Brussels, 3 November 2006
Joe Borg to hear responses to Green Paper on Maritime Policy in Toscany
On Monday, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Mr Joe Borg, will be in Livorno, Italy, to attend a seminar entitled "Governance and the future EU maritime policy: which role for the Regions?", organised by the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR). Commissioner Borg will launch the proceedings with a keynote address on the state of play of the Commission's work on developing a Maritime Policy for the Union. Mr Borg's speech will be followed by an initial response to the Green Paper from the CPMR, and a presentation of the opinion given prior to the publication of the Green Paper by the EU Committee of the Regions. In his speech, Mr Borg will recall the strong support which the CPMR has given the Commission since the idea of a Green Paper on an integrated maritime policy was first mooted and encourage the stakeholders to continue to play a leading role in the consultation process, which will run until next summer. The seminar will look at the ways in which regions have acted as initiators of integrated policy proposals and at interregional cooperation in the specific context of the Mediterranean. The Green Paper focuses on the need for a holistic approach to maritime activities in which the economic, social and environmental dimensions are intrinsically linked. Addressing these various aspects under a Maritime Policy would act as a driving force for sustainable development and prosperity. Commissioner Borg will stress the importance of extensive collaboration and consultation with stakeholders at all levels especially the maritime regions, which will be the most direct beneficiaries of any future maritime policy. The CPMR is an independent network established in 1973 to improve collaboration between Europe's maritime regions. This seminar is the 3rd major event dedicated to the Commission's Green Paper which the CPMR has organised.