COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Developing a Maritime Strategy for the Atlantic Ocean Area
Date: 2011-11-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Atlantic Ocean, EU programme, France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, coastal region, international waters, shipping policy, sustainable development

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 21.11.2011 
COM(2011) 782 final 

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

Developing a Maritime Strategy for the Atlantic Ocean Area 

(Text with EEA relevance) 

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

Developing a Maritime Strategy for the Atlantic Ocean Area 

(Text with EEA relevance) 

1. 

SCOPE 

The  Atlantic  Ocean,  which  marks  the  western  boundary  of  the  EU,  is  the  second-
largest  of  the  world's  oceans.  This  Communication  responds  to  a  request  from  the 
Council  of  the  European  Union1  (EU)  and  the  European  Parliament2.  It  proposes  a 
coherent and balanced approach that is consistent with the EU 2020 agenda3 and its 
flagship initiatives that promotes territorial cohesion and that takes into account the 
international dimension. 

Whilst this proposed approach will largely focus on helping communities living and 
working  on  the  Atlantic  coast  deal  with  new  economic  realities,  it  also  recognises 
that  the  EU  shares  responsibility  for  stewardship  of  the  world's  oceans.  Broadly 
speaking the strategy will cover the coasts, territorial and jurisdictional waters of the 
five EU Member States with an Atlantic coastline4 – France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain 
and  the  United  Kingdom5  as  well  as  international  waters  reaching  westward  to  the 
Americas,  eastward  to  Africa  and  the  Indian  Ocean,  southward  to  the  Southern 
Ocean and northward to the Arctic Ocean6. In addition to actions concerning the five 
EU Member States, both at a national and local level, engagement is also sought with 
other EU states that use this space and with international partners whose waters touch 
it. The implications of Iceland joining the EU need to be considered. 

All the proposed actions are to be financed within existing programmes and will not 
create any additional impact on the EU budget. 

2. 

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES 

The  challenges  and  opportunities  facing  the  Atlantic  Ocean  area  can  be  grouped 
within five themes. However they do not form  a disjoint  set.  Actions in one theme 

1 
2 
3 
4 

5 

6 

Council Conclusions on Integrated Maritime Policy of 14.06.2010 
Resolution on the European Strategy for the Atlantic Region, 9.03.2011 (ref B7-0165/2011).  
COM (2010) 2020 
The  somewhat  different  challenges  facing  the  coasts  and  waters  of  the  North  Sea  are  not  considered 
here. No decision has yet been made as to whether a separate North Sea strategy will be developed. 
Including  the  Outermost  Regions  of  the  Axores,  the  Canary  Islands,  French  Guiana,  Guadeloupe, 
Madeira, Martinique, Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin 
A separate EU approach to the Arctic has been developed, see COM(2008) 763  

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may also contribute to the objectives of another. All will contribute to the overriding 
objective of creating sustainable jobs and growth. 

2.1. 

Implementing the ecosystem approach 

Management  of  human  activities  in  the  Atlantic  must  deliver  a  healthy  and 
productive ecosystem. It is acknowledged that this approach is best implemented by 
managing  all  activities  that  have  an  impact  on  the  sea  together.  The  ecosystem 
approach is the basis for marine management in both the Common Fisheries Policy 
and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive7. Both instruments include references 
to  enhanced  coherence8.  However,  the  implementation  processes  for  ensuring 
sustainable  fisheries  and  achieving  a  good  environmental  status  are  still  largely 
separate in practice and will require additional effort in the Atlantic Ocean area. 

Therefore,  the  strategy  for  the  Atlantic  must  focus  on  developing  the  following 
aspects: 

