Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on An integrated maritime policy for the European Union
Date: 2008-04-09
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: coastal region, cooperation policy, environmental protection, maritime transport, pollution control measures, renewable energy, shipping policy, sustainable development, vocational training

C 172/34

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

5.7.2008

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on ‘An integrated maritime policy for the European
Union’

(2008/C 172/07)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

— regrets that important aspects such as maritime education and training, the creation of European

Funds for Coastal Areas and protection of the seabed have been overlooked;

— regrets the failure to address the use and protection of the seabed and believes this policy should also
include general strategic rules on matters relating to dumping and laying and using pipelines and
cables on the seabed;

— reiterates the call it made in its opinion on Towards a future maritime policy for the European Union
for an appraisal to be made of the option of revising the EU financial system towards one single
simplified system for all or most of the maritime issues within a European Coastal and Island Fund;

— requests the Commission to present a roadmap of major mid-term and long-term objectives to be

achieved in the European maritime policy until 2015 and 2020;

— still misses the clear links between the Maritime Blue Paper and the Marine Strategy Directive and
therefore asks the Commission to clarify these links and to deal with both subjects more closely;

— once again, calls for a European maritime platform including local and regional authorities and stake-

holders as a means of pooling expertise and exchanging best practice.

5.7.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/35

Rapporteur: Dr Saima KALEV, Mayor of Jōgeva (EE/UEN-EA)

Reference(s)

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic
and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — An Integrated Maritime Policy for the Euro-
pean Union

COM(2007) 575 final.

Policy recommendations

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS:

welcomes and approves the Communication from the
1.
Commission on ‘An Integrated Maritime Policy for the European
Union’. The Committee is pleased that an attempt is now being
made to achieve an integrated approach to this fundamental
issue which covers all aspects of people's relationship with the
oceans and seas. This will provide a coherent policy framework
allowing for the optimal development of all sea-related activities
in a sustainable manner;

acknowledges the involvement of numerous stakeholders
2.
in the consultation process, but is concerned that such key
aspects like: maritime education and training, creation of Euro-
pean Funds; for Coastal Areas and protection of seabed have
been overlooked;

3.
shares the view that all matters relating to Europe's oceans
and seas are interlinked, and that solutions must be developed
in a coordinated way. In order to achieve the desired results it is
important to provide information about the progress on all
actions in a coordinated way (e.g. one website)., Any compul-
sory action /regulation has to be based on scientific facts and
evaluations that takes into consideration the local variation in
ecosystems and regional differences in human use of marine
resources;

4.
is convinced that the EU maritime policy could become a
very powerful policy in the long run, because more than 50 %
of the EU-area is covered with water, including all its biological,
physical and geological resources;

points out that an essential component of

the marine
5.
environment, namely the issue of using and protecting the
seabed — which falls within the competence of each Member
State — is not addressed in the Communication on an inte-
In the Committee's view, this policy
grated maritime policy.
should also include general strategic rules on matters relating to
dumping and laying and using pipelines and cables on the
seabed;

6.
emphasises that the impact of maritime policy extends
beyond national frontiers and requires efficient administration at
a number of levels;

is in favour of an integrated,

7.
inter-sectoral approach,
implementation of which requires cooperation and coordination
of all sea-related policies at the different decision-making levels.

A balance has to be struck here between competitiveness
sustainability and environmental protection;

8.
feels that local and regional authorities play an essential
role in policy shaping and implementation and in the establish-
ment of the requisite legal conditions, and also have a clear task
to carry out in integrating the compartmentalised sector-orien-
tated political measures and to inform the general public about
the potential of the sea and how human activities affect the
maritime environment;

9.
notes that for the successful development and implemen-
tation of an integrated EU maritime policy, it is essential that
local and regional authorities make an effective contribution
and that they continue to be ready to show commitment in this
field;

agrees with the Commission that the Committee of the
10.
Regions can bring added value to this process. The Committee
wishes to help draw up a blueprint to support that local and
regional authorities participate in this process and make an
effective contribution;

11.
is considering how it can lend its support to local and
regional authorities to help them draw up their implementation
strategies and implement the Commission's proposed strategy
taking into account (a) the diverse characteristics of the Member
States and the individual maritime regions, which have a need
for closer cooperation, including the islands, archipelagos and
outermost regions, and (b) the international dimension;

recommends

12.
regions'
varying capacities and the diverse views put forward in the
consultation process;

taking into consideration the

13.
agrees with the point made in the Communication that
all changes instigated by the maritime policy will above all affect
coastal regions and the estuaries and inland waterways linked to
them;

