The new HELCOM

Key results from the streamlining process 2013-14

Photo: Francisco Alvarez Bao

First: inspection of the existing structure and workflow

Streamlining started: October 2013Mission completed: September 2014

Photo: the U.S. N

ational Archives

Why streamline?

Make HELCOM more• effective• flexible• responsive

1. Better focus • Where HELCOM has

clear added value• Better planning -

clear deliverables• Target (policymakers

are No. 1)• Improved

documentation

Less issues raised, but more visibility!

2. Country ownership

• Strengthen HELCOM’s role as a policy-maker for regional cooperation

• Synchronizing with other policies and legislation • Create ‘conditions’ for CP’s to engage more

Photo: Addison Berry

3. Reaching out to other sectors and processes

• mainstreaming marine protection to other policies

• address obstacles in delayed implementation• Incorporate socio-economic considerations

Photo: the U.S. N

ational Archives

Coordination with other processes

• synergies especially with other Regional Seas Conventions & EU

• identify and use opportunities for joining efforts• h

Photo: Gilad Kavalerchik

The results:new structure

Results

Mandates and deliverables of the groups are clearer

Photo: American Life

league (edited)

Results• Clearer role for the Gear group: to boost synergies

with national & other regional players on marine policies

Photo: Cactus Farmland

Photo: Stuar Richards

How the groups can put all this into practice?

By following the new HELCOM Roadmap, with exact timelines until 2021

How to do it in practice • Common format for groups’ working plans • Policy documents more concise and to the

point• More video conferences

How to do it in practice Focus on policy relevance

Modified from

image of TheBlackFin

Involving better Contracting Partiesin elaborating HELCOM documents and/or inputs:

• Clear definition of the type and timing of input needed from processes outside HELCOM

• Better coordination nationally

Photo: Marina del Castell

Strengthening contribution

…to other policies and legislation the Contracting Parties must comply with

…to be more targeted to relevant processes outside HELCOM

Photo: Peter Thoeny

Improving efficiency

1. Transparent and timely reporting and presentation of monitoring data2. Capture important topics for the countries into working groups’ work3. One responsible actor for leading a specific item4. A consultation plan

Photo: Alex Berger

More means for efficiency• longer term planning for reporting e.g. HELCOM

recommendation, new BSAP follow up under preparation

• Seek synergies - lead countries and joint working groups/meetings/outputs with other bodies, in particular OSPAR

Photo: David Finell

Current main groups one by one

Gear –Group for the implementation of the

ecosystem approach

• Region-wide co-operation on marine strategies• Regional coordination for MSFD implementation,

for EU members, and for RF Maritime Doctrine• Cooperation and coordination with other RSCs• Integration & coherence between other HELCOM

groups

Permanent

group

Photo: Tristan Martin

State* Working Group on the state of the environment

and nature conservation*Two themes, two co-chairs:1. Monitoring and assessment (biodiversity, status of & effects on marine environment)2. Nature conservation and biodiversity protection (develop measures & MPAs)• Working across monitoring-indicators-assessment chain• Holistic assessment on the ecosystem health

* Tentative name

Permanent

Pressure* Working Group on Reduction of Pressures from

the Baltic Sea Catchment Area*• Technical basis to the work on nutrient and

hazardous substances inputs on land• Follow-up of the implementation of the nutrient

reduction scheme• Monitoring and assessment for water- and airborne

inputs• Coordination of marine litter and underwater noise

* Tentative name

Permanent

group

Photo: Anu Suono

Fish groupGroup on Ecosystem-based Sustainable Fisheries

• Solutions on how the sector could further contribute to reaching Good Environmental Status of the Baltic Sea by 2021

- data gaps in assessing human pressures - fishing practices in MPAs- migratory fish species- aquaculturePhoto: Sam

uli Korpinen

Time-limited

group

Agri group Group on Sustainable Agricultural Practices

• Review and update part II Annex III of the Helsinki Convention

• Work on standards for nutrient content in manure• Work on annual nutrient accounting on farm level• Promote development of methodology for nutrient

recycling

Time-limited

group

Maritime group + Response group +HELCOM-VASAB Working Group on

Maritime Spatial Planning

• Prevention of pollution from ships• Swift national and international response to maritime

pollution incidents• Coherent regional maritime spatial planning processes in the

Baltic Sea• No changes in the Terms of Reference

Time-

limited

Permanent

groups

+ Many expert groups, networks, projects

striving for the same goals Photo: Bob Boyer

New HELCOM will be a more

dynamic team

Photo: Dodik Putro