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European Community Shipowners' Associations D. 3567/10 SF SUMMARY REPORT ON LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE COUNCIL AND EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT OF THE INTEGRATED MARITIME POLICY (IMP) COUNCIL On 14 June, the General Affairs Council adopted a set of conclusions on Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP) acknowledging the recent developments since November 2009; and confirming the validity of the integrated approach to maritime affairs with particular attention to coastal regions and the protection of biodiversity and the marine environment. Reference is made to the following key points: Europe 2020- The Council welcomes the Commission communication " A European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth", and calls on the Commission to pursue its work on the future sources of sustainable growth and development of coastal regions and to identify the untapped future potential of cutting-edge marine and maritime technologies, resources and services as drivers for new innovations, competitiveness and, ultimately, growth and jobs; Strategic approaches to regional sea basins-The Council calls on the Commission to present an EU integrated strategy for the Atlantic Region by June 2011, intended to address common challenges faced by the countries of the region, including marine research, maritime surveillance, environmental and economic challenges. Furthermore, the Council invites the Commission to continue working on the integration of maritime policies in the Mediterranean along the line of its Communication of 11 September 2009; and to promote a close cooperation between Member States and non-EU Mediterranean coastal States taking into account the (UNCLOS) and the relevant existing international conventions, based on UNCLOS; Piracy- The Council reaffirms the high importance to continue pursuing the actions to ensure freedom, safety and security of maritime activities and to sustain the international efforts to combat piracy and armed robbery, namely in the framework of Atalanta, and to address the root causes of piracy; Security Strategy for the global maritime domain - The Council recalled its conclusions inviting the High Representative, together with the Commission and the Member States, to undertake work with a view to preparing options for the possible elaboration of a Security Strategy for the global maritime domain, including the possible establishment of a Task Force. Work will take place in the context of CFSP/CSDP, within the framework of the European Security Strategy; Maritime Surveillance- The Council urges the Commission to finalise the ‘Roadmap towards establishing a Common Information Sharing Environment for the EU maritime domain', in cooperation with Member States, by end 2010 and to submit it to the Council. This roadmap would be further detailed in 2011 to take into account the results from relevant cross sectoral and crossborder projects and research and development projects, in particular the pilot European Community Shipowners' Associations projects and lessons learned from CSDP operations relevant to the integrated maritime surveillance. Social Maritime Agenda The Council awaits the upcoming Social Maritime Agenda implementing IMP objectives of strengthening education, careers and employment in the maritime sectors, as crucial elements to ensure the EU’s competitiveness and sustainability in these sectors; European Maritime day recalling its Conclusions of 17 November 2009, the Council agrees that the next central Stakeholders Conferences will be hosted in Poland (Gdansk) in 2011, Sweden (Göteborg) in 2012, Malta (Valletta) in 2013 and Germany (Bremen) in 2014, thus guaranteeing the rotation between sea basins. EP (TRAN Committee) 1. Consideration of the draft report on the Integrated Maritime Policy (Rapporteur: Gesine Meissner) by the TRAN Committee On 22 June, German MEP Meissner (ALDE) presented to the TRAN Committee’s Members her draft report on the Integrated Maritime Policy-Evaluation of progress made and new challenges in the presence of Commissioner Ms Damanaki. Meissner’s report is scheduled for adoption in the TRAN committee on 28/09/2010 whereas the indicative date for the EP plenary sitting is 18/10/2010. The draft report recalls several points of the General Affairs’ Council conclusions adopted on 14 June, such as the importance of UNCLOS and the need for a Roadmap on maritime surveillance. It also focuses on the need to implement an integrated approach to maritime policies in order to promote sustainable growth in the European maritime sector in general, in the different sea-basins in particular. In this context, it calls for several actions to be undertaken by the Commission: A cross-sectoral strategy for sustainable growth in coastal regions and maritime sectors by 2013, focusing in particular on shipbuilding and offshore energy development. A Directive on Maritime Spatial Planning by 2011, to provide a crosssectoral tool for the implementation on IMP. Specific strategies for sustainable tourism and for mitigation of the impact of climate change on the coastal regions, and a fleet renewal programme for old coastal shipping fleets. In view of the oil spill catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, interventions on EU and Member States legislation to identify and eliminate legislative loopholes. 2. Exchange of views with Commissioner Damanaki on the IMP as well as DG MARE’S main priorities Consideration of MEP Meissner’s draft report was followed by an Exchange of views with Commissioner Damanaki on the IMP as well as DG MARE’S main priorities. 