14.
continues to advocate efforts to build up the capacities of
local and regional authorities in order to secure mandatory
funding, and to this end, set up a European Fund for Coastal
Areas and Islands; Reiterates the call it made in its opinion on
Towards a future maritime policy for the European Union for
an appraisal to be made of the option of revising the EU finan-
cial system towards one single simplified system for all or most
of the maritime issues within a European Coastal and Island
Fund; Funding must be used in a way that is positive for the
marine environment and ecology;

C 172/36

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

5.7.2008

15.
stands by the view expressed in opinion CdR 84/2005
that it is of crucial importance to support innovation and entre-
preneurial development, particularly in terms of developing new
maritime technologies;

16.
agrees that an integrated maritime policy will help to
solve problems relating to globalisation and competitiveness,
climate change, degradation of the marine environment, mari-
time safety, and energy security and sustainability;

also feels that this policy must be based on excellence in
17.
marine research, technology and innovation, the Lisbon agenda
for jobs, and the Gothenburg agenda for sustainability;

18.
agrees with the Commission's view on the question of
added value raised by the Committee in its opinion CdR 258/
2006, which pointed out that an integrated approach helps to
prevent conflict, create synergies and ensure an exchange of
objective information with the general public and neighbouring
regions;

acknowledges the Commission's endeavours, through this
19.
Communication,
to lay the foundations for the governance
framework and cross-sectoral tools necessary for an EU Inte-
grated Maritime Policy and to set out the main measures the
Commission will be introducing in the course of its mandate; in
in its
the Committee welcomes the fact
this context,
Annual Policy Strategy for 2009 (COM(2008) (72), the Euro-
pean Commission confirms that maritime policy represents one
of its political priorities; the Committee does, however, deplore
the low level of funding foreseen in this field in 2009, involving
the redeployment of EUR 6 million from the resources available
under the fisheries policy.

that,

is pleased that the Commission will be guided in these
20.
actions by the principles of subsidiarity and competitiveness, an
ecosystem-friendly approach, and stakeholder participation;

for the above reason requests the Commission to present
21.
a roadmap of major mid-term and long-term objectives to be
achieved in the European maritime policy until 2015 and 2020;

22.
feels that a document on a subject of such major impor-
tance as EU maritime policy should plan for a significantly
longer period, extending beyond the duration of the current
mandate;

23.
feels that it is extremely important to cooperate, consult
with and support regional and sectoral working groups and
organisations operating within an EU framework in the Atlantic,
Arctic, Mediterranean, Black Sea, Baltic and North Sea regions;
Requests the Commission to organise the implementation of the
integrative maritime policy within the above named areas;

24.
points out that competences relating to the integrated
approach are clearly delimited, therefore the EU will need to use
those competences laid down in the Treaty for actions in the

relevant areas, such as environment, transport, fisheries, regional
or industrial policy, in full respect of subsidiarity;;

supports the Commission's call

25.
to Member States to
draw up national integrated maritime policies, working closely
with stakeholders,
in particular the coastal regions and looks
forward to guidelines of the Commission on this and on stake-
holder consultation, which recognise the particular competences
of regional and local authorities in relation to an integrated
Maritime Policy;

feels that the decisions to propose a set of guidelines in
26.
2008 for these national
integrated maritime policies and to
report annually on EU and Member States' actions in this regard
from 2009 onwards are of key importance;

27.
recommends additional supportive guidelines for local
and regional authorities; requests the Commission to consider as
basic principles within the guidelines for good governance on
the national and the regional level: proposals for major mari-
time objectives, a methodology how these objectives could be
achieved in an integrated approach, recommended deadlines for
the objectives to be achieved;

takes the view that the coordination envisaged by the
28.
Commission will not guarantee integration,
that guidelines
could be interpreted in different ways and that consultation
bodies do not yet have any structures for decision-making;

proposes to draw up a clear summary and list of best

29.
practices for regions;

30.
recommends establishing a clear system to ensure that
regions can continue contributing efficiently and effectively and
that possible conflicts between regions can be resolved fairly;

emphasises that for this to happen an implementation

31.
regional strategies must be drawn up;

