Proposal for a European Parliament and Council recommendation concerning the implementation of integrated coastal zone management in Europe
Date: 2000-09-08
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: coastal region, environmental protection, integrated development programme, sustainable development, town and country planning

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 08.09.2000
COM(2000) 545 final

2000/0227 (COD)

Proposal for a

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

concerning the implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Europe

(presented by the Commission)

2000/0227 (COD)

Proposal for a

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

concerning the implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Europe

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European community, and in particular Article
175(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission 1,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee 2,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions 3,

Having regard to Chapter 17 of Agenda 21, adopted at the UNCED summit
June 1992,

in Rio in

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty,

Considering the following:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

The coastal zone is of great economic, environmental, social and cultural importance
to Europe.

The last
degradation of conditions in the coastal zones of Europe.

report of

the European Environment Agency indicates a continuing

It is essential to implement an environmentally sustainable, economically equitable,
socially responsible, and culturally sensitive management of coastal zone, which
maintains the integrity of this important resource.

The Commission Communications COM(97) 744 and COM(2000) […] note that
integrated management of the coastal zone requires action at the local and regional
level, guided and supported by an appropriate framework at the national level.

There is a need to ensure coherent action at the European level, including cooperative
action, particularly at the scale of the regional seas, to address cross-border coastal
zone problems.

1

2

3

OJ C , , p. .
OJ C , , p. .
OJ C , , p. .

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(6)

(7)

Council Resolution 94/C 135/02 of 6 May 1994 on a Community strategy, for
integrated coastal-zone management (ICZM) and Council Recommendation 92/C
59/01 of 25 February 1992 on the future Community policy concerning the European
coastal zone both identify the need for concerted European action to implement ICZM.

In accordance with the subsidiarity and proportionality principles as set out in Article
5 of the Treaty, and with protocol 7 to the Amsterdam Treaty on the implementation of
subsidiarity and proportionality, and given the diversity of conditions in the coastal
zones and the legal and institutional frameworks in the Member States, the objectives
of this action can best be achieved by guidance at the Community level.

HEREBY RECOMMEND:

I

A Common Vision

The Member States should commit to a common vision for the future of their coastal zones,
based on:

• durable economic opportunities and employment options,

• a functioning social and cultural system in local communities,

• adequate open land for future enjoyment and aesthetics,

• the integrity of the ecosystem, and sustainable management of the living and non-living

resources of both the marine and terrestrial components of the coastal zone, and

• in the case of remote coastal areas, their full incorporation into the European mainstream.

II

Principles

Member States should furthermore adopt the principles of good coastal zone management as
identified in the Commission’s Demonstration Programme on Integrated Coastal Zone
Management4, namely that coastal zone management should be based on:

1. A Broad "Holistic" Perspective (Thematic and Geographic)

2. A Long Term Perspective

3. Adaptive Management (responding to new information and conditions) During a Gradual
Process

4. Local Specificity

5. Working with Natural Processes

6. Participatory Planning

4

Commission Communication 2000/[…], annex I.

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7. Support & Involvement of all Relevant Administrative Bodies

8. Use of a Combination of Instruments

III

National Stocktaking

1. Member States should conduct a national stocktaking to analyze which actors, laws, and
institutions influence the planning and management of their coastal zone.

2. This stocktaking should cover all administrative levels, as well as describe the role of
citizens, NGOs, and the private sector.

3. Sectors to be considered in this stockholding include (but are not limited to) fisheries,
transport, energy, resource management, species and habitat protection, employment, regional
development, tourism and recreation, industry and mining, waste management, agriculture
and education.

IV

National Strategies

1. Based on the results of the stocktaking, Member States should develop a National Strategy
to implement the principles for integrated management of the coastal zone.

2. This strategy might be specific to the coastal zone, or might be in the context of a broader
national strategy for promoting integrated planning and management.

3. This national strategy should

a) define the relative roles of the different administrative actors within the country whose
competence includes activities or resources of the coastal zone, and identify mechanisms for
their coordination. This definition of roles should ensure both adequate local control, and also
sufficient regional vision and consistency (especially in ensuring that local administrations are
not overly influenced by the short-term economic concerns of their constituents and
neighbours).

b) define the appropriate mix of instruments for implementation of the principles, within the
national legal and administrative context. In developing this strategy, the Member States
might consider the appropriateness of: developing a national strategic plan for the coast, using
spatial or land use planning instruments to promote integrated planning and management
(including instruments that give priority to coastal dependent uses in the foreshore area), land
purchase mechanisms and declarations of public domain, developing contractual or voluntary
agreements with coastal zone users5, harnessing economic and fiscal incentives (compatible
with Community legislation), and working through regional development planning
mechanisms.

c) develop, in particular, the means of bridging the land/sea gap in national legislation and
policies and programmes.

5

Iincluding environmental agreements with industry – see COM(96) 561 of 27.11.1996

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d) particularly, identify measures to promote bottom-up initiatives in integrated management
of the coastal zone and its resources

e) identify sources of long-term financing for ICZM initiatives within the Member State, and
determine how best to ensure that appropriate staff are incorporated into the relevant branches
and levels of administrations.

f) define mechanisms to ensure full and coordinated implementation and application of
existing EU legislation related to coastal zone.

g) establish adequate, continuous systems for monitoring and diffusing information about
their coastal zone. These systems should collect and provide information in appropriate and
compatible formats to decision makers at national, regional and local levels to facilitate
integrated management. This data should be publicly available at reasonable cost.

h) determine how appropriate national
implementation of integrated management principles in the coastal zone.

training and education programmes can support

V

Cooperation

1. Member States should enter into dialogue with neighbouring countries, including non-
Member States in the same regional sea, to establish mechanisms for better coordination of
responses to cross-border issues.

2. Member States should also work actively with the EU institutions and other Coastal
Stakeholders to ensure progress towards implementation of a common vision for the coastal
zone, through participation in a European Coastal Stakeholders Forum.

VI

Reporting

1. Member States should report to the Commission on the experience in implementation of
this Recommendation two years after its adoption.

2. These reports should be available to the public and should include,
information concerning:

in particular,

a) the results of the national stocktaking exercise

b) the strategy proposed at the national level for implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone
Management

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c) a summary of actions taken to implement the national strategy

d) an evaluation of the present and expected impact of the strategy on the status of the coastal
zone

Done at Brussels, […]

For the European Parliament
The President

For the Council
The President

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