Est. 2min 08-06-2006 (updated: 07-11-2012 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Protecting Europe’s maritime ecosystems while at the same time creating new economic growth and jobs are the ambitious goals of the Commission’s Maritime Green Paper presented on 7 June. 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. Read more with Euractiv Social NGOs criticise EU sustainable development "catalogue"In a critical resolution addressed to the June European Council, the Platform of European Social NGOs has called on EU leaders to develop a real sustainable development strategy instead of a "catalogue of existing policies". Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters PositionsIn a first reaction to the Green Paper, WWF expressed its concern that "integrating these policies based only on economic growth will jeopardise the protection or the marine environment and undermine the goal of sustainable development". WWF spokesperson Carol Phua pointed to the experience of the EU's fisheries policy: "Billions of Euros have been spent on the fisheries sector in the name of economic growth, but much of it has lead to less competitiveness and the annihilation of the marine environment". The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) welcomed the Commission's Green Paper but expressed "strong reserves as to the fact that the Green Paper does not specifically address transport and maritime safety policy and lacks an overall strategic approach on policies concerning islands and outermost regions." BackgroundOver 40% of EU GDP is generated in maritime regions, and almost 90% of the EU’s external trade is carried by sea. Although tourism in coastal areas currently only contributes 5% to GDP, this sector is increasing annually by 3%. In addition, the 1,200 ports throughout the continent are also an extremely valuable resource. But oceans and seas face a challenge of sustainable use and exploitation (eg. fisheries stocks) and current policies are too much based on a sector approach. The Commission therefore asked a Maritime Policy Task Force to prepare a Green Paper that would lay the foundations for an integrated maritime policy. Timeline The Maritime Green Paper consultation process is due to last until the end of June 2007. The issues raised in the Green Paper will be debated in a number of events organised in various Member States. Comments can be sent to the Commission by mail, in person or through the website dedicated to the Green Paper: http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/green_paper_en.html Further ReadingEuropean Union Commission:Press release: "Oceans and seas: Commission sets a new vision for Integrated Maritime Policy", ( 7 June 2006) [FR] [FR] [DE] Commission:Questions and Answers on a Maritime Policy for the EU [FR] [FR] [DE] Commission (DG Fisheries and Maritime Affairs):Green Paper website Commission:Speech of Stavros Dimas at a Conference on the Green Paper on Maritime Policy at the Committee of the Regions(8 June 2006) EU Actors positions WWF:Press release "Integrating EU marine and maritime policy to protect the seas", (7 June 2006) WWF:Report "Charting the course towards healthy seas", (May 2006) Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR):Press release: the Regions, the waves of the Sea(7 June 2006) [FR] Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR):Technical Paper from the General Secretariat: "EU maritime policy - Comparison between the Green Paper & CPMR Proposals"(May 2006) [FR] Greenpeace:Comment on Maritime Green Paper: Maritime sector needs vision, not sticking plaster(7 June 2006) Press articles Euronews:Politique maritime commune : consultation controversée