32.
recommends that decision-making processes on maritime
issues of based on dialogue with local and regional authorities
should be speeded up. The CoR points out that both Member
States and local and regional authorities must be directly
involved in developing the implementation strategy. The strategy
objectives must be jointly worked out with them, in line with
the need for cross-sectoral integration in all activities. A similar
approach could be followed for defining tasks and discussing
funding issues;

for

supports the call

improved cooperation between
33.
Member States' Coastguards and the decision to take steps
towards a more interoperable surveillance system to bring
together existing ship monitoring and tracking systems used for
maritime safety and security, protection of the marine environ-
ment, fisheries control, control of external borders and other
law enforcement activities;
the Commission is requested to
launch a first pilot project on this in the Mediterranean, with a
view to extending it Europe wide;

5.7.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/37

welcomes

34.
the Commission's decision to develop a
roadmap in 2008 to facilitate the development of maritime
spatial planning by Member States;

35.
feels that there is a need for the Commission to take
steps in 2008 towards a European Marine Observation and
Data Network, and consider the need for the multi-dimensional
mapping of Member States' waters, in order to improve access
to high quality data; the Commission is requested to launch a
first pilot project on this in the North Sea, with a view to
extending it Europe wide;

Action Areas for an EU Integrated Maritime Policy

Maximising the Sustainable Use of
Seas

the Oceans and

36.
agrees with the Commission that a European Maritime
Transport Space without barriers and in cooperation with other
players in the transport system is needed to improve the effi-
ciency of maritime transport in Europe and ensure its long term
competitiveness;

is in favour of preparing a comprehensive maritime
37.
strategy for 2008-2018,, which should consider
transport
promoting motorways of the sea and short sea shipping. This
strategy, besides taking into consideration the network of major
European ports connected to the Trans-European Transport
Networks,
should give special consideration to small and
medium-sized ports, since they provide an efficient service for
remote regions and islands, and also help to avoid congestion of
major ports and roads;

requests the Commission and the Member States to
38.
encourage the cooperation among European ports to support:
a) the transport of as many goods as possible in the EU by ship
as the most environmentally friendly option, including import,
export and transit, b) the cost-efficiency and eco-efficiency of
the sea trade of goods, in particular in the light of the expected
further growth of goods movement;

acknowledges the replies received during the consultation
39.
process to the question put to stakeholders regarding options
for incorporating the Thematic Strategy on the Protection and
Conservation of the Marine Environment (1) and the Proposal
for a Marine Strategy Directive (2) in the future common mari-
time policy, especially given that these have been identified by
the Commission as components of an integrated strategy;

emphasises that the above-mentioned strategies consti-
40.
tute the environmental foundations of the integrated maritime
policy, given that they call for an eco-systems-based approach
with equal emphasis on environmental, social and economic
issues. These strategies also set deadlines for achieving targets,
such as achieving good environmental status by 2020;

41.
The proposal for the marine strategy directive states that
regions, where the condition of the sea is critical, are required
to prepare and implement actions faster in order to obtain a
satisfactory environmental status. In such regions it is of the
outmost importance that the European Commission coordinates
the different sectors involved, programmes and strategies, and
also provides sufficient financial support. In order to achieve a
truly integrated maritime policy it is necessary to include land-
based activities such as agriculture, sewage handling, transport
and energy production. Such regions may function as pilot areas
for a true and completely integrated maritime policy.

42.
still misses the clear links between the Maritime Blue
Paper and the Marine Strategy Directive and therefore asks the
Commission to clarify these links, to deal with both subjects
more closely and thereby avoid duplication of the proposed
activities;

requests

43.
the Commission to come forward with a
proposal on how to link the individual Natura 2000 off shore
areas in the EU;

in framing maritime policy;

44.
feels that Integrated Coastal Zone Management is based
on a well thought out idea, and that a series of useful best prac-
tices could assist
in addition,
proposes to investigate local and regional experience in the inte-
grated use of coastal zones in particular existing Local Coastal
Partnerships that made up by Local Authorities and relevant
stakeholders to provide cost effective, bottom up ICZM and to
explore means of reconciling integrated coastal zone manage-
ment and maritime policy;

authorities

recommends developing close contacts with local and
45.
regional
implementing national water policy
measures, in order to encourage cooperation on technical and
management issues. Such cooperation is intended to achieve a
good environmental status by 2015 for surface water at a
distance of up to one kilometre from the coast (3);

46.
would refer, for a detailed definition of its views on Euro-
pean ports policy, to its opinion number 237/2007 on the
Communication from the Commission on a European Ports
Policy COM(2007) 616;

47.
backs the proposal for a new ports policy which takes
account of the multiple roles of ports and the wider context of
European logistics;

48.
recommends using Structural Fund support to facilitate
investment in regional port structures and other appropriate
projects;

49.
supports the proposal to reduce the levels of emissions
from ships in ports, namely by removing tax disadvantages for
shore side electricity and to develop and to support EU wide or
world wide technical standards for the transfer of shore side
electricity onto ships;

(1) COM(2005) 504 final.
(2) COM(2005) 505 final.