– 

– 

Fisheries have been a central plank in economies on both sides of the Atlantic. 
They still provide about one third9 by volume of landings of the EU's fishing 
fleet.  One  quarter  of  the  EU's  imports  of  fish  by  value  are  from  Norway  and 
Iceland.  The  proposed  Common  Fisheries  Policy  (CFP)  reform10  proposes  to 
manage  these  stocks  so  as  to  achieve  maximum  sustainable  yield  whilst 
preserving  goods  and  services  from  living  aquatic  resources  for  present  and 
future generations. Good progress has been made. For instance, in accordance 
with  United  Nations  resolutions  61/105  and  64/72  both  Regional  Fisheries 
Management  Organisations  for  the  North  Atlantic,  the  North  East  Atlantic 
Fisheries Commission and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation have 
closed  fishing  areas  for  bottom  trawling  not  only  to  ensure  the  long-term 
sustainability  of  deep  sea  fish  stocks  but  also  to  preserve  vulnerable  marine 
ecosystems  including  sponges  and  coral.  But  this  should  be  taken  further. 
Single species management must make way for multi-species long-term plans 
that take into account the wider ecosystem. Atlantic Member States must take 
up  the regionalisation opportunities that are created in the Common Fisheries 
Policy Reform to adopt technical measures for the Atlantic. The Commission 
intends  to  propose  an  appropriate  framework  as  soon  as  the  CFP  reform  is 
enacted. 

Aquaculture can satisfy EU demand for healthy and sustainably produced fish 
products  over  and  above  the  level  that  can  be  provided  by  capture  fisheries. 
The  Atlantic's  clean  coastal  waters  washed  by  strong  tides  provide  an 
opportunity for meeting this demand, remaining competitive in a global market 
and  respecting  the  environment.  However,  shortage  of  space  on  the  Atlantic 
seaboard  currently 
limits  expansion.  While  continuing  research,  new 
technologies  and  innovative  engineering  will  allow  the  industry  to  move 
further  offshore,  the  sharing  of  space  with  other  infrastructure  such  as  wind 

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8 
9 
10 

See in particular OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, p. 19., art 1(3) Marine strategies shall apply an ecosystem based 
approach to the management of human activities 
See e.g. recitals 39 and 40 of MSFD, and recital 8 and Article 2(4) of proposed Regulation for the CFP. 
Excluding North Sea 
COM(2011) 417 Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy 

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turbine  platforms  is  an  opportunity  that  should  be  considered  at  the  outset  of 
any licensing process. The strategy must therefore promote spatial planning as 
a  tool  for  implementing  the  ecosystem  approach  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean  area. 
Such  a  process  should  strengthen  coherence,  connectivity  and  resilience  of 
marine  protected  areas  in  the  Atlantic  in  line  with  the  EU  biodiversity  action 
plan.  

EU instruments for an integrated maritime policy and territorial cooperation are 
already  supporting  pilot  projects  on  spatial  planning  and  coastal  zone 
management in the Atlantic. The European Commission is currently examining 
options  for  a  more  structured  approach  towards  these  mechanisms  that  will 
allow the Atlantic Member States and stakeholders to implement the ecosystem 
approach. 

– 

Finally,  Atlantic  oceanic  circulation  drives  changes  in  European  terrestrial  as 
well as marine ecosystems. Forecasting future changes in Europe's climate and 
adapting to these changes will never be achieved without better understanding 
of the Atlantic. This calls for sustainable observation systems, from space and 
at  sea,  of  key  marine  variables.  European  and  North  American  partners 
contribute  to  the  Argo  programme  that  has  already  deployed  an  array  of  900 
floats  that  continuously  monitor  the  temperature  and  salinity  of  the  upper 
Atlantic  Ocean.  The  Commission  intends  to  examine  options  to  support  this 
ocean  observing  system  and  prepare,  together  with  partners,  its  extension  to 
greater depths and biogeochemical as well as physical parameters. 

2.2. 

Reducing Europe's carbon footprint 

As climate change mitigation is an integral part of all EU policies, the strategy must 
focus on the following elements: 

– 

– 

The Atlantic has stronger winds than the other seas that wash Europe's shores. 
Not  only  does  this  offer  clean  energy  but  it  can  also  contribute  to  reducing 
dependency  on  distant  sources  of  fossil  fuel.  Wind  turbines  are  included  in 
EU's  Strategic  Energy  Plan  and  already  moving  offshore11  in  order  to  benefit 
from stronger winds and reduced landscape impact. The expansion of offshore 
wind farms in the Atlantic will offer key industrial opportunities for the ports 
that  service  them.  By  2020,  around  20%  of  the  European  offshore  wind 
installed capacity could be located in the Atlantic basin.  

