Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - A European strategy for marine and maritime research : a coherent European research area framework in support of a sustainable use of oceans and seas
Date: 2008-09-03
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, action programme, economic growth, environmental protection, marine environment, research and development

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 3.9.2008 
COM(2008) 534 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL, THE 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

A European Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research  
A coherent European Research Area framework in support of a sustainable use of 
oceans and seas 

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1. 

INTRODUCTION 

The  marine  environment  constitutes  two-thirds  of  our  planet  and  offers  huge  potential  for 
citizens'  well-being,  with  extensive  resources  that  form  the  basis  for  many  economic 
activities. The EU’s maritime regions account for around 40% of its GDP and the maritime 
economy for 3 to 5% (see Box 1). 

However,  in  the  context  of  increased  global  trade  and  competition,  human  activities  are 
exerting  environmental  pressure  which  is  threatening  marine  ecology  and  sustainable 
maritime activity. In particular, unless properly addressed, the growing demand for maritime 
transport, tourism, coastal development, fisheries and aquaculture, security, surveillance and 
so forth could pose a major threat to the marine environment and biodiversity. 

Science  and  technology  provide  one  of  the  keys  for  reconciling  promotion  of  sustainable 
economic growth in sea-based activities with environmental conservation. In an open global 
market, the competitiveness of advanced economies like the EU stems from their capacity to 
create  high  value-added,  knowledge-based  goods  and  services.  Therefore,  RTD  efforts  are 
necessary  to  increase  their  eco-efficiency  and  offer  solutions  to  overcome  the  unsustainable 
use  of  resources.  A  large  number  of  marine  and  maritime  research  activities  are  ongoing  in 
the EU; these efforts need to be coordinated in the most efficient way. 

Maritime-related  knowledge  and  innovation  requires  an  integrated  approach  to  cope  with 
complexity.  Integrated  and  dynamic  European  research  is  required  to  solve  complex  issues 
and to find coherent solutions for exploiting all the economic potential of the seas within an 
ecosystem-based approach. 

In this regard, in its strategic objectives (2005-2009) the Commission recognised: 

"… the particular need for an all-embracing maritime policy aimed at developing a thriving 
maritime  economy,  in  an  environmentally  sustainable  manner.  Such  a  policy  should  be 
supported by excellence in marine scientific research, technology and innovation."  

With  this  statement,  the  Commission  highlighted  the  need  to  promote  excellence  in  marine 
research and technology development in line with the Göteborg1 and Lisbon strategies2. 

Eight years after it was first launched, the proposal to establish the European Research Area 
(ERA)3  continues  to  constitute  the  main  guiding  vision  for  achieving  an  optimised  and 
efficient  European  research  system.  It  is  a  central  pillar  of  the  EU  "Lisbon  Strategy"  for 
growth and jobs premised on achieving a "knowledge-based economy and society". 

In 2007, the European Commission published a Green Paper on ERA4 reviewing the progress 
made  thus  far.  This  gave  rise  to  a  public  consultation,  following  which  new  initiatives  are 
being launched in 2008 to give further impetus to ERA. These include five new initiatives on 

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Commission  Communication  of  13  December  2005  on  the  review  of  the  Sustainable  Development 
Strategy - A platform for action (COM(2005) 658 final). 
Lisbon Strategy: http://ec.europa.eu/growthandjobs/index_en.htm . 
Communication from the Commission - Towards a European research area (COM(2000) 6 final). 
Green Paper - The European Research Area: New Perspectives (COM(2007) 161 final). 

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specific areas of ERA and enhanced "partnership" governance under the so-called Ljubljana 
Process5. The proposed Marine and Maritime Research Strategy is consistent with, and forms 
part  of,  the  wider  ERA  policy  development.  It  has  a  fundamental  role  to  play  in  European 
research policy, because it represents one of the first attempts to fully establish ERA within a 
research sector, in a process initiated in Galway6. 

In response to the Green Paper on a future EU Maritime Policy in June 2006 and the ensuing 
consultation,  many  substantial  contributions  were  received  from  the  scientific  communities 
and  from  other  stakeholders  calling  for  new  impetus  for  EU  marine  and  maritime  research. 
This was further reinforced by the Bremen Conference organised by the German Presidency 
in  April  2007  and  by  the  declaration  issued  by  the  marine  scientific  community  at  the 
EurOCEAN 2007 conference in Aberdeen in June 20077. The Aberdeen Declaration called on 
the  Commission  to  initiate  in  2008  an  integrated  European  Marine  and  Maritime  Research 
Strategy and to establish a sustained process to oversee its implementation and delivery within 
the context of a European maritime policy. 

