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Heiki Kranich signed a joint statement in Germany

Yesterday, 11 March, Heiki Kranich, Minister of Environment of Estonia, and Wolfgang Methling, Minister of Environment of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Bundesland, signed in Germany a joint statement on co-operation in the field of environmental protection and nature conservation.   

The Estonian and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern ministries of environment wish to strengthen co-operation in improving the state of the environment and nature, and, in particular, in protecting the marine environment of the Baltic Sea.  

According to Andres Kratovits, Director General of International Co-operation Department of the Ministry of Environment, the main link between Estonia and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is the Baltic Sea, as both countries are situated on its coast. “One of the aims of future co-operation will be development of the principle of “green navigation”. However, the first initiative of joint implementation is nature conservation co-operation between Vilsandi and Rügen national parks," Kratovits said.

Various possibilities for co-operation between Vilsandi and Rügen national parks will be discussed tomorrow on a visit to Rügen Island. The delegation of the Estonian Ministry of Environment includes Arvo Kullapere, Director of Vilsandi National Park.

In addition, Estonia hopes to exchange experience with Mecklenburg-Vorpommern concerning the use of EU structural funds and implementation of the EU Natura 2000 Programme, as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was part of the former East-Germany but currently belongs to the European Union as part of German Federal Republic. It is also hoped that both parties will benefit from joint development of environmentally friendly technologies for drinking water supply and wastewater treatment. The countries also plan to exchange experience concerning the drawing up of waste management plans. 

Nature conservation co-operation between Estonia and Germany has already a 10-year tradition. The relevant agreement between the Estonian Ministry of Environment and the German Ministry of Environment and Nature Conservation was signed in Düsseldorf in May 1992.

Additional information: Andres Kratovits, Director General of International Co-operation Department of the Ministry of Environment, tel.: 052-68071