The  potential  of  the  Atlantic's  powerful  waves  and  strong  tides  needs  to  be 
exploited as well. The predictable nature of energy from tides can complement 
the fluctuating energy from wind. Islands can receive a high proportion of their 
energy  from  the  sea.  However  successful  deployment  of  large  scale  offshore 
renewable energy will only happen if grid connections are ensured to link the 
main production centres to the consumption. Ten European countries agreed in 
December  2010  to  develop  an  offshore  electricity  grid  in  the  adjacent  North 
Sea. In its new guidelines for implementing Europe's energy infrastructures the 
Commission  will propose that  the  Irish  Sea be included along with the North 

11 

COM (2008) 768 , 13.11.2008). 

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Sea and the Baltic in a "Northern Seas offshore grid" that will be considered as 
an "energy infrastructure priority". This will speed up the process for granting 
of permits. 

The  Commission  intends  to  implement  the  Council  request12  to  explore 
synergies  between  the  European  Energy  Policy  and  the  integrated  maritime 
policy in order to promote more energy generation from the sea, in particular 
wave, tide, currents and thermal gradient sources, including from the Atlantic. 

– 

Changes  in  maritime  transport  will  also  contribute  to  the  carbon  footprint 
reduction in the Atlantic.  

Negotiations  under  the  auspices  of  the  International  Maritime  Organisation 
(IMO)  are  underway  to  reduce  greenhouse  gas  emissions  from  international 
shipping.  The  adoption  of  the  Energy  Efficiency  Design  Index  will  reduce 
emissions from ships built after 2013. As well as favouring more fuel-efficient 
ships,  emissions  targets  may  influence  the  routing  of  Atlantic  shipping.  The 
Atlantic strategy should reflect how Atlantic shipping would operate under the 
constraints  of  increased  volume  of  shipping  and  lower  emissions  of  carbon 
dioxide. 

Shifting  freight  from  road  to  sea  will  also  lower  emissions.  In  line  with  the 
recent  EU  White  Paper  on  transport,  actions  aimed  at  integrating  waterborne 
transport into Europe's transport network are underway. The Atlantic does not 
host  any  of  Europe's  megaports  but  rather  a  number  of  significant  smaller 
ports.  The  EU  "motorways  of  the  sea"  projects  already  contribute  through 
existing  routes  between  Bilbao  and  Zeebrugge,  between  Sines  and  La  Spezia 
and  a  new  route  between  Gijón  and  Saint-Nazaire  route  that  will  soon  be 
upgraded  to  provide  a  higher  frequency.  A  route  is  planned  between  Nantes-
Saint-Nazaire  and  Vigo,  to  be  extended  at  a  later  stage  to  Le  Havre  and 
Algesiras. A line between Brest and Leixões should begin operations in 2014. 
Atlantic  regional  authorities,  are  considering  further  development  of 
multimodal  transport  corridors,  as  part  of  the  European  Transport  Network 
(TEN-T). Other EU actions to increase the efficiency of short sea shipping in 
the Atlantic include the implementation of the "European Maritime Transport 
Space  without  Barriers"13  and  the  "Blue  Belt"  pilot  project  to  reduce 
administrative burdens such as customs procedures for intra-EU cargo traffic. 
The Commission will assess progress by 2012. A maritime transport dialogue 
with the United States maritime administration has resulted in a memorandum 
of cooperation on short sea shipping signed in 2011. Results from the regional 
authorities  reflection,  the  Commission's  progress  report  and  lessons  learned 
from  cooperation  with  other  maritime  authorities  will  feed  into  the  Atlantic 
strategy's efforts to increase the volume of short sea shipping. 

12 
13 

General Affairs Council, 16 November 2009 
COM(2009) 10 , January 2009 

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2.3. 

Sustainable exploitation of the Atlantic seafloor's natural resources 

This  strategy  should  aim  to  focus  on  the  following  aspects  in  order  to  develop  the 
sustainable exploitation of the Atlantic seafloor's natural resources: 

– 

The  recent  Commission  Communication  on  tackling  the  challenges  in 
commodity  markets  and  on  raw  materials14  emphasises  the  need  to  increase 
investment  in  Europe's  natural  assets  whilst  ensuring  that  minerals  are 
extracted under safe conditions that respect the environment and work force. In 
2010  the  International  Seabed  Authority  adopted  regulations  on  prospecting 
and exploration for polymetallic nodules15 and in July 2011 issued a licence for 
prospecting an area in the northern zone of the mid-Atlantic ridge. The efforts 
of  current  contractors  with  the  Authority  are  primarily  directed  at  long-term 
geological  and  environmental  studies,  financed  through  government  funding 
rather than commercially driven exploration. The European Partnership on raw 
materials  planned  by  the  Commission  within  the  framework  of  the  EU2020 
Flagship  on  Innovation  Union16  will  include  promotion  of  research  and 
innovation for sustainable access to marine raw materials.  

