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European and External Relations Committee

Holyrood conference to voice Scotland's view on European maritime policy

CEU008/2006 | 24 November 2006

The future of Scotland’s seas and coastline will be debated at a maritime conference in Holyrood on Monday 4 December.

Organised by the Scottish Parliament’s Europe an and External Relations Committee, in partnership with Scotland Europa, the conference is part of the largest consultation ever undertaken by the European Commission.

Approximately 100 MSPs, MEPs and stakeholders in total will attend the event to examine the impact on Scotland of the European Commission’s Green Paper on a future Maritime Policy for the EU. Entitled ‘Towards a future maritime policy for the union: a Europe an vision for the oceans and seas’, the paper sets out a number of areas for debate and consultation in relation to governance, enterprise and environmental maritime issues.

Conference speakers include the head of the Maritime Policy Task Force for the European Commission, John Richardson and Minister for Environment and Rural Development, Ross Finnie MSP.

Linda Fabiani MSP, Convener of the European and External Relations Committee, said:

"We are delighted to be hosting this conference at Holyrood and to spotlight one of the key issues facing Scotland in the 21 st century.

"The future of our seas and coastline is of vital importance to the people of Scotland – and this conference will enable Scotland to influence European policy.”

Sarah Boyack, Convener of the Environment and Rural Development Committee, said:

"This event is an opportunity for a wide variety of people and organisations across Scotland who will be potentially impacted upon by a European maritime policy to meet and discuss common issues. In the spirit of joint working and a common approach, it is right that the Environment and Rural Development Committee should also participate in these discussions.”

Scotland Europa will publish a report on the conference in early 2007.

Background

The Maritime Policy Green Paper was adopted by the European Commission on 7 June 2006 . The consultation on the paper is open until 30 June 2007 – and is the largest consultation ever undertaken by the EU.

The Green Paper highlights the following areas of key importance for the development of an EU Maritime Policy:

Retaining Europe’s leadership in sustainable maritime development (marine environment, innovation & technology, skills & employment, clustering);

Maximising the quality of life in coastal regions (attractiveness of coastal areas to live and work, managing coastal risks, development coastal tourism);

Providing the tools to manage our relations with the oceans (data availability, financial resources, spatial planning for the maritime economy);

Maritime governance (offshore activities of governments, international rules, geographical realities); and

Reclaiming Europe ’s maritime heritage and reaffirming Europe’s maritime identity.

The conference coincides with the Parliament’s Environment and Rural Development Committee launch of its parliamentary inquiry to gather views on the key challenges for the marine environment. For more information go to:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/environment/Marineenvinquiryhomepage.htm

For further information, the media contact is :

Elaine Mitchell Tel: 0131 348 6245
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
email: elaine.mitchell@scottish.parliament.uk

Emma Berry, Assistant Clerk to the European and External Relations Committee

Direct Tel: 0131 348 5226 (RNID Typetalk calls welcome),

Email: europe@scottish.parliament.uk