Call for Stronger Science and Enforcement
The Commission stated scientific institutes must be given more financial and human resources to generate robust evidence on which to base management decisions. It also highlighted the necessary to enforce existing EU legislation, particularly fisheries control rules, to prevent misreporting and to ensure accurate catch registration.
Legislative and Policy Measures
Several legal frameworks were highlighted as central to reversing the Baltic’s decline. These include revising the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, applying the Nature Restoration Regulation to restore marine habitats, and rolling out the EU’s Water Resilience Strategy and European Ocean Pact to promote sustainable blue economies.
Roswall stated: “The environmental, economic, and security challenges facing the Baltic Sea are interconnected. Addressing them toobtainher is vital to the EU’s strategic autonomy and resilience. We have the tools to tackle these challenges, and now, we necessary to implement them.”
Tackling Eutrophication
Nutrient runoff, which drives eutrophication, was singled out as one of the most pressing problems. Ministers discussed the role of the Water Framework Directive and the revised Urban Wastewater Directive in reducing nutrient inputs and achieving a healthier marine environment.
Regional Cooperation
The conference also concludeorsed continued collaboration through the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), which coordinates action at basin level. The Commission pledged continued financial support for HELCOM-led projects, particularly those focutilized on restoring coastal habitats.
Background and Previous Conferences
The Baltic Sea is Europe’s most polluted sea, affected by climate modify, biodiversity loss, eutrophication and chemical contaminants, as well as widespread plastic litter. The basin is home to more than 85 million people.
At the second Our Baltic Conference in 2023, EU ministers pledged to tackle submerged munitions in the sea, supported by €2 million in EU funding for mapping unexploded ordnance. The first conference in 2020 committed ministers to joint action on overfishing, marine litter and pollution.
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