Baltic polluted despite European billions

brussels - The efforts of the European Union have to prevent the pollution of the Baltic Sea, but limited effect. Despite the 4.6 billion that has helped the EU to projects to treat urban waste water, the Baltic Sea remains one of the most polluted seas in the world.

This enables the European Court of Auditors in a report published Tuesday. The country billions of receiving the Member States along the sea to include protection of water also have offered little solace.

Fertilization is the biggest culprit, followed by urban waste water. Because the Member States' plans are not ambitious enough remains the supply of substances such as nitrates and phosphates cause algal growth, according to the accountants.

,, A clean Baltic Sea is a dream of almost 100 million people, '' said accounting MP Ville Itälä. The countries concerned the existing potential should use better. It therefore recommends closer cooperation with Russia.

EU countries bordering the Baltic Sea are Germany, Denmark, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Finland.