Co-Convenors

The Co-Convenors of the Baltic Sea Action Summit Process are:

Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland

"A clean Baltic Sea can be our heritage to future generations.

The Baltic Sea is a sea of possibilities. Its well-being is our joint responsibility. The sea will not wait."

In her address at the opening session, President Tarja Halonen said that saving the Baltic Sea calls for concrete action and that Governments and other public actors can make significant contributions but cannot do everything. She said that innovations and best practices to save the Baltic Sea will be produced in comprehensive cooperation. The President asked public and private actors to join their forces and make commitments to the benefit of the Baltic Sea. In cooperation with Prime Minister Vanhanen, she invited all Heads of State and Government of the Baltic Sea States to take part in this work to rescue the Baltic Sea.

http://www.presidentti.fi

Matti Vanhanen, Prime Minister of Finland

Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen outlined the concrete measures that Finland is taking. He said that the state of the Baltic Sea is obviously so poor that all the countries of the region have to be able to improve their performance. According to Vanhanen, the Finnish Government will propose to Parliament measures that will decrease the nutrient load from agriculture in Finland in the next few years. This will take place especially by means of a more careful targeting of the EU's agri-environmental measures. The terms of the support will be revised as soon as it is possible in the new programming period.

http://www.valtioneuvostonkanslia.fi

The Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG)

The Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG) is a part of the Foundation for a Living Baltic Sea. It is devoted to rescuing the Baltic Sea with carefully chosen projects. The targets include adverse effects caused by agriculture, maritime activities and hazardous substances. Constructive cooperation with different authorities and the private sector is based on researchers’ and experts’ opinions.

The operational force behind the Baltic Sea Action Summit, BSAG's operation methods are innovative, aimed towards concrete solutions and based on extensive co-operation. The foundation acts as an initiator and/or a catalyst in parallel and concrete projects. In other words BSAG efficiently combines the resources and opportunities that the public, private and civil sectors can provide.

http://www.bsag.fi