Brussels, 22/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 22 June, the European Council welcomed the wide-ranging debate on future maritime policy in Europe, and the outcome of the conference on this issue held in Bremen at the start of May (see EUROPE 9419). In their conclusions, the leaders of the 27 EU member states call on the European Commission to continue its work and to submit a European action plan on the EU maritime policy in October.
While taking account of the subsidiarity principle, the action plan should consider all the possibilities offered by maritime economic activities carried out in an environmentally sustainable fashion, the European Council conclusions say. European Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner Joe Borg believes that action is needed particularly in: spatial planning (cartography of the sea), the marine environment (European Environment Information and Observation Network) and sea surveillance. (lc)