Press release
19 May 2009
Ministry of the Environment
New international fund for Baltic Sea environment
Sweden and Finland are the first two countries to set up a new fund for improvement of the environment in the Baltic Sea. This decision was announced today by Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren, who was taking part in the joint Swedish and Finnish governmental meeting in Tavastehus.
The Swedish and Finnish Governments have agreed that both countries will contribute to a new fund for projects that will enable environmental improvements to be carried out in the Baltic Sea.
"The fund should be able to help prepare projects such as wastewater phosphorus removal and reducing emissions from agriculture. Finland's Minister of the Environment, Paula Lehtomäki, and I have agreed that work on the fund will start as soon as possible. It will be open to all countries around the Baltic Sea and we will take active steps to get more countries to join," says Mr Carlgren.
The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) have previously proposed a special environment fund for the Baltic Sea. Both Sweden and Finland have now allocated financial support, which means that the fund can begin its activities. SEK 50 million has been allocated for the first year but more is expected in the coming years.
The fund is part of efforts by Sweden and Finland to implement their commitments under the Baltic Sea Action Plan, which were established within the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) cooperative body . The fund will be able to support the launch of local and regional projects that aim to improve the marine environment.
Contact
Mattias JohanssonPress Secretary to Andreas Carlgren
Jon Kahn
Director
+46 8 405 21 28
+46 70 323 05 63
