Annexes to COM(2017)183 - Initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy in the western Mediterranean - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2017)183 - Initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy in the western Mediterranean. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2017)183  |
| date | April 19, 2017 |
While there is real political will to resolve environmental and fisheries challenges, the region is still lacking appropriate awareness, dissemination and cross-sectorial evidence-based policymaking. Many shortcomings also remain in implementation and enforcement, in particular at national and local level.
Moreover, stress tests on marine data indicate serious knowledge gaps on the geological and ecological nature of the southern waters and a decrease of public investment in monitoring programmes in the north. Information gaps on catches and the effort of small-scale fisheries make the support to the fisheries sector quite challenging.
3. The response: actions to address the challenges and fill the gaps
A rolling Framework for Action 22 (see accompanying Staff Working Document) identifies the gaps that need to be filled and the potential added value of the priorities and actions proposed. The Initiative will be funded by existing international, EU, national and regional funds and financial instruments, which will be coordinated and complementary. This should create leverage and attract funding from other public and private investors. Potential funding sources are indicative and subject and without prejudice to the assessment of the evaluation procedures and criteria for the concerned funds, programmes and project.
By fostering the coordination and cooperation among the 10 countries this Initiative aims to:
• increase safety and security
• promote sustainable blue growth and jobs; and
• preserve ecosystems and biodiversity in the western Mediterranean region.
Following extensive consultations with the national authorities and stakeholders, the Initiative will focus on three main goals that address these three main challenges.
3.1 Goal 1 — A safer and more secure maritime space
Ensuring the safety and security of activities at sea is essential for the sustainable development of the maritime economy, maintaining and creating jobs and for the proper governance of the sea and coasts.
Priorities:
1.1 Cooperation between coastguards
At present there are several initiatives developing maritime security and safety, but assets are deployed at different levels or by different partners in the western Mediterranean region. Progress has been made to facilitate voluntary data exchange, but cooperation between coastguards across the two shores remains limited and the real-time response to emergency situations at sea still needs to be improved.
Actions:
• Increase cooperation between coastguards across the two shores of the western Mediterranean region through actions such as networks among training centres, joint training and staff exchanges.
• Support capacity building in areas such as illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, vessel traffic service, maritime search and rescue, fight against smuggling of migrants and other illicit trafficking at sea (including through the further development of the Seahorse Mediterranean Network).
Potential funding sources: European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI)
1.2 Maritime safety and response to marine pollution
Maritime data sharing needs to be optimised across the two shores of the western Mediterranean region in order to improve situational awareness, ensure national funding is used effectively and improve cooperation on cross-border operations. Some partner countries share environmental data through EMSA/SAFEMED, while bottlenecks prevent their access to SafeSeaNet.
Actions:
• Encourage data sharing on maritime traffic by giving southern countries support to improve their infrastructure (Automatic Identification System/Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Information System) and help them access existing platforms (SafeSeaNet and Marine Pollution Common Emergency Communication and Information System).
• Enhance capacity (planning, preparedness and tools) to respond to and counter marine pollution from accidents.
Potential funding sources: ENI, ERDF, EU Horizon 2020, National Funds
Targets for goal 1
• Full coverage of Automatic Identification System by 2018 aiming to share more maritime traffic monitoring data at regional level;
• Border surveillance strengthened by involving neighbourhood countries in the Seahorse Mediterranean Network by 2018.
3.2 Goal 2 — A smart and resilient blue economy
Innovation and knowledge sharing are key to addressing the generational change in the labour market and making the region more sustainable, competitive and resilient to cyclical crisis and shocks. This goal largely builds on existing initiatives such as BLUEMED 23 and its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, and encourages partner countries to be better involved.
Priorities:
2.1 Strategic research and innovation
Partners and stakeholders from the southern shore of the western Mediterranean will be invited to join the BLUEMED Initiative to create economies of scale and foster partnerships between research and industry across the two shores.
Actions:
• Promote bio-based innovative industries and services, including food ingredients, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals, materials and energy.
• Develop new technologies for ocean observation and monitoring, including of deep-water and seafloor biological and other resources.
• Develop new concepts and protocols by private companies and maritime operators to maximise the use of infrastructure, ships and platforms for scientific, environmental, safety and security purposes.
• Develop tailor-made solutions and new technologies to harness marine renewable energies and to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
• Develop capacity building for knowledge and technology transfer.
