8 Action Plan for a Maritime Strategy
in the Atlantic area
| (34937)
9627/13
COM(13) 279
| Commission Communication: Action Plan for a Maritime Strategy in the Atlantic area
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| Legal base | —
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| Document originated | 13 May 2013
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| Deposited in Parliament | 23 May 2013
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| Department | Business, Innovation and Skills
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 6 June 2013
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| Previous Committee Report | None, but see footnotes
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| Discussion in Council | No date set
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
8.1 In November 2011, a Commission Communication[50]
set out a maritime strategy for the Atlantic area with the aim
of creating sustainable jobs and growth for those living on the
coasts, territorial and jurisdictional waters of the five EU Member
States[51] with Atlantic
coastlines, whilst recognising the EU's responsibilities for stewardship
of the waters in question. In particular, that Communication identified
a number of inter-related themes, including the pursuit of socially
inclusive growth, and it has now sought in this document to build
on that aspect of the earlier strategy by setting out an Action
Plan for delivering smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
The current document
8.2 The Commission notes that the timing of this Plan sits well
with the development of the Common Strategic Framework for the
European Structural and Investment Funds, and that the objectives
of the Framework have broad relevance to the Atlantic Strategy,
notably in supporting a shift towards a low-carbon economy; increasing
the capacity for research and innovation through education and
training and bringing industry closer to research; and enhancing
the competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in
areas such as tourism, fishing and aquaculture. It also suggests
that successful implementation of the Plan needs to be underpinned
by targeted investment, increased research capacity and higher
skills.
THE ACTION PLAN
8.3 The Commission describes the Action Plan as a non-exhaustive
indicative set of actions, which recognises that much has already
been done by the Member States in question, and therefore seeks
to identify areas where there is scope for additional collective
work, with the following priorities.
Promoting entrepreneurship and innovation
8.4 The Commission says that the specific objectives should include:
- sharing knowledge between higher education organisations,
companies and research centres, and so increasing the capacity
of the Atlantic area to innovate through research and technology;
- enhancement of competitiveness and innovation
capacities in the maritime economy of the area by improving skills
in traditional industries and in emerging sectors, and putting
in place educational and training measures; and
- fostering adaptation and diversification of economic
activities by promoting the potential of the area through such
means as reforming the Common Fisheries Policy and revitalising
EU aquaculture.
Protecting, securing and developing the potential
of the Atlantic marine and coastal environment
8.5 The Commission says that the specific objectives
here include:
- improving maritime safety and
the security of seafarers, coastal populations, property and ecosystems
by evaluating and extending as necessary existing warning, reporting
and response mechanisms to marine threats, including invasive
species, natural disasters, marine accidents and spills of hazardous
substances;
- exploring and protecting marine waters and coastal
zones by developing a European Atlantic ocean observing and prediction
capability; contributing to the development of tools to address
global climate change issues; supporting efforts to achieve "good
environmental status" for Atlantic waters by 2020; assessing
the social and economic value of Atlantic ecosystems and biodiversity;
and contributing to Member States' maritime spatial planning and
integrated coastal management processes; and
- the sustainable management of marine resources
by developing better understanding of the feasibility, economic
viability and environmental impact of mining for minerals, laying
the foundations for a European marine biotechnology industry,
and considering ways of accelerating the deployment of sustainable
offshore renewable energy.
Improving accessibility and connectivity
8.6 The Commission says that this should include
promoting cooperation between ports by facilitating infrastructure
upgrades, enabling ports to diversify into new business activities,
and analysing and promoting port networks and short-sea shipping
routes between European ports.
Creating a socially inclusive and sustainable
model of regional development
8.7 The Commission says that the priorities should
include:
- fostering better knowledge
of social challenges in the Atlantic area by exchanging best practice
on enhancing the health, social inclusion and well-being of coastal
populations, and developing appropriate indicators; and
- preserving and promoting the Atlantic's cultural
heritage by combating seasonality and improving prospects for
SMEs by the diversification of maritime and coastal tourism projects
and the development of niche markets.
IMPLEMENTATION
Funding channels
8.8 The Atlantic Strategy does not have its own designated
budget, and the Commission has identified a number of funding
sources to support the actions within it, including the European
Structural and Investment Funds, several of the funds managed
by the Commission (including Horizon 2020, LIFE+, COSME), and
the directly managed elements of the European Maritime and Fisheries
Fund. The Commission also notes that the private sector is a further
important source of funding, and it calls on Member States to
approach it to explore complementary involvement and finance.
Also, the European Investment Bank has been in discussion with
the Commission, and has indicated that it stands ready to mobilise
its financing tools and expertise in support of suitable projects.
Intelligent cooperation and support
8.9 The Commission highlights that an important element
of the Action Plan is not just the funding of projects but intelligent
cooperation, adding that much can be advanced through collaboration
at national and regional level, and citing Horizon 2020 and the
European Structural and Investment Funds as vehicles for supporting
this and the sharing of best practice. It also considers that
having the right implementation mechanism and assessment process
is key to achieving progress, and it has suggested that an assistance
mechanism should be established by the end of 2013, which should
be light, tightly-focused and draw on good practices which have
been successful in other sea-basin strategies. In addition, the
Commission says that it may organise Atlantic stakeholder conferences.
Taking stock of progress
8.10 The Commission says that it wants to ensure
that progress is monitored, which it suggests should not create
any new reporting requirements. It also says that it will prepare
a mid-term review of the implementation of the Atlantic Plan before
the end of 2017.
