BALTIC SEAENVIRONMENT PROCEEDINGS No. 59 - Helcom

The Commission has decided that the recommendations should be imple-
mented in the whole catchment area. The same common opinion of the
Contracting Parties has been taken into the Article 6 of the Convention 1992
“Principles and obligations concerning pollution from land-based sources” by
wording “The relevant measures . . . shall be taken by each Contracting Party
in the catchment area of the Baltic Sea without prejudice to its sovereignty”.
The preparations of the First and Second Baltic Sea Pollution Load Compila-
tions showed very clearly difficulties still existing in harmonizing sampling,
analysing and calculation methods among the Contracting Parties. Reliable
pollution data is essential not only for controlling the effects of the imple-
mentation of the recommendations but also for controlling the implementa-
tion of the Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Pro-
gramme.
Reporting
In the 1980’s the reporting on national implementation of recommendations
was decided by the Commission case by case. Due to the big confusion in
reporting requirements, the Commission decided to start reporting by three
year intervals and also made a decision on the time for first report. The
Lead Countries collect the national reports in accepted formats. The Lead
Countries collect the reports and the Technological Committee will consider
the reports before the submission to the meeting of the Commission.
Implementation of the recommendations is not the only duty in the field of
TC to be reported by the Contracting Parties. Also the implementations of
the ministerial Declarations in 1988 and 1992 contain obligations for the
Contracting Parties. The timeschedule of reporting is the same as for recom-
mendations. This means that all reports must be submitted for consideration
to the every third meeting of the Commission.
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