In its October 2007 "Communication on an integrated maritime policy" for the EU8, the 
Commission  reaffirmed  its  central  goal  of  creating  optimal  conditions  for  the  growth  of 
maritime sectors and coastal regions, while ensuring that the objectives of EU environmental 
legislation – and in particular those of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive9 – are met. 

Following the maritime policy communication, an Action Plan was agreed. It announced the 
development  of  a  Marine  and  Maritime  Research  Strategy  (the  subject  of  this 
communication),  in  consultation  with  Member  States  and  stakeholders,  which  will  support 
infrastructure, education, capacity-building and a new cross-thematic approach10. 

The aim of the strategy is to propose the means to create a better integration between marine 
and  maritime  research.  Whilst  acknowledging  the  importance  to  pursue  efforts  within  the 
different  marine  and  maritime  research  disciplines  (e.g.  cleaner  and  more  efficient  marine 
engines,  better  vessels  design,  optimal  logistics  of  traffic  flows,  safety  and  security  of 
maritime  activities,  image  of  shipping,  etc),  the  focus  of  the  communication  will  be  on 
improving  interactions  between  marine  and  maritime  research  rather  than  specifically 
addressing well established research sectors. 

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Council  Conclusions  on  the  launch  of  the  "Ljubljana  Process"  -  towards  full  realisation  of  ERA, 
adopted on 30 May 2008. 
Galway Declaration, 13-14 May 2004 - http://www.eurocean2004.com/pdf/galway_declaration.pdf. 
Aberdeen Declaration, June 2007:   
http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/pdf/Aberdeen_Declaration_final_2007.pdf.  
Communication  from  the  Commission  –  An  Integrated  Maritime  Policy  for  the  European  Union 
(COM(2007) 575 final). 
Directive  2008/56/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  establishing  a  framework  for 
community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive), 
OJ L 164 of 25 June 2008. 
Action Plan SEC(2007)1278 accompanying the Communication on "An Integrated Maritime Policy for 
the European Union" (COM(2007)575), Section 5, Building a Knowledge and Innovation Base for the 
Maritime Policy. 

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Box 1 – Maritime economy (Maritime facts and figures – Green paper – Towards a future 
Maritime Policy for the Union) 

The maritime economy is indeed also diversified and the related issues are often conflicting: 

•  Maritime Transport (90% of external trade and 40% of internal trade in the EU is seaborne; 
the 1200-plus European ports host 3,5 billion tons and 350 million passengers per year). 

•  Shipbuilding  (shipyards  and  marine  equipment  suppliers  provide  0,8  million  direct  and 
indirect highly skilled jobs and account for a turnover of €90 billion; Europe is the world 
leader in the production of highly sophisticated vessels such as ferries and cruise ships). 

•  Energy (seas and oceans offer underexploited resource for the use of alternative energies 
such  as  tidal  and  wave  power  and  offshore  wind  farms  and  account  for  121€  millions  in 
2005). 

•  Fisheries  and  aquaculture  (0,5  million  jobs;  0,3%  of  EU  GDP  equating  to  about  €  20 

billion/year; aquaculture accounts for 19% of the Union's total fishery production). 

•  Tourism  and  coastal  zones  (maritime  tourism  accounts  for  about  3  million  jobs  with  a 

turnover of €72 billions in 2005). 

•  New resources and blue biotechnology (emerging sector with predicted growth of 10% per 

year and a global market of € 2,4 billion). 

2. 

APPROACH 

The strategy will propose concrete measures and mechanisms to improve the efficiency and 
excellence  of  marine  and  maritime  research  in  order  to  address  the  challenges  and 
opportunities presented by the oceans and seas. 

A purely sectoral and thematic approach to research is no longer sufficient. EU research can 
play a role in fostering joint efforts between the marine and maritime research communities 
which extend beyond specific sectors. A more effective integration and pooling of knowledge 
and resources, along with a partnership sustainable over the long term, will form the basis for 
a concerted definition of research needs and priorities. 

