Seminar on EU Green Paper on Maritime Policy

A one-day seminar - "Pondering on the EU Green Paper on Maritime Policy" - to debate the policy content of this paper, is being organised by the International Ocean Institute (IOI) and the IOI-Malta Operational Centre of the University of Malta on November 17 at the Aula Magna, Old University Building, Foundation for International Studies, Valletta.

This event will be a unique opportunity for the academia and institutions to provide their own intellectual thinking and to make a contribution to the European Commission's endeavours to broaden and intensify the consultations on the proposals within the Green Paper.

Last June, the EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs, Dr Joe Borg presented the Green Paper to outline the major directions of a future integrated EU maritime policy.

The cross-sectoral approach of the paper highlights the interdependence of the economic, social, political and environmental factors in the governance of the European seas and oceans. The stated aim of the policy is to strengthen the protection of the marine environment while opening up the possibilities of growth and employment. The paper also takes into account the international dimension of coherence, duties and obligations.

The participatory approach taken by the EU to develop the maritime policy is a welcome and promising initiative that allows all stakeholders to make their input in shaping the final product through an interactive consultative process.

It is expected that the wide-ranging, intellectual debate and presentations by panelists will enrich the consultations on the Green Paper and provide participants with advanced awareness of answers to the critical and pertinent questions that the paper raises.

Two discussion panels will be held. The first will deal with "Understanding the Challenges to the Future Maritime Policy of the European Union", chaired by Professor Salvino Busuttil, chairman of the Fondation de Malte. The second, chaired by Paul Mifsud, co-ordinator of MAP (UNEP), will cover "The Regional and International Implications of a Future Maritime Policy for Europe".

The seminar will be addressed by Commissioner Joe Borg and opened by Dr Awni Behnam, president of IOI, and Professor Juanito Camilleri, Rector of the University. Foreign Minister Michael Frendo will close the seminar, which will be co-ordinated by Dr Aldo Drago, director of the IOI-Malta Operational Centre.

Speakers will include Tiago Cunha from the Office of the EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Ranier Fsadni, lead author of Malta's Position Paper on the EU Green Paper, and Rev. Professor Peter Serracino Inglott, chairman of the board of IOI-Malta.

The seminar is being held on the wings of the five-week international IOI Malta training course on Regional Ocean Governance for the Mediterranean and Eastern European Countries. The majority of participants in the training course come from EU neighbouring countries.

Their countries will be impacted by the final policy architecture that the EU will adopt. At the same time the national and regional policies of neighbouring countries will impact in their own way and even determine the success and challenges to the final product.

All those interested in attending should send an email to ioi-moc@um.edu.mt with their details, or call at the IOI-MOC office on 2144-0972.