Europe to set 'sustainable limits' on maritime sector

Member states will have to define "boundaries of sustainability" for the development of the EU maritime sector, according to a European Commission report on the future priorities of the bloc's integrated maritime policy published on Thursday.

The idea is to limit the cumulative impacts of activities that have an impact on the marine environment, the commission says. The work will be carried out under the marine framework directive http://www.endseurope.com/15068?referrer=bulletin&DCMP=EMC-ENDS-EUROPE-DAILY adopted last year. The law forms the main environmental pillar of the EU's maritime policy.

The widespread implementation of maritime spatial planning is another priority for the coming years that will boost environmental monitoring and protection, the commission says. The EU executive proposed a set of common principles http://www.endseurope.com/17166?referrer=bulletin&DCMP=EMC-ENDS-EUROPE-DAILY in this area last year.

A separate paper issued on Tuesday encourages EU countries to take a more integrated approach to maritime surveillance activities. Cooperation and data sharing would improve the effectiveness and cost efficiency of surveillance in areas such as environmental protection, the commission says.

Follow-up: European Commission http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm, plus press release

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1530, memo

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/455

and progress report on EU integrated maritime policy

http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/pdf/com_2009_540_en.pdf. See also memo

http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/press/press_rel151009b_en.html 

and report http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/pdf/com_2009_538_en.pdf on integrated maritime surveillance.

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