next 20 years at thelatest;The Swedish government is committed to work within HELCOM and otherfora to support and take necessary steps to fill the knowledge gaps, todevelop the risk assessm ent, and to develop and implement the bestavailable techniques for management and clean up.63. continue close cooperation between the CBSS, HELCOM, andother relevant organisations to fill knowledge gaps, develop bestenvironmental practices for risk ass essment, and explore fundingopportunities for the development and implementation of the bestavailable techniques for environmentally sound and safe management.See the response to para 62 above.