Commission for Natural Resources
5th meeting, 21 September 2015
Item 7: Debate with Commissioner Vella: "Ocean Governance"
Briefing for the members of the CoR NAT Commission
Main policy issues for the CoR:
The European Committee of the Regions has an excellent track record in maritime and coastal
policies. Through its Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) it has drawn up a large number of
influential opinions reflecting the regional dimension of regulations on fisheries, aquaculture,
maritime spatial planning, coastal and maritime tourism and blue economy. The Common Fisheries
Policy is currently the only regionalised European policy area. That is why the CoR is one of the stops
for Commissioner Vella in his series of meetings related to EC's public consultation on ocean
governance.
The Ocean is the greatest of our shared resources, and we share it not only within Europe, on national
and regional level, but with all other countries on Earth. A more efficient and eco-friendly
management of the sea could be achieved only if non-EU countries also participate in the process,
something that is particularly visible on European level in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Provisions of the international law of the sea lay out the binding guidelines for all activities at sea and
have an immediate effect on the Blue economy and the environment conservation. Benefits for LRAs
would include further development of the Blue economy, new opportunities for sustainable fisheries
due to recovery of fish stocks and vulnerable ecosystems, cleaning military leftovers and chemicals
dumped at sea, development of tourism and sports activities at sea, building scientific and business
incubators in coastal regions.
Background:
International ocean governance is a new initiative of the European Commission, searching for a way
to govern the world's seas and oceans in a more sustainable and efficient manner.
Engaging in shaping international ocean governance in the UN, in other multilateral fora and
bilaterally with key global partners is a task assigned to Commissioner Vella in his mission letter from
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker. In a public consultation1 open from 4 June to
15 September 2015 the European Commission asks for EU-wide input on the subject.
1
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/maritimeaffairs_fisheries/consultations/ocean-governance/doc/consultation-document_en.pdf
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EN
The current legal framework of the law of the sea builds on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
from 1982 (UNCLOS)2. The UNCLOS defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of
the world's oceans; it establishes guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of
marine natural resources, and contains significant environmental regulatory and judicial enforcement
provisions.
The convention introduces clear definitions for internal waters, territorial waters, archipelagic waters,
contiguous zone, exclusive economic zones and continental shelf. It creates the International Seabed
Authority3 that was established to organise, regulate and control all mineral-related activities in the
international seabed area beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, an area underlying most of the
world’s oceans.
A major element of the current system of the law of the sea is the United States' non-ratification of the
UNCLOS. The USA is among 14 other countries that have signed but not ratified the convention.
Content of the European Commission's public consultation on international ocean governance:
General problem definition:


The consultation document concludes that the current framework for international ocean
governance is not effective enough in ensuring the sustainable management of oceans and their
resources;
The sheer number of oceans-relevant international institutions and sector-specific agreements and
rules complicates or even hampers implementation.
Specific problem definition:
The causes of ineffective international ocean governance could be explained by:



Gaps in the existing international ocean governance framework
Inefficient use and implementation of the existing international ocean governance framework, or
insufficient coordination among its components
A lack of knowledge about the oceans
Relevant CoR opinions:
CDR 4835/2014 - Innovation in the Blue Economy: realising the potential of our seas and oceans for
jobs and growth; rapporteur: Adam Banaszak (PL/ECR)
2
3
http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htm
https://www.isa.org.jm/
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CDR 2202/2012 - Marine Knowledge 2020: from seabed mapping to ocean forecasting; rapporteur:
Arnold Hatch (UK/NI)
CDR 2203/2012 - Blue Growth - Opportunities for marine and maritime sustainable growth;
rapporteur: Adam Banaszak (PL/ECR)
CDR 741/2012 - Developing a Maritime Strategy for the Atlantic Ocean Area; rapporteur:
Paul O'Donoghue, (IE/ALDE)
CDR 34/2012 - Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament on the European maritime and
fisheries fund; rapporteur Pierre Maille (FR/PES)
CDR 239/2011 - Legislative proposals on the reform of the common fisheries policy; rapporteur
Mieczyslaw Struk, (PL/EPP)
CDR 339/2010 - The Development of an Integrated Maritime Policy and Marine Knowledge 2020,
rapporteur Noel Formosa (MT/EPP)
Members of the discussion panel:
Jose Luis Carneiro: CoR NAT Commission Chair, President of Baião Municipal Council, (PT/PES)
Karmenu Vella: European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affaires and Fisheries, former
minister for tourism and aviation of Malta
Gesine Meissner: Member of the European Parliament, TRAN Committee, President of the
Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas, Rapporteur on Maritime Spatial Planning
(DE/ALDE)
Ricardo Serrão Santos: Member of the European Parliament, PECH Committee, Vice-President for
Marine Knowledge of the Parliament intergroup on Seas, Islands, Rivers and Coastal Zones and VicePresident for Biodiversity of the intergroup on Climate change, Biodiversity and Sustainable
Development, previously marine biologist at the University of the Azores, (PT/PES)
Vasco Ilídio Alves Cordeiro: NAT Commission member, President of the Regional Government of
the Azores, President of the CPMR (PT/PES)
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