Action plan for a maritime strategy in the Atlantic area

In 2013, the European Commission adopted an Atlantic action plan. It aims to revitalise the maritime and marine economies in this sea basin (France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom) by nurturing its economic and environmental potential.

ACT

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Action Plan for a Maritime Strategy in the Atlantic area - Delivering smart, sustainable and inclusive growth (COM(2013) 279 final of 13 May 2013)

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES THIS ACTION PLAN DO?

It follows on from the European Union Atlantic strategy, adopted by the European Commission in 2011, and from the blue growth strategy, adopted in 2012. It outlines how stakeholders (public authorities, business, citizens’ groups, researchers, etc.) in the 5 EU countries in this sea basin can work together to promote sustainable growth and job creation while safeguarding the area’s environmental and ecological stability.

KEY POINTS

The action plan’s success depends on a combination of efforts in 3 areas so as to enable the blue economy to reach its potential.

• Investment: this needs to be targeted at innovation, technological capabilities and smart specialisation strategies, with SMEs being particularly important. Investment in infrastructure, such as vessel technology, and in marine infrastructure, such as ports and marinas, may also be required.
• Research: ocean governance, the sustainable exploitation and management of marine resources, safety at sea and marine environmental protection require not only data and an understanding of how ecosystems function and interact, but also an ability to model, forecast and predict.
• Higher skills: the shortage of a suitably skilled workforce for certain sectors of the marine and maritime industry must be tackled if the blue economy is to reach its potential. This can be achieved both by upskilling the existing workforce and by attracting young people into the sector.

4 priorities have been identified.

• 1.

  Promote entrepreneurship and innovation by:

  • increasing the capacity of the Atlantic area to innovate;
  • improving skills both in traditional industries, such as shipbuilding, aquaculture and fisheries, and in the emerging sectors like marine biotechnology or renewable energies.

• 2.

  Protect, secure and develop the potential of the Atlantic marine and coastal environment, for example by:

  • reinforcing the safety and security of seafarers, coastal populations, property and ecosystems;
  • developing an ocean-observing and predictive capability;
  • contributing to the development of tools and strategies to address global climate change issues;
  • supporting marine environmental protection and efforts to achieve ‘good environmental status’ of Atlantic waters by 2020;
  • developing a better understanding of the technical feasibility, economic viability and environmental impact of mining for minerals;
  • considering ways to accelerate the deployment of sustainable offshore renewable energy (e.g. offshore wind farms).

• 3.

  Improve accessibility and connectivity by:

  • facilitating the development of ports as hubs of the blue economy.

• 4.

  Create a socially inclusive and sustainable model of regional development by:

  • fostering better knowledge of social challenges in the Atlantic area;
  • preserving and promoting the Atlantic’s cultural heritage.

Investment and research priorities identified in the action plan may be considered for EU financing.

Further information is available from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries website.

RELATED ACT

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Developing a Maritime Strategy for the Atlantic Ocean Area (COM(2011) 782 final of 21 November 2011)

last update 30.09.2015