President of the Republic Tarja Halonen received international environmental organisation WWF’s Baltic Leadership Award in Stockholm on Wednesday 27 August, 2008. The award was given to President Halonen for her active efforts to enhance the protection of the Baltic Sea at international level. In the motivation for the award, President Halonen was praised for her leadership and exemplary commitment for Baltic Sea protection at highest political level. The award was presented by H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria at WWF’s Baltic Sea Seminar.
At the seminar, President Halonen gave a speech on “The Baltic Sea – our joint responsibility”. “We can only ensure a happy future for the Baltic Sea through true commitment to working together towards our common goal”, President Halonen said. To save the Baltic Sea, more cross-border co-operation and combining of public and private resources is needed. For this, we already have the mechanisms and organisations, President Halonen emphasized in her speech.