Water is an important issue not only in the southern parts of the world but also in the Northern Europe. The Baltic Sea that surrounds 10 countries is experiencing a rapid environmental decline. This is happening due to a wrong water resource management and environmentally not friendly water technologies.  Environmentalists say that the countries of the Baltic Sea Region need to set aside national agendas in favor of the best interests of the Baltic Sea. After the Baltic Sea Action Summit that was held in February 2010, the countries seem more committed than ever before to protect and listen to the voice of the Baltic Sea.

Baltic Development Forum (BDF) has made a strong commitment to continue working with water issues in the Baltic Sea Region. According to BDF, the overall objective should be to identify and develop new business opportunities within cleaning, recycling, steering and usage of water resources, with a view to exploiting the maritime economy, ensuring sustainability, securing water  and protection of the delicate environmental balance of the Baltic Sea. The challenge of a polluted sea will be turned into business opportunities by innovation and cooperation of key stakeholders in order to become number one in the world for the benefit of the Baltic Sea Region and the economic growth of the region. In the next step this show case could be applied on other regions in the EU.

BDF has set following aims to successfully and efficiently manage projects related to water issues in the Baltic Sea Region:

• Use the environmental objectives of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the HELCOM Action Plan to create new business opportunities.

• Create a platform where all actors with an interest for the Baltic Sea can meet.

• Act as a catalyst, facilitator and developer of concrete projects, private-public partnerships and strategies cross-country and cross-sector.

• Promote innovation, advanced technologies and technology transfer within green technologies by presenting the region as a “Show Case Region” on the links between the clean tech solutions, job creation and sustainable economic growth.

• Define, discuss and evaluate various voluntary measures

• Compile a list of recommended and needed actions by business to be addressed to decision makers on national and EU level.

• Further coordinate activities in the region by working closely with all relevant partners.

Baltic Development Forum has initiated several projects to protect the Baltic Sea environment.

• BDF has worked together with both the Baltic Sea Action Group and the Baltic Sea 2020. This process will continue on 1-2 of June at the BDF Summit in Vilnius where new commitments will be presented.

• Baltic Development Forum honors its annual Baltic Sea Award for extraordinary contribution to the region of the Baltic Sea.

• Baltic Development Forum together with Grontmij-Carl Bro A/S will initiate the project for water cooperation in the beginning of 2010, acting as secretariat and facilitate activities.