Therefore, the Strategy sets out: 

1. 

2. 

to  address  system  complexity  and  interactions  through  enhanced  integration  of 
knowledge  and  research.  It  will  look  at  bridging  traditional  boundaries  between 
science  and  policy-making,  science  and  technology,  scientific  disciplines  and 
industrial sectors. Means of promoting excellence, as well as multi-disciplinary and 
multi-sectoral research and innovation, will be defined; 

to bring about new forms of governance in research that will seek consensus among 
all concerned parties and establish a continuous dialogue between scientists, policy-
makers, industrialists and representatives from society. Governance will abide by the 
five main guiding principles of the Ljubljana Process. 

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The role of the European Commission in the implementation of this strategy is: 

– 

– 

– 

to  make  full  use  of  all  Community  instruments,  including  the  7th  Research 
Framework Programme, as leverage to achieve the objectives of the strategy; 

to  facilitate  a  coordinated  approach  between  Member  States  contributing  to  the 
objectives of the strategy; 

to  oversee  the  implementation  and  continuous  adaptation  of  the  strategy,  in 
partnership with Member States and the marine and maritime scientific communities. 

Actions will be taken by the European Commission in partnership with Member States, Third 
Countries and the marine and maritime research stakeholders. 

3. 

ADDRESSING SYSTEM COMPLEXITY  

Dealing with the following aspects will be essential in addressing system complexity: 

•  Capacity-building:  encouraging  the  development  of  new  means  to  achieve  more 
ambitious  goals  in  research.  Many  infrastructures  are  old;  specialised  infrastructures  are 
costly. New skills and educational initiatives are needed to attract new professionals and to 
address the interdisciplinary nature of the research. 

•  Integration across established marine and maritime research disciplines. This aspect will 
seek  closer  integration  of  knowledge  and  research  teams  through  cross-fertilisation, 
networking  and  information  exchange,  in  order  to  reinforce  excellence  in  science.  By 
promoting  cross-sectoral  integration  and  improving  knowledge  transfer,  existing  and 
emerging markets in areas such as blue technology, energy, aquaculture and security will 
be in a position to turn to knowledge-based innovation while achieving maritime activities' 
sustainability, new jobs and delivering better products and processes.  

•  Synergies  with  and  between  Member  States,  regions  and  industry  sectors.  Community 
research funding accounts for only a small amount of RTD public resources. The greater 
part  of  public  funding  for  research  in  Europe  is  spent  through  national  and  regional 
programmes. However, the EU research effort remains behind the target set by the Lisbon 
Agenda under which the Member States agreed to dedicate 3% of their GDP to R&D11. It 
is  therefore  crucial  that  Member  States  and  regions  use  the  European  Community 
instruments such as the Research Framework Programme, the Cohesion Policy Fund and 
the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme to reinforce public and private 
investments. 

The  international  dimension  of  EU  Maritime  Policy  is  an  important  consideration  which 
cuts  across  these  three  lines  of  action.  The  fact  is  that  the  seas  and  oceans  surrounding  the 
European  Union  and  its  outermost  regions  are  shared  with  third  countries.  International 
scientific cooperation is a powerful vehicle for the coordinated and integrated management of 
maritime  activities  in  shared  seas.  Other  benefits  of  the  international  dimension  will  stem 

11 

Commission Communication of 11 September 2002 - More Research for Europe: Towards 3% of GDP 
(COM(2002) 499 final). 

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from  the  opportunity  of  drawing  on  mutually  enriching  knowledge  and  skills  in  order  to 
address common challenges and reach a critical mass, which for certain categories of research 
would not be possible at a European level alone. 

In the following sub-divisions, different aspects to be addressed will be presented in terms of 
their scope. Then they will be broken down into specific activities to be implemented in the 
years  to  come.  These  activities  will  be  carried  out  in  a  partnership  involving  the  different 
actors in the marine and maritime communities and the Commission, in the spirit of ERA. 

3.1. 

Capacity-building 

Scope 

–  Building new research and observation infrastructure; 

–  Promoting new and interdisciplinary research skills and innovation capacities; 

–  Developing new models for higher education in the marine/maritime field (e.g. via 
dedicated  Knowledge  and  Innovation  Communities  at  the  European  Institute  of 
Innovation and Technology, EIT); 

–  Exploring new financing schemes combining various sources of investment. 