–  Marine  research  institutes  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  are  well  placed  to 
deepen  understanding  of  what  the  rich  biodiversity  of  the  ocean  can  offer 
further  for  food,  fuel  and  pharmaceuticals  whilst  preserving  its  ecosystem 
functions. Increasingly they are working together. The five EU Atlantic states 
and  other  EU  Member  States  as  well  as  Norway  and  Iceland  are  already 
cooperating  under  the  umbrella  of  the  Seventh  Framework  Programme  17 
SEAS-era  coordination  action18  and  are  currently  preparing  the  new  Joint 
Programming  Initiative  "Healthy  and  Productive  Seas  and  Oceans"19  to  share 
work amongst national marine research programmes. While it has been hard to 
construct  transatlantic  partnerships  because  of  the  need  to  align  the  timing  of 
funding  opportunities,  the  Commisison  will  seek  to  define  arrangements 
allowing  organisations  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  to  contribute  to  joint 
projects . 

– 

Access to the data produced by research institutes and other public authorities 
has  not  always  been  easy  in  the  past.  The  EU's  marine  knowledge  2020 
initiative20  will  support  business  and  conservation  authorities  by  providing  a 
unique  access  point  for  marine  data  harmonised  over  sea-basins,  so  reducing 
the cost of assembling the data necessary to design, build and operate coastal or 
offshore infrastructure. Unlocking the patrimony  of  marine  data  will  not  only 
make  existing  business  processes  more  competitive  but  will  stimulate 
innovation  by  opening  access  to  previously-excluded  researchers  and  small 
businesses..  It  is  intended  that  the  EU  efforts  also  contribute  towards  global 

14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 

COM (2011) 25 , February 2011. 
ISBA/6/A/18, annex 
COM(2010) 546 final 
EU chief instrument for funding research and technology development  
SEAS-era: Towards Integrated Marine Research Strategy and Programmes – http://www.seas-era.eu 
http://www.jpi-oceans.eu 
Commission  Communication  "Marine  knowledge  2020:  marine  data  and  observation  for  smart  and 
sustainable growth" (COM (2010) 461, 8.9.2010).  

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open  access  initiatives  such  as  GEBCO21  and  OneGeology22,.  The  strategy 
should reflect on the opportunities these developments open up for the Atlantic 
Ocean area. 

2.4. 

Responding to threats and emergencies 

The  EU  needs  to  be  prepared  for  threats  and  emergencies  in  the  Atlantic  whether 
they  are  caused  by  accidents,  natural  disasters  or  criminal  activity.  The  following 
aspects are priorities for the Atlantic Ocean area : 

– 

The  adoption  of  important  legislative  measures  on  maritime  safety,  the  latest 
being  the  third  maritime  safety  package  in  200923  has  reduced  the  risk  of 
shipping  accidents.  The  Bonn  and  Lisbon  Agreements24  have  driven 
coordination  between  Member  States  on  marine  disaster  preparedness  and 
response.  The  Paris  Memorandum  of  Understanding,  has  led  to  more  than 
24.000 ship inspections annually. However accidents can still happen and the 
Atlantic  seaboard  remains  vulnerable  to  natural  events  such  as  the  storms 
which struck the Vendée in 2010. The changing climate added to other human 
impacts on the sea means that past behaviour may not be a guide for the future. 
The unexpected must always be expected  

