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“Unfortunately, our sea is among the 5 most polluted seas in the world,” the European Commissioner said during a visit to the Klaipeda State Ports Authority on Thursday.
Sea water takes about 30 years to regenerate. Politicians seek to unite countries around the Baltic Sea so that they can clean the sea without expecting anything.
According to the politician, it is necessary to ensure that nutrients do not enter the water and that microplastics are collected more efficiently. It is important to change practices and reduce the use of pesticides in all countries.
V. Sinkevičius also mentioned the cleanliness of the Baltic Sea. According to him, this is the second stage, possible only after the sources of contamination are stopped.
“My goal is for the Ministers for the Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries of the Baltic Sea States to agree and sign a joint statement of commitment in late September to take and implement concrete actions to prevent further pollution of the Baltic Sea,” said Sinevičius to BNS by phone on Thursday.
Fewer pesticides
According to him, the declaration is still being harmonized, so it is too early to talk about concrete measures, but the parties are expected to agree to reduce, for example, the use of chemical products in agriculture, since this is one of the biggest sources of pollution in the Baltic Sea.
“There is no doubt that there should be a commitment to change the fisheries to be as sustainable as possible,” he said.
According to V. Sinkevičius, in the declaration countries are likely to commit to cleaning separate places in the Baltic Sea.
The parties are expected to agree to reduce, for example, the use of chemicals in agriculture, as this is one of the largest sources of pollution in the Baltic Sea.
“I think we will try to mobilize resources, programs and perhaps there will be separate lines in the budgets of the member states, but this can only happen if we prevent pollution, its sources,” said the commissioner.
According to him, the European Union will also provide funds for the purposes set out in this declaration.
“LIFE and other programs have constantly supported various missions in the Baltic Sea and they are not going to change anything. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund is just as small, it has also allocated money to reduce pollution,” said V. Sinkevičius.
According to the European Commissioner, it is too early to say how much money will be needed to achieve the goals set out in the declaration.
Erik Ovcharenko / 15min photo / Baltic Sea
“The European Commission has made it very clear that the green course and the digitization of Europe are the two main priorities of the new financial perspectives and the plan for the reconstruction of the European Union, with an additional 750 billion euros. Currently, the main objective is to increase funds for environmental protection, which increases the chances of implementing the declaration, “he said.
According to the European Commissioner, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland are to sign the joint declaration in Palanga in September.
“Firstly, the commitments will be very specific. We are talking about specific objectives. We plan to not only monitor every year, but also meet with the ministers. The second meeting could be in Germany. Update the information on how to achieve the goals set each year, “said V. Sinkevičius. The politician hopes the program will be implemented not only during his five-year term, but also to continue later.
The European Commissioner believes that environmental measures will help the port of Klaipeda reduce friction with the community, which is constantly complaining about the noise and pollution caused by the port.
“It may be an impulse to reduce that friction. In the end, the Klaipeda port will become the strongest not only in terms of cargo handling, but also the greenest port in the Baltic region, ”said V. Sinkevičius.
One of the most polluted seas in the world.
The Baltic Sea is one of the most polluted seas in the world.
“Baltic Sea pollution is caused not only by its shallow depth, limited contact with the ocean, slow water circulation, low water temperature, but also by human activities: excessive use of nutrients in agriculture, pollutants, bottom degradation marine, unsustainable fishing, without a doubt, garbage “. , – explained V. Sinkevičius.
Furthermore, the storage of chemical weapons stored in Germany in various parts of the Baltic Sea after World War II is a problem.
The wastewater would be used by farmers.
Environment Minister Kęstutis Mažeika, who visited the Directorate together with the European Commissioner, believes that the port of Klaipeda may become the first to implement new measures. He calls some of the elemental but extremely effective measures.
“In terms of wastewater, there are up to 80 pipelines discharged in the port area alone. Therefore, there should be dozens and sometimes more monitoring stations for wastewater, rainwater and air pollution. Continuous monitoring of the areas around the port, waste management, installation of electric vehicles and other measures already available that could significantly change the indicators of pollution and noise in the port. We have evaluated the practice of other ports, it is realistic, it is possible, it does not require large resources ” K. Mažeika said.
In terms of wastewater, there are up to 80 pipes discharged in the port area alone.
When asked why the Klasco company name still resonates, because residents complain about the constant dust and noise, and environmentalists point out that the polluted wastewater flows into the lagoon, K. Mažeika says the new requirements will force the company to stretch.
J. Andriejauskaitė / 15min photo / “Klasco”
“Both Klasco and other companies that are less or less responsible for environmental requirements will have to expand and align with the common policy, which is the idea of a green port.” All the measures that must be implemented in one company or another must also be implemented in these companies. This is good news for residents. Those companies will have to change the nature of their activities, take measures that do not allow them to deviate from the green exchange rate, ”said V. Mažeika.
Environmentalists have repeatedly found that contaminated wastewater flows from Klasco into the lagoon, but no concrete action has been taken. Nitrogen was detected in the wastewater when the company reloaded the fertilizer. And this is just one example of the Klaipeda port.
K.Mažeika claims that such wastewater, which is filled with fertilizers, is scheduled to travel to special tanks, and then farmers could use this water for irrigation.
The Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Gytis Mažeika, assured that the Ministry will ensure that “this discussion is not held only once today, but rather becomes a great comprehensive program for port cleaning and ecological development with concrete actions and measures “
A meeting of the Port Development Council will take place on July 7 in Klaipeda. It will also address environmental issues.
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