RESULTS OF THE CCB BALTIC 06 CONFERENCE AND THE 15TH CCB GENERAL MEETING

Comments by Valdur Lahtvee, the CCB Board Chairman

I think that this Conference was a success in developing the cross-border co-operation in protection of the Baltic Sea and tackling the most burning environmental problem of the Baltic Sea, which is eutrophication.

The Conference made its major focus on agriculture and on looking for alternatives to the currently prevailing unsustainable agricultural practices. Such include intensive farming and overfertilising, which is the major source for nutrient leaks to the Baltic Sea. We were happy to bring in many best practices from the places all over the Baltic Sea Region, and to agree on actions which Coalition Clean Baltic will take in order to promote organic farming as an alternative to the conventional one.

I am very pleased that clear approval was given unanimously to the coming Action Plan for protection of the Baltic Sea which the Governments are preparing now.

The decisions made by the CCB General Meeting ensure continuity of its work, so I am very happy about the Conference and the General Meeting.

Our new CCB Action Plan adopted by the General Meeting gives us concrete directions for development. We are going to implement this Plan in joint efforts in the coming years.

I wish everyone, - to the newly elected CCB Board, to old CCB member organisations and to the new ones that joined CCB, - that optimism and power which was reflected during these three days will remain and motivate us to work hard for achieving sustainable development in the Baltic Sea Region.