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Potential funding sources: EU Horizon 2020, National funds, EMFF, ERDF, ENI, LIFE, Green Climate Fund
2.2 Maritime clusters development
Actions:
• Support the development of medium, small and micro enterprises in the blue economy (through national maritime clusters, incubators, boosters, business angel services and tailor-made financial vehicles).
• Foster an effective network of maritime clusters across the region.
• Establish regional clusters on renewable energy, wellbeing and active ageing, based on marine and maritime resources and technologies.
Maritime clusters clearly contribute to creating innovation, jobs and growth. They play a key role in generating the critical mass for economic activities that do not currently appeal to private investors.
Potential funding sources: EMFF, COSME, ENI, ERDF, National funds, European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD)
2.3 Skills development and circulation
Maritime training and education institutions have identified a number of possible ways to address the current mismatch between supply and demand of maritime skills and to increase cooperation.
Actions:
• Foster the development of innovative maritime skills through a range of strategic actions to match demand and supply.
• Promote networking and exchanges between maritime, port and logistics institutes and academies.
• Raise awareness of maritime professions and their appeal to young people.
• Match supply and demand for jobs in multimodal freight transport services, supply chains and infrastructure.
• Harmonise existing skills and functions for managing migration issues across the region and promote more effective circular migration.
Potential funding sources: EMFF, Blue Growth Initiative — FAO, European Social Fund (ESF), ENI, ERASMUS+, Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), National funds
2.4 Sustainable consumption and production (maritime transport, ports, maritime and costal tourism, marine aquaculture)
Actions:
• Implement sustainable consumption and production models and practices; support the use of clean energy sources for seawater desalination; promote energy efficiency and adaptation to climate change in coastal cities.
• Promote green shipping and port infrastructure for alternative fuels; optimise port infrastructure, interfaces and procedures/operations; further develop the Trans European Network for Transport and motorways of the sea and related port connections.
• Develop new theme-based tourist products and services including:
- natural, cultural and historical itineraries, nautical and cruise tourism, sustainable marinas, pesca-tourism and recreational fishing;
- building eco-friendly artificial reefs;
- linking up sea and inland attractors (food, culture, sports, etc.).
• Develop common technical standards for sustainable marine aquaculture across countries, diversify the sector and build capacity.
Maritime and land-based activities, along with the progressive urbanisation of the coastline, exert pressure on the marine and coastal ecosystems of the sub-basin and can affect the long-term sustainability of sectors such as marine aquaculture and maritime and coastal tourism. This priority will encourage the implementation of the Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production in the region and a shift towards smarter and greener mobility, sustainable tourism and sustainable aquaculture practices.
Potential funding sources: EMFF, COSME, CEF, LIFE, ENI, ERDF, EU Horizon 2020, National funds, Blue Growth Initiative — FAO, European Investment Project Portal, EFSI, EFSD
Targets for goal 2
- Western Mediterranean countries included in the BLUEMED Initiative and in its Strategic Research Agenda by 2017;
- 25 % increase in certified eco-ports and marinas by 2022;
- 20 % increase in sustainable aquaculture production value by 2022;
- 20 % increase in off-season tourist arrivals by 2022.
3.3 Goal 3 — Better governance of the sea
Achieving healthy marine and coastal ecosystems while promoting socioeconomic development requires a solid institutional, legal and technical framework that can balance competing demands for limited natural resources and space.
Priorities:
3.1 Spatial planning and coastal management
Actions:
• Improve the management of maritime and coastal areas by local actors and ensure an appropriate and coordinated implementation of the MSP Directive and the ICZM protocol, including an ecosystem-based approach.
• Improve knowledge of land-sea interactions and develop eco-friendly engineering solutions for the good environmental status of seas and coasts.
• Develop tools to select appropriate sites for offshore installations and to fulfil the energy and environmental requirements of the region.
Consistency will be sought in the implementation of the Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) and Marine Strategy Framework Directives and the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) protocol.
Potential funding sources: EMFF, ERDF, ENI, EU Horizon 2020, National funds
3.2 Marine and maritime knowledge
Evidence-based policy making requires harmonised and up-to-date marine and maritime data on areas such as investments, gross value added, employment, waste production and disposal, bathymetry, water quality and environmental monitoring. Necessary data are often either unavailable or available only to some countries.
Actions:
• Promote data collection, maintenance and storage through the existing instruments, databases and projects (notably the European Marine Observation and Data Network - EMODNET, the Virtual Knowledge Centre that is managed by the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat and Horizon 2020 projects) and expand their geographical and thematic scope across the region.
