Borg calls for coordinated EU maritime policy

EU fisheries commissioner Jo Borg has called for a more “coordinated and coherent” approach to EU maritime policy.

Borg said he wants to see an end to the “fragmented” nature of maritime affairs which, he believes, currently exists.

The European commission last year published a green paper, Towards a future maritime policy for the EU, aimed at achieving a cross-sectoral approach to maritime issues.

A year-long consultation exercise on the document has just ended and a commission maritime task force will publish a wide-ranging action plan setting out future maritime policy in mid-October.

The task force is currently sifting through the 400-plus contributions which came from a range of stakeholders.
 
Borg, who, unlike his predecessor, is also responsible for maritime affairs, said, “It is fair to say that from the many different responses we have received, one thing appears to unite almost all stakeholders.

“That is their belief that we should replace our fragmented vision of maritime affairs with one that gives a full picture, that allows for synergies to develop and for negative impacts between sectors to be reduced.

“This call for integration will not in any way mean centralisation. Decision-making competences need not be altered, yet there is scope for more coordination and improved coherence than exists at present.”

The Maltese official was speaking in the Azores at an event jointly organised by the Rennes-based Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR).

He praised the CPMR as one of the “prime movers for an integrated approach”.

“Throughout, the CPMR has been an extremely active partner,” said Borg.

“By engaging so closely with the process, it has afforded us the rich experience and expertise of Europe’s regions and has helped us to be able to develop some new, fresh thinking.”

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