The Helsinki Commission, Helcom, receives the Swedish Baltic Sea Water Award 2009. The award will be presented by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden in connection with the Ministerial conference on the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region in Stockholm, 17-18 September. Helcom receives the award for its Baltic Sea Action Plan.

The Swedish Baltic Sea Water Award recognises direct and practical efforts to improve water quality in the Baltic Sea. The award was founded in 1999 by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Anne Christine Brusendorff, executive director for the Helsinki Commission, why did Helcom receive the Baltic Sea Prize 2009?

“Helcom has created an ambitious yet realistic action plan to cease excessive pollution inputs and restore the health of the Baltic Sea by 2021.

The Baltic Sea Action Plan was adopted 15 November 2007 by the ministers of the environment of the nine Baltic Sea countries and the European Commission. The Action Plan is a first ever attempt by a regional seas convention to incorporate an innovative ecosystem-based approach into the protection of the marine environment. The adoption of the plan marked a key turning point in the destiny of our fragile Baltic Sea. It will forever change the ways in which the coastal countries manage the marine environment.

This award will serve to further inspire and motivate our organization towards making the Baltic Sea area environmentally sustainable, prosperous, accessible and attractive, as well as safe and secure.”

How can Helcom cooperate efficiently with the EU to reach successful results for the Baltic Sea and the marine environment?

“Our Action Plan has already been heralded as a pioneer scheme for European seas. The importance of Helcom’s work is also recognized in relation to the EU Maritime Policy, and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is expected to draw heavily from the Helcom Baltic Sea Action Plan in its environmental as well as safety and security pillars.

In developing the action plan, Helcom has taken into account the environmental provisions of the Maritime Doctrine of the Russian Federation. Close co-operation with Russia, which is the only Helcom country outside EU in the Baltic Sea region, is crucial for any further progress to be made in rescuing the troubled Baltic marine environment. Helcom’s innovative strategy is also instrumental to the implementation of the renewed Northern Dimension policy, the Baltic Sea regional aspects of the EU-Russian Environmental Dialogue and the Nordic Environmental Action Plan.”

What does the work of Helcom mean for individuals living around the Baltic Sea?

“The work of Helcom should mean a common quest for ecological restoration and prosperity in the region. Development must, however, take into account environmental responsibilities. Economic activities in the region are putting an increasing pressure of heavy pollution and overexploitation on the fragile Baltic Sea ecosystem. It is crucial to ensure that progress is achieved without sacrificing our marine environment.

For more than three decades, Helcom has been developing specific measures to protect and conserve the Baltic Sea's unique marine environment. Helcom’s efforts to reduce pollution and repair the damage to the marine environment have led to noticeable improvements in many areas, enabling people to bathe on beaches that were once polluted, and helping endangered wildlife populations to recover. There have been significant improvements in the safety of navigation and a standing operational response network has been established in the Baltic Sea area.

One of the major milestones on our sea’s road to recovery will be the Helcom Ministerial Meeting in Moscow in May 2010, were all the coastal countries will present their concrete national programmes to implement the Baltic Sea Action Plan, which will not only restore a healthy environment but will also be a driving force for growth and employment in our region.”