Abstract
This paper uses the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) water governance principles to assess the governance of the implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP), with a focus on the eutrophication segment. Whilst governance assessments can be used as auditing functions, this study was done with the goal of stimulating reflection, in order to investigate whether the governance systems have made any improvements. This is especially needed, since the BSAP is to be renewed in 2021, so that any assessment of it at this moment is timely. This review has focused on the 12 principles of water governance and the three complementary drivers into which the principles are grouped: Effectiveness, efficiency and trust, and engagement. This paper focuses on national implementation actions. It uses qualitative thematic analysis to analyze the content of the national implementation plans for Baltic Sea Coastal countries. It identifies gaps in water governance and makes recommendations for enhancing effectiveness, efficiency and trust, and engagement in the governance of the Baltic Sea, including improved stakeholder participation, the establishment of a permanent lead agency for the implementation of BSAP, increased funding for implementation actions, and a better governance of trade-offs.
Highlights
The Baltic Sea governance has been described as well-developed and robust, evolving from the signing of the 1974 Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, commonly known as the Helsinki Convention [1]
This review has focused on the 12 principles of water governance and the three complementary drivers into which the principles are grouped: Effectiveness, efficiency and trust, and engagement
This is the main limitation of this study, as there was no verification through interviews, that what was contained in the documents, was that which was translated on the ground
Summary
The Baltic Sea governance has been described as well-developed and robust, evolving from the signing of the 1974 Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, commonly known as the Helsinki Convention [1]. It explores the extent to which the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan provides conditions for an effective application of the 12 principles of water governance, unveiled by the OECD in 2015. It focuses on the country level implementation of the BSAP, using the National implementation reports (NIP). The ecosystem approach has emerged as a central concept in Baltic Sea environmental governance As a strategy, it refers to the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable manner [5]. Figure 3F. iguOrve e3r.vOievwervoiefwthoef tOhergOarngiaznaiztaiotinonfoforr EEcoonnoommicicCoC-oop-eorpateiorantiaonnd aDnevdelDopemveenltop(OmEeCnDt) (OECD) PrinciplePsrionncipWleastoenr WGaotvererGnoavnercnean[8ce].[8]
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