2 European Community Shipowners' Associations Commissioner Damanaki welcomed Ms Meissner's draft report on the Integrated Maritime Policy, saying that the EP’s involvement confirmed the “democratic legitimacy of the IMP”. She mentioned the concrete benefits of an integrated approach to maritime affairs, making reference to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico or the rapid expansion of Piracy as two examples of a much bigger network of challenges. The European Commission’s response to all the challenges facing marine environment– loss of biodiversity, climate change, increased exploitation of marine resources including overfishing –has to be based on a coherent and balanced vision that cuts across policy lines, she said. In this respect, she stressed that the essence of the Integrated Maritime Policy is therefore to develop positive interactions between existing policies, economic and social interests, and to combine and coordinate the various sectoral efforts in order to increase their efficiency. Commissioner Damanaki then presented the different main priorities that she served since she took office in last February. First, with regards to the EU2020, Commissioner Damanaki believes in the potential that different maritime sectors can offer to the goals of sustainable and inclusive economic growth, employment and innovation. She informed that DG MARE launched last month a study on the "Scenarios and drivers for sustainable growth from oceans, sea and coasts". This study will contribute to the ultimate goal of establishing a cross-sectoral strategy for sustainable growth in coastal regions and maritime sectors, and to new opportunities for jobs in coastal regions, particularly for the traditional maritime professions like the seafarers or the fishermen - for whom she intends to promote “secured and attractive careers”. The results of this study will be available in 2012. Another priority is to connect the protection of the marine environment to the development of our seas and coastal regions by defining the limits of sustainability of all human activities with an impact on the marine environment. According to Commissioner Damanaki, this finds its practical expression in the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and of the EU Climate change and Energy package. The third priority she mentioned relates to sea-basin strategies. In this regard, she stressed that the IMP's regional focus allows for tailor-made priority-setting that are adapted to specific regional needs, depending on the different political, socio-economic and natural situations. The Commission applied this approach to the Communication on the EU and the Arctic Region, the Baltic Sea Strategy and the Communication on the IMP in the Mediterranean. Furthermore, in line with the Conclusions of the June General affairs and external relations Council, DG MARE will present an EU Strategy for the Atlantic by June 2011. A fourth priority relates to cross-cutting tools of the IMP, namely maritime spatial planning, integration of surveillance and the networking of marine data and science. Commission Damanaki expressed her satisfaction, acknowledging that the work on these tools has progressed well. DG MARE plans to issue a Communication on maritime spatial planning before the end of this year, reporting on the progress and setting out options including a legislative option, for shaping a common approach across the EU. As for the integration of maritime surveillance, she also informed that the Commission is 3 European Community Shipowners' Associations working with the Member States, in order to propose, by October 2010, a roadmap towards the establishment of a common information-sharing environment (CISE). The realisation of this project would enable the national authorities operating at sea, - whether they are fighting illegal immigration, other illegal activities or simply monitoring fisheries activities - to benefit from information generated by other sectors. Furthermore, she recalled that he forthcoming launch in October 2010 of the European maritime Atlas will improve awareness of the seas and oceans among the European citizens. Finally, the publication at the same time of the Communication on Marine knowledge will be a positive step towards the creation of the European Marine Observation Data Network (EMODNET), she said. Furthermore, Commisioner Damanaki made it clear that the development of the IMP's international dimension is another great challenge. This will involve building on Europe's leading role in improving global maritime governance, for example through a continued support for the ratification and implementation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Furthermore, she said that the Commission “will also need to continue working to obtain a better role for the EU in international maritime fora, such as the International Maritime Organization”. Finally, In order to achieve these ambitious goals with the appropriate financial tools, Commissioner Damanaki informed that after the summer, the Commission will propose a draft Regulation on financing the IMP in the coming two years. Particularly, DG MARE is proposing 50 Million Euros over the years 2011 – 2013, building on the amounts the EP has already granted as for pilot and preparatory projects. Commissioner Damanaki felt confident about the EP’s support to ensure a timely entry into force of this regulation in 2011 and to make sure that the newly Integrated Maritime Policy finds a rightful place in the work on the next financial perspective. It should be noted that during the debate, Commissioner Damanaki was also asked what her remit was within the new European Commission. There are doubts as to your remit,” said Spanish MEP Luis de Grandes Pascual (PPE), “It seems that you are the new maritime transport commissioner. This may lead to a conflict of interest with Mr Kallas.” Although she partly appreciated that there was “confusion” within industry and government about who exactly headed policy in Brussels, Commissioner Damanaki gave assurances that she did not want to “interfere” with the transport commissioner in the formation of maritime policy. Dario Bazargan 4