Ministerial Bremen Declaration
June 2003
•The Ministers acknowledged:
•Agriculture main source of nitrogen input, especially in present EU countries
•EU enlargement may lead to even higher nutrient inputs
•
•Measures agreed:
•more sustainability through implementation of reforms in the Common Agricultural Policy
•implementation of related EU directives important as well as Annex III of the Helsinki convention
•to ensure efficient nutrient utilisation
The commenced national implementation of the Water Framework Directive in HELCOM Contracting Parties being EU member states as well as EU accession countries is expected to include nutrient loads from draining rivers of the catchment area to the Baltic Sea.
The river basin approach within the Water Framework Directive, other relevant directives, Annex III, the Baltic Sea Regional Project (GEF project), the WGA report on “Assessment of the Status of the Implementation of the Environmental regulations of Agriculture in the Baltic and partly the North Sea Areas” and the revised CAP as well as national programmes will be the main tools to reduce the environmental problems from the agricultural sector.
Efficient Nutrient utilisation
Implementation of balanced fertilization in the Baltic Sea catchment area
Balanced fertilization is one of the key measures (of Annex III) to control nutrient discharges from arable farming. In order to avoid excess fertilizer use with the expected intensification of agriculture in the coming years.
It must be remembered that other sources such as airborne inputs and scattered settlements should be addresses as well.