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Own-initiative Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on EU maritime policy — a question of sustainable development for local and regional authorities

(2006/C 81/06)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

HAVING REGARD TO the decision of the Bureau of the Committee of the Regions, at its meeting on 25 January 2005, to instruct the Commission for Sustainable Development (DEVE) to draw up an own-initiative opinion under Article 265 of the EC Treaty on EU maritime policy — a question of sustainable development for local and regional authorities;

HAVING REGARD TO the 2005 work programme (1) of the Committee of the Regions' Commission for Sustainable Development (DEVE), which is to pay ‘particular attention to the integrated, horizontal approach to EU maritime policy’;

HAVING REGARD TO Articles I-13 and I-14 of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (2), which refers to aspects of maritime policy;

HAVING REGARD TO the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 9 April 2003 on the Commission Communication Towards a strategy to protect and conserve the marine environment, COM(2002) 539 final (3);

HAVING REGARD TO the Commission Communication of 2 March 2005Towards a future EU maritime policy: a European vision for oceans and seas;

HAVING REGARD TO the Commission Communication of 26 January 2005 on Strategic objectives 2005-2009 (4), which refers to the particular need for ‘an all-embracing maritime policy aimed at developing a thriving maritime economy and the full potential of sea-based activity in an environmentally sustainable manner’;

HAVING REGARD TO the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2002 concerning the implementation of integrated coastal zone management in Europe (5);

HAVING REGARD TO the White Paper European transport policy for 2010: time to decide of 12 September 2001 (6);

HAVING REGARD TO the draft opinion adopted on 28 June 2005 by the Commission for Sustainable Development (CdR 84/2005 rev. 1) (rapporteur: Mr Döring, Minister for Justice, Employment and European Affairs of Schleswig-Holstein, DE-PES);

Whereas:

adopted the following opinion at its 61st plenary session, held on 12 and 13 October 2005 (meeting of 12 October):

1.   Views of the Committee of the Regions

The Committee of the Regions

Introduction

Integrated approach as the overarching principle

Individual policies

Trade, transport, shipbuilding and port industries

Fisheries and mariculture

Energy, marine minerals, marine technology

Marine environment

Tourism

Coastal protection

Island dimension

Marine resources in the foreign policy dimension and in the neighbourhood policy

Instruments of an integrated maritime policy

Research and education

Spatial planning and monitoring

Public awareness

Inland dimension

2.   The Committee of the Regions' recommendations

The Committee of the Regions

Brussels, 12 October 2005.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Peter STRAUB

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(1)  CdR 7/2005 rev. 1.

(2)OJ C 310 of 16.12.2004, p. 1.

(3)  CdR 24/2003 fin.

(4)  COM(2005) 12 final.

(5)OJ L 148 of 6.6.2002, p. 24.

(6)  White Paper: European transport policy for 2010: time to decide, COM(2001) 370 final.

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