Baltic forum calls on governments to push sustainable development agenda 

Baltic 21 - an advisory forum to the Baltic region composed of government officials, businesses, academics, NGOs and the Commission - has made fresh proposals to make the region sustainable in the long run. The proposals were sent to the Council of the Baltic Sea States which met in Laulasmaa, Estonia, on 21 June.

Reviewing progress made towards sustainable development over the last five years, Baltic 21 proposed that the region "becomes an 'Eco-region' where Eco stand for both economy and ecology and where the social dimension is strongly integrated".

The assessment of progress is positive but Baltic 21 says there are still important warning signals and critical trends to be addressed:

• Safeguarding the Baltic marine ecosystem
• Energy demand management, particularly in the fossil fuel-driven transport sector
• Improvements in agricultural practice and policy
• Reducing the economic and social gaps between older and newer market economies

It is the fourth assessment made since Baltic 21 was launched by the heads of government of the region in 1998. The forum produces periodic reports for different sectors of the economy impacting on the environment and proposes lines of action to address regional challenges to sustainable development.

The Council of Baltic Sea States took note of the report and expressed "interest in the concept of making the Baltic Sea region an Eco-Region for Sustainable Development covering the economic, ecological and social spheres".