117
of problematic mixtures. In particular, when evidence of continuing problems with
regard to halogenated substances is as strong as it is, illustrated in this study with a
few examples, the EU and HELCOM need to implement chemical group perspectives, if the objective of a non-toxic environment is to be reached. Science gives
stronger support to the default assumption that similar types of substances within a
group – let it be chlorinated , brominated or fl uorinated , as well as organohalogens –
show signifi cantly similar properties than to the default assumption that these substances would have substantially different properties. A broader group-based
perspective in chemicals and environmental policy would also allow for much more
rapid regulatory processes, promoting the overall objectives in place.
Finally, looking ahead, it is clear that the EU over time has emerged as the strongest policy-making body in the governance of hazardous chemicals in BSR. However,
HELCOM still plays an important role for monitoring and environmentally based
assessments , as well as for the conceptual framing of measures and appropriate
strategies. The EU and HELCOM should be seen to be complementary, more or less
well coordinated in different parts of the region, rather than as competing institutions.
20 Europeanisation and regionalisation can be synergetic trends, given the right
set-up.
Acknowledgements This research was funded by the Foundation for Baltic and East European
Studies and the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (2007–2013) under grant
agreement n° 217246 made with the joint Baltic Sea research and development programme
BONUS, as well as by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Research
Council FORMAS. We wish to thank these institutions for enabling this research. Two peer
reviewers are also thanked for valuable comments on an earlier version of the chapter.
Open Access This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons AttributionNoncommercial 2.5 License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ ) which permits any
noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s)
and source are credited.
The images or other third party material in this chapter are included in the work’s Creative
Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if such material is not included
in the work’s Creative Commons license and the respective action is not permitted by statutory
regulation, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to duplicate, adapt or
reproduce the material.
References
Adger WN, Jordan A (eds) (2009) Governing sustainability. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge
Airaksinen R, Hallikainen A, Rantakokko P, Ruokojärvi P, Vuorinen PJ, Parmanne R, Verta M,
Mannio J, Kiviranta H (2014) Time trends and congener profi les of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and
20 In addition, HELCOM includes, e.g. Russia, which is evidently important to be included in the
cooperation in order to promote the targets set up.
5 Governance of Chemicals in the Baltic Sea Region: A Study of Three Generations…
of problematic mixtures. In particular, when evidence of continuing problems with
regard to halogenated substances is as strong as it is, illustrated in this study with a
few examples, the EU and HELCOM need to implement chemical group perspectives, if the objective of a non-toxic environment is to be reached. Science gives
stronger support to the default assumption that similar types of substances within a
group – let it be chlorinated , brominated or fl uorinated , as well as organohalogens –
show signifi cantly similar properties than to the default assumption that these substances would have substantially different properties. A broader group-based
perspective in chemicals and environmental policy would also allow for much more
rapid regulatory processes, promoting the overall objectives in place.
Finally, looking ahead, it is clear that the EU over time has emerged as the strongest policy-making body in the governance of hazardous chemicals in BSR. However,
HELCOM still plays an important role for monitoring and environmentally based
assessments , as well as for the conceptual framing of measures and appropriate
strategies. The EU and HELCOM should be seen to be complementary, more or less
well coordinated in different parts of the region, rather than as competing institutions.
20 Europeanisation and regionalisation can be synergetic trends, given the right
set-up.
Acknowledgements This research was funded by the Foundation for Baltic and East European
Studies and the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (2007–2013) under grant
agreement n° 217246 made with the joint Baltic Sea research and development programme
BONUS, as well as by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Research
Council FORMAS. We wish to thank these institutions for enabling this research. Two peer
reviewers are also thanked for valuable comments on an earlier version of the chapter.
Open Access This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons AttributionNoncommercial 2.5 License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ ) which permits any
noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s)
and source are credited.
The images or other third party material in this chapter are included in the work’s Creative
Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if such material is not included
in the work’s Creative Commons license and the respective action is not permitted by statutory
regulation, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to duplicate, adapt or
reproduce the material.
References
Adger WN, Jordan A (eds) (2009) Governing sustainability. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge
Airaksinen R, Hallikainen A, Rantakokko P, Ruokojärvi P, Vuorinen PJ, Parmanne R, Verta M,
Mannio J, Kiviranta H (2014) Time trends and congener profi les of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and
20 In addition, HELCOM includes, e.g. Russia, which is evidently important to be included in the
cooperation in order to promote the targets set up.
5 Governance of Chemicals in the Baltic Sea Region: A Study of Three Generations…