INTEGRATED MARITIME POLICY FOR THE EUROPEAN
UNION (14631/07)
Letter from the Chairman to Jim Fitzpatrick
MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Transport
Thank you for the Explanatory Memorandum on
"An Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union".
It was considered by Sub-Committee B during its meeting of 21 January.
The Committee decided to clear the document from scrutiny.
The Committee intends to take a close interest
in any legislative proposals that result from the proposed Action
Plan. We question the need for extensive EU-level legislation
in this area as much of the maritime industry is already regulated
at an international level.
We would also be concerned if legislation resulting
from this document did not take adequate account of smaller companies
involved in the maritime sector. The Committee was pleased to
note that the UK's regulations on boatmasters' licensing will
now take smaller boat operators' needs into account. Will the
Government be working to ensure that similar flexibility will
be incorporated into any integrated EU maritime polices?
25 January 2008
Letter from Jim Fitzpatrick MP to the
Chairman
Thank you for your letter dated 25 January 2008
referring to Sub-Committee B's consideration, at its meeting of
21 January 2008, of an Explanatory Memorandum submitted by
the Department on the European Commission's Communication, "An
Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union" (14361/07).
I welcome the Committee's intention to take
a close interest in any legislative proposals engendered by the
Commission's Action Plan. The concept of an integrated approach
to policy making is ostensibly welcome, but it will be important
to ensure that individual proposals for legislation are driven
by real, rather than putative, needs.
The Government believes that any proposals arising
from the new policy package must add value to existing international,
EU and national measures, respect the principle of subsidiarity,
maintain the competitiveness of the EU Member States in global
markets and be underpinned by eco-system based management, which
is important for the sustainable use of marine resources. We shall
press for individual proposals to be accompanied by a sound business
case, and shall be mindful of the need for any impact on smaller
enterprises to be properly taken into account.
3 March 2008
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