At the last cabinet meeting of the Government of the Republic, a decision of principle was adopted concerning the activity plan for achieving better organisation of marine environment protection in the period of 2005 to 2007. Among other things, the activity plan provides for establishing an oil pollution control foundation on the basis of the “polluter pays” principle that is quite widespread in Estonia. “Goal-setting is not enough, real means and actions are also needed. Establishing the oil pollution control foundation alone is a huge step forward in improving the condition of the Baltic Sea, and the activity plan also foresees other practical solutions,” said the Minister of the Environment Mr Villu Reiljan. The task of organising marine environment protection is divided between the Ministry of Internal Affairs (including the Border Guard Administration), the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications (including the Estonian Maritime Administration) and the Ministry of the Environment (including the Environmental Inspectorate). In order to improve and specify the organisation of marine environment protection, it is necessary to reach an agreement more detailed than earlier ones on inter-agency functions. Legislation and audit recommendations from the State Audit Office served as the bases for assigning tasks specified in the activity plan prepared by the Ministry of the Environment. Among other things, the State Audit Office recommended to coordinate cooperation between different agencies in detecting and eliminating marine pollution and in punishing polluters more efficiently than so far. Plans for several practical activities are made on the basis of the activity plan. Every ministry has to prepare in their domain Estonia’s accession to international conventions and protocols related to preventing and eliminating marine pollution. In addition to international exchange of experience and organising supervision, accession to these conventions and protocols provides Estonia with a certain financial base for eliminating potential pollution. The Ministry of the Environment is responsible for establishing the oil pollution control foundation and for pollution control preparedness in ports. The Ministry of the Environment should also ensure the imposition of sanctions when applicable rules are infringed. The primary role of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications is to establish a working group coordinating the solution of maritime matters and marine environment protection matters on the basis of both national and international needs. According to the activity plan, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications is also going to strengthen supervision over the reception of pollutants from ships visiting ports and handling these pollutants. In addition, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications will prepare alterations to the Estonian legislation, deriving from the legislation of the European Union and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, and the Ministry of the Environment is going to participate in fulfilling this task. According to the activity plan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is going to improve the preparedness of local rescue units for eliminating oil pollution and strengthen significantly surveillance over pollution control preparedness in ports. To this end, it is necessary to improve the preparedness of local rescue units for eliminating oil pollution by using the state budget funds to purchase or lease additional technical equipment. The activity plan for organising marine environment protection that was approved at the last cabinet meeting will now be passed on to the session of the Government of the Republic for adopting a corresponding decision. Further information: Monika Kopti |
