Towards a holistic maritime policy

'The Evolving EU Maritime Policy and the Proposed Action Plan - A vision for an integrated Maritime Policy for the EU and Neighbouring States' is the title of a two-day seminar at Sundown Court in Kappara on December 3 and 4 that the University's International Ocean Institute - Malta Operational Centre (IOI-MOC) will be organising with the support of the EU task team on the maritime policy green paper.

The seminar follows the European Commission Communication issued last October on the subject which proposes to introduce a holistic approach in maritime affairs involving research and advances in science and technology, globalisation, climate change and pollution problems affecting the seas and oceans. It will review the aims, objectives and underlying principles of the policy together with the EU Green Paper consultation process, and will tackle the institutional mechanisms and sectoral responses necessary to achieve the policy.

IOI president Awni Behnam will open the seminar and speakers will include Rafal Mazanek and Izolda Bulvinaite, members of the EU maritime policy task team, Dr Aldo Drago, IOI-MOC director, Dr Gordon Cordina, Rev. Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott and Dr Ranier Fsadni.

The seminar forms part of the IOI-MOC's course on Ocean Governance for the Mediterranean and Eastern European Countries, a flagship IOI activity and a very prestigious University of Malta-accredited international course which runs annually over a five-week period.

The course is specifically designed for mid-career professionals, government officials, educators, researchers with coastal and marine-related responsibilities in the Mediterranean, the Black, the Baltic and the Caspian seas. The emphasis of this year's course is on the implications of the EU maritime policy for the European regional seas.

The course is sponsored by the Lighthouse Foundation, the United Nations University and the International Maritime Organisation. For more information contact Dr Drago at the IOI-MOC on tel: 2144 0972 or e-mail: aldo.drago@um.edu.mt.