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
Date: 2006-04-26
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: EU action, EU environmental policy, biodiversity, environmental protection, management of resources, marine ecosystem, marine environment, sustainable development

29.8.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 206/5

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

1.1
deplores the fact that significant deterioration of the
marine environment and the ecosystems it supports has been
taking place over the past years as human intervention and
over-exploitation are taking a heavy toll on the state of our
marine environment;

observes

the 6th Environmental Action Pro-
1.2
gramme calls upon the European Commission to prepare
a thematic strategy on the protection and conservation of the

that

marine environment, with the clear aim of promoting and
the marine
achieving a sustainable use and conservation of
ecosystems;

looks forward to the presentation of the Green Paper
1.3
on the development of a new EU Maritime Policy, scheduled
for the first half of 2006, which is to take into account the
economic, social and environmental
importance of the mari-
time dimension in Europe;

1.4
notes that the Strategy is a positive and welcome step
forward in terms of recognising the value of the protection
and conservation of the marine environment and the diversity
of its ecosystems;

(1) OJ C 244 of 10.10.2003, p.14.
(2) OJ C 357 of 14.12.2001, p.44.

considers the Strategy as the necessary environmental

1.5
pillar of the new EU Maritime Policy;

C 206/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

29.8.2006

underlines the fact that the marine environment, and
1.6
its protection and conservation, has a significant impact on
local and regional economies and that
local and regional
authorities have a role to play in implementing the objectives
laid down in the Strategy.

4. An insufficient knowledge base

The Committee of the Regions,

2. The deteriorating state of Europe's marine environ-

ment

The Committee of the Regions,

is aware of the fact that the marine environment is
life, and of the rich biological

2.1
vital for the sustainability of
diversity it supports;

is conscious of

2.2
the deteriorating state of Europe's
marine environment, which is principally caused by man-
including, among other things, pollution and
made factors,
contamination of
the seas, and the impact of unsustainable
commercial fishing;

2.3
emphasises the importance of promoting a sustainable
approach to the use of the marine resources available, in the
interest of both present and future generations;

is aware that unless adequate remedial action is taken
2.4
at the earliest opportunity, there is a strong risk of potentially
irreversible changes to Europe's marine ecosystems;

notes that good policy depends on high-quality infor-

4.1
mation;

4.2
is aware that the existing monitoring and assessment
programmes within the European area are neither integrated
nor complete, and that there are significant information gaps
on the state of Europe's marine environment;

for a new approach to marine
4.3 welcomes the call
monitoring and assessment, aimed at achieving a greater de-
gree of harmonisation, broader dissemination and use of data,
and an exchange of
level,
thereby bringing about greater efficiency.

information available at national

5. Addressing the challenge

The Committee of the Regions,

5.1
agrees that in order to effectively prevent further loss
of biodiversity and deterioration of the marine environment
and to successfully restore marine biodiversity, an integrated
policy approach to the protection and restoration of
the
marine environment is necessary;

stresses the importance of the need for urgent mea-
2.5
sures to be taken to halt and reverse the deterioration process;

believes that for such an integrated policy approach to
5.2
succeed, it must take account of all interests and set out clear
objectives.

2.6
observes that such an approach is necessary both for
purely environmental, and for economic and social considera-
tions.

6. The Strategy

3. An adequate institutional framework for the manage-

The Committee of the Regions,

ment of the seas

The Committee of the Regions,

notes that

3.1
with existing geo-political boundaries;

the marine environment does not accord

is aware that there are potential institutional barriers to
3.2
improving the protection of Europe's marine environment,
whether at global, EU or national level, and that the enforce-
ment mechanisms in place are often weak and inadequate;

agrees with the view that

3.3
in order to build on the
progress made through existing institutions, policies and con-
ventions and to take steps to ensure further progress, a clear
overarching vision for the marine environment and associated
policies must be developed;

3.4
stresses the importance of developing a strong EU
policy on the regulation of maritime affairs, that also aims to
ensure sustainable use of the marine resources available, there-
by stepping up efforts to promote marine protection.

