Speech
Baltic Sea Action Summit, Helsinki 10 February 2010
Andreas Carlgren, Minister for the Environment
Speech by Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren at the Baltic Sea Action Summit, 10th of February
Your Majesty, Madam President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I want to congratulate President Halonen and Prime Minister Vanhanen and the Baltic Sea Action Group for taking this initiative to promote the work for a clean Baltic Sea.
Our part of Europe has seen a remarkable transition. The Baltic Sea region is an important market for nine countries. Eight out of nine countries have full access to the European common market. Today 90 per cent of all trade within our region is transported by sea.
This has brought prosperity and growth to our region. At the same time the Baltic Sea is one of the world's most polluted seas. Some scientists say that the Baltic Sea "is at the edge of ecological collapse".
That puts prosperity and economic growth at stake! We - all of us, representing the countries gathered here, have the future of the Baltic in our hands. It is now our responsibility to turn the trend! All of us, have an important task to accomplish!
The Baltic Sea Action Plan that was adopted in Krakow in 2007 was a breakthrough. For the first time all countries have agreed to put a cap on our nutrient loads to the sea. Under the cap each individual country will have to manage the actions needed to fulfill the targets. Sweden is committed to work hard for a successful implementation of the BSAP during the incoming Chairmanship of HELCOM.
A common ground is the strategy for the Baltic Sea Region within the European Union. That will bring closer cooperation between EU policies regarding regional, agriculture, transport and fishery. It is also the mechanism for EU supportive actions for the Baltic Sea as a Pilot Project under the Marine Directive. The HELCOM ministerial meeting in May will send a strong signal to the European Commission that the region now stands ready to implement the pilot project.
Sweden is committed to a successful implementation of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea and to full implementation of all the priority areas and flagship projects which we are responsible for. I encourage you to take the opportunities provided by the Strategy to jointly take actions to save the Baltic.
The NIB/NEFCO technical assistance fund is available to countries in the region to speed up the activities of the Baltic Sea Action Plan. Sweden now increases the contribution to the fund from 4,5 to 9 million Euros.
I want to commend the project proposal on "BalticDEAL" that the Baltic Farmer´s association is developing to strengthen agricultural advisory and demonstration to improve agricultural practices and reduce nutrient losses.
The Action Plan has been a cornerstone in many other international forums, including this summit. I urge all of us who have gathered here today to support a speedier undertaking of activities of the Baltic Sea Action Plan.
Sweden is committed to meet the challenge, showing that environmental policy can be a driver for developing the business sector and green growth. We have lately renewed Sweden´s marine policy through the marine bill. During the term of office of the current government 100 million Euro has been allocated to actions for a sustainable marine environment. Concrete actions will follow such as: further agricultural measures, mussel farms and extending the ban on phosphates to also include detergents for dishwashers.
Today the commitments for saving the Baltic Sea will be expressed at the highest level, from political - and business leaders and farmers organizations around the Baltic Sea. Let us show the world that through dedication, good cooperation and involving all relevant stakeholders we can make a difference for our common sea.
