Policy and Legal Framework and the Current Status of Ballast Water Management Requirements - Global Maritime Transport and Ballast Water Management: Issues and Solutions - page 76

instrument requires Member states to implement action plans on the pathways of
invasive alien species. This means to carry out a comprehensive pathway analysis
regarding the unintentional introduction and spread of invasive alien species as well
as an identifi cation of the pathways which require priority action. This action plan
should be designed to include the measures of the BWM Convention (EU
Commission 2013 ).
BWM aspects may also be dealt with under the framework of the new EU
Maritime Policy and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive . The EU Maritime
Policy (EU Commission 2007 ) has the objective to support maritime transport com-
petitiveness and the protection of the environmental and shipping related matters.
Other subjects this instrument addresses include a long-term maritime strategy, the
promotion of maritime excellence and innovation, as well as surveillance of mari-
time transport. Regarding more environmental aspects air pollution and greenhouse
gas emissions are in focus (Suarez de Vivero 2007 ; Suarez de Vivero et al. 2009 ;
Pavliha 2010 ). Species introduction with ballast water are not explicitly mentioned.
The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (EU Parliament 2007 ) requires
Member states to “take the necessary measures to achieve or maintain Good
Environmental Status in the marine environment” at the latest by the year 2020. The
strategies ultimate goal is to reduce pollution. Twelve qualifi ers of the Good
Environmental Status were developed, one of those are non-indigenous species, but
it is not fully clear how non-indigenous species will be addressed when describing
the environmental status of the marine environment. However, it becomes clear,
although not explicitly stated in the instrument, that ballast water and non-indigenous
species are relevant. This Directive further promotes regional cooperation between
Member states and also non-EU Member states which share the same marine envi-
ronment (Suarez de Vivero et al. 2009 ).
North East Atlantic Ocean, North and Baltic Seas
In 2001, the Baltic area hosted the Baltic Regional Workshop on Ballast Water
Management. The workshop was attended by representatives from Estonia, Finland,
Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden, the Helsinki Commission, the
European Commission, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other organiza-
tions. The objectives of the workshop were to establish a link between the Baltic and
the GloBallast program, present the problem of ballast water, the introductions of
alien and harmful marine species, the role of IMO, establish a BWM plan in
countries lying on the shores of the Baltic Sea, devise plans for the acquisition of
fi nancial support, improve BWM, minimize introductions of harmful substances
into Baltic waters, and enhance interregional cooperation. One of the outcomes of
the workshop is a project conducted in four states: Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, and
Russia - Alien Invasive Species in the North-East Baltic Sea: Monitoring and
Assessment of Environmental Impact. 25
25 Global Ballast Water Management Programme: Ballast Water News, no. 10, p. 4, and no. 7 p. 6.