To  remain  at  the  forefront  of  the  advances  in  maritime  research,  Europe  must  identify  the 
means  with  which  it  can  strengthen  its  capacity  to  carry  out  research.  Research  capacities 
involve  innovative  financing  schemes,  new  research  infrastructures  and  nurturing  a  new 
generation  of  researchers  and  engineers.  The  European  Strategy  Forum  on  Research 
Infrastructures  (ESFRI)  has  identified  a  list  of  marine  research  infrastructures  of  critical 
importance, which provides a good basis for defining priorities in this area. 

Efforts should also be made to promote human capacity-building to make research careers and 
researcher  mobility  more  attractive.  Appropriate  highly  skilled  researchers  and  support 
personnel  are  needed  to  underpin  economic  and  environmental  developments  in  the  marine 
and maritime sectors. 

The strategy will encourage exchange of personnel within and between industry and research, 
together  with  the  rapid  integration  of  progress  in  knowledge  into  education  and  lifelong 
learning  schemes.  Knowledge  should  be  exchanged  between  research  organisations  and 
higher education institutions. Consideration should also be given to the activities of the newly 
launched EIT and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities. 

Actions to be implemented  

(1) 

Developing  sustainable  support  for  the  specialised  pan-European  research 
infrastructures12  required  to  meet  identified  challenges  and  opportunities, 
including  those  proposed  under  the  current  ESFRI  Roadmap  and  Integrated 
Infrastructures Initiatives (I3) of FP7; 

12 

For  instance,  ocean  observatories,  specialised  research  vessels,  sub-sea  technologies,  satellite  and  in-
situ  ocean  observing  systems,  sustained  monitoring  and  data  collection  facilities,  databases  and 
information portals, high performance computing, modelling and land-based facilities. 

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(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

Defining at European level investment requirements (including their running 
costs)  for  new 
to  support  pan-European  and 
international  marine  and  maritime  research  (for  example  using  Cohesion 
Policy funds to co-finance them). 

infrastructures  needed 

Developing  adequate  new  and 
interdisciplinary  skills,  education  and 
innovation  capacities  in  order  to  respond  to  the  current  socio-economic  and 
cultural trends and requirements; 

Looking  at  a  more  efficient  use  of  existing  and  new  human  and  financial 
resources. These can be built on existing schemes at European, national and 
regional level (for instance, the use of State Aid Guidelines on employment, 
education  and  training,  the  opportunities  offered  by  Cohesion  Policy  funds 
both  for  human  resources  and  RTD  support  to  SMEs,  the  opportunities 
offered  by  Leonardo  da  Vinci  programme  on  education  and  training, 
Research  Framework  Programmes,  the  Competitiveness  and  Innovation 
Framework Programme (CIP), etc. 

The  Commission  will  promote  in  2009  several  activities  to  these  purposes,  in  particular, 
developing a sustainable support for the specialised pan-European research infrastructure and 
facilitating  mapping  of  needs  of  regional  research  structure  complementing  the  ESFRI 
Roadmap  and  Integrated  Infrastructures  Initiatives.  It  will  also  motivate  Member  States  and 
regions to use  the  available  Community funds to these purposes and  to  adopt  a coordinated 
approach  to  a  new  model  for  education  and  to  develop  a  marine  infrastructure  policy 
supporting  excellence  in  Europe,  thereby  guaranteeing  access  for  scientists  from  small  and 
new Member States without research infrastructures. 

3.2. 

Integration 

Scope 

–  Identifying  cross-thematic  research  objectives  across  traditionally  self-contained 
fields  of  investigation:  e.g.  climate  change,  transport,  energy,  biotechnology, 
environment and food, as well as promoting interdisciplinary approaches; 

–  Providing for closer integration and more efficient use of marine data bases; 

–  Optimising the use of existing research infrastructures; 

–  Strengthening long-lasting regional clusters; 

–  Fostering knowledge and technology transfer. 

Marine  and  maritime  research  cuts  across  different  scientific  and  technological  disciplines. 
Integration  is  needed  to  set  up  an  interdisciplinary  approach.  This  communication  has 
identified major research avenues where a cross-thematic approach is a necessity. These are 
presented in Box 2. In addressing these cross-cutting research issues, particular attention will 
be paid to the integration of social-economic research and the impact of management options.  

