On 8 October 2012 an Informal Ministerial Meeting dedicated to the EU Integrated Maritime Policy will be organised in Cyprus. This Meeting will be a follow-up to the one organized by the Portuguese Presidency in Lisbon in 2007 which marked the launch the Integrated Maritime Policy. The ministerial meeting will lead to the adoption of a political declaration (“Limassol Declaration”) as a milestone for a new drive for the further development and implementation of this cross-cutting policy.
RSS From: The Research Council of Norway
Published: 03.07.2012
Martin Schulz - EP President, Yiannakis Omirou © European Union 2012 - European Parliament
The declaration will focus on two major subjects “A maritime agenda for growth and jobs” and “supporting the maritime economy” as a motor for growth.” It will be based on the consultation conducted in Autumn 2011 among member-states as well as the EC consultation on blue growth. At a meeting held in European Parliament on 27th June, George Christofi, Counsellor at the Permanent representation of Cyprus to the EU, said “we need an explicit and clear objective for blue growth.” The Presidency will also initiate the discussions on the EC proposal for a legislative act on Maritime Spatial Planning.
JPI Oceans is an important stakeholder in this field addressed by Cyprus Presidency as its general objective is to provide the necessary knowledge base to support the implementation of the MSFD and IMP. Close cooperation between JPI Oceans and Cyprus is therefore expected during the Presidency.
In the field of Research and Innovation, the advancement of the negotiations on the Horizon 2020 package will be the highest priority. The former Danish presidency reached a partial agreement on the proposal of the European commission, including some amendments in relation to synergies between joint programming initiative and Horizon 2020. The European Parliament’s committee on industry, research and energy is expected to vote in October.