18/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - In their plenary meeting, MEPs adopted the own-initiative report on Tuesday 16 December of Jamila Madeira (PES, Portugal) by a large majority (547 votes, 54 against and 18 abstentions) on the development of tourism is coastal regions. This report urges the European Commission to develop a global political vision in tourism policy, particularly for these zones. At this stage, the European Union does not have any remit in this domain, even though the Lisbon Treaty is supposed to make good this shortcoming and bestow more powers, particularly on the European Parliament, in the area of tourism. The report calls on the Commission and member states to elaborate a holistic approach to problems of coastal tourism that take into account the great diversity and fragility of these regions. It is also calling on the Commission to devise a practical guide on funding tourism in coastal areas. (A.By./transl.rh)