When the phosphorus discharges from point sources are calculated as unit loads per inhabitant, EU members can be seen to have the lowest unit loads in general, while the highest loads are in Poland. When nitrogen losses from agriculture are calculated per square kilometre of arable land, the EU member countries have the highest loads

In 1998 Annex III, part 2 of the Convention, criteria and measures to prevent pollution from agriculture, was included in the convention. Several countries have a comprehensive and coherent legislation covering the most important aspects.  Most countries have implemented legislation concerning manure storage and application of organic manure and fertilisers as well as handling of wastewater. Legislation and rules are followed up by regulations, GAP-codes, and other measures, eg. recommendations in order to ensure implementation in agricultural practice. This evaluation reveals that the nitrate directive (maximum 170 kg nitrogen from organic manure) has been implemented in most countries. Most countries have legislation and GAP codes concerning winter crop cover, soil erosion, and special nutrient reduction areas. The two major weak points are the lack of knowledge of what is really happening at farm level and what are the real effects on the aquatic environment.

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. 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.