CCB statement on the Nord Stream Gas Pipeline ESPOO EIA report and Proposals for requirements to mitigate environmental impact of the gas pipeline

CCB • May 22, 2009

Background
A 1200 km long gas pipeline is planned to be built across the Baltic Sea, from Portovaya bay near Viborg to Greifswalder Bodden along the German coast. The line will transport 55 billion cubic metres of gas per year, which is calculated to cover 25 % of the additional gas demand in EU.

Two separate lines are planned with one compressor or service point (not yet decided) half way, outside Fårö, Sweden. The lines are 1220 mm in diameter and one part is 12 m long. The pipeline will be covered approx. 15-30 % (in the Finnish part, other part of the Baltic?).

The project will cost approx. 5 billion euros.

Partners and countries involved
A company named Nord Stream is responsible for the project. Nord Stream is owned by Gazprom (Russia), BASF AG (Germany) and E.ON AG (Germany). Ramboll A/S Denmark is the consultant company responsible for the international EIA and in Finland their Finnish branch is responsible for the Finnish EIA.

Information on the NE Gas Pipe Line
You can find info about the Baltic Sea Gas Pipe Line in Baltic Sea region languages on the site  www.nord-stream.ru.

You can subscribe on news from the project, Fact-sheets, via  www.nord-stream.com/subscription/

At the WWF Germany website,  www.bsh.de , you can find comprehensive information on the Pipe Line like e.g. the legal procedures.

NEWS
Parties of origin (in this case Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany) in Espoo convention has notified the project on the Nord Stream Gas Pipeline.

Finland and Sweden set up a deadline for comments on national level until 26 Januay 2007. Addressed parties were asked to respond to Russia , as notification country, (and Germany?) until 16 Febr 2007. And also to “submit any comments you might receive from the public in your country”

CCB has prepared a paper with comments and request for studies to be included in the Environmental Impact Assessement.

2007-08-21 North Stream has decided to re-route the pipeline to run north – rather than south – of the Danish island Bornholm.  Press release

2007-11-23 Public Hearings on the Russian part of the Nord-Stream project – 122 km gas pipeline in the Gulf of Finland

NGOs to EU decision makers: Commit to a Genuine Baltic Sea Recovery Plan

By CCB • May 28, 2025
Key Baltic fish populations are in crisis, warn environmental NGOs. New scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, confirms the poor condition of key Baltic fish populations, several of which remain collapsed (1). EU fisheries ministers must set 2026-catch limits well below ICES advice and prioritise long-term recovery over short-term economic gains.

EU Commission upholds Fisheries Law: Finland's 2025 Atlantic Salmon quota reduced after unjustified overfishing in 2024

By CCB • May 7, 2025
7 May 2025 - Yesterday the European Commission took a strong decision to deduct Finland´s 2025 Atlantic Salmon quota due to unjustified overfishing last year. This action is a clear application of the EU fisheries rules - aiming to ensure sustainable fishing practices and compliance with established quotas - and an important precedent for the consistent enforcement of fisheries law. In 2024, Finland was allocated a strict by-catch quota for Atlantic salmon, with direct fishing prohibited, except for some specific, minor exceptions. Despite this, Finland reported catching 3,162 salmon in a targeted fishery, under a claimed derogation stating the fishery was for scientific research purposes. Upon review, the European Commission concluded that these activities did not meet the legal standards for such an exemption and therefore found this claim unjustified. The number of vessels participating, 32, the number of salmon caught as well as the fact that Finland refused to re-release the salmon after conducting the “scientific research” are all reasons why the fishery cannot be considered to have been carried out for scientific research purposes. As a result, the same number of salmon caught beyond the legal limit in 2024 is now being deducted from Finland’s 2025 quota, from the same stock. “ We welcome the Commission's decision to take enforcement action and apply the law as intended. It sends a clear message to Member States that exceeding quotas will have consequences. However, more consistent enforcement is urgently needed across EU waters, especially in the Baltic Sea, where many fish stocks are collapsing and the ecosystem is in a poor state ” said Aimi Hamberg, CCB Marine Policy Officer. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland has already responded to the Commission´s quota reduction for Atlantic salmon by stating that this decision “is not legally justified” and they will consider taking legal action against it. As this matter continues to evolve, it is highlighting the importance of collective responsibility in managing fish stocks sustainably. Species like salmon, herring and cod , are under increasing pressure due to overfishing, climate change and habitat loss. In this context, rule enforcement is not just a bureaucratic step but a necessary action to ensure the long-term sustainability of marine life in the Baltic Sea.