6.1
is pleased to note that the declared objective of the
Strategy is that of protecting and restoring Europe's oceans and
seas, and ensuring that future human activities are carried out
in a sustainable manner;

6.2
affirms that present and future generations are entitled
to a biologically diverse and dynamic marine environment that
is safe, clean, healthy and productive;

6.3
is aware that this is an ambitious goal, which will not
be easy to achieve in real terms, and that results can only be
produced over the long term;

confirms that this Strategy can only achieve its objec-

6.4
tives if all stakeholders are taken on board;

whilst noting that goals and objectives

should be
6.5
defined at supranational
level, welcomes the intention - in
line with the subsidiarity principle - to ensure that the actual
planning and implementation of measures will
remain the
thereby taking account of
responsibility of marine regions,
their individual conditions, problems and needs;

29.8.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 206/7

is, however, concerned that in certain instances, parti-
6.6
cularly where a marine region is bordered by a sizeable
number of non-Member States, actual implementation may be
hindered through lack of coordination and commitment on the
part of the parties involved.

notes that in those instances where the issues identified
8.7
by the Member States or regions fall within the scope of
Community competence, the Commission should not only be
informed and consulted, but should itself be the most impor-
tant partner in the process and coordinate the implementation
of the policy measures;

7. A new policy instrument

The Committee of the Regions,

agrees that action must be stepped up if Europe is to

7.1
protect and conserve its marine environment;

supports the framework for enhanced cooperation set
7.2
out
in the Strategy, which aims to ensure a high level of
protection for Europe's marine environment through an im-
proved knowledge base,
integrated and cost-effective actions,
and effective monitoring and assessment systems;

8.8
believes that the provision of information and evidence
by a Member State to the Commission to substantiate the
former's claim that an issue cannot be tackled by measures
adopted at national level, is not sufficient;

to carry out

recommends that in such instances the Commission
8.9
take it upon itself
the necessary evaluation,
monitoring and implementation programmes to address the
issue in question. The Commission also needs to clarify what
the consequences are if a Member State’s goals and measures
have not been met and therefore not approved of by the
Commission;

7.3 welcomes the flexible approach - based on the sub-
sidiarity principle – being adopted, which, though ambitious in
scope,
is not overly prescriptive in its tools, thereby taking
account of the circumstances of individual regions.

8.10
furthermore considers it essential that the Commis-
implementa-
sion retains a residual role in monitoring actual
tion, and, that, where necessary, it should intervene to coordi-
nate and facilitate joint implementation between the different
states and actors within any marine region;

8. The Marine Strategy Directive

The Committee of the Regions,

asks the European Commission to ensure that

8.11
the
strategies to be drawn up by the Member States take account
of the presence of other biological communities, such as algae
or turtles, in their marine regions;

believes that,

8.1
in view of the current evidence of the
rapid deterioration of the European marine environment, swift
action needs to be taken to ensure that the intended objective
of achieving good environmental status of Europe's marine
environment is attained well before the target date of 2021;

calls on the European Commission to recognise the
8.12
impact that
the introduction of genetically modified marine
organisms can have on the marine environment, and the
unforeseeable consequences of this;

considers that, with the necessary goodwill, good en-
8.2
vironmental status can be achieved within a much shorter time
frame;

calls upon the Member States to adhere strictly to the
8.13
requirements of Article 4 of the Directive,
in conducting the
assessments, establishing environmental targets and monitoring
programmes;

8.3 welcomes the concept of establishing European marine
regions and sub-regions to ensure the actual implementation of
policy measures;

considers, however, that the Black Sea, an important
8.4
marine region bordered by two acceding countries (Romania
and Bulgaria) and by Turkey, with whom accession negotia-
tions are underway, should be included in the Strategy as of
now;

8.14
believes that, in this context, local and regional gov-
ernments of individual marine regions should also be directly
involved in drawing up these assessments, targets and monitor-
ing programmes;

is doubtful about

8.15
laid down in
Article 4 of the Directive, particularly those concerning the
programmes of measures to be adopted;

the time frames

8.5
believes that the different islands and territories form-
ing part of the European Union’s geographical area which are
located outside the established marine regions and sub-regions,
should also be included within the ambit of this policy;

8.6
observes that to successfully achieve the intended ob-
jectives, Member States and individual regions need to coop-
erate closely with one another and the Commission;

8.16
conscious of the fact that adequate results can only
realistically be achieved in the long term, supports the idea of
an iterative and adaptive implementation process, which takes
account of new data collected from monitoring programmes,
new developments and the impact of the measures introduced.
In this way, should the need arise, immediate short to medium
term remedial action can be taken to address any negative
effects on the state of the marine environment;

C 206/8

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

29.8.2006

observes that although there may be significant social
8.17
and economic costs in the short to medium-term,
it is ex-
pected that the long-term environmental, social and economic
benefits will considerably outweigh them;

believes, however,

8.18
to medium-term
burdens should not be considered to be the sole responsibility
of national or regional levels of government, or worse still, to
be borne by individual persons and communities alone.

that such short

9. Synergies with other policies

10. The Committee of the Regions' recommendations

The Committee of the Regions,

10.1
recommends that the target date for achieving good
environmental status of Europe's marine environment should
be 2018 at the latest;

10.2
recommends further that the deadlines for the devel-
opment and implementation of the programme of measures
should be 2013 and 2015 respectively;

