Proposal for a Joint Baltic Sea Research and Development Programme

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In 2009 the European Commission adopted a proposal, based on Article 185 (former 169) of the Lisbon Treaty, on a Joint Baltic Sea Research Programme "BONUS". The aim of this proposal was to support the Baltic Sea region’s sustainable development and to provide scientific output to facilitate the implementation of ecosystem-based management in the Baltic Sea region. The proposal also aimed at supporting the development and implementation of "fit-for-purpose" ecosystem-based regulations, policies and management practices targeted at safeguarding the sustainable use of the ecosystem’s goods and services.

The initiative is based on the previously funded BONUS ERA-NET and ERA-NET PLUS. Participating countries are all eight EU Baltic Sea Member States (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden). There will also be scope for the participation of the Russian Federation, provided that the necessary legal requirements are met. Participating States agreed to contribute euro 50 million to BONUS. The Community participation was to be a maximum of euro 50 million from FP7 for the duration of the programme.

BONUS EEIG - The Baltic Organisations Network for Funding Science - established in Helsinki (Finland) is  the dedicated implementation structure of BONUS.