New Nordic Maritime Policy Group

The Nordic governments yesterday set up a new Nordic Maritime Policy Group chaired by Tore Riise from the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs. The Group will provide input from the Nordic Region to the European maritime policy, which covers all sectors involved in marine activities.

While the Canadians and others may refer to "Ocean Governance", the EU talks about maritime policy. The Nordic countries, whether in the EU or not, have just submitted national input to the EU’s so-called Green Book on Maritime Policy.

"I am extremely pleased that the Group has been established so we can draw up and publicise a maritime policy for the Nordic Region. The Nordic Region has a great deal of multisectoral experience and knowledge to contribute to this process. The new Group will enable us to provide joint Nordic input to the EU maritime policy", Bo Lindroos, Head of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Environment and Resources Department, said at the start of the meeting.

Sustainable development is a recurring theme in European maritime policy, which places great emphasis on the sea, the fisheries industry and shipping. The intention is to provide all industries with growth opportunities. At the same time, the policy will also pay due attention to biological diversity, the climate and the environment in general. The EU marine strategy is an environmental strategy which has now been published as an EU Directive.