Hundred million of support for research to protect the Baltic Sea

The European Parliament has in its plenary sitting in Strasbourg on 16 June 2010 supported the European Council's compromise which will launch a new research programme to protect the Baltic Sea. The new programme 'BONUS' will produce and implement 'fit-for-purpose' regulations, policies and management practices specifically tailored for the Baltic Sea region. In its work BONUS will consider both the marine ecosystem and the socio-economic activities in the Baltic Sea area. Half of the funding comes from the EU Commission's Research Framework Programme and half from the national funding agencies in the Baltic Sea countries.

In the coming year BONUS will focus on building strong links across the wider communities and different sectors in the society within and between the Baltic Sea countries. These activities will also provide valuable guidance to development of the strategic research agenda of the programme. The BONUS programme will also act as a model for the protection of the other regional seas in Europe - the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the North Sea.

Further information:

Laura Raaska, Director, Biosciences and Environment Research Unit, Academy of Finland, Tel. +358 50 563 8006

Kaisa Kononen, Executive Director, BONUS EEIG, Tel. +358 40 581 1189