Call for wide debate on EU maritime policy

It was important to the EU that all stakeholders in the maritime sector were involved in the debate prompted by the Green Paper on a future maritime policy, EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Joe Borg told a forum yesterday.

"The intention is to have as wide a debate as possible. We want to involve interested parties, stakeholders and experts to shape the right maritime policy for Europe," he said.

Dr Borg was speaking at the Vodafone Economic Forum called EU Green Paper On An Integrated Maritime Policy: Where Does Malta Fit In?

It was organised by the Malta Economic Update, together with the Maritime Law Advisory Council and was held at the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, St Julians.

Following the issue of the Green Paper, a one-year consultation exercise was launched by the Commission; this closes next June 30.

The idea behind the exercise was to develop an all-embracing maritime policy, aimed at enhancing Europe's maritime economy in an environmentally sustainable manner, the commissioner said.

After the completion of a wide-ranging debate, the European Commission would be in a better position to put forward proposals for a future maritime policy that is both solidly grounded in reality and based on a broad public consensus. The Green Paper represents a new process for developing policies in the EU, based on extensive consultation and on thinking that is both holistic and cross-sectoral, he said.