• Maintain and update information on erosion phenomena and coastal risks; harmonise and expand the coastline monitoring systems at sub-basin scale, and develop common tools to assess the impacts of human activities.
• Develop unmanned autonomous vehicles and related underwater infrastructure.
• Build capacity on maritime affairs.
Potential funding sources: EMFF, ENI, ERDF, LIFE, EU Horizon 2020, National Funds, Green Climate Fund
3.3 Biodiversity and marine habitat conservation
Actions:
• Assess the atmosphere-land-sea pressures and the risks for both ecosystems and human health.
• Help to establish and manage marine protected areas, reduce marine litter, manage ballast water and monitor acoustic pollution.
• Reinforce the local ability to identify invasive alien species and routes of invasion and the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems.
• Support awareness campaigns on marine environment and biodiversity and environmental volunteering across the region.
The region’s biodiversity is threatened by pollution, eutrophication, the destruction of marine and coastal habitats, disruption of wildlife migratory routes, changes in coastal dynamics, marine litter and noise. Countries will be supported in their efforts to meet agreed international commitments such as the Barcelona Convention, including its Marine Litter Regional Plan in the Mediterranean and the Convention on Biodiversity.
Potential funding sources: LIFE, ERDF, ENI, EMFF, EU Horizon 2020, National Funds
3.4 Sustainable fisheries and coastal community development
Actions are currently fragmented across the two shores, so greater regional coordination and cooperation will be pursued through the implementation of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean mid-term strategy (2017-2020) towards the sustainability of Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries. This will also ensure that the common fisheries policy is implemented more consistently at sub-basin level.
Actions:
• Foster the sustainable development of small-scale fisheries and coastal communities by increasing the region’s ability to manage fish stocks through multiannual fisheries plans, technical measures, area closures and other specific conservation measures.
• Boost the region’s ability to ensure proper data collection, regular scientific assessments and an adequate legal framework for control and inspection.
• Establish local technical groups to analyse specific opportunities and threats and define joint measures and intervention techniques.
• Disseminate best practices for the marketing of fisheries products, increase their added value and diversify economic activities in coastal communities (also through bottom-up approaches such as the Community-Led Local Development).
Potential funding sources: EMFF, ENI, Blue Growth Initiative — FAO, GFCM.
Targets for goal 3
- 100 % of the waters under national jurisdiction and 100 % of coastlines to be covered by Maritime Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Management and their implementing mechanisms by 2021;
- At least 10 % of the coastal and marine areas to be covered by marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures by 2020;
- 20 % reduction in marine litter on beaches by 2024;
- Southern Mediterranean countries to be included in EMODNET by 2020;
- All States equipped with adequate legal framework and human and technical capabilities to meet their fisheries control and inspection responsibilities as flag, coastal and port States by 2020;
- 100 % of key Mediterranean stocks 24 to be subject to adequate data collection, scientifically assessed on a regular basis and managed through a multiannual fisheries plan by 2020.
4. Governance and implementation
4.1 Coordination
Political coordination will be provided through the existing mechanisms and processes of the Union for the Mediterranean, including senior officers’ and ministerial meetings. Operational coordination will be ensured through a WestMED Task Force linked to the Union for the Mediterranean Working Group on the Blue Economy and will include national focal points from the relevant ministries, the European Commission and the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat. Representatives of existing Mediterranean regional organisations could be also invited to join the Task Force.
4.2 Implementation and reporting
For the Initiative to work, a number of key conditions must be met:
- ministerial endorsement to acknowledge that the Initiative cuts across policies, ministries and levels of government. The countries shall set priorities, take ownership and responsibility, align policies and funds at country level and provide the decision makers and those implementing the policies with the appropriate powers and resources at all administrative levels;
- the Commission shall ensure a strategic approach at EU level, including coordination with existing EU-related initiatives;
- governments shall monitor, report to the Task Force and evaluate national progress and provide guidance for implementation;
- coordination with the work of existing regional organisations shall be ensured through the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat;
- the key stakeholders shall be involved: national, regional and local authorities, including managing authorities, economic and social actors, citizens, academia and non-governmental organisations. Public events will also promote this involvement (for example annual forums, business to business and investors pitch/speed-funding events);
- a dedicated assistance mechanism shall provide support upfront to countries and to the Task Force; support should also include the involvement of and partnering between stakeholders and the collection of any data needed to establish baselines, monitor and report on progress.
