Commitments by President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen in connection with the Baltic Sea Action Summit

Office of the President of the Republic
Press release 8.2.2010

The Baltic Sea Action Summit to be held on 10 February will bring together in Helsinki Heads of State and Government, representatives of the business sector and NGOs to a new kind of summit. The Baltic Sea Action Summit is a joint initiative of President of the Republic Tarja Halonen, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and the Baltic Sea Action Group. It joins together such public, private and third sector actors of the Baltic Sea area who are willing to make concrete commitments contributing to the recovery of the Baltic Sea.

President Halonen gives her full support to the commitments made by Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen which show that the Government is strongly committed to actions for a healthier Baltic Sea. In addition, President Halonen is committed to continue her work for the Baltic Sea in the following ways:

My first commitment has been to convene the Baltic Sea Action Summit in Helsinki on 10 February 2010, together with Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and the Baltic Sea Action Group. I am very pleased with the participation at the Summit and the commitments already given by the participants.

My second commitment is to continue promoting the Baltic Sea Action Summit process for a cleaner Baltic Sea also after the Helsinki Summit together with non-governmental organisations and business enterprises.

Thirdly, I will emphasise the implementation of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan in contacts with my Colleagues around the Baltic Sea.

Fourthly, I will encourage members of Parliament and other elected bodies as well as those participating in electoral campaigns to work for a cleaner Baltic Sea.

Fifth, I call on the young generation to join our efforts and I will give my support to their activities to make the Baltic Sea healthy again.

Finally, I propose an annual Baltic Sea Day to raise awareness and to strengthen our commitments.