(3) Directive 2000/60/EC.

C 172/38

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

5.7.2008

also feels that there is a need to issue guidelines on the
legisla-

50.
application of the relevant Community environmental
tion to port development;

agrees that international efforts to reduce oil spills from

61.
ships are to be supported;

also emphasises

51.
to secure future sustainable energy
supply and asks the Commission and the Member States to
systematically support for maritime clean renewable energies,
such as from wind, waves, tide and ocean stream, in particular
prioritise and systematically support research and development,
as well as with financial approaches, such as sufficient feed-in-
tariffs. Moreover, administrative barriers hindering the develop-
ment of maritime renewable energies should be removed;

52.
believes that locally owned, non for profit trust ports
shall be protected from disrepair as their social, recreational and
touristic benefit for the surrounding communities exceed its
original economic function;

welcomes the Commission's constructive position on
53.
clusters and
encouraging the
regional centres of maritime excellence, and promoting a Euro-
pean network of maritime clusters;

formation of multi-sectoral

in this connection, asks for clarification of the structure
54.
and form of the bodies to be set up, together with an explana-
tion of the policy contribution expected from each body, and of
the roles envisaged for the Commission and the Committee of
the Regions;

supports the decision to reassess,

55.
in close cooperation
with social partners, the exclusions affecting maritime sectors in
EU labour legislation;

56.
takes the view that, when it comes to improving levels of
safety for persons working in maritime occupations, a high
degree of responsibility rests with the Member States by virtue
of the need to ratify international documents, such as the ILO
Consolidated Maritime Labour Convention of February 2006
and the ILO Work in Fishing Convention, adopted by the ILO in
June 2007;

supports the decision to actively support international

62.
efforts to diminish greenhouse gas emissions from ships;

demands that the Directive on the taxation of energy is
63.
amended so as to include an obligation of Member States not to
tax electricity supplied to ships in ports more than bunker oil,
as the present system of the directive provides an incentive for
air pollution, which in port cities comes up to 80 % from ships
burning bunker oil.

welcomes

the efforts of

64.
the Commission and the
Member States to reduce SO2 and NOx levels and the emission
of fine particles from ships in EU seas and in particular in ports.
As this will not be sufficient in the long term, the Committee of
the Regions calls for further reduction and therefore requests
the Commission and the Member States to reduce the emission
from ships to the same level as allowed by cars, at the latest by
2030;

calls for the integration of the emissions from ships into

65.
the EU Emissions Trade System;

66.
welcomes the Commission's decision, taking due account
of the ongoing work at international level, to make proposals
for dismantling obsolete ships in an efficient, safe and environ-
mentally-friendly manner;

67.
supports firm action towards the elimination of discards
and of destructive fishing practices such as high seas bottom
trawling in sensitive habitats;
It is particularly important to
consider the interaction between countries in relation to over-
fishing;

68.
supports vigorous action to eliminate illegal, unregulated
and unreported fishing in regions where such action through
facts and research is established to be required;

approves the decision to promote a ‘Certificate of Mari-

57.
time Excellence’;

69.
recognises the need to promote and provide incentives
for small-scale fishing which has a long tradition in European
waters, is more selective and more environmentally friendly;

recommends taking steps to improve maritime training,
58.
so that professional training is internationnally accepted and
further training options available,
thus ensuring the needed
supply of skilled labour with the requisite qualifications;

70.
with regard to these two issues, asks the Commission for
its views on how an integrated policy can be implemented more
effectively than hitherto;

59.
is convinced that costal regions are the first to suffer
from climate change and therefore recommends priority actions
such as: the reduction of the emissions from ships, the develop-
ment and expansion of renewable maritime energies, the halt in
the decline of marine biodiversity, coastal protection and conse-
quently welcomes the Commission's decision to launch pilot
actions to reduce the impact of and adapt to climate change in
coastal zones;

expresses its support for promoting the development of

71.
an environmentally safe aquaculture industry in Europe;

Building a knowledge and infor mation base for the
mar itime policy

asks the Commission for clarification on its assessment

60.
of the need for such actions in non costal regions;