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World-class  marine  science  requires  specialised  and  sophisticated  research  infrastructures, 
which  are  costly.  Today,  most  infrastructures  are  operated  to  take  account  of  national 
priorities.  To  optimise  their  use  it  will  be  essential  to  build  lasting  and  complementary 
relationships  between  infrastructure  holders  based  on  joint  plans  for  future  investments  and 
standardisation in measurement, observation and reporting methodologies. 

In  a  number  of  coastal  regions  of  the  EU,  maritime  clusters  have  been  nurtured,  with  the 
support  of  various  financial  instruments  at  Community,  national  and  regional  level.  These 
clusters can provide a focus for discussing maritime research needs and agreed actions to be 
implemented and integrated at regional level. 

Actions to be implemented  

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

Developing  cross-thematic  integration  between  the  various  marine  and 
maritime RTD domains. 

Promoting  integration  in  the  use  of  European  marine  research  infrastructure 
holders, with an emphasis on the harmonisation of procedures. 

Finding mechanisms for the sustainable support and management of data on 
the  seas,  including  mapping  of  European  waters  and  the  integration  of 
maritime surveillance systems. 

At  regional  level,  building  on  existing  maritime  clusters  supported  in  the 
framework  of  the  "Regions  of  Knowledge"  initiative,  mapping  existing 
opportunities 
long-lasting  clustering  under 
Community Regional Policy. 

in  2009  and  stimulating 

In  close  partnership  with  Commission  services,  using  the  initiative  Regions 
for  Economic  Change13  of  Cohesion  Policy,  to  further  develop  regional 
activities in this field. 

In  partnership  with  marine  and  maritime  stakeholders,  providing  support 
measures to enable screening of marine and maritime technology expertise to 
promote rapid transfer at EU level. 

In particular, in 2009-2010 the Commission will launch cross-thematic Joint Calls under FP7 
on major research topics as listed in Box 2. In partnership with the Member States and with 
the  marine  scientific  community,  it  will  put  forward  options  for  sharing  the  development  at 
European level of critical marine research infrastructures, as well as for optimising their use.  

The  Commission  will  coordinate  the  launching  of  a  European  marine  observation  and  data 
network (EMODNet)14 in 2009 integrated with GEOSS15 and GMES16.  

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COM(2006)675 http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/cooperation/interregional/ecochange/index_en.cfm. 
Section  3.3 of  the  Action  Plan  SEC(2007)1278 accompanying  the  Communication  on  "An  Integrated 
Maritime Policy for the European Union" (COM(2007)575) foresees the creation of a European Marine 
Observation and Data Network. 
Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) - http://earthobservations.org/ . 
Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) - http://www.gmes.info/ . 

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It  will  also  seek  to  make  use  of  the  "Regions  of  knowledge  initiative"  to  promote  regional 
maritime  clusters  as  well  as  synergy  between  regional  marine  research  and  innovation 
strategies. 

A particular attention will also be given to Community Innovation Programme (CIP) with a 
view to boost eco-innovation and to transfer marine and maritime technology expertise at EU 
level. 

Finally,  the  Commission  will  see  to  it  that  FP7  instruments  contribute  to  research  and 
innovation capability in local industries. 

Box 2 – List of major research topics requiring a cross-thematic approach 

Climate change and the oceans 

We  need  enhanced  detection  and  better  assessment  of  the  impacts  of  climate  change  on 
oceans and on coastal areas. Options to mitigate or make the best use of the impact of climate 
change are also important, as well as risks and opportunities in relation to the Arctic Ocean. 

Impact of human activities on coastal and marine ecosystems and their management 

Coastal  and  marine  ecosystems  are  affected  by  land-based  as  well  as  maritime  activities.  A 
better understanding and mitigation of the cumulative effects of these activities through more 
eco-efficient technologies is crucial. 

Ecosystem approach to resource management and spatial planning 

Integrated  ecosystem  approach  to  marine  resources  management,  as  well  as  knowledge  to 
develop  coastal  and  marine  spatial  planning  options  to  help  optimise  the  management  of 
marine and maritime activities and their sustainable development. 

