----

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community Action in the field of Marine Environmental Policy (Marine Strategy Directive) and on the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament - Thematic Strategy on the Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment

(2006/C 206/02)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

Having regard to the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community Action in the field of Marine Environmental Policy (Marine Strategy Directive) COM(2005) 505 final and to the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament - Thematic Strategy on the Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment COM(2005) 504 final;

Having regard to the decision of the Council of the European Union on 29 November 2005 to consult it on this subject, under Article 265(1) and Article 175(1) of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

Having regard to its Bureau’s decision of 12 April 2005 to instruct the Commission for Sustainable Development to draw up an opinion on this subject;

Having regard to its own-initiative opinion of 12 October 2005 on EU maritime policy - a question of sustainable development for local and regional authorities - CdR 84/2005 fin;

Having regard to its opinion of 9 April 2003 on the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Towards a strategy to protect and conserve the marine environment (COM(2002) 539 final) - CdR 24/2003 fin (1);

Having regard to its opinion of 13 June 2001 on the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the sixth environment action programme of the European Community ‘Environment 2010: Our future, our choice’ - The Sixth Environment Action Programme and the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Community Environment Action Programme 2001-2010 (COM(2001) 31 final - 2001/0029 (COD)) - CdR 36/2001 fin (2);

Having regard to its draft opinion (CdR 46/2006 rev. 1) adopted on 27 February 2006 by its Commission for Sustainable Development (rapporteur: Mr Michael Cohen, Mayor of Kalkara (MT/PES);

adopted the following opinion at its 64th plenary session, held on 26 and 27 April 2006 (meeting of 26 April):

1.   The Committee of the Regions' views

The Committee of the Regions

2.   The deteriorating state of Europe's marine environment

The Committee of the Regions,

3.   An adequate institutional framework for the management of the seas

The Committee of the Regions,

4.   An insufficient knowledge base

The Committee of the Regions,

5.   Addressing the challenge

The Committee of the Regions,

6.   The Strategy

The Committee of the Regions,

7.   A new policy instrument

The Committee of the Regions,

8.   The Marine Strategy Directive

The Committee of the Regions,

9.   Synergies with other policies

The Committee of the Regions,

10.   The Committee of the Regions' recommendations

The Committee of the Regions,

Brussels, 26 April 2006

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Michel DELEBARRE

----

(1)OJ C 244 of 10.10.2003, p.14.

(2)OJ C 357 of 14.12.2001, p.44.

----