Government Resolution on Finland's maritime policy guidelines : From the Baltic Sea to the oceans

Abstract

The policy guidelines determine the focus areas of Finland’s maritime policy concerning oceans and seas, and present measures required for reaching the set objectives. The aim of this document is to enable Finland to develop its maritime policy into a clear area of strength. In these policy guidelines, the protection of the seas, maritime logistics, the maritime cluster and marine production are selected as priority areas. The horizontal themes connected to all priority areas include automation, digitalisation and data; competence, research and education; exercising influence at the EU and international level; a secure operating environment; financing.

In the vision for maritime policy, Finland exercises global influence and produces solutions ensuring that the use of marine natural resources is sustainable, the state of the marine environment is good and the effects of climate change do not exceed the carrying capacity of the oceans. Finland has high-quality marine competence, an innovative and consistently successful marine cluster, and a well-functioning, safe and environmentally responsible logistics system.

The marine environment faces constantly increasing pressures: warming caused by the climate change, oxygen depletion, acidification caused by the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, marine litter, loss of biodiversity, oil spills and chemical accidents, eutrophication and overfishing. Maritime transport and the entire logistics sector are facing major changes. The aim is to make maritime logistics a growing industry in Finland with a pioneering role in digitalisation, autonomous transport and emission reduction. The maritime cluster and its economic ecosystem already form a significant industrial sector in Finland. The maritime industry, port services, logistics and services related to these fields account for over 3,000 companies with some 50,000 employees. The total turnover of the maritime cluster is EUR 13 billion. The strengths of Finland’s maritime industry include cooperation and networks. Maintaining competitiveness and making use of opening markets are key growth factors for the maritime cluster. Oceans and seas provide opportunities for sustainable and low-carbon food and energy production. With Finland’s competence, aquaculture can be developed at a global level by utilising high technology, and alternative cultivation methods and species. Finland’s marine energy competence can be further developed, scaled and exported with the aim of creating ecological, sustainable and as carbon neutral energy production as possible.

In autumn 2016 the Prime Minister’s Office set up a steering group for Baltic Sea and integrated maritime policy to perform the task to update Government’s report to Parliament Challenges of the Baltic Sea and on Baltic Sea Policy (2009). The steering group decided to update the report as the Government Resolution on Finland’s Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Decisions on any appropriations associated with this document will be made as part of the General Government Fiscal Plan.