Brussels, 09/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 8 December, the EU Council of Ministers adopted, without debate, conclusions on an integrated maritime policy. An integrated approach to maritime issues constitutes “a major objective”, given that the synergies, coherence and added value of sectoral action undertaken by the European Union need to be reinforced by being integrated into a comprehensive vision of the seas, oceans ands coastlines, taking account of distinctive regional features and in full compliance with the subsidiarity principle, the text of the conclusions says.
The Council welcomes the progress made in a number of sectoral projects: - the launch of the reform of the common fisheries policy; - the adoption of the maritime safety package; - the work in progress on the proposal for a directive on pollution caused by vessels and the introduction of penalties for infringements; - the work in progress on the proposal for a directive on the implementation of the agreement concluded by the European Community Ship-owners' Association (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) on the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention. The Council calls for rapid progress on these issues and encourages member states to begin the work required for the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which is the environmental pillar of the integrated maritime policy.
The Council also welcomes the launch of the ATALANTA naval operation, and initiatives to improve coordination in combating piracy off the coast of Somalia. It welcomes, too, the commitment of the European Commission, the European Agencies and the European centres for the coordination of the fight against drug trafficking to improve Europe's maritime surveillance and maritime security in general.
The Council also emphasises that a cross-cutting approach to governance, surveillance and knowledge is advisable. In this connection: - 1) the Council believes that more in-depth reflection at Community and international levels must be given to governance issues to ensure the implementation of a long-term integrated maritime policy. It welcomes the progress made on integrated maritime governance and invites member states to promote best practice in that area on the basis of the debate opened by the Commission's “Guidelines for an Integrated Approach to Maritime Policy” (see EUROPE 9694); - 2) the Council underlines the comprehensive and integrating nature of surveillance, in all its components, from surveillance of human activity to observation of the marine environment; - 3) the Council stresses the importance of developing, in cooperation with existing networks, knowledge and observation networks of marine environments. It notes the contributions of the integrated maritime policy to the Lisbon strategy, in particular through the development of the concept of maritime clusters. The Council thanks Italy for its offer to host the European Maritime Day Conference on 19-20 May 2009. The Council calls on the Commission henceforth to organise this conference in a different member state every year.
The Council welcomes the presentation of Commission communications on “Offshore Wind Energy”, “The European Union and the Arctic Region” and the “Roadmap for Maritime Spatial Planning”. It underlines the importance of the offshore production of renewable energy, including tidal power, to achieve the target of making renewable energy account for 20% of total consumption. It welcomes the Commission's intention to bring forward a communication on the strategic options for European shipping and the European maritime transport system 2008-2018, and a communication on a strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.
The Council also invites the Commission to continue to implement the action plan, in particular with regard to the integrated management of the European maritime space and a significant pilot project on surveillance in the Mediterranean, with a view to preparing the progress report to be presented to the European Council at the end of 2009. (L.C./transl.rt)