Press release
22 December 2009
Ministry of the Environment
Baltic Sea to be pilot project in EU work for cleaner seas
The Baltic Sea will be a pilot project in EU marine environment work. Phosphates in detergents will be banned in the EU. The European Commission will now draft a proposal aimed at phasing out and banning phosphates.
This was the result when, at today's Environment Council, EU environment ministers adopted Council conclusions on regional marine issues and on implementation of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.
"We are now taking vigorous measures against eutrophication in the Baltic Sea and to improve the environment in all EU seas. Making the Baltic Sea a pilot project and the ban on phosphates have been two of the Swedish Presidency's most important environment issues," says Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren.
"The Baltic Sea is one of Europe's most polluted inland seas, where we now can move ahead with important initiatives for a better environment. The measures and the regional strategies that will be tested in the Baltic Sea can later be used in other European seas."
The Commission will quickly draft a proposal for an EU-wide ban on phosphates in detergents aimed at reducing eutrophication.
"Phosphates in detergents contribute greatly to the eutrophication of our rivers, lakes and seas. This is particularly true in the areas where wastewater management is deficient. Phosphorus is a main source of the recurring algal blooms. Several EU countries have introduced or have begun considering bans, but today's decision is a step towards a general ban at EU level," says Mr Carlgren.
The Environment Council's conclusions also mean that EU environment ministers urge the Commission to speedily designate the Baltic Sea as a pilot project for quicker and more stringent measures, and with special opportunities for support. The EU directive for the marine environment - the Marine Strategy Directive - allows for the possibility of designating a particularly polluted marine area as a pilot project where measures are taken more quickly and more effectively than otherwise required by the directive. When a marine area becomes a pilot project, the measures can receive support from the European Commission. Today's decision means that the Commission will take a speedy decision on designating the Baltic Sea a pilot project.
The decision by the Environment Council also means that the regional marine conventions will have a more significant role in improving the marine environment. The EU gives strong support to the Baltic Sea Action Plan drawn up by HELCOM. The Environment Council also gave special attention to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, which was adopted by the European Council in October. The Strategy is an example of cross-sectoral regional cooperation to strengthen measures for a better marine environment.
Contact
Lennart BodénPress Secretary to Andreas Carlgren
