Brussels, 26/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Baltic Sea Strategy is looking in its rear mirror and adjusting its objectives for the next financial programming period. It is now aiming to improve the region's connections, increase its prosperity and make the sea cleaner and safer. These are the main messages contained in the European Commission communication adopted on Friday 23 March on this strategy, which involves Germany, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Sweden and three Baltic countries, including Russia.
Reframing the strategy. The Baltic Sea Strategy is the first macro-regional programme ever set up and the Commission is learning a number of lessons from it. Commissioner Johannes Hahn, in charge of regional policy, said: “The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is yielding results, but this pioneer macro regional strategy is also teaching us valuable lessons for the future. Member states have asked the Commission to make recommendations to step up the impact of the strategy, and today's communication does just that. In particular I welcome the fact that participating states have decided to set themselves clear joint goals in the form of targets and indicators, and I am sure this will help to focus future efforts.”
New priorities. The “save the sea” priority is aimed at improving shipping safety and subjecting ships to environmental criteria as a way of ending illegal discharges by 2020. The communication has set out the objective of reducing the number of accidents compared to 2010 by 20%. It also wants to enhance cooperation between maritime surveillance authorities. Connecting up the region is an additional strategy priority, which by 2015, is seeking to improve connections for the gas and electricity markets. There is also a priority on prosperity and increasing trade by 15% in the macro-region by 2020.
Next programming period. The strategy was launched by the Commission in 2009 as a means to improve positive outcomes from European funding and attaining the following common objectives: preventing water quality deterioration, protecting biodiversity in the Baltic Sea region, improving economic inter-connection, improving energy supplies, maritime traffic management (Ed: significant numbers of oil tankers sail through the Baltic Sea). Reframing the strategy is therefore multifaceted and negotiations are continuing with regard to the European funds to be allocated to member states. The Commission wants to consolidate the programme as part of the preparations for the next 2014-2020 financing period. (MD/transl.fl)