Marine Environment and Coasts
 The European Commission launched a review of the EU ICZM Recommendation, with a view to a follow-up proposal by the end of 2011. An impact assessment was conducted to explore the need and options for future EU action and to assess potential social, economic and environmental consequences that new initiatives proposed by the European Commission may have.
On 23 March the Commission launched an on-line public consultation, for 8 weeks, to seek the views of stakeholders and all interested parties to inform the impact assessment. The consultation report can be downloaded here.
To complete the consultation the European Commission organised a public hearing on 30th of May 2011 to discuss options for future EU action in the field of Integrated Coastal Zone Management. All those interested in coastal planning and management were invited to participate.
The OURCOAST Stakeholder Conference "Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Europe: the way forward" took place on 27-28 October in Riga. More details can be found here.
The next informal meeting of the Water and Marine Directors of the European Union, Candidate and EFTA Countries will take place on 4-5 June 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Commission to analyse possible action against use of plastic bags
Austria, supported by a large number of member states, invited the Commission to analyse possible regulatory action against the use of plastic bags, given the highly negative impact on the environment of the mass of single-use plastic bags put into circulation annually within the EU (estimated at 800 000 tons; 6864/11).
We like this video a lot - imaginative and with a clear message: Plastic state of mind !
European Maritime Day (Gdańsk, 19-20 May 2011)
In 2011 the annual European Maritime Day Conference was held in Gdańsk, Poland from 19 to 20 May. The conference was co-organised by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of Infrastructure of Poland, Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship, and the City of Gdańsk. |
