Annex: HELCOM actions and corresponding actions under the Action Plan for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region56

and

full implementation of:

- key Directives relating to eutrophication

- actions in the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan

Updating and further development of a set of core eutrophication indicators and their publishing on the HELCOM website by 2013 to enable up-to-date provision of information on the eutrophication status of the Baltic Sea (CORESET).

Implementation of the HELCOM project to review and revise the environmental targets (TARGREV project) and country-wise provisional nutrient reduction targets (in cooperation with BNI) during 2010-2012 based on the integrated thematic assessment on eutrophication, results of the Fifth HELCOM Pollution Load Compilation and EMEP data.

• 
  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
  
• 
  additional Rural Development measures to maximise fertiliser efficiency or achieve nutrient recycling
  

• 
  identification of all the intensively used agricultural land of the whole catchment area to focus on these areas first
  

• 
  consideration of further measures needed through environmental or agricultural policies
  

Work in the HELCOM Baltic Agriculture/Environmental Forum established in 2010

• 
  targeting of measures and investments to most optimal installations with biggest potential environmental benefit and also from areas with high nutrient impact to the Baltic Sea
  
• 
  review of HELCOM List of agricultural hot spots, represented by both point and diffuse sources.
  

Conduction and participation in various projects:

• 
  in Leningrad and Kaliningrad Regions as well as the City of St.Petersburg: implementation of on-farm pilot projects in consideration of environmental benefit to the Baltic Sea (re. BSAP)
  

• 
  implementing large scale on-farm pilot investments in Baltic Sea coastal states and in Belarus, based on identified most feasible and efficient technologies and management measures (spatially and geographically)
  

• 
  measures to obtain good ecological status in all water bodies, including coastal waters, by year 2015
  
• 
  full implementation (including reporting) of the Water Framework Directive, together with the Nitrate Directive and the Urban Waste Water Directive, in line with the objectives of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for 2020
  

River Basin Management Plans and their Operational Programmes that are relevant for the watershed of the Baltic Sea were taken into account while elaborating National Implementation Programmes for the Baltic Sea Action Plan.

HELCOM Agriculture and Environment Forum serves for exchange of experience between the Contracting Parties on application of WFD with regards to prevention of pollution from agriculture.

Follow-up of national work on reaching the requirements of UWWT Directive and support to facilitation of compliance with the stricter HELCOM requirements.

HELCOM participation in PURE (Project on Urban Reduction of Eutrophication) project

• 
  Increased phosphorous removal, according to the HELCOM Recommendation 28E/5, in five waste water treatment plants
  

Review of and transfer of know-how on waste water treatment technologies that are available in the region for reaching more stringent HELCOM effluent standards (both chemical and biological)

- to recycle the nutrients and to mitigate floods

The wetlands should be established where long term effects can be expected considering the different climatic conditions, the sensitivity for eutrophication etc.

The HELCOM Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme (JCP) includes four transboundary hot spots which address management of coastal wetlands and the BSAP includes an endorsed list of examples for reducing nutrient inputs which includes establishment of wetlands.

• 
  addressing priority measures in selected coastal lagoons and transit water areas in the Baltic Sea Area
  

Further support to recover transboundary hot spots represented by coastal lagoons by 2012 when the JCP is expected to be implemented.

HELCOM could initiate a joint activity for establishment and restoration of wetlands. The initiative would have potential for protection of biodiversity as well.

- in order to have a sustainable research framework (this action is underway and expected to be implemented from the end of 2011/early 2012)

BONUS EEIG has observer status in HELCOM, and there is cooperation between the two organisations.

Participation by the HELCOM Secretariat in the drafting process of the Strategic Research Agenda of BONUS with the aim to ensure that research needs stemming from the implementation of the ecosystem approach and the BSAP will be sufficiently covered.

HELCOM’s ecosystem approach to management of human activities and the Baltic Sea Action Plan have set a continuous demand for scientific information supporting policy making and hence on-going cooperation also with the Baltic Sea area scientific community.

- integration of agricultural, environmental and rural development issues

HELCOM Agriculture and Environment Forum

• 
  facilitating actions to reduce nutrient inputs from agriculture through dialogue between national environmental and agricultural authorities
  

• 
  forum for discussion and adaptation of environmental and agricultural interests and policies on the regional level
  

Swedish Chemicals Agency

Åsa Thors (Asa.Thors@kemi.se)

Bo Nyström (Bo.Nystrom@kemi.se)

- a timetable to be prepared for the early phasing-out in the Baltic Sea of use of phosphates in detergents

Expected finalization of the project is June 2011

Implementation of HELCOM Recommendation 28E/7 on Measures aimed at the substitution of polyphosphates (phosphorus) in detergents.

Country programmes and measures for laundry detergents were presented at the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in 2010 and will be implemented in accordance with national timetables, and in all cases not later than by 2015. Discussion on inclusion of also dishwasher detergents will be carried out in accordance with EU process.

A proposal for an EU Regulation has been put forward by EC to ban phosphorus in laundry detergents by 2013.

P-containing detergents in laundry are banned for household use in LV (2010), SE (2009) and voluntarily phased out in DE (since 1980-s) and FI (since early 1990-s). P-containing dishwasher detergents are banned in household use in SE from 2011

Swedish Environment Protection Agency

Anne Andersson, (anne.andersson@naturvardsverket.se)

and

- 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

- functioning of existing Waste Water Treatment Plants to be improved, taking into account the HELCOM on-going process

HELCOM participation in the PURE Project (Project on Urban Reduction of Eutrophication) to promote the implementation of the stricter HELCOM requirements for Urban Waste Water Treatment Plants (UWWTPs) (HELCOM Recommendation 28E/5 on Municipal wastewater treatment) (including several Baltic municipalities as well as Belarus).

List of priority installations in waste water treatment sector in Belarus that are contributing to transboundary pollution of the Baltic Sea was adopted at the 2010 HELCOM Moscow Ministerial Meeting

Follow-up of national work on reaching the requirements of UWWT Directive and support to facilitation of compliance with the stricter HELCOM requirements

Review of waste water treatment technologies that are available in the region for reaching more stringent HELCOM effluent standards (both chemical and biological) – partly on-going within PURE

Development of List of “Green Spots” consisting of WWTPs that are in compliance with requirements of HELCOM Recommendation 28E/5

- funded by the Baltic Sea Region programme and LIFE to recommend “best practices”

Sindre Langaas (sindre.langaas@lrf.se)

Leif Raun (lfr@landscentret.dk)

and

- 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

- improving the extent and quality of national agrienvironment services and related information activities targeting farmers and their advisors

Deadline: 31 December 2013

Support and follow-up the activities of

• 
  Baltic COMPASS Project
  
• 
  Baltic DEAL Project– to address individual farm level
  

Based on the outcomes of the HELCOM Thematic Assessment of Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea and relevant inputs from the HELCOM Pollution Load Compilation work, to prioritize measures within areas with high nutrient impact to the Baltic Sea

Ministry of Environment

Kristiina Isokallio (kristiina.isokallio@ymparisto.fi)

Laura Sajonmaa (Laura.Saijonmaa@ymparisto.fi)

and

- in the context of the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership

For Belarus: within the Baltic COMPASS and PURE Projects

• 
  activities in Belarus to build capacity in nutrient runoff assessing on a farm and river basins scale, i.e. through training, international workshops and investments in continuous water quality monitoring equipment
  

• 
  through the list of priority projects in waste water and agricultural fields
  
• 
  through PLC data from countries sharing watersheds with Belarus