The  first  hours  in  a  crisis  are  vital  and  events  with  a  local  impact  need  help 
from  neighbours.  Mechanisms  must  be  in  place  before  storms,  earthquakes, 
tsunamis,  nuclear  accidents,  invasions  of  alien  species,  or  oil  spills.  Early 
warnings  require  continuous  monitoring  of  the  sea,  fast  transmission  of 
information, coordination of response teams and mobilisation of expert advice 
The Commission is leading work on prevention and preparedness including a 
risk management policy25 linking threat and risk assessment to decision making 
and  the  development  of  scenario  planning  for  cross-border  disasters.  In  the 
event  of  a  major  emergency  the  EU  Civil  Protection  Mechanism  facilitates 
coordination  and  transportation  of  assistance  from  Member  States  and  the 
European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).. Accurate marine forecasting built 
on  the  marine  core  service  of  the  Global  Monitoring  for  Environment  and 
Security programme can contribute. It delivers separate forecasts for the North 
West  shelf  and  the  Iberian  and  Biscay  area.  National  and  regional  authorities 
responsible for protecting the Atlantic coastline and the people who live there 
should  consider  projects  for  testing  readiness  under  the  EU's  territorial 
cooperation programme and take active engagement in the EU Civil Protection 
Mechanism. 

– 

The Atlantic is Europe's lifeline for trade. Europe's security of supply must be 
absolutely secure and the trafficking of arms, people and drugs must stop The 
EU  and  US  economies  account  for  about  half  the  world's  GDP  and  nearly  a 

21 
22 

23 
24 

25 

General bathymetric chart of the Oceans 
an international initiative of the geological surveys of the world launched in 2007 to contribute to the 
'International Year of Planet Earth', 
Regulations of 23 April 2009 (OJ L 131, 28/05/2009) and subsequent related Directives.. 
The  Lisbon  Agreement  sets  the  implementation  of  the  International  Action  Centre  for  Pollution 
Incidents Response in the north-east Atlantic (CILPAN). 
Risk assessment and mapping guidelines for disaster management SEC(2010)1626  

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third  of  the  world's  trade  flows.  In  June  2011  these  two  partners  agreed  to 
mutually recognise standards in order to reduce regulatory bottlenecks to trade 
whilst  ensuring  security  of  the  transatlantic  lifeline.  The  strategy  for  other 
critical  maritime  routes  is  to  build  capacity  in  coastal  states.  A  needs 
assessment is underway to determine what measures under the instrument for 
stability  could  reduce  piracy,  armed  robbery  at  sea  and  hostage  taking  in  the 
Gulf of Guinea. 

The  European  Maritime  Safety  Agency's  SafeSeaNet  already  provides  an 
integration of mandatory declarations from ships and a gateway to signals from 
their  Automatic  Identification  System  (AIS)  picked  up  by  coastal  stations. 
Fishing vessels are tracked through the Vessel Monitoring system and the Long 
Range Identification and Tracking system allows all passenger and cargo ships 
above 300 tonnes within one thousand nautical miles of the European coast to 
be  monitored.  Tracking  of  ships  even  further  away  with  other  technologies26 
has also been demonstrated. However those fighting threats such as smuggling, 
illegal  fishing  or  trafficking  do  not  yet  have  access  to  the  complete  picture 
because data sharing agreements between different authorities are not yet fully 
in  place.  Atlantic  regions  will  therefore  benefit  from  ongoing  EU-level 
measures  to  promote  the  development  of  Common  Information  Sharing 
Environment  (CISE)  which  will  link  systems  such  as  the  European  Border 
Surveillance  System  (EUROSUR),  for  the  exchange  of  information  on 
irregular migration and cross-border crime and the SafeSeaNet system. Sharing 
of information is not a purely internal EU concern. For instance in September 
2011 the United States and the European Union agreed to share information on 
illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The focus of the Atlantic strategy 
must be to maximise the benefit from sharing. 

2.5. 

Socially inclusive growth 

Whilst  there  is  considerable  variation  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  many  communities 
need to cope with a decline in employment in fisheries and shipbuilding, the shift of 
mass  tourism  to  sunnier  climes  and  the  tendency  of  elderly  people  to  choose  the 
coast for retirement. The challenge is to ensure that new high-added value jobs are 
created  at  the  coast  and  at  the  same  that  those  who  seek  employment  in  the  new 
economy have the right skills to do them.  

