Commission staff working document

In the Baltic Sea Region, eutrophication⁶ is a major problem for the sea (and for the lakes of the region). It is caused by excessive nutrient inputs (nitrogen and phosphorus) which mainly originate from inadequately treated sewage, agricultural run-off and airborne emissions from road and maritime traffic and combustion processes.

The nitrogen and phosphorous load to the Baltic Sea have increased by several times during the last century. Effects of eutrophication are particularly acute in the southern and eastern parts of the Baltic Sea. Eutrophication results inter alia in oxygen depletion, the increase of amounts of filamentous algae, the summer blooms of cyanobacterial (blue green algae) and has effects on the benthic community.

As the Baltic Sea is shallow and is semi-enclosed with slow water exchange rate, any nutrient input has a long lasting effect on the entire sea. Therefore all the countries in the catchment area are concerned and no single country or region, acting alone, can solve the problem.

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  “Implement actions to reduce nutrients”. In addition to the full implementation of the key Directives relating to eutrophication, these actions are in the ‘Baltic Sea Action Plan’ (BSAP) of HELCOM⁷. This document contains a specific section on eutrophication and has been complemented in March 2009 by thematic reports on the Baltic Sea eutrophication⁸.
  
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  “Promote measures and practices which reduce nutrient losses from farming and address eutrophication”. The aim is to ensure high environmental standards with particular focus on reducing nutrient leakage. To achieve this, in addition to the full implementation of the Nitrates and Water Framework Directives, and the new Common Agricultural Policy Cross-Compliance requirement to establish buffer strips along water courses no later than 1^st January 2012, additional Rural Development measures could be used for example to maximise fertiliser efficiency or achieve nutrient recycling. To support this process it is important to identify all the intensively used agricultural land of the whole catchment area to focus on these areas first. Should this prove insufficient, consideration could be given to what further measures might be needed through environmental or agricultural policies.
  
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  “Full implementation of the Water Framework Directive⁹ in order to maximize the environmental benefits for the Baltic Sea”. Member states shall take measures to obtain good ecological status in all water bodies, including coastal waters, by year 2015. A full implementation (including reporting) of the Water Framework Directive, together with the Nitrate Directive and the Urban Waste Water Directive, will improve also the environment in the open sea, in line with the objectives of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive¹⁰ for 2020
  

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  “Establish and restore more wetlands” to recycle the nutrients (to stop the nutrients leaking into the Sea) and to mitigate floods (to stop the runoff of fertilisers during floods). The wetlands should be established where long term effects can be expected considering the different climatic conditions, the sensitivity for eutrophication etc.
  
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  “Set up the BONUS 169 scheme” in order to have a sustainable research framework. BONUS-169¹¹ is a Joint Baltic Sea Research Programme funded by the EU and all members and associated members to be proposed for an implementation of the Article 169 of the Treaty. It will support sustainable development through scientific outputs facilitating the implementation of ecosystem-based management of environmental issues in the Baltic Sea through a broad stakeholder contacts and a policy oriented research framework. ‘Combating eutrophication’ is one of the key themes for in the envisaged BONUS 169 Joint Research Programme (which also addresses research on climate, biodiversity, fishing, hazardous substances as well as on ‘Linking science and policy’ and ‘Integrating ecosystem and society’). Furthermore, the BONUS 169 program aims at strengthening the research collaboration and the use of common resources.
  
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  “Facilitate cross-sectoral policy-oriented dialogue” on integration of agricultural, environmental and rural development issues by supporting the implementation of projects which build capacity on integrated approach to mitigation of nutrient losses and policy level adaptation.
  

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  1.1. “Remove phosphates in detergents in countries where this is not yet the case as recommended by HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, i.e. to prepare a timetable of phasing-out of use of phosphates in detergents". Without prejudice to the ongoing process within the Commission for possible action at EU level, a timetable should be prepared for the early phasing-out in the Baltic Sea of use of phosphates in detergents. (Lead: Sweden; Deadline: 31 December 2012). FAST TRACK
  
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  1.2. “Cleaner waste water” by identifying, building / upgrading priority Waste Water Treatment Plants around the Baltic Sea (for example in Neman and Sovetsk), taking into account the HELCOM requirements to remove phosphorous and nitrogen (including reaching 0.5 mgP/l treatment efficiency). In addition the functioning of existing Waste Water Treatment Plants should be improved, taking into account the HELCOM ongoing process, its requirements and timetable. (Lead: Sweden; Deadline for progress review: to be determined)
  
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  1.3. “Analyse results of pilot actions” funded by the Baltic Sea Region programme (under the European Regional Development Fund), LIFE and Baltic 21 on prevention of eutrophication and recommend best practice for municipalities, agencies and advisory bodies. (Lead: tbc; Deadline for progress review: 30 June 2010) FAST TRACK
  
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  1.4. “Putting best practices in agriculture into work”. The knowledge and promotion of how to have a nutrient-balanced agriculture and of how to reduce the leaching from agriculture into the Baltic Sea through the rivers without reducing the productivity or the competitiveness of the farming sector should be increased by improving the extent and quality of national agri-environment services and related information activities targeting farmers and their advisors. For example, this could be achieved by creating a formal network of specialist advisers on environmental issues within agriculture from all countries around the Baltic Sea. (Lead: Federation of Swedish Farmers, Danish Agricultural Advisory Service, MTK and SLC Agricultural Organisations of Finland, and Deutscher Bauernverband; Deadline: to be determined)
  
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  1.5. “Cooperate with Russia and Belarus on a comprehensive regional pollution risk assessment”, in particular in the context of the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (Lead: Finland; Deadline for progress review: to be determined).