Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 251 (2) third subparagraph, point c of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the implementation of integrated coastal zone management in Europe amending the proposal of the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty
Date: 2002-05-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: coastal region, environmental protection, integrated development programme, regional policy, sustainable development, town and country planning

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 24.05.2002
COM(2002) 266 final

2000/0227 (COD)

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION

pursuant to Article 251 (2) third subparagraph, point c of the EC Treaty,
on the European Parliament’s amendments
to the Council’s common position regarding the
proposal for a

RECOMMENDATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
AND OF THE COUNCIL
concerning the implementation of integrated coastal zone management in Europe

AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION
pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty

2000/0227 (COD)

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION

pursuant to Article 251 (2) third subparagraph, point c of the EC Treaty,
on the European Parliament’s amendments
to the Council’s common position regarding the
proposal for a

RECOMMENDATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
AND OF THE COUNCIL
concerning the implementation of integrated coastal zone management in Europe

1.

INTRODUCTION

Article  251(2),  third  subparagraph,  point  (c)  of  the  EC  Treaty  provides  that  the
Commission is to deliver an opinion on the amendments proposed by the European
Parliament  at second  reading. The Commission sets out  its  opinion  below  on  the  8
amendments proposed by Parliament.

2.

BACKGROUND

Date of transmission of the proposal to the EP and the Council
(document COM(2000)545 final – 2000/0227 COD):

8 September 2000

Date of the opinion of the Committee of the Regions :

14 February 2001

Date of the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee:

28 March 2001

Date of the opinion of the European Parliament, first reading:

2-5 July 2001

Date  of  transmission  of  the  amended  proposal  to  the  EP  and  the
Council (document COM(2001)533 final – 2000/0227 COD):

26 September 2001

Date of adoption of the common position:

13 December 2001

Date  of  receipt  of  the  Common  Position  by  the  European
Parliament:

17 January 2002

Date  of  communication  of  Commission’s  view  on  the  Common
Position:

11 January 2002

On  10  April  2002,  the  European  Parliament  at  its  second  reading  adopted  8  amendments.
These amendments mainly modify the timetable of the common position and further detail the
text.

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3.

PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSAL

The purpose of the proposal is to encourage Member States to undertake a national inventory
of  the  situation  of  coastal  zones  taking  into  account  a  variety  of  factors  such  as  legislation,
institutions  and  actors  involved  in  the  planning  and  management  of  coastal  zones.  Member
States will have, on the basis of this inventory, to develop a national strategy (or strategies) to
promote Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).

This  proposal  was  made  in  light  of  the  findings  of  the  Commission’s  Demonstration
Programme on Integrated Coastal Zone Management and its resultant European Strategy for
ICZM, presented in COM(2000)547. These indicated that the condition of the  coastal zones
of Europe is deteriorating and that this trend can only be halted or reversed through concerted
action  involving  all  levels  of  administration  from  local  to  European.  The  Recommendation
calls on Member States to undertake the actions necessary at their level, in collaboration with
the regional and local administrations.

4.

OPINION  OF  THE  COMMISSION  ON  THE  AMENDMENTS  BY  THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

On  10  April  2002  the  Parliament  adopted  8  amendments  (n°1,  and  n°  9  to  15).  All
amendments can be accepted by the Commission in full.

The  Commission  indeed  welcomes  the  amendments  of  the  European  Parliament  as  they
further clarify the text and highlight issues of particular concern, such as population pressure in
the coastal zone and the effects of climate change (amendments 1, 11). One amendment usefully
adds  an  evaluation  of  policies  and  legislation  to  the  requirements  for  Member  States  reports
(amendment  15).  Other  amendments  strengthen the  texts  as  regards  consultation  with  local  or
regional authorities as well as international organisations (amendments 9, 12, 13). Amendment
10 usefully refers to best practices identified in the ICZM Demonstration Programme.

The reporting time-scales proposed in amendments 14 and 15, strike a sound balance between
the  Common position and the initial proposal of 2-years.  The  Commission  recognises  that  the
building  of  national  strategies  will  require  substantial  efforts  in  most  Member  States.  The
proposal  for  45  months  for  the  Member  States  reports  and  strategies,  and  a  subsequent
Commission evaluation at 55 months, is realistic and acceptable.

5.

CONCLUSION

Pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty, the Commission amends its proposal as set out
above.

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