EU auditors call for further and more effective action on Baltic Sea eutrophication

CCB • April 12, 2016

A report from the European Court of Auditors evaluating the work on combatting eutrophication in the Baltic Sea states that actions and funding so far has had limited effects and that further and more effective action is needed. The auditors found that Member States’ plans lack ambition and appropriate indicators. Investment in waste-water infrastructure has been only partly effective and agricultural measures do not match up to the scale of the problem. The overall conclusion of the auditors’ investigation was that there has been only limited progress.

“ Improving water quality in the Baltic needs more targeted action and more co-operation with Russia ” said Mr Ville Itälä, the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for the report. ” A clean Baltic Sea is the dream of almost 100 million people. To achieve that, the countries concerned should make much fuller use of the powers available to them ”.

Although CCB supports the recommendations made in the report, as shown below, CCB is of the opinion that HELCOM contracting parties have to fully implement the requirements on prevention of pollution from agriculture stated in part II of Annex III of the Helsinki Convention. Also, CAP subsidies should be more directly linked to effective measures on nutrient run-off reduction, to ensure efficient use of tax-payers money.

The report from the EU auditors make a number of recommendations for the Member States and for the European Commission. The Commission should:

  • require the Member States to designate appropriate nitrate-vulnerable zones
  • assess compliance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive more quickly
  • promote projects to reduce the nutrient load being discharged into the Baltic from Russia and Belarus.
  • target agri-environmental schemes to areas where the impact on nutrient reduction is highest
  • establish nitrate action programme requirements based on the most recent studies
  • plan and construct their waste water infrastructure as efficiently as possible.

The biggest polluter of the Baltic is agriculture, say the auditors, and the main problems are insufficient action and poor targeting. Water protection in agriculture is one of CCB’s prioritized working areas, and there are two recent CCB reports highly relevant in this context;

The full EU auditors’ report can be found here.

Photos by IISD/ENB - Natalia Mroz

First meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC)

By CCB • July 2, 2025
The first meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC) was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, from 23–27 June 2025 , bringing together government representatives, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, including the Coalition Clean Baltic representative, the private sector, youth, and academia. This marked the first global gathering since the GFC was adopted at the Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5) in 2023. The primary focus of OEWG-1 was to take stock of progress since ICCM5 and to discuss how best to operationalize the framework’s goals. Participants exchanged views on implementation needs and priorities, as well as preparatory work for the first International conference of GFC , expected in 2026. Advancing Implementation Programmes Across Key Sectors A central discussion point was the development of terms of reference (ToR) for three Implementation Programmes under the GFC. One of these programmes will include sector-specific sub-programmes , aiming to promote safer chemicals management practices in industries such as electronics, textiles, health care, and construction . The intent is to support sector-wide engagement, innovation, and accountability in reducing chemical risks. Delegates also addressed the selection and future treatment of chemical Issues of Concern (IoCs) - substances or groups of substances that require global attention, e.g. lead in paints, highly hazardous pesticides, environmentally persistent pharmaceutical pollutants , and others) . While there was broad support for retaining all currently recognized IoCs, discussions highlighted the need for clear criteria, dedicated workplans, and adequate resourcing to ensure each IoC is actively addressed rather than left unresolved. Financing as a Cornerstone of Effective Implementation Discussions made clear that successful implementation of the GFC will require adequate, sustained, and predictable financial resources . The meeting explored the operation of the GFC Fund , with particular attention to how it might be improved to ensure equitable access to financial resources , especially for low- and middle-income countries. Ideas for a resource mobilization strategy were also shared, with many participants emphasizing the importance of sustained public and private sector contributions. There was significant support for applying the “polluter pays” principle , ensuring that industries contributing to chemical pollution take financial responsibility for managing its impacts. The intersessional work ahead of COP1 will be critical for shaping a robust financing mechanism that matches the framework’s ambition. Global Alliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides launched A major milestone from the meeting was the launch of the Global Alliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) . This new initiative aims to promote international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and support for safer alternatives, including agroecological approaches that reduce reliance on harmful substances in agriculture. Regional Perspectives: Implications for the Baltic Sea “ For the Baltic Sea region , chemicals management remains a critical environmental and public health issue ”, commented Eugeniy Lobanov, Leader of the Hazardous Substances Working Area at Coalition Clean Baltic . “ Implementation of the GFC provides an opportunity to reinforce regional actions under the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan , especially concerning the reduction of hazardous substances entering the marine environment, e.g., pharmaceutical pollutants ”. It is important that Baltic Sea countries actively contribute to the GFC’s development and ensure regional priorities are reflected in global strategies. To read summary report of OEWG 1 . *** Article written by Eugeniy Lobanov, CCB Hazardous Substances Working Area Leader Photos by IISD/ENB - Natalia Mroz

Joint NGO recommendations on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2026

By CCB • June 17, 2025
On Wednesday, 28 May, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) published its scientific advice for fish stocks in the Baltic Sea . In response, environmental NGOs from around the Baltic Sea region urge the European Commission to propose, and fisheries ministers to adopt, fishing opportunities at levels well below the headline advice to safeguard ecosystem needs and dynamics and allow for rapid recovery of Baltic Sea fish populations.