Integrated Maritime Policy: further progress towards sustainable maritime development

The report presents a coherent picture of achievements in all policy areas related to the seas. Transport, research, environment, tourism, shipbuilding, climate change adaption, regional policies all contribute to the Maritime Dimension of Europe 2020 and the growth of Europe's Blue economy. Between 2007 and 2011, the EU has launched key initiatives such as the White Paper for Transport; the Common Information Sharing Environment for the EU’s maritime domain to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of maritime surveillance; a Task force on Maritime Employment and Competitiveness; three joint calls of FP7 Research Programme under the Ocean of Tomorrow to support multidisciplinary marine and maritime projects, a first version of the European Marine Observation and Data Network to improve access to data and reduce costs to users; A Maritime Strategy for the Atlantic adopted in November 2011; the further implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the environment pillar of the IMP to achieve better environmental status for EU marine waters by 2020 and initiatives to promote Maritime Spatial Planning.

The new phase of the Integrated Maritime Policy will be based on the Blue Growth Communication also adopted today to further achieve a healthy maritime economy that delivers innovation, growth and sustainability for the EU as a whole.