Speech S:t Petersburg 28 October 2008
Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Speech at the Northern Dimension Ministerial Meeting

As prepared for delivery

Mr. Chairman,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to thank Russia, and Governor Matvienko, for hosting this Northern Dimension Ministerial meeting in St. Petersburg, and for having the meeting in this beautiful palace. St. Petersburg is by far the largest city in the Northern Dimension area and I find it most appropriate that this first Ministerial Meeting under the new Northern Dimension Policy is being held here.

Sweden attaches great importance to the Northern Dimension Policy. I am pleased that Sweden actively supported the change of the Northern Dimension from an EU policy to a common policy of the European Union, Iceland, Norway and Russia.

As a common policy between the four partners of the Northern Dimension, all four are now intent on actively contributing to concrete and result-oriented cooperation, as also testified by the introductory statements we just heard by the four partners.

As regards the priority sectors of the Northern Dimension, I will limit myself to some brief remarks about the environment.

In Sweden, a most pressing environmental concern is the pollution of the Baltic Sea. In the summer, the effects of eutrophication are there for everyone to see off and on along the Baltic Sea coast. High nutrient concentrations stimulate the growth of algae, often forming thick layers of foul-smelling and poisonous substances. The accompanying depletion of oxygen is also a factor behind diminishing stocks of fish.

One important source of nutrient input to the Baltic Sea is untreated wastewater. We are extremely pleased that many of these sources are now being taken care of as a result of projects undertaken in the framework of the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (NDEP).

We greatly appreciate the efforts of Russian Federal authorities, and the authorities of St. Petersburg and other regional authorities, to facilitate completion of important investments in wastewater treatment facilities. We are now looking forward for construction to begin of the Northern and Okhta Tunnel Collectors which will substantially reduce the remaining direct discharges into the Neva River.

It is vital that progress is also made in implementing the investment in the Kaliningrad Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Recent replenishments of the NDEP Support Fund represent a most welcome development. Russia's EUR 20 million contribution was particularly important. With the additional contribution given by the European Commission, there is now more than EUR 30 million of uncommitted funds available for new projects.

Sweden's position is that these funds should be used to support investments in similar types of projects as before, including waste handling and district heating. Such investments in Leningrad Oblast and in Kaliningrad Oblast would have important cross-border effects and be highly beneficial to the Baltic Sea.

To restore the health of the Baltic Sea, much more needs to be done. Concrete objectives are set out in the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) agreed at the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in Krakow in November last year.

An important challenge ahead is to gather political support for the implementation of the BSAP. Russia now holds the chair of HELCOM, and will be followed by Sweden in 2010. We look forward to close cooperation with Russia to enhance the implementation process.

Thank you for your kind attention.