Yards Moving Forward - GL Group

EU-GREEN PAPER
Holistic Approach
European Commission presents a maritime policy draft.
“How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is quite
clearly Ocean!” With this quote by the British science fiction
author Arthur C. Clarke, the EU Commission introduced its
Green Paper of May 2006, with which it wishes to spark a discussion
on a European maritime policy. Here it is taking a new
course: the ocean should no longer serve merely as a source of
raw materials or be regarded exclusively from a sectoral policy
viewpoint, but is to be treated in a holistic way.
The maritime industry, comprising the sectors of shipping,
shipbuilding, ports, fisheries, offshore energy production
and tourism, constitues an important economic factor in
all European coastal states. With respect to marine research
and maritime innovation, Europe occupies a leading position.
At the same time, the economic utilization of the common
maritime space throws up a number of questions which
should be best solved by general agreement. These include
marine and air pollution, natural catastrophes as a result of
climatic change, accident risks in large-scale shipping, overfishing
and the tense competitive situation of Europe’s maritime
industry in the age of globalization.
So far, most of these challenges have been faced by the EU
with individual technical measures that address a specific
sector, such sea as shipping or fisheries, without considering
the ocean as a whole. To alleviate this need, the EU Commission
presents a number of deliberations in the Green Paper
now available for discussion.:
Through an integrated coastal zone management, the
multiple uses of the coastal regions, their impacts and future
development projects can be coordinated, with the possibility
of combining the planning activities for the sea, the land and
their interface areas.
With the establishment of a European marine observation
and data network, the state of the oceans can be monitored
together with the safety risks for shipping and fisheries. Moreover,
the EU Commission is also considering a comprehensive
mapping of the various coastal regions, a veritable “EU Atlas
of the Seas”.
As regards preventive coastal protection, the EU Commis-
34 nonstop 3/2006
sion believes that a concerted European approach is needed
to achieve effective flood and environmental protection and
to take adequate precautions against natural catastrophes.
The Commission’s proposal of setting up a European
coast guard – with statutory tasks – has already generated
much discussion.
Another catalogue of proposals deals with the international
competitiveness of the European flags, polishing the
image of the shipping sector and measures aimed at improving
the attractiveness of seafaring professions. The suggestions
range from a course of training providing equal qualification
for shipboard and shore duties, improved working and
social conditions for mariners, to deliberations on an optional
EU ship register.
The Green Paper, which was compiled under the leadership
of the Maltese EU Commissioner Dr. Joe Borg, regards
marine research as being one of the most important pillars of
a future EU maritime policy. Through a marine research network
and a common European internet portal, information
on all the research activities within the Union may be made
transparent.
The position paper also takes a stance on the “international”
dimension of maritime policy: there are no less than twelve
subsidiary organizations of the United Nations that concern
themselves with maritime matters. From the viewpoint of the
EU Commission, there are urgent problems that call for an
international solution, e.g. the ecological scrapping of ships,
piracy, the compliance with international obligations by flag
states and accident prevention. Moreover, the EU Commission
wishes to join the International Maritime Organization as a
member, in order to strengthen the European influence and to
increase the political clout of its member states.
With its abundance of proposals of varying significance,
the Green Paper represents an ambitious project. Whether
the “European vision for the oceans and seas” in its present
form meets with the desired acceptance must be gauged from
the statements the Commission has requested by 30 June
2007 ■ CH
PUTTING IT ALL INTO CONTEXT: GREEN AND WHITE PAPERS UNRAVELLED
The purpose of the Green Paper on a Future Maritime Policy is to examine all the activities in Europe which have an impact or are linked to the oceans and
seas and the policies dealing with them. The Green Paper is accompanied by a number of background documents. They were produced by European Commission
Working Groups and by the Maritime Policy Task Force made up of member states’ experts in the sea-related sectoral policy areas, which oversaw
the drafting of the Green Paper. The European Union involves its citizens in the legislative process by producing these green or white papers. Green papers
serve the purpose of creating a public and economic discussion. Individuals or organizations are able to comment in an Internet forum on the issues
addressed. Often, a white paper evolves after the completion of the discussion phase. White papers contain formal proposals for action in a particular policy
area with the aim of developing this further. Every year, up to 15 green and 1 to 3 white papers are drawn up. They provide the basis for the legislative
process and offer points of reference for future laws.
For further information (on participation in the EU): http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/index_en.htm