The Helsinki Commission, or HELCOM, works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution through intergovernmental co-operation 
between Denmark, Estonia, the European Community, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden.   
   
HELCOM is the governing body of the 'Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area' - more usually known as the Helsinki Convention. 
  
   
HELCOM’s vision for the future is a healthy Baltic Sea environment with diverse biological components functioning in balance, resulting in a good ecological 
status and supporting a wide range of sustainable economic and social activities.   
   
In pursuing this objective and vision the riparian countries have jointly pooled their efforts in HELCOM, which is works as:   
   
an environmental policy maker for the Baltic Sea area by developing common environmental objectives and actions;   
an environmental focal point providing information about (i) the state of/trends in the marine environment; (ii) the efficiency of measures to protect 
it and (iii) common initiatives and positions which can form the basis for decision-making in other international fora;   
a body for developing, according to the specific needs of the Baltic Sea, Recommendations of its own and Recommendations supplementary to measures imposed 
by other international organisations;   
a supervisory body dedicated to ensuring that HELCOM environmental standards are fully implemented by all parties throughout the Baltic Sea and its catchment 
area; and   
a co-ordinating body, ascertaining multilateral response in case of major maritime incidents.