The seas that surround Europe are vital to our quality of life and our economy. One in two European citizens live in coastal areas, and over 40 per cent of our GDP is generated there.
Almost 90 per cent of the EU's external trade is carried by sea. Whether we look at transport, energy, tourism, or the fishing industry, maritime activities have a crucial impact on every aspect of our lives. As an island state, the maritime dimension is even much more crucial for our future. Following the publication of a new maritime blueprint by the EU in Brussels yesterday, Ivan Camilleri spoke to the brains behind this new initiative - the Maltese EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Joe Borg.
What is the scope of this Green Paper and what are you trying to achieve?
As a coastal continent, Europe has many important economic activities related to the sea. These activities are covered by a number of specific policies which are managed independently of one another. As we face the challenge of globalisation, we need to ensure that Europe remains competitive.
Also, as new technologies open the way for the development and diversification of our sea-related activities, the Commission wants to explore the best way of developing and diversifying these activities so as to optimise our returns from the sea.
The question asked in the Green Paper is: can we continue to approach our sea-related policies separately or should we now move towards an integrated maritime policy that would release untapped potential in terms of economic growth, jobs and well-being? The objective therefore is to use the Green Paper as a basis for the year-long consultation launched yesterday.
We are asking European citizens and stakeholders to think about Europe's interaction with the seas and oceans that surround Europe and to tell us how best we can proceed to get the most from them in a sustainable way.
Is it just a lot of words or are there concrete proposals?
The idea of a Green Paper is not to provide answers, but to ask the right questions about the right set of topics. Certainly, the approach itself is a major change - the change from a sectoral approach to an integrated one is a profound one that, if adopted, will have far-reaching consequences.
The document sets out the context of our maritime activities and offers a vision of what could be in store for Europe if we had greater coordination and planning.
Every chapter asks searching questions and makes certain proposals; once we have the answers and reactions to those questions and proposals from all stakeholders in Europe we will then be able to chart our course with confidence. It's a very exciting process.
But why does the EU need an integrated maritime policy?
There is no doubt that the way in which our sea-related policies are managed at present makes it difficult to set priorities and to reconcile competing uses of the seas. This can lead to conflicting measures being taken and which can impose undue constraints on some or other sector or have a negative impact on the environment. For example, new port infrastructures often compete for space with ecologically sensitive coastal areas, the construction of marinas, or the development of aquaculture. These activities may, in turn, have an impact on fishing that may be displaced, on the marine environment that may be damaged or on the surrounding waters that may be polluted.
A maritime policy would enable the EU to prevent the problems resulting from uncoordinated decisions by setting a strategy identifying objectives and priorities and the way to achieve them.
Do you think maritime issues are very much intertwined with sovereignty and do you expect member states to pass on to Brussels control of their maritime and coastal regions?
We are not trying to give additional powers to the EU, we are trying to add value where possible. There are so many differences and specificities among our member states that applying common EU rules to all areas would not be effective. Decisions will have to be taken and implemented at local level by the people who know best. However, we may be able to provide tools such as common data systems in order to assist local areas.
It is clear that an important part of a future maritime policy will need to be taken up by the member states. This does not, however, preclude the adoption of a single policy definition, or common principles and parameters under an all-embracing maritime policy. This can only be achieved at EU level.
How was the Green Paper drawn up and what will happen now?
In March 2005, President Josè Manuel Barroso, who initiated this development, asked me to chair a new maritime policy task force to prepare a wide consultation on a future maritime policy for the Union.
A national experts group was set up to provide input from the member states. The corresponding Commission services worked together and a maritime policy task force was set up within the Directorate General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs and ensured the necessary coordination between the parties concerned.
What will follow now is a whole series of meetings, debates, conferences and seminars in various member states where the issues contained in the Green Paper will be discussed. There is also a website dedicated to maritime affairs policy which will provide all the information available, details of events and the response from stakeholders. It will also provide the opportunity for everyone to have an input in the consultation process.
Malta is undoubtedly very interested in this subject and you being a commissioner from Malta must have naturally influenced this Green Paper somehow. What is according to you Malta's benefit from an EU maritime policy?
I think there are few countries that would stand to gain more from a more integrated maritime policy! Large chunks of our economy have an important maritime dimension - tourism, shipping, fishing, aquaculture, shipbuilding, ports - the list goes on and on. All these activities link up with, or impact upon, not only each other but also with the activities by Europeans in other member states.
Anything that leads us to a better defined common vision of where we want to go, better tools to get there, and better mechanisms for sorting out our differences will benefit Malta tremendously.
Did Malta contribute in any way during the process of formulation of this Green Paper?
Yes, Malta has been active. It made an excellent contribution to the Green Paper, welcoming it and highlighting areas of interest to Malta. Furthermore, David Attard, a well known international authority on maritime law, represented Malta at member state expert group meetings, where he was able to make a significant and constructive contribution to proceedings.
How do you see the EU's maritime future?
This is our chance to shape our future relationships with the seas and the oceans. We must make the best of it to ensure we adopt the best set-up to maximise our economic and social returns from the sea in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. As the Green Paper shows, the potential is there. It is now up to us all to seize this opportunity and to have an input in Europe's future maritime policy.