EU Maritime Policy
The European Commission has launched the Integrated Maritime Policy for the EU (IMP) by means of a Green Paper, published in June 2006. A year-long consultation period ensued, which resulted in the adoption of the so called “Blue Book”, a Commission Communication outlining the Maritime Policy for the EU. Attached to the Blue Book was an Action Plan containing several sectoral actions which should contribute to an integrated approach to maritime affairs in Europe.
Seas At Risk’s main concern was that the IMP appeared as an economic agenda, promising to harness the economic potential of the seas and oceans, while only paying lip-service to environmental sustainability. While the Blue Book acknowledged the increasing pressures threatening coastal and marine ecosystems, it quickly went on to suggest how to increase the economic benefits to be reaped from Europe’s seas – by increasing those pressures. While briefly acknowledging that a healthy and clean marine environment is the basis for a sustainable and profitable maritime economic sector, the Maritime Policy only sees the marine environment and the Directive designed to protect it and restore it to health as a mere “pillar”, which has to compete with broader economic considerations.
Seas At Risk's view is that environmental protection should be at the heart of any long-term economic agenda. After having made this point clear during the consultation period that led to the adoption of the Blue Book, Seas At Risk is now pushing for an environmentally sound implementation of the Action Plan, in full compliance with the provisions of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).
In its progress report on the implementation of the IMP, the Commission has outlined 6 strategic directions for the development of the IMP – including the need to establish “boundaries of sustainability”, as defined by the provisions of the MSFD. Seas At Risk and other NGOs have welcomed this strategic direction, and developed ideas for the future of the IMP (see below).
Joint NGO contribution to the future of the EU's Integrated Maritime Policy (April 2010)
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European Commission's progress report on the Integrated Maritime Policy
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Joint NGO statement on maritime policy (June 2008)
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To visit the European Commission's web pages on maritime affairs
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