European Commission issues Communication and proposal for an ICZM strategy

On 27 September The European Commission adopted a document, which announces a European Strategy for ICZM. The Strategy aims to promote a collaborative approach to planning and management of the coastal zone, within a philosophy of governance by partnership with civil society. The Strategy defines the EU’s role as one of leadership and guidance to support the implementation of ICZM by the Member States, at local, regional and national levels. The Strategy also underlines the need for continued collaboration between the services of the Commission. Where possible, the Strategy builds on existing instruments and programmes, many of which were not conceived exclusively for the coastal zones. In order to encourage ICZM action at other administrative levels, the Strategy includes a proposal for a European Parliament and Council Recommendation to the Member States.

The Strategy is expected to lead to improved management of coastal zones. It is furthermore expected to improve the implementation of a wide range of EU legislation and policies in coastal zones. It is intended that the approach outlined in this Strategy could also serve as a model for introducing sustainable development in other parts the European territory.

Since 1996, the European Commission has been working to identify and promote measures to remedy the deterioration of the coastal environmental, social and cultural resources and to improve the situation in our coastal zones. Between 1996 and 1999, the Directorates General for Environment, Fisheries and Regional Policy, in association with the DGs responsible for research and information and with the European Environment Agency, operated a Demonstration Programme on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). The European Strategy for ICZM is based on the experiences of the Demonstration Programme. The European Parliament and the Council must now decide whether or not to adopt the proposed Recommendation.

For further information, visit the ICZM homepage at http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/iczm/home.htm, read the press release at http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/iczm/comm2000.htm where you can also download both the Communication and the proposal concerning the implementation of ICZM.

Coastal Guide News will follow the developments in upcoming issues.
 

COASTAL GUIDE NEWS is a biweekly newsletter published by the European Union for Coastal Conservation (EUCC) with financial support of Stichting DOEN, the foundation of the Dutch lottery "Postcode Loterij" and the Department of International Nature Affairs of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries. For free subscriptions, comments or contributions to this newsletter, please contact news@coastalguide.org. 

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Members of the Coastal Guide News editorial team: Erik Devilee, Levente Galambosi, Irene Lucius, Hanneke Mesters, René van Oers, and Albert Salman. 

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