Anne BurrillAnne Burrill

Unit E.3 Enlargement and Neighbouring CountriesUnit E.3 Enlargement and Neighbouring Countries

European Commission - European Commission - DG EnvironmentDG Environment

ICZM in Europe

Contents

• Why the EU gives special attention to the coastal zones

• The EU ICZM Recommendation

• EU Maritime Policy

• EU Priorities for ICZM

• Relations with our Partners in the Mediterranean

• Closing Remarks

Why special attention for coastal zones ?

A Concentration of People

Why special attention for coastal zones ?

Economic activity of strategic importance

Why special attention for coastal zones ?

Rich Biodiversity

Why special attention for coastal zones ?

Scarcity of Space

Why special attention for coastal zones ?

Coastal Erosion

A strategic approach to coastal zone management and planning. Aim: achieve sustainable development.

Based on common principles, reflecting good territorial governance.

Set in motion a process: - Development of National ICZM strategies,

following a stock-take- Reports to the Commission: February 2006- Evaluation and Commission report to Council

and European Parliament June 2007

The EU ICZM Recommendation (2002/413/EC)

Coastal planning and management should be based on:

- ecosystem approach, sustainable resources use

- climate change effects

- sound coastal protection, including of cultural heritage

- sustainable economic/job opportunities

- a functioning social and cultural system in local communities

- access to the coast - for leisure / landscape

- cohesion (accessibility remote coastal settlements)

ICZM Recommendation – Contents (1)

Eight Defining Principles:

(a) broad thematic and geographic perspective

(b) long-term perspective

(c) adaptive management / sound knowledge basis

(d) local specificity

(e) working with natural processes, “carrying capacity”

(f) involving all the parties concerned

(g) involvement of all relevant administrative bodies at national, regional and local level *

(h) use of a mix of instruments, to facilitate coherence between sectoral policy objectives and between planning and management.

ICZM Recommendation – Contents (2)

Good feedback (14/20 Member States; 70% coastline)

Progress since 2000 but mature ICZM still rarely observed Reports show varying scope and nature of actions

Lack of common understanding of principles of ICZM Knowledge basis – use and sharing of information is key Continued need for coherent EU policies / legislation

ICZM Recommendation – ICZM Recommendation – Evaluation Results, June 2007Evaluation Results, June 2007

ICZM Recommendation – ICZM Recommendation – Evaluation June 2007 - ConclusionsEvaluation June 2007 - Conclusions

Approach and Principles of EU ICZM Recommendation remain valid

Need for: Further support to implementation More systematic comparative analysis and experience

exchange

Strengthening the knowledge base and use of information

Maritime Policy offers platform for coherence of policies

renewed focus on integration …

EU Maritime Policy « Blue Paper » October 2007

Same approach as underlying EU ICZM Recommendation :

• holistic approach to policy making and implementation

• good governance• knowledge based approach• integration across land-sea

boundary ( “Coasts” are integral part of Maritime Policy)

Maritime Policy – Action Plan

Guidance for national maritime policies Collective learning Stakeholder consultation structures and

networking Research strategy Data and information (EMODNET, Atlas

of the seas ...)

EU Priorities for ICZM(1)

Adaptation to coastal risks & impacts of climate change

Keys: preventive, long-term, multi-risk / cross-sector approach; integration between prevention and response

White paper on Adaptation to Climate Change (3Q 2008)

Community Disaster Prevention Strategy (end 2008)

Study on adaptation and coastal defence costs

Coastal erosion : CONSCIENCE

EU Priorities for ICZM (2)

Cooperation in regional seas context, including marine spatial planning

- Building on Marine Strategy Directive, ICZM Recommendation and existing regional seas structures

- Roadmap and preparatory study, exchange of best-practice

Cohesion policy: trans-national cooperation programmes “Territorial Cohesion”

Helcom (Baltic), OSPAR (Atlantic) Black Sea Synergy / Bucharest convention (Black Sea)

UNCLOS …….

Relations with Mediterranean Partner Countries (1)

Pre-Accession Process: Countries of South East Europe (Balkans and Turkey) progressive transposition and implementation

of EU legislation and policy, incl. environment

EU Neighbourhood Policy: Countries of Eastern and Southern Mediterranean collaboration in developing national

environment policy, based on EU experience

Relations with Mediterranean Partner Countries (2)

Euro-Mediterranean Partnership

- Environment component reinforced since 2005 (Horizon 2020 initiative)

ENPI finance – Med. basin CBC programme

Barcelona Convention (including its ICZM protocol!)

"Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean"

Closing Remarks

Coastal zones are different from other spaces and require special attention.

Integrated coastal zone management is confirmed as the approach needed to address the particular challenges of coastal zones. More efforts need to be deployed to support implementation in the EU.

The launch of the overarching EU Maritime Policy provides new impetus at EU level to promote integration on land and sea.

The EU wants to work more closely with its Mediterranean Partners, including on ICZM.

The ICZM Protocol mirrors the basic principles and objectives of the EU ICZM Recommendation and it fits in the regional sea based approach that the EU envisages.

Thank you