The Committee of the Regions,

calls on the Commission to include the Black Sea as

10.3
a marine region;

is conscious of the growing need for a comprehensive
9.1
approach,
in order to achieve a proper balance between the
often competing environmental and economic interests at play;

10.4
expects the Commission to define ambitious, clear,
consistent and comparable criteria for a ‘good environmental
status’ which are conducive to achieving a consistently high
‘environmental status’ concurrently throughout the EU;

is aware of

9.2
the importance being attached to the
development of a new European Maritime Policy, especially in
the light of the ambitious objectives set in the Lisbon Strategy
and the Gothenburg Strategy;

believes that

10.5
the implementing
is essential
measures be monitored continuously and that the results and
data obtained are published regularly;

that

it

notes that

the question of

9.3
the overall governance
framework through which the users and uses of oceans and
seas can be regulated is to be addressed in the Green Paper on
the new European Maritime Policy.
for the
Commission to make sure that the environmental questions
are dealt with in the European Maritime Policy and to see to
that the overall governance framework concerning the users
and the uses of oceans and seas is regulated in a satisfactory
way;

is important

It

that

notes further

the Strategy is designed in such
9.4
a way as to support and build on existing measures and
initiatives which, though not specifically designed to protect
the marine environment, contribute to some extent
to its
protection;

calls upon the Commission to monitor

10.6
the actual
implementation of policy within the different marine regions,
and to take upon itself the role of effective coordinator and
facilitator, thereby acting as a go-between between the different
actors within these regions;

trusts that

10.7
the Commission will present evaluation
reports on the implementation of the Strategy and the impact
of the Directive at regular intervals, citing best-practice scenar-
ios;

10.8
trusts that all the Commission reports will be sub-
mitted to it, as well as to the European Parliament and the
Council;

9.5 welcomes the development of a comprehensive frame-
work strategy, which should serve as the environmental pillar
of the future European Maritime Policy;

10.9 moreover
trusts that any comments it makes and
responses in that regard, shall also be included in the Commis-
sion reports;

9.6
observes that, as far as the protection of the marine
environment is concerned, this Strategy will further enable the
Community and the Member States to fulfil their obligations
and commitments under several international agreements;

the
asks the European Commission to ensure that
9.7
strategies to be drawn up by the Member States include aspects
relating to the management of coastal areas in their pro-
grammes of measures, bearing in mind that most
factors
impacting on the marine environment originate from these
areas.

10.10
is convinced that with the proper provision of
information, the active involvement and support of the general
public can be attained;

short

is aware that

10.11
to medium-term costs may
impact upon the socio-economic well-being of communities
or individuals, and that this could, in turn affect the degree of
the public's involvement and support, which is so necessary;
therefore urges that assistance programmes, designed to help
those persons and communities who have been directly af-
fected to mitigate any adverse effects, be developed at Eur-
opean level;

29.8.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 206/9

calls upon all policy actors,

including the Member
10.12
States, the Commission and the private sector, to adopt a long-
term plan with a view to supporting a significant increase in
marine environmental research funding, thereby ensuring that
there be sufficient funding for the investigation of the marine
environment;

believes that local and regional governments, being
10.13
closest to the citizens, can achieve significant results in provid-
ing information and winning the support of the general public;

in this respect, offers to play a significant role as
10.14
partner
to the Commission and the Member States, and
recommends a long-term EU-funded information campaign
involving local and regional authorities.

Brussels, 26 April 2006

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Michel DELEBARRE

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on Natural disasters (fires, floods and droughts)

(2006/C 0206/03)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

Having regard to the decision of the European Parliament of 4 April 2006 to consult it on this subject,
under the fourth paragraph of Article 265 of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

Having regard to the decision of
its President of 23 March 2006 to appoint Mr Valcárcel Siso,
President of the Autonomous Community of Murcia, as rapporteur-general for this subject, in accordance
with Rule 40(2) of its Rules of Procedure;

Having regard to its opinion on the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament,
the Council,
the Regions on
the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of
Reinforcing the civil protection capacity of European Union (COM(2004) 200 final – CdR 241/2003 fin (1));

Whereas:

1)

2)

3)

Natural disasters, forest fires, floods and droughts represent a growing threat to human life, have
a powerful impact on the balanced development of the regions, threaten their economic resources
and natural and cultural heritage, give rise to population movements and undermine the economic
activity and quality of life of the inhabitants of the regions concerned;

Natural disasters recognise no borders and,
common risks is now essential;

therefore, cooperation between areas exposed to

The consequences of climate change, such as desertification, erosion and salinisation, affect all the
Member States, albeit to different degrees, and the European Union must view the minimisation of
natural disasters as a key component of sustainable development;

(1) OJ C 43 of 18.2.2005, p. 38.