8/6/2007
Healthy Oceans are Key to Europe's Future, say Commissioners Dimas and Borg

On World Oceans Day this week, the European Commission recalled the vital role seas and oceans were playing for Europe and reaffirmed its commitment to wise stewardship of the marine environment.  It was essential to the planet's health and as a source of wealth, social well-being and pleasure to European Union citizens, it said.

The Commission is working for the rapid adoption of the Marine Strategy Directive, which will guarantee the environmental good health of Europe's oceans. In the autumn the Commission will also present the conclusions of its year-long consultation on the need for an integrated European Maritime Policy.

Commissioner for the Environment Stavros Dimas said, "The oceans and seas are a source of life on our planet. They cover almost three quarters of the Earth's surface and contain some 90% of the biosphere. Their protection is essential to the future of our planet. Pollution of our seas and destructive fishing practices are anathema to that. Our oceans and seas also play a strategic role in sustaining climate and weather patterns, distributing solar energy, and absorbing carbons."

Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Joe Borg commented, "Our objective is to ensure the sustainability of our present and future sea-related activities through the wise use of the oceans and seas. The evidence in favour of a more integrated approach to their management becomes more compelling every day. By providing a more coherent and all-embracing approach to these activities, the new EU maritime policy will be key to meeting this objective."

The European Union is strongly committed to the protection of oceans and seas. In 2005 the Commission proposed a Thematic Strategy for the protection and conservation of the marine environment which included a proposed Marine Strategy Directive. The aim of the directive is to ensure that all EU marine waters are environmentally healthy by 2021 so that Europeans are able to benefit from seas and oceans that are safe, clean and rich in biodiversity.

The sum of all existing measures and efforts at international, EU or national level is clearly not sufficient to protect Europe's marine environment. A strong and integrated EU policy on marine protection is therefore required. The directive is due to be adopted by Council in 2008.

Oceans and seas are also at the heart of the European Union's strategies to combat and adapt to climate change. Increasing temperatures and climate change are causing the transformation of sea-ice systems and sea levels to rise. These changes must be addressed urgently to avert disastrous consequences to the eco-system and indigenous communities in regions such as the arctic. The European Commission will address such issues in the Green Paper on Adaptation to Climate Change it will publish this month