Brussels, 18/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Sines (Portugal) on 10 March, the Political Bureau of the Atlantic Arc Commission (part of the CPMR) welcomed the European Parliament's passing of a resolution on the EU strategy for the Atlantic Region on 9 March. The European Commission will publish a report on the Atlantic in the autumn, which will be followed by a process of dialogue to help draw up an action plan for 2013-2014.
“This strategy should result in concrete projects in the fields of transport, renewable marine energies, coastal and environmental protection and innovation”, said Laurent Beauvais, President of the Atlantic Arc Commission and the Basse-Normandie region of France, pointing out that the regional and local authorities had actively lobbied to bring about the strategy. “The fact that Commissioner Damaki underlined the role of the CPMR and more generally the Atlantic regions in implementing the strategy during her speech at the European Parliament is a great satisfaction for us all”, added Beauvais, stressing the importance of effective governance and the fact that the strategy must be implemented with the backing of other EU policies in the future, like the cohesion policy. This is what the Atlantic Arc Commission proposes in its draft contribution to the fifth economic, social and territorial cohesion report validated by the Political Bureau.
The CPMR explains that at its general assembly in La Rochelle, France, on 9-10 June, the Atlantic Arc Commission and the CPMR will examine these issues and consider tangible action to be introduced in the EU strategy in a meeting on renewable marine energy. (G.B./transl.fl)