<p> </p><p>The aim and scope of this study is to describe the coordination of joint efforts concerning chemicals and hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea region, between the Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI) and the land-based pollution group of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM LAND). Based on the description of the coordination, the second aim is to discuss the consequences for the Swedish Chemicals Agency in its policy shaping work towards a nontoxic environment. A qualitative and descriptive case study method is used for this purpose. Theories of coordination and achievement-inducing criteria for environmental goals are applied to the case. Components and related processes of coordination are applied to the descriptive part of the study, whilst the achievement-inducing criteria are applied in the discussion. The description of the coordination unveils a strong coordination regarding goal selection, goal decomposition and mapping activities to actors. It also confirms an interdependency between the two organisations, based on the fact that they have different institutional leverage, and thus addresses different types of actors. The result of the study shows that the coordination consequences do not lead to an independent Swedish chemicals policy. Due to limited data, the certainty of the conclusions based on the theoretical and empirical evidence found in this study can be discussed, and must therefore be subject to more empirical research.</p><p> </p>

Despite early initiatives during the 1960s and 1970s, and continuing efforts ever since, the Baltic Sea remains in poor condition. The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) is the governing body tasked with protecting the marine environment from further deterioration through intergovernmental collaboration between the Baltic Sea states and the EU. In 2007, HELCOM launched a new tool – the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP), of which the so-called ecosystem approach is a cornerstone. However, how and why the BSAP reform was launched, and also what consequences such management reforms can have for transboundary resource management, is unknown. By using institutional theory, organizational theory and the advocacy coalition framework, in combination with content analysis of official documents derived from HELCOM, this thesis argues that the BSAP is the end result of a gradual process of change within institutional structures and actor beliefs. This thesis also shows that HELCOM's capacity to detect, process, and react in response to changes in its regulatory objective has not changed as a consequence of the BSAP. In contrast to earlier research, it seems HELCOM responds better to slow and opaque changes than to quick and visible ones. Finally, by comparing HELCOM with two other similar cases, the thesis shows that HELCOM's adaptive capacity could be improved in line with the recommendations of the ecosystem approach. This thesis illustrates the importance of studying the emergence of new tools for governing transboundary resources from several theoretical perspectives. The thesis uses an innovative quantitative content analysis and concludes that new methods might be required to enable such studies. The different perspectives used here give various explanations concerning the causes and consequences of the BSAP. In a future Baltic Sea, where environmental changes are likely to be abrupt, a multitude of understandings regarding the governance of the Baltic Sea will be crucial. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Submitted. Paper 3: Submitted. Paper 4: In press.</p>

Didėjantis tarptautinis bendradarbiavimas jūros aplinkos apsaugos srityje skatina intensyvesnį duomenų apie jūros aplinką rinkimą bei palankesnių sąlygų sudarymą MJT vykdymui. Šiame darbe siekta išanalizuoti MJT reguliavimą atskirose jūros erdvėse bei įvertinti Baltijos jūros šalių praktiką ir reglamentavimo trūkumus. Buvo išanalizuota 1982 m. Jungtinių Tautų jūrų teisės konvencija, ypač nuostatos susijusios su MJT, Helsinkio komisijos rekomendacijos, papildančios MJT teisinį režimą, apžvelgti Baltijos jūros valstybių, įskaitant Lietuvos, norminiai aktai. Darbe išanalizuotos MJT charakteristikos, Jūrų teisės konvencijoje naudojamos tyrimų sąvokos, pagrindiniai MJT reguliavimo principai, MJT praktika Baltijos jūros šalyse bei MJT ir jų teisinio reguliavimo svarba ES mastu. Tyrimų rezultatai parodė, kad Baltijos šalyse vis dėlto egzistuoja nemažai trūkumų MJT reglamentavime, ypač leidimų išdavimo procedūrose. / Growing international cooperation in marine protection field intensifies marine data collection and creation of more favourable conditions for marine scientific research activities. This scientific work analyses MSR regulation in separate maritime zones and assesses Baltic States practice and gaps in regulation. UNCLOS, especially provisions related to MSR, recommendation of HELCOM that complements legal regulation of MSR, Baltic States’ and Lithuanian national legal instruments were taken into account. Work presents MSR characteristics, research definitions which are used in Convention, the main MSR regulation principles, Baltic States practice regarding MSR and interest by EU on importance of legal regulation. Results of analysis have showed the existing gaps in MSR regulation in Baltic States, especially within permits issuing procedures.

The aim and scope of this study is to describe the coordination of joint efforts concerning chemicals and hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea region, between the Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI) and the land-based pollution group of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM LAND). Based on the description of the coordination, the second aim is to discuss the consequences for the Swedish Chemicals Agency in its policy shaping work towards a nontoxic environment. A qualitative and descriptive case study method is used for this purpose. Theories of coordination and achievement-inducing criteria for environmental goals are applied to the case. Components and related processes of coordination are applied to the descriptive part of the study, whilst the achievement-inducing criteria are applied in the discussion. The description of the coordination unveils a strong coordination regarding goal selection, goal decomposition and mapping activities to actors. It also confirms an interdependency between the two organisations, based on the fact that they have different institutional leverage, and thus addresses different types of actors. The result of the study shows that the coordination consequences do not lead to an independent Swedish chemicals policy. Due to limited data, the certainty of the conclusions based on the theoretical and empirical evidence found in this study can be discussed, and must therefore be subject to more empirical research.