Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-06-18-Speech-3-162"
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"en.20030618.12.3-162"2
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"Mr President, I do not know if I should read anything into the fact that environmental issues tend to be discussed last thing in the evening. It certainly is not the best time to do so.
Mr President, we realise this is only a first step. We await a Commission proposal on an effective strategy for protection of the marine environment. Nonetheless, I would like to thank all members of the Committee on the Environment personally for their effective input. It is thanks to them that the quality of this document is as good as it could possibly be.
I should first like to say that the Commission’s communication describes the current state of the marine environment. It refers to the pressures and threats the latter is under. In particular, it highlights the dangers posed by industry, fishing, agriculture, transport, the exploitation of gas and oil fields and the accidental introduction of species. All these activities can have very serious consequences. I would remind you of the recent
disaster and the
accident three years ago.
Further, this communication recognises the lack of an integrated policy for the protection of the marine environment at Union level. The Commission sets out 14 objectives and 23 actions. In the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy we endeavoured to define these objectives more clearly and to broaden the scope of certain actions. In general, we tried to work towards a strategy for the protection of the marine environment consistent with European legislation and with the present condition of European waters.
The communication reiterates that the two key references are the Sixth Community Environmental Action Programme and the Johannesburg Summit. Section 10 of the Johannesburg action plan emphasises the importance of sustainable development. It states that oceans, seas, islands and coasts are key components of our planet’s ecosystems and essential to food safety. The loss of biodiversity as a result of accidents and the social and economic consequences of this loss have yet to be quantified.
The Sixth Programme contains an important chapter calling for the protection of the marine environment to be strengthened. It also calls for environmental issues to be integrated into all other policies, and for commitment to a clear plan of action to curb the negative impact on biodiversity. It also appeals for more sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources. In addition, it recalls the Montreal Declaration on the Protection of the Marine Environment.
It is important to describe the relationship between the strategy for protection of the marine environment and all other policies. These include policies relating to fisheries, agriculture, transport and chemicals. To this end, environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment should be used when developing activities, plans and programmes, as they are much more appropriate instruments.
Objective 9 concerning transport and maritime security is of particular importance at the moment. The Committee on the Environment was of the opinion that it should be strengthened. This despite the fact that in the wake of the
accident, and particularly after the more recent disaster involving the
two reports on the subject were adopted in the last plenary. A further two reports were adopted in the Committee on the Environment this week. Nonetheless, further directives and communications are still being debated. There is a very important report on the
by the Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism and this chapter needs strengthening.
The situation in European seas is not good, even though it has emerged from monitoring and assessment programmes that information on the marine environment is insufficient.
In fact, we are recalling that the principles that should inform this new marine strategy must include the precautionary principle, the ‘polluter pays’ principle, a clear concept of sustainability, an integrated approach to management of both the coastal and offshore marine environments, strategic environmental assessment and a regional approach taking account of regional diversities. In addition, account should be taken of all the relevant existing international initiatives such as OSPAR, HELCOM and ICES. They must not be seen as substitutes, however. We also believe that the notions of sustainable fishing, the interaction between fishing and sea birds, the balance between fish stocks, fishing effort and the environment are crucial."@en1
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