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European maritime policy unveiled Print E-mail
Wednesday, 10 October 2007

The European Commission today set out its vision for an integrated Maritime Policy for the EU, together with a detailed action plan and an ambitious work programme for the years ahead.

Commission President José Manuel Barroso, who initiated the new approach to maritime policy, said that a great part of Europe’s future lay in the untapped potential of the oceans.

“Our proposal for an integrated maritime policy has been designed to generate growth, jobs and sustainability. We wish to seize, in a sustainable manner, all the opportunities that the oceans offer. It is part and parcel of our strategy to modernise Europe and prepare it for the globalised world."

The Commission's proposal for an integrated maritime policy is based on extensive public consultation on the Green Paper that was published in June 2006. The consultation process included over 250 conferences and events, and 500 written submissions – including a number from Scottish organisations, local authorities, the Scottish Parliament's European and External Relations Committee and the Scottish Government.

Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Joe Borg said: "Our stakeholders have spoken and we have listened. This is a crucial first step for Europe's oceans and seas – unlocking the potential and facing the challenges of a Maritime Europe will be our common goal. It will allow us to make the most of the geopolitical realities of our continent and will help Europe face some of the major challenges before it."

Until now, the different activities and policies relating to the seas have been managed on largely sectoral lines. An integrated maritime policy will change the way policy is formulated and decisions are taken in the maritime sector, in full respect of the principle of subsidiarity.

It will enable the relevant authorities to analyse interactions between the various sectors and policy areas concerned and to take them into account at every level. Policies will be made and decisions taken in a joined up way.

The new policy will build on Europe's strengths in marine research, technology and innovation. It will be anchored in the Lisbon agenda for more and better jobs and growth, and in the EU's overarching commitment to ensuring that economic development does not come at the price of environmental sustainability.

The accompanying action plan lists a range of concrete actions to be launched during the mandate of this Commission up to 2009, covering areas from maritime transport to the competitiveness of maritime businesses, employment, scientific research, fisheries and the protection of the marine environment.

Actions include a European Maritime Transport Space without barriers; a European Strategy for Marine Research; national integrated maritime policies to be developed by member states; an integrated network for maritime surveillance; and a Roadmap towards maritime spatial planning by member states.

Other plans include the elimination of pirate fishing and destructive high seas bottom trawling; promotion of a European network of maritime clusters; a review of EU labour law exemptions for the shipping and fishing sectors; a European Marine Observation and Data network; and a strategy to mitigate the effects of climate change on coastal regions.

Particularly relevant for Scotland is the plan to ensure the sustainability of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in harmony with marine eco-systems and the promotion of maritime skills, providing young people with better career prospects in the maritime sector, and improving the image of the maritime professions

Delivery of the Action Plan has already begun today, with Employment Commissioner Vladimir Spidla presenting a review of labour law exemptions in the maritime sectors and Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs publishing a report on the inter-linkages between the EU energy policy and the new integrated maritime policy.

Further initiatives will follow in the coming weeks in ports policy, fisheries and the protection of the marine environment.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 October 2007 )
 
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