Brussels, 10/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - An integrated maritime policy for the European Union will enhance the Union's capacity to tackle globalisation, climate change, deterioration of the maritime environment, maritime safety and security, including energy security and the sustainable use of energy. This constitutes the European Commission's maritime objective. On Wednesday 10 October, the Commission adopted its action plan and two communications in this new strategy, which it describes as an “Ocean of Possibilities”. The Commission's proposals will be discussed during the next two months at a European ministerial level. The European Council (13-14 December in Brussels) is then expected to ratify all or part of the proposed action plan.
The Commission has admitted that it has abandoned two ideas contained in the June 2006 Green Paper (due to misgivings from the sectors concerned): the setting up of a European coastguard and implementation of a European register of boats (“European flag”). Neither will the Commission set up a Directorate General specialising in maritime affairs. Things will remain as they are (coordination between the different services and the “maritime affairs” portfolio overseen by the commissioner for fisheries.
During a press conference, José Manuel Barroso, the president of the Commission, underlined the importance of the maritime dimension to the European continent: Europe (a maritime continent surrounded by two oceans and four seas) has almost 70,000 kilometres of coastlines; the European maritime regions account for some 40% of its GDP and population; more than 60% of tourists choose European coasts as their holiday destination; 90% of the Union's external trade and more than 40% of its internal trade is by sea; the EU has the strongest network of sea ports worldwide and 40% of the world merchant fleet. The seas around Europe also provide us with 40% of the oil and 60% of the gas we consume.
Mr Barroso outlined a strategy that will help provide a European response to sea related problems and turn its back on the exclusively sectoral approach prevailing today. The president of the Commission stressed that this new integrated policy would help encourage different ways of using the sea (blue biotechnology, aquaculture, new underwater technologies). Barroso warned: “We cannot afford maritime economic growth to have environmental degradation as its cost; we need to decouple one from the other. Otherwise we are going to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs”.
Joe Borg, the commissioner for maritime affairs indicated that change should take place at all levels, including that of member states: “Through this new policy we invite them today to develop their own national integrated maritime policies”.
This policy will modify the way in which we elaborate our policies and decisions, explained Mr Borg, adding that they were launching an ambitious programme of work such as the setting up of a European maritime area (“without barriers”), a European maritime research strategy and a further reduction in CO2 emissions and shipping related pollution.
The Commission is planning on three instruments to implement its integrated maritime policy:
A European maritime surveillance network. The Commission is calling for greater coordination between member states coastguards, an integrated tracking and boat identification system and electronic navigations systems for European coastal waters and high seas maritime zones, including satellite surveillance and the Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) System.
Maritime planning and Integrated Coastal Zone (ICZM). Maritime planning is an important instrument for sustainable development of the maritime and coastal regions and for restoring the environmental quality of the European sea. The Commission will be proposing a roadmap in 2008 to facilitate development and planning for maritime areas by member states.
Data and information. In 2008, the Commission will take action to set up a European observation and data network on the maritime environment. It will also help elaborate a multi-dimensional map for member state sea zones.
Five main action areas
The Commission is proposing that EU integrated maritime policy focuses on five areas:
More sustainable use of sea and oceans. The Commission believes that it is necessary to simplify administrative and customs formalities for intra-Community maritime services. Therefore, it is hoping to propose the setting up of a European maritime area without barriers and set out a global maritime transport strategy for 2008-18. The Commission has indicated that it will adopt (on 17 October) a new policy for ports (taking into account their multiple roles and the wider context of European logistics). It has also pointed out that it will make proposals to reduce the level of environmental pollution caused by boats in ports (notably, by scrapping tax incentives for shore side electricity. The Commission will be encouraging the formation of multi-sectoral clusters and regional centres of maritime excellence, as well as the promotion of a European network of maritime clusters. The Commission is seeking to increase the number and quality of maritime jobs available to European citizens (see below) and promote a certificate of maritime excellence.
In the context of the maritime environment, the Commission will be launching pilot actions to reduce the impact of climate change in coastal areas and support international efforts to reduce environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions caused by boats and, “in the absence of progress in such efforts, consider possible options for EU measures in this regard”. The Commission is hoping to make proposals on dismantling old boats in a safe and environmentally-friendly way.
Initiatives involving fishing will focus on the ban of discards and destructive practices (high seas bottom trawling in sensitive habitats), the fight against illegal fishing and an environmentally safe aquaculture.
Knowledge and innovation base. In 2008 the Commission will present a global European strategy for marine and maritime research. It will support research in an effort to prevent and mitigate the effects of climate change on maritime activities, the marine environment, coastal zones and islands and will support the setting up of a European marine science partnership.
Delivering a high quality of life in coastal regions. The Commission intends promoting coastal and maritime tourism and proposing a Community disaster prevention strategy, as well as the promotion of the maritime potential of outermost regions and islands.
Europe's leadership in international maritime affairs. The Commission has stated that it is seeking to promote cooperation in European enlargement policy, European neighbourhood policy and the Northern Dimension in an effort to cover maritime policy issues and management of shared seas. It will also be proposing a strategy for the external projection of the Union's maritime policy.
Increased European maritime profile. The Commission will be launching a European atlas of the seas and is proposing the celebration of an annual European Maritime Day as from 2008 for, “raising the visibility of maritime affairs and promoting links between heritage organisations, museums and aquaria”.
Social dimension of marine packet
On the same day the European Commission adopted a communication in which the aim is to strengthen the social dimension of the marine packet and make the maritime sector more attractive to job seekers but without weakening competitiveness. Vladimir Spidla's (employment and social affairs) launched the first consultation phase between social partners on opportunities for adjusting social legislation and qualitative and quantitative improvements in maritime trades within the EU. In particular, he is calling on social partners to give their opinions on the Commission's analysis and aspects they have agreed on as priorities for action. The communication also will also spell out what measures to take in order to enhance social protection of staff in maritime professions and improve onboard hygiene and safety, particularly for small fishing boats. As part of Article 138 § 2 of the treaty, this consultation is expected to last six weeks. If the Commission considers that due to the results, Community intervention is desirable, it will consult social partners on the subject of a possible proposal. This consultation is part of the extension of the Green Paper on the future of maritime policy, published in 2006. The Green Paper raised the question of exclusion of maritime sectors in certain fields of social legislation and European labour law, as well as its re-examination in close collaboration with social partners. The communication reviews Community legislation on employment and health and safety at work in an effort to identify exclusions and/or derogations affecting workers in the maritime professions, the problems posed by the practical application of the legislation and the difficulties of interpretation of the latter. By adopting this communication, the Commission is seeking to assess whether Community legislation can provide people working at sea with suitable protection. (gb/lc)