–  Wider mutual recognition of training, including the next generation of marine 
scientists27,  re-training  and  professional  qualifications  are  required  to  retain 
maritime expertise and restore the attractiveness of maritime professions. There 
is a need to make better use of the experience of people retired from maritime 
professions  and  to  attract  young  people  to  maritime  careers.  Dialogue  with 
social  partners  on  working  conditions  for  fishermen  and  seafarers  should 
continue.  The  Commission  has  begun  work  on  evaluating 
the  2005 
Professional Qualifications Directive which will culminate in a Green Paper in 

26 
27 

For instanced using satellites to pick up signals from ships' Automatic Identification Systems 
European  Maritime  Day  2010  workshop  "Towards  a  European  Young  Marine  Scientists  and 
Technologist Forum": www.eurocean.org/euymast/ 

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2011  and  a  revision  of  the  Directive  in  2012.  The  strategy  should  aim  to 
include input from Atlantic maritime industries in these efforts. 

Regional clustering of maritime industries with educational establishments can 
ensure  a  skilled  workforce  and  promote  labour  mobility  within  sectors.  For 
instance  the  Brest  offshore  industry  benefits  from  the  vicinity  of  institutions 
providing  teaching  and  research  on  the  sea.  And  the  Irish  Marine  Insitute's 
SmartOcean 
technology 
companies and small enterprises in the development of high-value products for 
the  marine  industry.  The  advent  of  new  communication  technologies  means 
that  a  critical  mass  of  industries  and  researchers  in  geographically  separate 
locations can set up virtual clusters. The strategy should focus on encouraging 
the development of these clusters through territorial cooperation projects. 

initiative  engages  multinational 

information 

– 

A  discerning  tourism28  can  help  regenerate  some  Atlantic  coastal  areas  but  it 
needs  to  attract  all-year  round  trade  rather  than  summertime  only  in  order  to 
support  quality  jobs.  The  Atlantic's  rough  natural  beauty,  rich  biodiversity, 
traditional  seafood  cuisine  and  Celtic  culture  are  assets  that  can  be  readily 
exploited. Nautical activities are an important source of revenue and a creator 
of  high-value  jobs,  however  the  Atlantic  coast  has  a  major  deficit  in  berths 
especially for large recreational vessels. The cruise industry's dramatic growth 
elsewhere  has  not  yet  been  replicated  in  the  Atlantic.  The  Atlantic  strategy 
should incorporate the opportunities for development in this field. 

3. 

EU TOOLS 

EU  legislative  instruments  with  important  impacts  on  the  sea  and  allowing 
considerable  local  autonomy  are  at  an  early  stage  of  maturity  and  financial 
instruments  for  the  EU’s  programming  period  2014-2020  are  being  prepared. 
Programming  decisions  made  now  and  in  the  near  future  will  have  an  impact 
throughout  this  period.  It  is  therefore  essential  that  the  Atlantic  stakeholders  are 
ready to use these instruments to meet the challenges identified here. The main tools 
are: 

– 

a Common  Strategic  Framework  for  structural  funding  that  will  translate  the 
targets and objectives of Europe 2020 into key actions and focus on areas such 
as energy and the environment. It will identify key actions needed in relation to 
headline  targets  and  flagship  initiatives.  The  Common  Strategic  Framework 
will encompass the actions covered today by the Cohesion Fund, the European 
Regional  Development  Fund,  the  European  Social  Fund,  the  European 
Maritime  and  Fisheries  Fund  and  the  European  Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural 
Development  and  identify  linkages  and  coordination  mechanisms  with  other 
EU instruments such as programmes for research, innovation, lifelong learning, 
and networks 

– 

Horizon 2020 - a Common Strategic Framework for  research, innovation and 
technological  development  which  will  link  strongly  with  national  research 

28 

COM (2010)352 , 30.06.2010 

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programmes  to  promote  excellence,  tackle  societal  challenges  and  boost 
competitivess. Research, technological development and innovation can create 
sustainable  growth  opportunities  that  compensate  for  the  relative  decline  of 
traditional  maritime  industries.  The  ongoing  SEAS-ERA  project  will  deliver 
specific priorities for the Atlantic basin that can feed into the work programmes 
of the new Framework. 

a  reformed  Common  Fisheries  Policy.  The  Commission  has  proposed29  an 
agenda  with  ambitious  regionalisation  and  simplification  targets.  While  key 
decisions  on  objectives,  targets,  minimum  common  standards,  results  and 
delivery  timeframes  remain  at  EU  level,  Member  States  should  have  the 
flexibility  to  decide  on  other  measures  for  fisheries  management,  under  the 
supervision of the Commission and in full compliance with EU law. Member 
States from the Atlantic have welcomed this devolution and expect it to lead to 
a  fisheries  management  that  is  able  to  react  more  quickly  and  efficiently  to 
changing ecological or economic conditions. 

