Background The Russian Federation adopted the Helsinki Convention in 1998. However, to ensure effective implementation, there is a need to establish a dedicated HELCOM implementation office. Objectives The project aimed to build an administrative capacity within the new North-West Okrug in order to implement the Helsinki Convention and HELCOM recommendations. The specific objectives were: 1.· To set up a HELCOM implementation state office under the regional department of the Ministry of Natural Resources; and 2.· To get practical experience in legal transposition and implementation work by carrying out three pilot projects: i.· The harmonisation of Russian reporting formats on emissions from point sources with the reporting formats of HELCOM recommendations; ii.· To set up requirements and an implementation strategy for Best Available Technology (BAT) in pulp and paper industries of North-West Okrug of Russia; and iii.· To develop a programme on cessation of the PCB release into the environment in the North-West Okrug of Russia. Results At the end of the LIFE funding, the statute of the HELCOM Implementation State Office had been drafted and submitted to the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation (MNR) for approval. However, due to a reorganisation of the official administration, it was not possible to actually establish the Office during the LIFE project. In the meantime, the project beneficiary is undertaking the activities that have been foreseen for the Office until the official approval is granted. The beneficiary has achieved the following results for the three pilot projects: 1. Under the first pilot project (harmonisation of reporting formats), the project has made proposals on how to amend the existing reporting formats for discharges and emissions to harmonise them with HELCOM recommendations. Based on these proposals, the project has produced draft annexes to the existing formats that should be made available to companies to be used in their annual reporting. The formats are awaiting MNR approval. In addition, the project has prepared guidelines for the use of the new annexes, which are also awaiting MNR approval. The foreseen training of environmental staff is pending the approval of the formats and/or guidelines. The MNR has indicated that the documents will be used in the next reporting round, in 2005. 2. The second pilot project (the introduction of BAT in the pulp and paper industry) has achieved the preparation of draft guidelines on implementing BAT in the pulp and paper industry, and guidelines on norms on discharges and emissions. 3. The third pilot project (PCB inventory and reduction programme) involved a survey of PCB pollution sources in Northwest Russia, the creation of a database on PCB loads in the area, and the production of a draft law on PCB safety. Based on an analysis of data entered into the database, the project has carried out a preliminary assessment of priority sites to be monitored. The project also produced a number of other documents that focus on PCBs (development of principles for monitoring, analysis of legal basis (Russian and international), analysis of impacts on health, etc.). In addition, the beneficiary has carried out public awareness and dissemination activities, including the translation into Russian of HELCOM documentation and the setting up of a project website (www.helcom.ru).