EU-Russia partnership targets Kaliningrad to reduce pollution

The European Union (EU) recognises tough challenges arising from EU enlargement, particularly in Kaliningrad, Russia, so the EU is cooperating with Russia on important issues such as economic development, energy, environmental and health issues that concern the Kaliningrad and wider Baltic region. A cleaner Baltic Sea would benefit all Baltic Sea regions and is a priority objective for regional cooperation, according to EU sources.

In particular, water pollution originating from Kaliningrad must be reduced. More than 400,000 tonnes of domestic and industrial wastes are generated annually in Kaliningrad and only a fraction is recycled. Roughly 15 million tonnes of solid waste accumulated in municipal landfills with no further treatment represents a major source of water pollution.

The EU is currently assisting a water environmental monitoring and management project dealing with water quality on the borders with Lithuania and Poland. A sewerage treatment plant in Kaliningrad City is being built with funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other regional sources.