the Marine Strategy Framework Directive30 which establishes a framework to 
achieve  or  maintain  good  environmental  status  in  the  marine  environment  by 
the  year  2020  at  the  latest.  Good  Environmental  Status  is  at  the  level  of  the 
marine region31, so cooperation between coastal states in defining, monitoring 
and assessing good environmental status is necessary. 

the  maritime  policy  flagship  initiatives  on  maritime  surveillance,  marine 
knowledge  and  maritime  spatial  planning.  These  will  set  standards  at  an  EU 
level  but  will  also  include  measures  specific  to  the  Atlantic.  For  instance  the 
process  to  improve  marine  knowledge  includes  separate  "checkpoints"  to 
determine  gaps,  duplications  and  priorities  in  marine  monitoring  programmes 
for the Bay of Biscay, the Celtic seas, the Iberian coast and Macaronesia. 

foreign policy instruments such as the EDF (European Development Fund) and 
the  EU’s  Critical  Maritime  Routes  programme  to  engage  third  countries  in 
protection  of  Atlantic  shipping,  but  also  through  international  (through  IMO) 
and bilateral dialogue with partners in the Atlantic region.  

There is a need to prioritise research, pilot projects, dialogues, partnerships and 
investments  in  strategic  and  programme  proposals  within  this  framework  in 
order to deliver the most effective package for the benefit of the Atlantic. 

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4. 

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY 

The  Atlantic  strategy  will  not  work  only  with  action  from  the  EU  institutions.  It 
requires  engagement  from  Member  States,  regions,  local  authorities  and  private 

29 
30 
31 

COM(2011) 417  
Directive 2008/56/EC of 17 June 2008  
According to Article 4, the north east Atlantic marine region is divided in the following sub-regions: (i) 
the Greater North Sea, including the Kattegat, and the English Channel; (ii) the Celtic Seas; (iii) the Bay 
of  Biscay  and  the  Iberian  Coast;  (iv)  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  the  Macaronesian  biogeographic  region, 
being the waters surrounding the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands.  

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industry as well as think tanks. Developing the strategy for the Atlantic Ocean area is 
therefore based on the following methodology: 

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– 

– 

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building  on  the  active  engagement  and  initiative  of  Atlantic  Member  States, 
regions  and  other  stakeholders  in  designing  and  implementing  actions 
including  input  from  Local  Action  Groups.  These  are  groups  of  public  and 
private partners who receive specific support from the European Fisheries Fund 
and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development in order to identify 
investments by the EU. This self-help bottom-up approach has provided local 
communities with the means to develop new economic activities in areas where 
traditional  opportunities  are  declining  and  should  continue  in  the  new  post-
2013 structural funding. 

promoting  international  cooperation  on  issues  such  as  observation,  data 
sharing,  marine  assessments,  research,  reducing  emissions  and  pollution  from 
ships,  safe  and  secure  navigation,  port  security,  the  fight  against  piracy,  and 
countering illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing 

adopting an Action Plan for the strategy by the end of 2013, indicating specific 
projects and actions recommended for support.  

"Smart governance" to implement the strategy, building on current structures 

The tools to implement the strategy are: 

– 

– 

– 

enhanced  cooperation  -  meetings,  conferences,  workshops,  on-line  discussion 
and information sites. 

targeted actions within existing agreements and structures such as the OSPAR 
Convention,  regional  fisheries  organisations  and  the  International  Maritime 
Organisation. 

a  strategic  combination  of  the  EU's  financing  and  legislative  instruments 
defined in section 3 to achieve Atlantic objectives  

As  a  first  step,  an  Atlantic  Forum  will  be  set  up  that  will  allow  Member  States, 
Parliament,  regional  authorities,  civil  society  and  representatives  of  existing  and 
emerging industries to contribute. It will include a set of workshops focused on the 
challenges and opportunities outlined above and a think tank to suggest options for 
achieving the objectives. The Forum is expected to commence work in 2012 and be 
dissolved in 2013. 

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