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Lithuania's EU commissioner to initiate Baltic Sea pollution reduction plan

BC, Vilnius, 05.02.2020.Print version
Virginijus Sinkevicius, the European commissioner for environment, oceans and fisheries, said on Wednesday that he will initiate a plan for reducing pollution in the Baltic Sea citing LETA/BNS.

The European Commission can propose various measures and sources of funding, but member states must get rid of activities that pollute inland waters, according to the Lithuanian commissioner. 


"It will depend on (member) countries' involvement, but the Commission has to propose technical measures. Various sources of funding are possible (...) such as the Fisheries Fund," Sinkevicius told reporters in Brussels. 


"I believe it is time to hold discussions with member states and draw up a targeted plan to reduce pollution in the Baltic Sea," the commissioner told reporters in Brussels.   


Member states could contribute by replacing activities that use nitrates and other chemicals with more environmentally friendly ones and "first of all, by reducing the pollution of inland waters and rivers," he added. 

 

The commissioner plans to meet with environment and agriculture ministers from countries around the Baltic Sea in the fall. Before that, informal talks will be held with them.  


Sinkevicius also plans to meet with Lithuanian Environment Minister Kestutis Mazeika in March to discuss how the Commission could help Lithuania deal with its pollution problems.


"The Commission is not going to punish anyone, because it is a national prerogative, but I am planning to go Klaipeda, meet with the environment minister and discuss specifically what technical assistance the Commission could offer Lithuania," he said.






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