Clear progress for HELCOM's action plan required
"The political process must not be delayed or curbed in any country," says the chairperson of the BSPC, Christina Gestrin. She is sending a clear signal to those countries surrounding the Baltic Sea that have agreed to develop national action plans for the Baltic marine environment but do not yet have them in place.
"The political process must not be delayed or curbed in any country," says the chairperson of the BSPC, Christina Gestrin. All countries must have their national plans for the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan ready by early next year.
- Photographer
- Magnus Fröderberg/norden.org
All of the countries bordering the Baltic Sea have agreed to draw up national action plans for the marine environment of the Baltic Sea. Voices are now being raised at the current Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, BSPC, for all countries to have their national action plans ready by early next year.
"All those countries which had not drawn up national action plans by the ministerial meeting in 2010 must have them in place by early 2011 at the latest. The countries must commit to the agreed actions and schedules. Duplication of effort should be avoided and more co-operation between authorities in different countries is needed," says Gestrin.
Among its priorities, the Swedish Presidency of HELCOM has made it clear that national resources are required, a view which Gestrin supports.
"The Nordic countries should urge their respective governments to earmark funds for working to improve the Baltic marine environment", points out Gestrin.
She also believes that Nordic co-operation plays an important role with regard to grants for project development.
"The fund for technical assistance to projects, launched by the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), must be supported by all countries and measures should be implemented soon.”
In her speech, Diana Wallis, Vice President of the European Parliament, reminded the conference that a status report on the EU's Baltic Sea strategy can be expected from the Commission during the Polish Presidency of the EU in the second half of 2011. She said that this co-operation may serve as a model for macro economic co-operation for other regions, but that there is no time for complacency.
"It is important to maintain dialogue and political pressure," said Wallis, to the crowd of MPs gathered in Mariehamn, Åland.
The Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, BSPC, takes place between 29 - 31 August. On Tuesday 31 August at 14:00 the MPs will hold a press conference in Mariehamn and, after the meeting, a resolution is expected to be published.
Facts: The governmental side is represented by the Council of the Baltic Sea States, CBSS, and the Helsinki Commission, HELCOM, and on the parliamentary side there is, for example, the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, BSPC. In addition, the sub-regional bodies have their associations, such as, for example, cities and industry.
Read also "BSPC on the future of the Baltic "
Further information on the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, BSPC.
Further information about HELCOM
The Swedish Programme for the Presidency of HELCOM
Contact: Jan Widberg, Head of BSPC Secretariat, tel: +45 24 69 94 46, e-mail: jw@norden.org
