Sweden to take over the Chair of HELCOM and the work to save the Baltic Sea

"The most important task will be to strengthen work on implementing the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP). This means that all countries around the Baltic Sea must implement their national action plans to reduce emissions of eutrophying substances and other harmful substances," says Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren in a comment.

Ambassador for the Marine Environment Gabriella Lindholm will chair HELCOM on behalf of Sweden.

"HELCOM plays a vital role in achieving the goals set for the Baltic marine environment. National responsibility and national financing are essential, but strengthened cooperation with and financing from international and regional financial institutions will likewise be important. These include the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO)," says Ms Lindholm.

"Sweden and I will also help modernise work within HELCOM, and increase the participation of various sectors, such as agriculture, fisheries and shipping as well as the business sector and civil society," says Ms Lindholm.

Sweden will also act to ensure that regular high-level meetings at ministerial level are held within HELCOM, strengthen HELCOM's role in implementing EU policy that affects the Baltic Sea region and ensure that decisions taken within HELCOM are based on the best scientific data available.

The Government generally gives high priority to work with the marine environment and especially with regard to the Baltic Sea. When the Alliance Government assumed office the budget in principle did not include an appropriation for the marine environment. During this electoral period, a total of SEK 1 billion is being invested in the marine environment. The Government has invested in measures that produce quick results, including:

• oxygenation of sea beds
• ban on phosphates in detergents
• cleaning up the west coast's rocky beaches
• contributing some SEK 120 million per year to local water management initiatives through the 'LOVA grant'. This can be used for such measures as the installation of hull cleaning stations or mussel farms.

The long-term investments needed to fulfil the Swedish HELCOM commitments aimed at reducing emissions of nitrogen and phosphorus are reported in the National Marine Environment publication that was presented in May 2010. The following are some of the measures involved:

• Removal efficiency of at least 80 per cent for the larger wastewater treatment plants
• Additional measures in agriculture through the use of funds from the Rural Development Programme, totalling SEK 800 million. Measures include better opportunities for cultivating catch crops that prevent emissions into water, constructing riparian strips next to bodies of water, establishing wetlands and special dams for phosphorus separation.
• Support to cooperation in the field of agriculture in the Baltic Deal, Baltic Compass and Baltic Agreement projects.

Background

Ambassador for the Marine Environment Gabriella Lindholm, who will chair HELCOM, has thirty years experience of foreign policy work. She was attached to the Ministry of the Environment in 2008 after having served as Ambassador in Lisbon. She served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna from 2000 until 2005.