Irish Regions Office Website

June 21, 2010

EU Atlantic Strategy a step closer

At the General Affairs Council meeting on 14 June, Foreign Affairs Ministers agreed to develop an Integrated Maritime Policy strategy for the Atlantic 'macro-region'. This is intended to provide a basis to address the common challenges faced by the EU's five Atlantic Member States - Ireland, UK, France, Spain and Portugal - in jointly managing their shared maritime space.

The plan, which is to be coordinated by the European Commission's DG Maritime Affairs in close cooperation with the countries concerned, is intended to reflect areas where heightened cooperation can provide obvious added value. This can be expected to provide a means of ensuring better implementation of existing EU policies and improved policy integration, with themes such as maritime research, maritime surveillance, and environmental, energy, connectivity and economic issues, likely to be included.

From an Irish perspective a macro-region approach could provide a mechanism to focus more strategically on issues and opportunities which might be appropriate to EU support. This could improve the effectiveness and rate of drawdown of aspects of the Structural Funds while also identifying significant projects (and readymade partners) for applications to a range of Interreg, research & development and other European funds.

A broad on-line stakeholder consultation based on a set of key challenges is due to be launched in July. The finalised strategy is to be presented by June 2011. The Association of Irish Regions (AIR) has drafted a position paper in response which is available from the IRO upon request.

General Affairs Council Conclusions on Integrated Maritime Policy

Posted by iroronan at June 21, 2010 11:54 AM