The Baltic Sea Area: Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (Helsinki Convention) of 1974 and the Revised Convention of 1992

The Helsinki Convention 1974 marked an important milestone in international ecopolitics. All sources of pollution were, for the first time for a sea area, made subject to regulations in one convention. By establishing the Helsinki Commission the Convention created the basis for far-reaching co-operation between the Baltic Sea states in the field of marine environmental protection. One of the most important steps was taken in 1992 by adopting a new Joint Comprehensive Action Programme as well as a revised version of the Convention. The latter takes account of the findings and experiences of the Helsinki Commission as well as of new ecopolitical developments, by introducing additional fundamental principles and making regulations more concrete and binding under international law.