More than 20 million citizens in the European Union lack safe and affordable sanitation. Europe should promote achieving the Millennium Development Goal Target on sanitation within its own region. Current legislation does not address the problems of these 20 million people. Despite more than EUR 336 billion in Cohesion Funds going to new EU Member States, hardly any funds are targeted at safe sanitation for the poorest in rural communities. The commonly used pit latrines are a cause of groundwater pollution and bad hygiene in many villages which depend on wells for drinking water. The numerous health effects include regular outbreaks of viral hepatitis, blue baby syndrome and diarrhoea. Children and women are often most affected. The solutions currently on the market are not affordable for poor households. Experiences will be presented from the Baltic Sea Region on possible policy solutions.  Politicians, practitioners and experts from new Member States will respond. Best practices of safe and affordable solutions in the new member states will be presented. An action plan for the sector will be debated.