The European Commission proposed, on 29 October, a joint Baltic Sea research programme (‘BONUS-169’) to ensure a more sustainable development of the region. The Commission proposes to contribute €50 million to a joint research investment with eight EU Baltic Sea member states (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden). The €100 million programme will provide a framework for the coordination of their environmental research. This programme will help Europe to respond more effectively to key challenges in the region in relation to environmental protection and sustainable development, tourism, aquaculture, food safety and maritime transport.

The water and coasts of the Baltic Sea are particularly affected by the combined and increasingly negative impacts of pollution, climate change, acidification, overexploitation and biodiversity loss, the Commission said.

BONUS-169 will integrate the national research programmes and activities of the eight Baltic Sea states into a single joint research programme, mainly focused on environmental research. The EU will match the contribution of the participating states up to a maximum of €50 million, from the 7th Framework Programme for Research. The combination of funds will create a critical mass in terms of capacity, expertise and resources and will stimulate structural changes in the Baltic Sea and related river basin and coastal zone research systems.

It will be implemented in two phases: during the initial two-year strategic phase, a strategic research agenda and implementation modalities should be defined. It would be followed by an implementation phase of five years, during which at least three joint calls should be launched.

Further information is available at www.bonusportal.org