Events

Study Days of the EPP-ED Group

Malta - 4-6 July 2007


Summary of Theme III: EUROMED
Maritime Policy - Transport and Energy


Joe Borg, Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
It is now time to move to the next phase: to build on all the contributions we have received and to put together a Maritime Policy package to be adopted by the Commission in October. This package will have two major components: the first a report that synthesises and analyses all the various needs and demands expressed by stakeholders during the consultation; and the second which puts forward the Commission's view on what an EU Maritime Policy should be - its ultimate objectives, the principles it should be based on, and the tools and mechanism that will be necessary to realise its vision. This will be supplemented by an action plan, showing how the Commission will act in the course of its mandate to make the Maritime Policy a reality and to begin working towards achieving its objectives.

Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for Transport
Integrated logistics are a key factor in our economic system. The EU Transport Policy tackles the problems and opportunities created by the globalisation process. Sustainable economic growth requires all transport modes working together. This reduces external costs and, ultimately, avoids disruptions in our industrial, commercial and distribution structures.

In the first place, we have to be aware of the congestion challenge that Europe and many other economies are facing today.
The second element refers to the issues of energy efficiency and clean propulsion in shipping.
The third and last element concerns the contribution of maritime transport to the objectives of the Lisbon Agenda.

The Commission's action plan announced last year with the mid-term review of the Transport Policy focuses precisely on those elements.


The EPP-ED Group's position on the Piecyk draft report on a future maritime policy for the Union: a European vision for the oceans and seas

Georg Jarzembowski MEP, EPP-ED Coordinator of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, Member of the Committee on Fisheries
Mr Jarzembowski pointed out that the rules should be adopted in the closest interest of the citizens keeping in mind the complexity of the issues: climate change, fishery policy, technology innovation, tourism etc.
The EPP-ED Coordinator underlined the danger of potential conflicts between different areas under the same policy, for example, shipping against the environment or tourism against the alternative energies.
Georg Jarzembowski pledged for a good approach and the need to speed up the legislative process on maritime policy. He called on the Commission for closer cooperation and a greater degree of openness.

Several MEPs put questions on maritime and transport policies to Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for Transport, and to Joe Borg, Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.


Responses of Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission

What do you think about the future of Galileo programme?
There are many applications for Galileo and we need to encourage this programme. We have 2 possibilities for financing on the table: intergovernmental financing or a community one. We have to come to an agreement and therefore we ask the support of the EPP-ED on this issue.

How can we bring all the components of maritime policy together in order to have a clear overview?
We have done a lot as a community but we need to continue and to intensify our work and also encourage our neighbours to do so as well.

Is it enough financing to support the modernisation of the maritime transport, ports?
We need to modernise ports and our approach is to lay down guidelines for our EU members involved. We have neighbours developing and modernising their ports and we need to compete with them. The EIB has granted loans for this purpose for the operators from the south east of the Mediterranean.

Conclusion: We need to do everything possible to interact, to encourage and develop all the aspects of the maritime policy in parallel.


Responses of Joe Borg, Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs

The scope of the maritime policy is to improve the decision process at institutional level. There is a need for more involvement.
Regarding the diversity of the areas included in maritime policy, the Commission formed an inter-services group and every Commissioner involved added their input. The cooperation is done in conjunction with all the other services. The Commissioner pointed out the need to strengthen international cooperation in this area.
Regarding water policy, Joe Borg stressed that it is important to promote the research dimension for the increase in water production and supply.

Speaking about the specificity of the policy for different seas, the Commissioner spoke about the need to develop more synergy for different needs in order to have a more integrated network. In fact, the most important things are the basic framework and attention to specific needs.

The social dimension and competitiveness of maritime policy was another topic and Joe Borg pointed out that the EU needs to compete globally.


David Casa MEP (EPP-ED, Malta) concluded:
"The sea is vitally important. One example of this is that 90% of exchange trades take place because of the sea facilities. The way we are dealing with maritime policy is related to the other new challenges that we are facing today like climate change."


Marcin Trojanowski, EPP-ED Press Service, Tel: +32-484-059521
Delia Vlase, EPP-ED Press Service, Tel: +32 476-331038