Summary of the Communication from the Commission (Com(2007) 575) “An Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union”, 10 October 2007
On 10 October the European Commission published a Communication and an Action Plan (also referred to as a “Blue Paper”) on a Maritime Policy for the European Union. In these documents the European Commission summarises the results of the one-year consultation period of its 2006 Green Paper on a European Maritime Policy and announces an array of measures for the next couple of years.
Whereas the Green Paper was written in a style that tended to pose open questions about the need for, and the content of, a possible future Maritime Policy, in the Blue Paper the Commission goes a step further and argues that the European Union clearly needs an all embracing and integrated Maritime Policy.
The Commission stresses again the high importance of the oceans and seas for the European economy and society at large and argues that the sustainable use of the marine environment is a prerequisite for those benefits to be maintained. In the Commission’s view the best policy approach towards ensuring sustainability is a coherent and cross-sectoral maritime policy which adds value by providing a policy framework in which all maritime sectors can be optimally developed.
The main objective of the Maritime Policy should be to maintain the EU’s leading competitive position in an increasingly integrated world economy by providing for a model of sustainable development. Therefore, the new policy will aim at creating optimal conditions for sustainable growth of the maritime sectors and the coastal regions.
The Commission then looks at the different players in the maritime sector and announces an array of policy actions for the next couple of years. It highlights the vital role which shipping plays in international trade, and argues that maritime transport must remain the backbone of the European Maritime cluster. Therefore, an essential objective of the maritime policy should be to establish a high level of maritime safety and security, helping to safeguard human lives and the environment, while at the same time promoting a level playing field.
In the Commission’s view the formation of multi-sectoral clusters and regional centres of maritime excellence should be promoted in order to have established by 2010 a European network of maritime clusters. Secondly, the Commission announces that it will bring forward proposals for the creation of a Common European Maritime Transport Space, whose main purpose will be to eliminate the disadvantages of European shipping vis-à-vis the other modes of transport by simplifying the administrative and customs formalities for intra-EU services. These proposals will include a maritime transport strategy 2008-2018, an initial list of Motorways of the Sea links by 2009, and the deployment of e-maritime services.
The Commission identifies shortages of skilled seafarers as a major constraint on the further development of the maritime sector and announces that it will work with all concerned parties to design a system providing young Europeans with better career prospects in the maritime cluster. In this light the Commission will also review, in close cooperation with the social partners, the exclusions of the maritime sectors from the EU’s social legislation, contribute to the improvement of working conditions and safety on board ships, and lead international initiatives towards mandatory safe staffing requirements on board ships.The Commission is convinced that ensuring the highest level of maritime skills also requires broadening the scope of maritime studies to raise the status of seafaring professions and provide skilled personnel for the maritime clusters. Therefore, the Commission will, in close cooperation with all relevant stakeholders, work towards a Certificate of Maritime Excellence and ensure that the qualification for seafarers goes beyond the STCW Convention requirements. Another aspect raised by the Commission in this context is the visibility of Maritime Europe, which should be enhanced. Greater public awareness of the public about the important role of the maritime sector would, according to the Commission, also help in recruiting young people into the maritime professions. Against this background the Commission proposes, among others, to celebrate a European Maritime Day from 2008, which will be accompanied by a week full of associated events, and to support projects that enhance the knowledge and visibility of Europe’s maritime heritage.
Turning to the ports the Commission argues that the European seaports are an essential link in the logistics chain, on which the European economy depends. Port capacity development must go hand in hand with the growth of international trade while at the same being compatible with the EU’s environmental goals. The ports must, however, grow in a sustainable way. In this light the Commission announces that it will propose a new ports policy, taking into account the multiple roles of ports and the wider context of European logistics,. Moreover, the Commission will bring forward proposals to reduce the levels of air pollution in ports, namely by removing tax disadvantages for shore side electricity. The Commission will also examine regulations affecting the establishment and operation of tourism and leisure ports, and the operations of cruise ships, in order to ensure their sustainable development.
The Blue Paper points out that ocean sustainability is today widely recognised as a major global challenge, intimately connected with climate change. Increasing competition for marine space and the cumulative impact of human activities on marine ecosystems require a more collaborative and integrated approach. In order to tackle this issue Commission suggests spatial planning as a neutral tool to arbitrate between conflicting or competing activities or interests.
