Water policy differences between a western democracy and a country in economic transition

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 125-128
Author(s):  
H.E. Valdas Adamkus
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Policy ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Transition Economy ◽  
Economic Transition ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Western Democracy ◽  
Substantial Investment ◽  
The Baltic

Where environmental policy is concerned Western democracies and transition economies share more similarities than differences. Sound environmental policies require substantial investment. Public-private cooperation can play a major role in the search for solutions, but politicians, environmentalists and academics must act vigorously to ensure that big business does not acquire a final say in the implementation of environmental policy. Lithuania as a transition economy faces major environmental challenges, but international collaboration, including working with the European Union and cross-border cooperation with neighbouring states, is bringing good results. A major unifying factor for the Baltic Sea states is the continuing struggle to purify and protect the Baltic Sea.

scholarly journals Development of marine landscape maps for the Baltic Sea and the Kattegat using geophysical and hydrographical parameters

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 61-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zyad K. Al-Hamdani ◽  
Johnny Reker ◽  
Jørgen O. Leth ◽  
Anu Reijonen ◽  
Aarno T. Kotilainen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Bothnian Bay

The Baltic Sea is one of the largest brackish water bodies in the world (Segerstråle 1957) with a number of basins varying from almost fresh water in the northern part of the Bothnian Bay via the more brackish conditions in the southern part to the saline waters of the Kattegat. The Baltic Sea is subject to severe environmental degradation caused by commercial and leisure activities, including fisheries, dredging, tourism, coas t a l development and land-based pollution sources. This causes severe pressures on vulnerable marine habitats and natural re- sources, and a tool for aiding marine management is therefore strongly needed. The marine landscape concept presented by Roff &Taylor (2000) is based on the use of available broad-scale geological, physical and hydrographical data to prepare ecologically meaningful maps for areas with little or no biological information. The concept, which was elaborated by Day & Roff (2000) was applied in UK waters (Connor et al. 2006) before it was adopted by the BALANCE project described here. The aim of developing marine landscape maps is to characterise the marine environment of the Baltic Sea region (the Baltic Sea together with the Kattegat) using geophysical and hydrographical parameters. Such maps can be applied, for example, to an assessment of the Baltic-wide network of marine protected areas, and thus provide a sustainable ecosystem-based approach to the protection of the marine environment from human activities, and contribute to the conservation of marine biodiversity. The BALANCE project is based on transnational and cross-sectoral co-operation with participants from nine countries surrounding the Baltic Sea as well as Norway (Fig. 1), and is partially financed by the European Union through the BSR INTERREG IIIB programme.

Underwater Long-Term Observation at the Largest German Artificial Reef in the Baltic Sea

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerd Niedzwiedz
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
State Government ◽  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Fish Stock ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Biometric Data ◽  
The Baltic

The Baltic Sea is one of the most frequented regions in the world. The Baltic neighbouring states more and more see the need to adapt their economic interests to the given ecological conditions. This can not always be done sufficiently, which can be seen at the example of coastal fishery in some of these countries. Owing to the critical condition of economically important fish stocks, selective fishing and fish-stock saving measures have become main fields of research. Supported by the European Union and by the federal state government we have tried in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern during the last four years to investigate the effects of an artificial Baltic reef with respect to fishing. For this purpose more than 1300 reef elements — made of a special sort of concrete and having different shapes and size — have been arranged on an area of 200 × 200 m at a water depth of 12 m about 1.5 m away from the coast. Over a period of almost four years different methods and techniques have been applied to observe and record the effects of these structures on the natural environment in a long-term investigation. Continuous video-optical underwater observation using up to nine simultaneously controlled underwater cameras proved to be a special technical challenge. Important results have been gained from a monitoring with research divers and from a defined test and comparison fishing done once every month. Various fishing methods have been applied — also those which are normally not common in that region. A special low-cost variant of a remote controlled underwater stereo photo camera has been developed and built in order to get biometric data of the fish without catching it.

A Nutrient Quota Trading Scheme to Reduce the Eutrophication of the Baltic Sea

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Mehling ◽  
Karl Upston-Hooper
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Policy Instrument ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Initial Allocation ◽  
Nutrient Trading ◽  
Trading Scheme ◽  
The Baltic

AbstractEnvironmental policy is currently experiencing a general transition towards greater inclusion of flexible, market-based instruments. While one of the most salient manifestations of this trend, the creation of markets for tradable emissions quota, has been widely applied in the areas of air pollution and greenhouse gas regulation, it has yet to be introduced as a policy instrument for the management of watercourses. A great diversity of abatement costs for pollution of the Baltic Sea through nutrients that result in eutrophication suggests the introduction of a system of tradable quota as an attractive management tool. The following article provides a brief introduction to the challenge of nutrient accumulation in the Baltic Sea, and shows that the legislative framework currently governing its pollution does not categorically preclude the introduction of a nutrient trading scheme. A number of design issues would require clarification prior to the introduction of such a scheme, including the definition of the tradable commodity, the scope of participation, the initial allocation of quota, and monitoring and enforcement provisions. While the article concludes by affirming the fundamental viability of a nutrient trading scheme in the Baltic Sea Area, it identifies challenges in accommodating the trading scheme alongside existing emission limit values, state aid concerns, and the inclusion of states that are not Members of the European Union.

scholarly journals EU macro-regional strategies for the Baltic Sea Region after 2020. A nutshell of beauty and possibilities

Europa XXI ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacek Zaucha ◽  
Kai Böhme ◽  
Dorota Pyć ◽  
Lilia Neumann ◽  
Aziewicz Dominik
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Regional Strategies ◽  
Soft Governance ◽  
Baltic Sea Region ◽  
The Baltic

