Theme of the day of 10 November 2006

Marine Environment Strategy

The European Parliament will debate a report by Aldis Kušķis MEP (EPP-ED, Latvia) on the Third Thematic Strategy on the Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment in Strasbourg on Monday 13 November. The own-initiative report criticizes the Commission's proposal for a Marine Strategy Directive as being a weak basis for preventing further loss of the biodiversity and deterioration of the marine environment.

The European Commission Marine Thematic Strategies have since 2002, the following aim: "to promote sustainable use of the seas and conserve marine ecosystems". However, the major challenge lies in the very large number of organisations, regional conventions and international bodies, as well as the EU´s own extensive body of legislation, programmes and policies, which hinders the effective creation of a common strategy.

The current process of wide consultation on a future marine policy should lead to a Green Paper on Maritime Affairs. The contribution of Mr Kušķis is in this respect, very important as a representation of the opinion of the European Parliament.

Draft report on Thematic Strategy on the Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment

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