Policy Area Nutri of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region works on Saving the Sea, which is one of the three main objectives of the Strategy. The aim of the Policy Area is to reduce nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea to acceptable levels.
Of the many environmental challenges facing the Baltic Sea, the most serious and difficult to tackle with conventional approaches is the continuing eutrophication. Excessive nutrient loads through agricultural run-off, inadequately treated sewage, airborne emissions and internal loading are the main cause of eutrophication. The impacts of eutrophication include oxygen depletion, reduced water clarity, an increase in filamentous algae, summer blooms of cyanobacteria (blue green algae) and other undesirable changes in species composition.
The latest decades' large-scale investments in waste water treatment plants and key decisions on cleaner shipping have had an important impact on decreasing the nutrient load. According to the latest HELCOM assessment total normalised nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to the Baltic Sea have decreased with 18% and 23%, respectively, since the mid-1990s. However, to save the sea, further and continued action is needed.
The 9th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region took place in Tallin, Estonia, on 4-5 June 2018. The meeting focused on Cohesion Policy after 2020 including INTERREG funding which has close link to EU macro-regional strategies.
Debates about the future in the BSR brought together over 750 participants from governments, international organisations, universities and businesses, and the event offered a wide networking occasion for the regional actors to share ideas and experience.
Dragons’ den - Four innovators meeting with four dragons
The seminar “Welcome to Dragons’ Den! Pitching ideas for a Clean Baltic Sea” organised by PA Nutri and NutriTrade flagship on 5 June 2018 addressed eutrophication from three different angles:
What is the current state of Baltic Sea ecosystems?
What kind of progress and innovations have been made in the current programme period?
Can these innovations be widely applied, and what difference would they make?
The pitchers defended their innovations on advanced waste water treatment, creating consumer guides, developing manure standards and applying gypsum at fields and took note of the sharp but constructive observations of the dragons.
The main theme of the 9th Annual Forum taking place on 4-5 June 2018 will be the Baltic Sea Region After 2020. The Forum will focus on how to improve the implementation of the EUSBSR in the framework of the future EU Cohesion Policy. It will also discuss the current state of the ecosystem in the Baltic Sea as well as how to advance the Region as a global digital hub.
The importance of the meeting can be proved by the fact that will be visited by about 700 participants from governments, international organisations, NGOs, universities, local and regional administrations and businesses to discuss developments and challenges in the Baltic Sea Region.
The latest up to date programme and not-to-miss activities are here.
We invite you wormly to visit the Nutri events:
· The Seminar Welcome to Dragons’ Den! Pitching ideas for a Clean Baltic Sea as a paralel seminar on Tuesday, on 5 June 2018, at 13.30-15.00. The brainstorming will be about the current state of Baltic Sea ecosystems, discussion about what progress and innovations have been made in the current programme period and if these innovations could be widely applied, and what difference would they make?
For detailes click the seminar icon on the programme.
· Also meet PA Nutri coordinators and Flagship project IWAMA is on Tuesday, on 5 June, at 11:30-12:00 in Networking Village.
PA Nutri Steering Committee will take place back-to-back Annual Forum, on 6 June 2018.
Nutrient offsetting for the Baltic Sea(NutriTrade) Initiating full scale mussel farming in the Baltic Sea (Baltic Blue Growth) Interactive water management (IWAMA) Better efficiency for sewage treatment (BEST) Consumer guide for sustainably produced meat (CONSUME) Development of sustainable wetland management by restoration and biomass utilisation of peatlands in the Neman river catchment to improve water quality of the Baltic Sea (DESIRE) Enhancing water resources management in four river basins oriented on Baltic protection (BigRivers4Baltic)
Phasing Out of the Use of Phosphates in Detergents, finalized in 2011. (EN and RU)
Putting Best Agricultural Practices into Work (Baltic Deal), 2010-2013.
Assessment of Regional Nutrient Pollution Load and Identification of Priority Projects to Reduce Nutrient Inputs from Belarus to the Baltic Sea, Nov 2012-Dec 2013.
Project on Reduction of the Eutrophication of the Baltic Sea Today (PRESTO), Jun 2011-Mar 2014.
