The Helsinki Commission, or HELCOM, works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution through intergovernmental co-operation between Denmark, Estonia, the European Community, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden. HELCOM is the governing body of the "Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area" - more usually known as the Helsinki Convention.

The Helsinki Convention
The first convention was established in 1973 and entered into force in 1980. In the light of political changes, and developments in international environmental and maritime law, a new convention was signed in 1992 by all the states bordering on the Baltic Sea, and the European Community, and entered into force in 2000. The Convention covers the whole of the Baltic Sea area, including inland waters as well as the water of the sea itself and the sea-bed. In order to improve water quality, measures are taken in the whole catchment area of the Baltic Sea to reduce land-based pollution.

One of the most important duties of the Helsinki Commission (the governing body of the convention) is to make Recommendations on measures to address certain pollution sources or areas of concern. These Recommendations are to be implemented by the Contracting Parties through their national legislation. Since the beginning of the 1980s HELCOM has adopted some 200 HELCOM Recommendations for the protection of the Baltic Sea. Another important duty is to follow up the implementation of the Convention and HELCOM Recommendations. This implies that all involved countries should report to the commision on a regular basis.


External Links
 http://www.helcom.fi/