International dimension
8.11 The Commission argues in favour of internationalising
the Atlantic Strategy, believing that over time the Action Plan
could create a solid foundation for cooperation with other Atlantic
nations. In particular, it suggests that a transatlantic research
alliance with the United States and Canada would deepen common
understanding of the Atlantic ecosystem, and its potential to
support the blue economy, with a declaration launching this work
having been signed at an Irish Presidency event in May 2013.
The Government's view
8.12 In his Explanatory Memorandum of 6 June 2013,
the Minister for Business and Enterprise (Mr Michael Fallon) says
that the Government considers the Action Plan could provide a
helpful contribution to the overarching priority of creating growth
and jobs, and notes that it covers a wide range of actions, not
all of which will be directly relevant to the UK. In particular,
he points out that the Action Plan clearly states that "in
the context of budgetary restraint and the need for authorities
in the Atlantic area to consider a range of development priorities
it should be stressed that the process of implementing the Action
Plan remains voluntary", so that the UK will not be obliged
to implement all of the proposals contained within it.
8.13 The Minister adds that the Government supports
the need for a strategic approach to research and innovation and
the importance of removing technology bottlenecks as part of making
investment more attractive in general, and that Horizon 2020 will
provide funding specifically targeted at areas covered by the
Communication;[52] welcomes
the setting up of an implementation mechanism, where it will engage
with the Commission to ensure that this meets the stated objective
of being light, tightly-focused and drawing on good practices
which have been successful in other sea-basin strategies; and
considers that the internationalisation of the Action Plan needs
to avoid duplication of work being carried out in other fora.
He therefore welcomes the references in the Action Plan to the
work of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, the
International Maritime Organisation and the International Seabed
Authority, and notes that, as many research links already exist
between Europe, the US and Canada, any activity should build on
this.
8.14 As regards specific areas, the Minister says
that the Government:
- agrees that increasing the
capacity of the Atlantic area to innovate through research and
technology can have benefits in terms of growth and jobs, and
will seek to ensure that this adds real value: it also supports
of more and easier mutual recognition of qualifications as long
as there are appropriate safeguards in place;
- supports a responsive skills system, underpinned
by good quality labour market information and professional careers
advice, enabling individuals and employers to make effective
choices, and, in particular, it wants to see employers in schools
inspiring young people into rewarding careers;
- shares the Commission's view that aquaculture
provides significant potential for growth and jobs, and welcomes
the Strategic Guidelines for its sustainable development adopted
recently by the Commission, with the proviso that such growth
must be market-driven, sustainable and must not come at a cost
to the environment: it also agrees that effective implementation
of the principles of the Common Fisheries Policy should be promoted,
with enhanced efforts towards long-term sustainable and responsible
fisheries;
- recognizes the scope for greater cooperation
between Member States on maritime safety to ensure the most effective
use of resources, but is mindful that this needs to be dealt with
on an international basis, and that any initiatives should not
detract from the International Maritime Organization as the primary
forum for maritime regulation;
- is broadly supportive of a sharing of maritime
surveillance information, where appropriate, but believes that
it is too early to determine whether this should be based on regional
sea-basins or a pan-European approach;
- fully recognises the benefits of cooperation
and of sharing information and data, and the importance of building
on existing initiatives and avoiding duplication;
- believes that an assessment of the carbon footprint
of the Atlantic area blue economy could prove useful in the context
of climate change, as could partnerships to monitor its impact
on marine activities and coastal communities, provided there is
no duplication with existing activity, and the coverage is limited
to the five EU Atlantic Member States;
- believes that regional coordination is a vital
part of the implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework
Directive in achieving good environmental status in European marine
waters by 2020, and will aim to build on this approach;
- recognises fully the benefits of effective marine
spatial planning in ensuring sustainable development, and in providing
transparency and confidence for investments leading to the efficient
and integrated use of marine resources, with cross border consultation
being an important part of this process: and it has made clear
that the draft Directive recently published by Commission will
need to complement measures already in place;
- recognises the potential for biotechnology
to stimulate long-term growth and jobs in the blue economy, while
safeguarding the marine environment, and will continue working
with industry and others to support the translation of
science into sustainable and commercially viable opportunities;
- supports cooperation between the five Atlantic
states in bringing forward the development of offshore renewable
energy if this does not duplicate existing activities and is geographically
feasible for the UK, adding that it is not clear whether the proposed
regional Smart Specialisation Strategies for offshore renewables
would add value;
- believes that ports and the shipping industry
have demonstrated their ability to meet evolving demands and to
handle new commodities, largely without need for public funding,
adding that, whilst it recognizes that public funding can play
a legitimate role so long as it complies with State Aid rules,
any initiatives should avoid distortion of the market, which is
best placed to take the necessary decisions; and
- agrees that tourism can be a valuable contributor
to economic growth, and highlights the crucial importance of coastal
destinations and attractions in increasing the value of the domestic
tourism market.
Conclusion
8.15 This Action Plan identifies a number of areas
which the Commission believes would help to achieve sustainable
and inclusive growth in the Atlantic area, and, as the UK is one
of the Member States directly involved, we are drawing it to the
attention of the House. However, the document is essentially a
blueprint for considering further measures in a range of different
areas, and, as the Government has noted, there would be no obligation
on the UK to implement all of these. In view of this, the document
does not seem to us to give rise to any issues requiring immediate
consideration, and we are therefore clearing it.
50 (33436) 17387/11: see HC 428-l (2010-12), chapter
15 (8 February 2012). Back
51
France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the UK. Back
52
Notably Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Marine
and Maritime and Inland Water Research and the Bioeconomy Societal
Challenge. Back
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