With its new vision for an integrated maritime policy, the Commission wants to help Member States making the most of the great potential for growth and employment contained in Europe’s 68,000 kilometres of coastline.
The Commission also wants to raise awareness of the part oceans and seas play in "our history and identity," to quote Joe Borg. Indeed, lands cover only 30% of the Earth surface, and one in two European citizens lives in coastal areas.
As maritime activities constantly develop and diversify - from fisheries, shipbuilding, port activities, tourism, coastal management, environmental protection and maritime safety, to name just a few – maximising the use of maritime space has become a major challenge.
Underlining the inconsistencies and possible conflicts of interests caused by the sector-by-sector approach that has governed European maritime policy up to now, the Green Paper invites stakeholders to discuss ways to establish a truly integrated Maritime Policy which will both deliver on growth and jobs and set high standards of protection for the marine environment.
Concretely, the consultation aims to highlight the often neglected overlappings and inter-linkages between the sectors concerned, for example between development of port infrastructure and protection of local ecosystems.
The Green Paper also identifies key factors of competitiveness for European maritime sectors, such as research, exchange of information, maritime skills, good governance, etc.