Marine biodiversity and biotechnology 

The  marine  environment  hosts  a  considerable  part  of  biodiversity  on  earth.  We  need  more 
knowledge  on  the  functional  role,  evolution,  protection  and  exploitation  of  marine 
biodiversity, the latter including biotechnology and bio-prospecting. 

Continental margins and deep sea 

Enhanced  understanding  of  sediments  in  continental  margins  and  deep  seas,  gas  hydrate 
behaviour, deep-sea ecosystems and technologies needed to enhance deep-sea observation.  

Operational oceanography and marine technology  

There  is  a  need  to  further  advance  in  the  development  of  marine  core  services  within  the 
GMES,  with  a  view  to  improving  prediction  on  the  sea  state  and  dynamics,  assessment  of 
risks such as algal blooms or pollution impact and support for maritime security issues. 

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Exploitation of marine renewable energy resources 

The ocean is a huge reservoir of energy and the marine processes that can be used to produce 
energy are numerous. We need more knowledge on how to exploit the potential of offshore 
wind, ocean currents, wave and tidal movements. 

3.3. 

Synergies 

Scope 

–  Promoting synergies at national and regional level; 

–  Mobilising sufficient, sustained EU, national and regional funding for research in 
a  more  coordinated  way,  so  as  to  reach  a  critical  mass  to  address  major  cross-
thematic marine research challenges; 

–  Attracting more private investments, inter alia through the activities of European 

Technology Platforms and other industry-driven joint initiatives. 

It  is  crucial  that  marine  and  maritime  research  funding  under  FP7  is  used  as  leverage  to 
promote  synergies  between  Member  States'  research  efforts  and,  where  necessary,  reach  a 
critical mass to address major cross-thematic marine research challenges. 

The  Community  RTD  Framework  Programme  can  facilitate  this process  through its various 
funding schemes17. Networks of Excellence18 seek to establish a lasting structuring effect in 
skills,  knowledge  and  infrastructures.  Coordination  actions  support  research  communities  in 
identifying gaps and defining common priorities for future research.  

ERA-NET schemes19 allow national research funding organisations to coordinate their efforts 
and address common challenges. They may give rise to ERA-NET+, which supports Member 
States in setting up and financing joint calls, as a preliminary step towards the implementation 
of Article 169 of the Treaty. 

On  the  other  hand,  European  Technology  Platforms20  have  been  introduced  to  achieve 
consensus  on  research  policies  and  priorities  within  a  given  industrial  sector.  A  common 
vision for the future is elaborated and followed up with a Strategic Research Agenda which 
members are committed to implement.  

All these opportunities for achieving synergy will be exploited in the strategy. 

Actions to be implemented 

(1) 

Building on the achievements of the existing ERA-NET schemes to propose 
cross-national research schemes; 

17 

18 
19 
20 

See Green Paper Maritime Policy, Background Paper No 8 on Marine Related Research and the Future 
European Maritime Policy - http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/suppdoc_en.html. 
For example: MGE, MARBEF, EUROCEANS, VISIONS. 
For example: MARINERA, MARIFISH, AMPERA, BONUS, ECORD, CIRCLE. 
See WaterBorneTP Technology Platform - http://www.waterborne-tp.org/.  

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(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

Facilitating the pooling of national public funding through ERA-NET+; 

Taking  preliminary  steps  towards  the  implementation  of  Article  169  of  the 
Treaty by building on ongoing initiatives; 

Coordinating  with  other  Community  and  European  schemes  to  finance 
research (CIP, Cohesion Policy funds, EUREKA, COST); 

(5) 

Define and implement joint programming. 

The Commission will particularly make concrete proposals in 2009-2010 for the streamlining 
of existing ERA-NET. Where this is justified and supported by the Member States concerned, 
the  Commission  will  consider  the  possibility  of  Article  169  support  for  marine  research 
programmes and on long term will propose joint programming, in line with the principles and 
mechanisms laid down in the related Commission Communication21. 

4. 

NEW FORMS OF GOVERNANCE IN RESEARCH 

The  strategy  requires  the  design  of  an  effective  and  innovative  research  governance 
framework  that  engages  scientists,  policy-makers  and  the  public,  so  as  to  achieve  shared 
understanding and informed decision-making based on sound scientific knowledge. Given the 
global nature of the challenges and the openness of ERA to partners in other regions of the 
world22, the international dimension will play an important role in this framework. 

Both traditional marine and maritime research and technological communities have expressed 
the need to enhance dialogue between them in order to ensure a clear distribution of roles and 
responsibilities  between  the  European  Union,  national  public  authorities  and  private 
enterprises. 

A sound governance model, built upon a strong and lasting science partnership, is essential. 
This will facilitate the process of integration between marine science and maritime science. 

The proposed governance model is expected to: 

–  Achieve consensus among marine and maritime stakeholders on strategic marine 

and maritime research issues at pan-European and regional levels; 

–  Stimulate 

interdisciplinary  cooperation  and  generate 

integrated  scientific 
knowledge  on  marine  and  maritime  issues  and  disseminate  research  results  and 
knowledge; 

–  Promote exchanges between marine science and maritime and marine industries, 
as a way to identify issues of common interest and potential cooperation between 
both sides; 

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"Towards Joint Programming in Research", COM(2008)468 
For instance, since the Madrid summit in 2002, EU-Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) summits have 
been calling for the development of an EU-LAC Knowledge Area. 

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–  Explore  ways  and  means  on  how  scientists  can  be  involved  in  the  commercial 

exploitation of the results stemming from their research; 

–  Foster a concerted dialogue between the scientific community and policy-makers, 
delivering greater consistency between research objectives and policy goals, and 
channelling findings of research towards policies; 

–  Strengthen  partnerships  with  third  countries,  in  particular  toward  countries  with 
which  Europe  shares  sea  basins  in  order  to  enhance  sustainable  management  of 
these common seas. 

The  Commission  is  proposing  the  launch  of  a  new  governance  model  for  research  that  will 
take  the  form  of  a  "Forum"  bringing  together  a  "partnership  sustainable  over  the  long 
term", involving existing networks and all key partners in the marine and maritime research 
and industrial sectors, that will: 

•  Update  the  research  priorities  on  a  continuous  basis,  identify  gaps,  in  consultation  with 
stakeholders,  Member  States  and  the  European  Union  institutions,  and  deliver  strategic 
advice. 

•  Implement the research priorities, with special attention paid to new forms of cooperation, 

innovative financing schemes, dissemination and exploitation of research results; 

•  Develop a foresight function in the medium-term; 

The  partners  in  the  partnership  will  also  be  invited  to  make  proposals  to  strengthen 
cooperation with third countries in order to enhance participation in large-scale international 
research  programmes.  Particular  attention  should  be  paid  to  research  into  the  "blue  ocean" 
beyond national jurisdictions and deep-sea research. Cooperation with countries neighbouring 
the  EU  should  also  be  promoted  in  order  to  define  common  regional  marine  research 
strategies. 

In order to consolidate this partnership process, the Commission foresees proposing actions in 
the coming years aimed at networking within the marine and maritime research communities. 
The Commission will also make the best use of all available tools and instruments to identify 
and promote international research cooperation with neighbours and other Third Countries in 
areas of excellence.  

The  EU  Maritime  Policy  needs  to  be  based  on  best  possible  marine  and  maritime  scientific 
knowledge. Regular two-ways feedback needs to be put in place between marine science and 
maritime policy. Therefore a concerted dialog between the scientific community and maritime 
policy  makers  as  indicated  in  the  Communication  on  an  Integrated  EU  Maritime  Policy 
should complement the partnership process on research described above. 

The Commission will assess in the coming year the conditions under which such an advisory 
mechanism can be established.  

Furthermore, in connection with the EU Maritime Day, the Commission will facilitate from 
2009 the organisation, on a regular basis, of a conference with European marine and maritime 
research stakeholders, while building on the support of a group of outstanding personalities. 

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5. 

CONCLUSIONS 

The  Commission  invites  the  Council  and  European  Parliament  to  endorse  the  Maritime 
Research Strategy for Europe, and in particular: 

•  to endorse the proposed means and actions designed to address the system complexity of 

the oceans and seas; 

•  to endorse the proposed mechanism for marine and maritime research governance; and 

•  to commit to implementing the actions within their respective areas of responsibility. 

The  Commission  will  monitor  implementation  of  this  strategy  and  will  provide  periodic 
reports on its progress. The first report will be presented no later than 2012. 

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