2009/89/EC: Council Decision of 4 December 2008 on the signing, on behalf of the European Community, of the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean
Date: 2008-12-04
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Mediterranean Sea, environmental protection, international convention, marine environment, the EU's international role

4.2.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 34/17

(Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory)

II

DECISIONS

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 4 December 2008

on the signing, on behalf of the European Community, of the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone
Management in the Mediterranean to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment
and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean

(2009/89/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

of existing conventions with neighbouring countries,
including non-Member States, in the same regional sea.

Having regard to the Treaty
Community, and in particular Article 175(1),
with
sentence
Article 300(2), thereof,

establishing the European
in conjunction
of
paragraph

first

first

the

the

of

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

The Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean
Sea against Pollution, which was subsequently renamed
as the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Envi­
ronment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean
(hereinafter the Barcelona Convention) was concluded
on behalf of
the European Community by Council
Decisions 77/585/EEC (1) and 1999/802/EC (2).

In accordance with Article 4.3(e) of
the Barcelona
Convention, the Contracting Parties shall commit them­
the
selves to promote the integrated management of
coastal zones,
the protection of
taking into account
areas of ecological and landscape interest and the
rational use of natural resources.

The Recommendation of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 30 May 2002, concerning the implemen­
tation of
in
Europe (3),
in particular Chapter V thereof,
encourages the implementation by the Member States
of integrated coastal zone management in the context

Integrated Coastal Zone Management
and

(1) OJ L 240, 19.9.1977, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 322, 14.12.1999, p. 32.
(3) OJ L 148, 6.6.2002, p. 24.

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

scale by means of horizontal

The Community promotes integrated management on a
larger
instruments,
including in the field of environmental protection.
These
to integrated
therefore
activities
coastal zone management.

contribute

Integrated Coastal Zone Management is one component
of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy as endorsed by the
European Council
and
14 December 2007.

Lisbon

held

13

on

in

participated

By virtue of a Council Decision of 27 November 2006,
the Commission
the
Community, in consultation with the representatives of
the Member States, in the negotiations organised by the
Barcelona Convention with a view to preparing a
Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management
in
the Mediterranean (hereinafter the ICZM Protocol).

behalf

on

of

As a result of those negotiations, the text of the ICZM
Protocol was adopted by the Conference of Plenipoten­
tiaries on 20 January 2008 and it will be open for
signature until 20 January 2009.

resources. The

ICZM Protocol provides

The Mediterranean coastal zones continue to experience
high pressures on the environment and degradation of
coastal
a
framework to stimulate a more concerted and integrated
approach,
involving public and private stakeholders
including civil society and economic operators. Such an
inclusive approach is required to address these problems
more effectively and achieve a more sustainable develop­
ment of the Mediterranean coastal zones.

L 34/18

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

4.2.2009

(9)

The ICZM Protocol covers a broad range of provisions
which will need to be implemented by different levels of
administration taking the subsidiarity and proportionality
principles into account. While it is appropriate for the
Community to act in support of integrated coastal zone
management, bearing in mind, inter alia, the cross-border
nature of most environmental problems,
the Member
States and their relevant competent authorities will be
responsible for the design and implementation on the
coastal territory of certain detailed measures laid down
in the ICZM Protocol, such as the establishment of zones
where construction is not allowed.

(10)

It is appropriate that the ICZM Protocol be signed, on
behalf of
to its subsequent
conclusion at a later date,

the Community, subject

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The signing of
the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone
Management in the Mediterranean to the Convention for the

Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region
of
the
the Mediterranean is hereby approved on behalf of
European Community, subject to its subsequent conclusion at
a later date.

The text of the ICZM Protocol is attached to this Decision (1).

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate
the person(s) empowered to sign the ICZM Protocol on behalf
of the Community.

Done at Brussels, 4 December 2008.

For the Council
The President

N. KOSCIUSKO-MORIZET

(1) See page 19 of this Official Journal.