Green Paper for a EU Maritime Policy
The Green Paper Towards the future Maritime Policy for the Union: a European vision for the oceans and seas aims to launch a debate about a future EU Maritime Policy that treats the oceans and seas in a holistic way in order to achieve a sustainable development of these areas; this is, to ensure mutual reinforcement of economic growth, social welfare and environmental protection.
In this regard, the Green Paper proposes a policy that is integrated, intersectoral and multidisciplinary, and not a mere collection of vertical sectoral policies. Hence, existing sectoral policies on maritime transport, industry, offshore energy, fisheries, the marine environment, coastal regions and others are to be examined in a systematic manner in order to explore how they could be combined to reinforce each other by avoiding fragmentation of decision-making.
Underlying Principles
The Commission believes that in pursuing the vision of "an all-embracing maritime policy aimed at developing a thriving maritime economy, in an environmental sustainable manner" it should rest firmly on twin pillars:
- The Lisbon Strategy
- An Ecosystem-based Management
Relation with the coastal zone
Relation with ICZM
Relation with other EU policies
Related Capacity Building issues
