Rodrigo Oliveira defends regions' intervention on maritime spatial planning in Europe
During the meeting of the Political Bureau of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR), the Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations defended that European maritime regions should take part in the drafting of the directive on maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management in the European Union.
"The proposal, as drafted, defines several cross-cutting goals as well as the common minimum requirements for the European Union. It also adds complexity and makes procedures more complex, although these processes should be flexible and adapted to the territorial and institutional specificities of European regions," stated Rodrigo Oliveira during the meeting held in Malmö, Sweden.
Rodrigo Oliveira stressed that "the proposed directive may even interfere with the work already carried out in several regions," mentioning the case of the Azores, "where the Regional Government has already approved the management plans for the coastal areas of all islands, which take into account coastal waters up to a depth of 30 metres.
In this regard, the government official noted that "there is work already done and its extension must essentially comply with the goals and methodologies that have proved successful."
On the other hand, Rodrigo Oliveira warned of the imposition of rigid schedules for the implementation of the directives, stressing that "each territorial unit deserves a specific approach in the context of the coordination with interested parties and the establishment of dialogue with local partners. The government official considered that "a flexible approach is fundamental and it should take into consideration the characteristics of regions and even their specificities."
Hence, the Regional Under Secretary emphasised the importance of the work to coordinate positions among maritime regions and the action taken by CPMR through the working group on "Maritime Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Management"; the Azorean Government has actively participated in these works.
The proposed directives on maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management have been subject to criticism from many Member States and national parliaments. According to Rodrigo Oliveira, this situation "could lead to a final result that will be properly refocused; that is, the European Union will support relevant and cross-cutting areas, such as the provision and sharing of geographical information and good practices, and will give Regions the possibility of making the implementation and necessary adaptations to their reality."
"Planning is an essential tool to discipline the use of the sea and identify potential opportunities for sea and coastal areas; therefore, it is important to emphasise the interest of the European Union and the importance of its support for the accomplishment of this task. But with regard to the proposed directive, this is clearly a matter in which 'less Europe' means 'better Europe,'" stressed the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations.