External meeting
Informal consultation session of the HELCOM group Heads of Delegation (IC HOD 2-2022)
November 30, 2022
External meeting
Informal consultation session of the HELCOM group Heads of Delegation (IC HOD 2-2022)
Start date: November 30, 2022
End date: December 2, 2022
Place: Helsinki, Finland
Address:
Official meetings of all HELCOM Working and Experts Groups and other subsidiary bodies are postponed due to the HELCOM strategic pause until further notice, however, informal consultation sessions, without Russian participation, are organized and hosted by a Contracting Party.
The informal consultation sessions process and discuss documents and provide guidance and recommendations as to how to progress work.
The informal consultation sessions process and discuss documents and provide guidance and recommendations as to how to progress work.
Description
The second informal consultation session of the HELCOM Heads of Delegation (IC HOD 2-2022) was hosted by the Chairmanship of HELCOM and was held on 30 November – 2 December 2022 in Helsinki, Finland and online.
The Session was attended by participants from all Contracting Parties except for Russia, by Observers from Baltic Farmers’ Forum on Environment (BFFE), Baltic Sea States Subregional Cooperation (BSSSC), Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and invited guests.
CCB participants in the session:
- Mikhail Durkin, CCB Executive Secretary
Outcomes of the session:
- The Session took note of the position of CCB and WWF with regard to the environmental catastrophe in the Odra River (document 9-1). The Session took note of remarks by Germany, which stated that neither the Odra estuary or the Baltic Sea area had been affected by this catastrophe and the open
letters by the NGOs contained incorrect information related to the mortality of organisms as a result of the catastrophe. The Session further took note of comments by Germany and Poland regarding actions taken to investigate and address the issue, as well as make information available, and regarding ongoing cooperation with NGOs. Germany informed that regular information exchange with the relevant NGOs is well established in Germany. The Session noted information from Poland, that regular meetings between Germany and
Poland are also well established. The Session further noted that a new national law is to be considered by the Polish Parliament during spring 2023, containing, inter alia, requirements for water quality monitoring and inspections in inland waterways, amendments to existing permitting processes taking into account hydrological conditions, as well as restoration measures.
- The Session noted that CCB is also involved in facilitating the situation regarding waste water treatment in Ukraine, as well as support to green recovery actions, e.g. in sustainable agriculture and pharmaceutical waste collection in municipalities in Lviv region of Ukraine.
Participation supported by
CCB's participation in the event was supported by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor CINEA can be held responsible for them.
The Session was attended by participants from all Contracting Parties except for Russia, by Observers from Baltic Farmers’ Forum on Environment (BFFE), Baltic Sea States Subregional Cooperation (BSSSC), Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and invited guests.
CCB participants in the session:
- Mikhail Durkin, CCB Executive Secretary
Outcomes of the session:
- The Session took note of the position of CCB and WWF with regard to the environmental catastrophe in the Odra River (document 9-1). The Session took note of remarks by Germany, which stated that neither the Odra estuary or the Baltic Sea area had been affected by this catastrophe and the open
letters by the NGOs contained incorrect information related to the mortality of organisms as a result of the catastrophe. The Session further took note of comments by Germany and Poland regarding actions taken to investigate and address the issue, as well as make information available, and regarding ongoing cooperation with NGOs. Germany informed that regular information exchange with the relevant NGOs is well established in Germany. The Session noted information from Poland, that regular meetings between Germany and
Poland are also well established. The Session further noted that a new national law is to be considered by the Polish Parliament during spring 2023, containing, inter alia, requirements for water quality monitoring and inspections in inland waterways, amendments to existing permitting processes taking into account hydrological conditions, as well as restoration measures.
- The Session noted that CCB is also involved in facilitating the situation regarding waste water treatment in Ukraine, as well as support to green recovery actions, e.g. in sustainable agriculture and pharmaceutical waste collection in municipalities in Lviv region of Ukraine.
Participation supported by
CCB's participation in the event was supported by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor CINEA can be held responsible for them.