New structure to manage EU maritime policy

Maltese Commissioner Joe Borg is steering a major change in the European Commission by which one of its main directorate generals, DG Fish, will cease to exist and be taken over by DG Mare.

Announcing the arrangement, the Commission yesterday said the main change involves the creation of three geographic directorates in DG Mare that will be responsible for managing both the Common Fisheries Policy and the new EU integrated maritime policy in Europe's three main maritime regions.

For the first time, there will be a greater focus on Mediterranean fisheries and on control in international waters in line with the EU's commitment to fight illegal fishing.

Dr Borg, who is EU Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner, told The Times the new set-up in DG Mare highlights the Commission's determination to conduct an integrated and tailor-made maritime policy.

"This will allow the Commission to address in a consistent way all the issues pertaining to each of Europe's main maritime regions and to the seas in general," he said.

The new format will boost the implementation of the new EU integrated maritime policy and will facilitate the use of all the instruments under the Common Fisheries Policy to achieve sustainability in European fisheries.

The three geographical directorates in DG Mare will be in charge of the Arctic, Atlantic and outermost regions, the Mediterranean and Black Sea and the North Sea, Baltic Sea and landlocked countries.

The EU integrated maritime policy was adopted last October after an extensive stakeholder consultation headed by Dr Borg.

It aims at adopting an integrated approach to Europe's seas and oceans in order to develop synergies between sectoral policies including transport, environment, research and fisheries and to achieve a more efficient and sustainable interaction with Europe's oceans and seas.