Brussels, 09/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) welcomes the publication of the European Commission's green paper on the move towards an integrated Community maritime policy and, above all, the chapter on governance (EUROPE 9026). “A victory for the CPMR”, said Claudio Martini, the President of the CPMR and the Tuscany Region, stating furthermore that “our action has highlighted to the Commission the quality of regional expertise”. “The CPMR has always called for an overarching governance of maritime policies led within Europe by the different tiers of government, giving the Regions the role they deserve both in terms of policy design as well as decision-making and delivery. We are delighted that Joe Borg has been very open-minded on this question and has not hesitated to take up our positions”, the CPMR explains.
However, the CPMR regrets the lack of new initiatives on transport and maritime safety and thinks that the document does not contain an specific strategic approach on maritime policy for islands and outermost regions. “We hope that the consultation period will provide the opportunity to feed into these two areas”, said the President of the Azores, Carlos Manuel César, who would also like to see these reflections lead to more territorially balanced maritime receiving greater support from the EU budget (Marco Polo programme, motorways of the sea, European territorial cooperation objective etc.).
Following on from the Seville conference held in May on motorways of the sea, the CPMR will hold a seminar at the beginning of 2007 on port policy and motorways of the sea. It also suggests that the Commission take the initiative of organising an international seminar on the maritime dimension of globalisation.