5. Links with EU policies
Instead of creating new legislation, this Initiative aims to achieve the Union’s goals (the priorities on ‘Jobs, growth and Investment’, ‘Energy Union and climate change’, ‘Migration’ and ‘A stronger global actor’) by strengthening the policies relevant to the region and fostering compliance with EU law.
The emphasis is on a better coordination between the funding instruments and on a truly integrated approach that ties together different policy strands and strongly interconnects EU policies and initiatives such as the maritime policy, the common fisheries policy, the cohesion policy, environment and marine and coastal policies, the global strategy for EU's foreign and security policy, the border and coastguard package, the strategies on Blue Growth, Maritime Security, MEDFISH 4EVER, biodiversity, adaptation to climate change, the 7th Environment Action Programme, the R&D framework programmes and the Communications on ‘A Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean’ 25 and on ‘International Ocean Governance’. 26
6. Wider links
Coordination is needed with Mediterranean-wide programmes 27 and initiatives and with the adjoining Atlantic Action Plan and the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, as well as with the BLUEMED and PRIMA 28 Initiatives. The INTERACT programme can provide assistance in this respect within the limit of its competence.
The Initiative must also be consistent with existing legislation. Synergies must be sought with the Union for the Mediterranean process, the 5+5 Dialogue, the Regional Transport Action Plan for the Mediterranean Region, the Trans-Mediterranean Transport Network, and broader frameworks such as those provided by the Barcelona Convention and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean.
By showcasing sustainable ideas and creating jobs and growth, the projects supported by the Initiative could spread to other parts of the Mediterranean, making the Initiative a gateway for sustainable growth in the basin.
7. Conclusion
The Commission invites the European Parliament and the Council to endorse this Communication. The Commission also invites the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee to provide Opinions on this Initiative.
The Commission will report on the implementation of this Initiative to the Council and the European Parliament by 2022 based on countries' reporting.
(1)
http://msp-platform.eu/sea-basins/west-mediterranean .
(2)
http://www.mapamed.org (April 2016).
(3)
http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5496e.pdf ( FAO 2016).
(4)
http://www.cmcc.it/publications/regional-assessment-of-climate-change-in-the-mediterranean-climate-impact-assessments .
(5)
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/news-and-events/state-union-2016-european-external-investment-plan_en .
(6)
http://ufmsecretariat.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2015-11-17-declaration-on-blue-economy_en.pdf
(7)
http://ufmsecretariat.org/foreign-affairs-ministers-of-the-55-dialogue-discuss-pressing-regional-challenges-and-highlight-the-positive-contribution-of-ufm-activities-to-the-enhancement-of-regional-cooperation/ .
(8)
COM(2014) 284 and COM(2016) 805.
(9)
JOIN(2016) 49.
(10)
Http://www.medmaritimeprojects.eu/download/ProjectMediamer/SH_Meeting_WME/WM_Transport_factsheet_300115.pdf .
(11)
http://arxiv.org/pdf/1510.00287.pdf .
(12)
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/EPRS/EPRS-AaG-565905-Recent-Migration-flows-to-the-EU-FINAL.pdf .
(13)
Adopted by the EuroMed Transport Forum in March 2015.
(14)
Regulations (EU) 2016/1624, 2016/1625 and 2016/1626.
(15)
This will be aligned with the European Bioeconomy Strategy and related to the International Bioeconomy Forum.
(16)
COM(2014) 86.
(17)
Species diversity in the Mediterranean increases from east to west: 43 % of known species occur in the eastern Mediterranean, 49 % in the Adriatic, and 87 % in the western Mediterranean.
(18)
Notably, 44 out of 48 stocks assessed in 2012-2014 were considered to be outside safe biological limits. (source: Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries and General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) .
(19)
http://www.mapamed.org (April 2016).
(20)
Established by the Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 and adopted under Sustainable Development Goal 14.5.
(21)
MEDTRENDS Report 2015: http://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/medtrends_regional_report.pdf .
(22)
The Framework for Action will be regularly revised and updated as new needs emerge.
(23)
A research and innovation initiative for blue jobs and growth in the Mediterranean area, jointly developed by Cyprus, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.
(24)
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/faoweb/GFCM/News/Mid-term_strategy-e.pdf .
(25)
COM(2011) 200.
(26)
JOIN(2016) 49.
(27)
For examples: Mediterranean Programme and European Neighbourhood Instrument Cross-Border Cooperation Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme.
(28)
Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area.