The European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, that celebrates this year in Gdańsk its tenth anniversary, has been considered by many scholars and the decision makers as the model example of the soft governance that has gained in importance in the enlarged European Union (EU). The paper analyses the achievements and shortcomings of the Strategy from economic perspective with focus on externalities, public goods (also club goods, common-pool resources), economies of scale and scope and transaction costs. Two cases: Single Market for services and innovation spillovers are discussed more in depth. The analysis of these challenges and opportunities as well as the performance of the Strategy in the past and comparative analysis of its various evaluations allow authors to formulate several assumptions that should save the Strategy for the future. Their essence is related to mainstreaming of the Strategy into the EU and national policies (ensuring its stronger policy impact), strengthening strategic, visionary approach of the Strategy (e.g. facilitating large Baltic projects), better alignment with the business sector activities (understanding and addressing this sector expectations towards macro-regional co-operation) and acknowledgement of macro-regional solidarity as a foundation of the common efforts. Without all these, the Strategy might follow the case of the Baltic Development Forum that ceased to exist despite its evident positive effects for the entire region. Soft governance is difficult but promising as an alternative to the overgrowing sentiments towards centralisation. Thus, to avoid the impression of the “Titanic ball” Gdańsk celebrations should provide a new start instead of the business as usual and manifestation of shallow self-satisfaction.

scholarly journals TERRITORIAL MARKETING IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION PORT CITIES

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (9) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Gunta Grinberga Zalite ◽  
Joanna Hernik
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Natural Material ◽  
Synthesis Methods ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Port Cities ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Territorial Marketing ◽  
Baltic Sea Region ◽  
The Baltic

Today in the Baltic Sea region, territorial marketing plays a substantial role both for tourist attraction and local young families, a quality workforce and students’ retention to the region, which is not easy due to the wide scope of work and travel opportunities in the European Union Member States. Territorial marketing aims to increase the prestige of a territory by attracting local and foreign subjects to the territory by creating an expressive image, maximal use of the territory’s natural, material and technical as well as financial, labour and social resources. The Baltic Sea region countries have a lot in common: historical heritage of Soviet Union influence until 1991, which has left its impact both on their architecture, city planning and on peoples’ mentality; joining the European Union in 2004 and since then struggling with common market side effects that force these countries to look for new ways to sustain their regional competitiveness. The current research focuses on exploring the experience of territorial marketing use in four Baltic Sea region port cities: Parnu (Estonia), Ventspils (Latvia), Klaipeda (Lithuania) and Szczecin (Poland). The research aimed to compare the territorial marketing approaches used in the four Baltic Sea region port cities and specifics of brand positioning for the cities. In the research work, desk study and the comparative method were applied to aggregate and interpret secondary data on the four cities’ development trends. Analysis and synthesis methods were applied to investigate the elements of territorial marketing. 

scholarly journals Baltic Sea eutrophication status is not improved by the first pillar of the European Union Common Agricultural Policy

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 2465-2476
Author(s):  
Torbjörn Jansson ◽  
Hans E. Andersen ◽  
Bo G. Gustafsson ◽  
Berit Hasler ◽  
Lisa Höglind ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Common Agricultural Policy ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Fertiliser Use ◽  
The Baltic

Abstract Agriculture is an important source of nitrogen and phosphorous loads to the Baltic Sea. We study how the European Union’s (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and in particular how its first pillar, containing most of the budget and the decoupled farm payments, affects eutrophication. To aid our study, we use three simulation models, covering the agricultural sector in the EU, a hydrological nutrient flow model and a model of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. We compute changes in key eutrophication indicators in a business-as-usual baseline and in a hypothetical situation where the first pillar of the CAP, containing the direct payments, greening and accompanying measures, is not present. Comparing the outcomes, we find that in the scenario without the first pillar, production and agricultural land use is lower, while yields and fertiliser use per hectare are higher, causing less nitrogen and phosphorous loads (0.5 to 4% depending on the basin) and less eutrophication in the Baltic Sea as net effect. We therefore conclude that the policies of the first pillar of the CAP contribute to increased eutrophication in the Baltic Sea.

Tragedy or Chivalrous Romance? The Swedish Government and the Baltic Sea Pipeline

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Lisa Sayuli Fransson
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Policy ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Gas Pipeline ◽  
The Self ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Happy Ending ◽  
Paradoxical Situation ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Baltic

When Sweden was confronted with the idea of building a gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea, the Swedish government found itself in a paradoxical situation. Should it give in to strong foreign interests and abandon its proudly held line of environmental policy, or stick to its profile at the risk of earning a powerful adversary? This narrative analysis, building on the government's official narratives, explains how and why the self-proclaimed environmental guardian of the sea ended up having it both ways. By using strategies of depoliticization, polarization, and parallel storytelling, the Swedish government surrendered narrative power to its antagonist, alternated between incompatible views of its own political capability, and added a happy ending to the pipeline tragedy. These strategies enabled the government to make an environmentally controversial decision without losing prestige or abandoning its ethical profile regarding the Baltic Sea.

Common Baltic Energy Systems – A Precondition for Sustainable Development

1996 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-132
Author(s):  
Mihkel Veiderma
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Transmission Lines ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy System ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Economic Interaction ◽  
The Baltic

The Baltic Sea is turning to be an inland sea of the European Union. Interlinking the energy systems of the Baltic Sea countries and the relevant EU networks should concur with the process of unification of the states. The primary strategic goal is to create a common free energy market based on regional energy systems around the Baltic Sea – the Baltic Ring. This common energy system must cover both electricity transmission lines and natural gas pipelines. The Baltic Ring project is of major importance for the economic interaction and growth, sustainable development and security of the energy supply of Baltic Sea states.

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