Action 21023 - Protection ad Conservation of European Seas (PROCAS)

Our European Seas - Seas of Change?

In 2005, the European Commission completed the preparatory work for a Marine Strategy by presenting a proposal for a Directive establishing a Framework for Community Action in the field of Marine Environmental Policy. The overall objective of the proposed Directive is to establish ‘a framework for the development of Marine Strategies designed to achieve good environmental status in the marine environment and to ensure the continued protection and preservation of that environment and the prevention of deterioration’. In order to achieve this ambitious objective a knowledge-based approach needs to be ensured which is essential to perform i) the assessments of European marine waters, ii) the determination of good environmental status, iii) the establishment of environmental targets and iv) the establishment of monitoring programs which are called for in the Marine Strategy proposal.

In 2006, the Commission published a Green Paper ‘Towards a future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European vision for the oceans and seas’. All economic activities of Europeans which are linked to or impact on the oceans and seas, as well as all the policies dealing with them, with a view to finding the best way to extract more benefit from the oceans in a sustainable manner are examined in this Paper. Research and technology are needed not only to maintain the European lead in advanced products, but also to make informed policy choices and prevent degradation of the marine environment. In this respect, the Marine Strategy will form the environmental pillar of the Maritime Policy.

We need to read what the ACTION PROCAS is doing in support to this topic!

 

Specific objectives of the Action

• To provide scientific and technical advice on environmental monitoring and reporting for the implementation of the European Marine Strategy and the further development of the Maritime Policy; analysis of potential synergies and overlaps between EU policies dealing with the coastal and marine environment (Refer also to Action 22002).

• To update the accessible IES coastal and marine data and information and to include new thematic products in the coastal and marine information system.

• To derive and disseminate data sets and information from satellite observations and numerical modeling as required for the analysis of marine ecosystem status and trends (including climate change) on a European and regional seas scale.

• To develop value added products for the study of status and trends of coastal and marine ecosystems in European regional seas with emphasis on eutrophication and biodiversity assessment.

• To consolidate established cooperation with the Black Sea riparian countries with the aim of harmonizing Black Sea monitoring and assessment with the view of preparing for the European Marine Strategy.

 

The Action maintains and further develops an Environmental Marine Information System (EMIS) providing scientific information, through the web, by way of geo-referenced maps (created in real-time), and supplies the user with basic navigation and interrogation tools. The further development of the system will seek synergies with the advancements of the Water Information System for Europe (WISE) which does not include, at the moment, marine information.

 

Contact info

Alan Belward

Tel: (+39) 0332 789298   E-mail: alan.belward(at)jrc.it

 

Main customers

- DG Environment

- DG Fisheries and Maritime Affairs

- Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission / Helsinki Commission - OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the North-East Atlantic- Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution

- The United Nations Environment Programme, Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP-MAP)

- European Environmental Agency (EEA) - International Council for Exploration of the Seas (ICES)

EU Legislation and Documents supported by this Action

- Communication to the Council and to the European Parliament, Thematic Strategy on the Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment (COM(2005)504 final)

- Marine Strategy Directive (COM(2005)505 final)

- Sixth Community Environment Action Programme

- Green Paper ‘Towards a future maritime Policy for the Union: A European vision for the oceans and seas’ (COM(2006)575 final)

- Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area

- Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic

- The Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution

- Barcelona Convention / Convention for the Protection Of The Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution

 

Relevant links

DG Environment

European Commission - Maritime Affairs

http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/index_en.htmlEuropean Environment Agency (EEA)

Helsinki Commission, Baltic Marine Environment Protectio Commission (HELCOM)

O S P A R Commission for the protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic

Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution

http://www.blacksea-commission.org/main.htmInternational Council for the Exploration of the Sea