The ecosystem approach to environmental conservation and sustainability will include initiatives already well underway, including the Marine Strategy Directive, the Green Paper on Ship Dismantling and the Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change.
Emissions in the form of sulphur, NOx, particulate matter and greenhouse gases are all still considered as major problems. However, as pollution and global warming are global issues the Commission considers that these are best addressed at global level i.e. at the IMO or the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Further action may be taken at EU level on shore-side electricity where the Action Plan stipulates a revision of Directive 2003/96/EC to apply total or partial exemptions from electricity taxes to ships using shore electricity from the harbour so that it is competitive with untaxed bunker fuel. The Paper furthermore considers activity in the Arctic Ocean, for which it will issue a strategy combining maritime activity with protection of the environment and biodiversity by 2008. As far as Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) are concerned, the importance of multilateral agreements is highlighted in particular under UNCLOS and for biodiversity. In addition, however, the Commission envisages a strategy for the high seas by 2009.
In the Commission’s view more co-ordinated maritime research activities are also necessary to ensure European global leadership of the maritime sector. In the view of the Commission an issue that needs to be explored is how research can better contribute to innovation and how to transform more efficiently knowledge and skills into industrial products and services. In this light the Commission will propose an EU strategy for marine and maritime science by 2008. Furthermore, it will support the establishment of a European Marine Science Network and launch joint, cross-cutting calls on strategic maritime issues under the 7th Research Framework Programme.
The Commission also wants to work towards more efficient international governance of maritime affairs and the effective enforcement of relevant international law. It would like to see a stronger voice and role for the EU in key maritime agreements and organisations and will promote the coordination of European interests in key international forums. It wants to raise the profile of maritime affairs in bilateral discussions with the EU’s strategic international partners and develop a shared responsibility for the seas its shares with its closest neighbours.
Another question addressed by the Commission relates to the governance framework and tools to implement the Maritime Policy. Achieving integrated maritime governance is perceived as a major challenge for the realisation of the policy, and while the policy will require common agreements at the European level the Commission is also quite clear that analogous agreements are required at the Member States' level for their own national maritime policy.In order to encourage and monitor this process the Commission will issue a set of guidelines and will report on the Member States’ actions by 2009. However, the Commission also sees an important role for the stakeholders, who are expected to take part in the governance process. In order to formalise stakeholder input the Commission will organise a stakeholder consultation structure, feeding into annually published progress reports on maritime policy.An important part on this structure will be an annual stakeholder conference, the first of which is planned for 2009. Furthermore, the Commission intends to draw up a list of regulatory obstacles to the implementation of the Maritime Policy. The stakeholders are invited to contribute to establishing this list.
Finally, the Commission looks at the necessary tools for the implementation of the Policy. It finds that the availability of, and easy access to, appropriate marine data is of utmost importance. Therefore, a European Marine Observation and Data network should be developed that will facilitate access to high-quality and mutually compatible data through a common gateway. The Commission plans to provide a Road Map for this by 2008, which should subsequently lead to the publication of an Action Plan in 2009.Another project in this domain isa plan to push ahead with the multi-dimensional mapping of the Member States’ coastal waters. A Road Map for this should be available by 2009. Furthermore, the Commission perceives spatial planning as an important tool for the sustainable development of maritime and coastal regions. It stresses that the decision-making competence in this areas lies with the Member States but calls for common principles and guidelines. A first step to achieve this will be the establishment of a system of best practice among the Member States.A roadmap to facilitate the development of maritime special planning by the Member States will be developed in 2008. However, the Commission also takes the view that the maritime surveillance activities need to be improved for Europe to face the challenges and threats related to safety of navigation and security. The Commission will therefore propose steps towards a more integrated surveillance system and facilitate a platform of better information sharing and for enhanced cooperation among the Member States’ coastguards.
The papers also address the issue of sustainable fishing and aquaculture but these issues have not been included in this summary note.
The Commission’s Communication and the Action plan can be found at
ADS Insight Sprl
Blue paper summary.doc
KD/TS/CK 10 October 2007
1