72.
welcomes the Commission's plan to present a funda-
mental European Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research in
2008;

5.7.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/39

73.
requests the Commission to consider the concept of a
network of ‘European Oceans research Institutes’ within the new
maritime research strategy;

Deliver ing the highest quality of
regions

life

in coastal

74.
also feels there is a need to launch joint cross-cutting
calls under the 7th Research Framework Programme to promote
an integrated approach and to improve understanding of cross
cutting issues in maritime affairs, such as the impact of climate
change, induced rising sea levels and changing weather patterns
on the usability of ports and on shipping in general;

75.
welcomes support for research to predict, mitigate and
adapt to the effects of climate change on maritime activities, the
marine environment, coastal zones and islands and requests the
Commission to work towards a European Strategy for the adap-
tation to climate change impacts in coastal regions, which is
based on a solid assessment of
the rising costs of climate
change adaptation at the coasts, and which helps to avoid that
the
these become an impediment
coasts;

for economic growth at

76.
endorses the decision to support the creation of a Euro-
pean marine science partnership for a concerted dialogue
between the scientific community, industry and policy makers;

77.
would ask whether, and to what extent, the Commission
supports this partnership, what form this support should take,
how the partnership ties in with the consultation structure
proposed by the Commission and how it would differ from that
structure;

82.
feels that it is essential to promote sustainable coastal
and maritime tourism as part of the forthcoming tourism initia-
tive;

83.
asks the Commission to clarify how it considers that
local and regional authorities and coastal regions can help to
improve quality of
life in coastal areas, and what synergies
might be identified, for example with other EU policy areas;

84.
is in favour of the Commission urgently preparing a
database on all regional policy projects funded by the EU which
fall within the scope of maritime policy, as a basis for spreading
best practices; this database should also create transparency on
Community funding available for maritime projects and coastal
regions;

85.
backs the proposal for a Community Disaster Prevention
Strategy highlighting the risks to which coastal regions in par-
ticular are exposed; among other things, this would identify
emergency ports which could be used by oil tankers in distress
and ships with other hazardous cargoes. Maritime safety
measures must also take into account the special aspects of
maritime navigation in winter conditions;

86.
appreciates the significance of the Commission's decision
to promote development of the potential of outermost regions
and islands. Solutions to the specific problems faced by remote
coastal and island regions must be found through joint efforts
encompassing maritime policy and action in other policy areas
at EU level;

emphasises the importance of regional data and their

78.
evaluation from an inter-regional perspective;

Promoting
Mar itime Affairs

Europe's

Leadership

in

Inter national

79.
feels that there is a need to compare statistics in order to
promote sectoral competitiveness and reform activity (a point
raised by Committee opinion CdR 258/2006, but which was
overlooked in the ‘Blue Paper’);

80.
asks for information on the scope for regions to influ-
ence pilot projects, calls for scientific and development projects,
and projects based on good practice;

once again, calls for a European maritime platform
81.
including local and regional authorities and stakeholders as a
means of pooling expertise and exchanging best practice;
proposes to draw up an ongoing list of best practices for
regions as soon as possible, possibly on the basis of already
existing European lists of regional maritime best practice in par-
ticular examples on: defining general maritime objectives, good
governance, sectoral policies and their
regional
maritime action plans;

integration,

welcomes the decision to promote cooperation under the
87.
Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policies, and the
Northern Dimension;

welcomes the decision to propose a strategy for the
88.
external projection of the Union's Maritime Policy through a
structured dialogue with major partners;

89.
asks for an explanation of how systematic use can best
be made in external relations of know-how which is of largely
regional relevance (e.g. HELCOM, the Helsinki Commission on
protection of the Baltic);

Raising the Visibility of Mar itime Europe

agrees with the European Commission that work must

90.
begin on production of a European Atlas of the Seas;

C 172/40

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

5.7.2008

91.
supports the proposal to celebrate an annual European
Maritime Day as of 2008 and to include the local and regional
authorities, stakeholders and their expertise from the very begin-
ning;

92.
suggests giving substantial support to and stepping up
publicity work on all sea-related issues, through educational
systems, the media, the Internet and other information chan-
nels;

Brussels, 9 April 2008.

93.
believes that Marine National Parks could be a way of
both raising public awareness and protecting sensitive marine
areas;

94.
proposes that a comprehensive package of measures be
drawn up to enhance the visibility of maritime Europe, in par-
ticular taking into account our maritime heritage.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Luc VAN DEN BRANDE