The European Context
Contents
Capacity Building in the frame of new EU strategies and policies
This section is a review of the way coastal areas and their management are tackled within the most relevant EU documents and resulting CB needs. This review is further divided in existing ICZM policies on the one hand, and terrestrial and marine policies that deal with or have an impact on the coast and its management on the other.
ICZM EU policies
Many of Europe's coastal zones face problems of deterioration of their environmental, socio-economic and cultural resources. Since the 1970s the EU has been dealing with *coastal zones through international conventions covering its regional seas. More recently, the EU has begun to specifically address problems related to the state of coasts and the coast as a regional entity.
Since 1996, the European Commission has been working to identify and promote measures to remedy this deterioration and to improve the overall situation in our coastal zones.
EU Demonstration Programme
From 1996 to 1999, the Commission operated a Demonstration Programme on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) designed around a series of 35 demonstration projects and 6 thematic studies. This programme was aimed to:
- Provide technical information about sustainable coastal zone management, and
- Stimulate a broad debate among the various actors involved in the planning, management or use of European coastal zones.
The programme was intended to lead to a consensus regarding the measures necessary in order to stimulate ICZM in Europe
In 2000, based on the experiences and outputs of the EU Demonstration Programme, the Commission adopted two documents:
- ICZM Strategy -COM(2000)547 final
A Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on "Integrated Coastal Zone Management: A Strategy for Europe" (COM/00/547 of 17 Sept. 2000)
- EU ICZM Recommendation (2002/413/EC)
A proposal for a European Parliament and Council Recommendation concerning the implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Europe (COM/00/545 of 8 Sept. 2000). This EU ICZM Recommendation (2002/413/EC) was adopted by Council and Parliament on 30 May 2002.
The Communication explains how the Commission will be working to promote ICZM through the use of Community instruments and programmes. The Recommendation outlines steps which the Member States should take to develop national strategies for ICZM. The national strategies are due for Spring 2006 and should involve all the coastal stakeholders.
ICZM Evaluation Report of ICZM in Europe (18 August 2006)
The ICZM Evaluation Team of Rupprecht Consult and the International Ocean Institute (IOI) were appointed by the European Commision to carry out an independent evaluation of ICZM in Europe.
Main objectives
- To evaluate the implementation of the EU ICZM Recommendation of May 2002
- To evaluate the added-value of ICZM in the context of relevant existing and evolving Community policies/legislation
- To identify where a need for further action exists as regards coastal zone policy and to provide recommendations for further relevant action at Community level
Observed benefits of the EU ICZM Recommendation in Europe
The analysis of implementation trends has shown that the EU ICZM Recommendation has been beneficial for the coastal management in Europe:
- Creating a new awareness regarding long-term coastal challenges
- Initiating a rethinking of traditional planning approaches towards more sustainable ones
- Creating a strong pressure to increase participative elements in decision-making
| It is important to note that according to this report, ICZM has shown that it could become the instrument to link 'terrestrial' to 'marine' legistation, especially on a regional sea level |
Strategic recommendations
- Strengthen the European dimension of ICZM based on a Regional Seas approach
Follow the EEA recommendation of regionalisation and enhance ICZM activities on a supra-national level, providing a common European frame to help brining actors together, building capacities and harmonising practices in a trans-national perspective
- Raise the profile of ICZM and enhance its integration with sectoral policies
Enhance stakeholders' identification with ICZM, create a cross-sectoral policy community from EU to local level and ensure incorporation of ICZM into current practices
- Elaborate the strategic approach of ICZM -oriented at a balanced ecologic, social, economic and cultural development
Develop a common conceptual framework describing the geographical delimitations, development orientations, linking the EU ICZM Recommendation and stakeholder routines in a practical way
- Address major long-term risks: Vulnerability to disasters and Climate Change
Inlcude the vulnerability of the coast to disaters as well as the consequences of climate change, sea level rise and pollution on a Regional Sea level and in a long-term perspective, striving for the adoption of the Precautionary Principle
Capacity Building for ICZM in Europe
Endorse awareness, guidance training and education
A crucial issue in the implementation of ICZM is the understanding and ownership of stakeholders along the European coast regarding this approach for a sustainable management of the coastal zone.
Main EU policies dealing with coastal areas and its management
Many coastal authorities are engaging in ICZM in order to coordinate the multiple uses of the coastal zones, their impacts and development policies. The coherence of EU policies affecting the coastal zones and the integration of the various levels of governance are a pre-requisite for successful ICZM.
From the terrestrial/coastal viewpoint
- Water Framework Directive (WFD 2000)
From the marine/coastal viewpoint
- Marine Strategy -COM(2005)505, 24 October 2005
- Quality of Bathing Water Directive (1976, agreed for amendment in 2005)
The convergence of the EU policies at the coast
Capacity Building Needs associated with the evolution from ICZM to Ecosystem-based Management
Current EU ICZM practices
- Bad practices: failure of past/present planning system
To be completed! Concerns and evidence of needs -weaknesses to be addressed: administrative, human resources, organizational, finances, political...
External links
- The changing faces of Europe's coastal areas (EEA Report No 6/2006)
This report provides information on the state of the environment in the coastal areas of Europe, and provides evidence of the need for a more integrated, long-term approach.
Roadmap for Capacity Building for ICZM
| List of articles on Capacity Building for ICZM |
| Capacity Building Network main page |
