Maritime Policy actions


Implementation of the
Action Plan

 

Implementation of the Action Plan

Future outlook

In 2007, almost exactly two years ago, the Commission presented its vision for the Integrated Maritime Policy for the EU, accompanied by an Action Plan. Now the Commission took stock of the achievements in the Progress Report. Based on hitherto developments, the report  also sets the following six strategic policy orientations for the future.

  1. Integration of maritime governance, where permanent structures for cross-sectoral collaboration and stakeholder consultation need to be put in place at European, national and regional levels of government, building on hitherto achievements.
  2. Development of cross-cutting policy tools, namely maritime spatial planning, comprehensive marine knowledge and data, and integrated maritime surveillance. These tools can streamline the way we manage maritime space and maritime activities and help preserve marine ecosystems.
  3. Defining boundaries of sustainability, to be set in the framework of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, will help develop all maritime activities with greater regard to their cumulative impacts on the environment.
  4. Development of sea-basin strategies, which allows adapting priorities and policy-making tools to the unique geographical, economical and political context of each maritime region.
  5. Development of international dimension of the Integrated Maritime Policy, to strengthen the EU's position in multilateral and bilateral relations.
  6. Renewed focus on sustainable economic growth, employment and innovation through, for example, strengthened links between energy and climate change polices and the IMP which will help promote renewable energies from the sea and develop climate change adaptation strategy for coastal and maritime areas.

The Commission will consult with stakeholders on concrete projects and initiatives that could best advance the six strategic orientations above and will detail them in a policy document to be published during 2010.

Action towards integration of Maritime Affairs across the EU

The Integrated Maritime Policy Action Plan [PDF~271 Kb] from 2007 set out a particularly ambitious work programme. It included new working methods, cross-cutting tools and a wide range of specific actions that aimed to benefit the maritime economy, protect marine environment, strengthen research and innovation, foster development in coastal and outermost regions, address international maritime affairs, and raise the visibility of Europe's maritime dimension.

Out of 65 actions in the Action Plan, 56 have been completed or launched, some with only minor delays. Only on 9 actions no documents have been adopted yet. In addition, the Commission has launched a number of maritime activities originally not foreseen in the Action Plan.

Documents: