considers that marine knowledge is crucial especially in order to achieve sustainable growth and healthy and productive oceans, and to improve understanding of marine ecosystems and the consequences of human activities on them;
- believes that it is important to have centralised data about maritime activities in order to achieve a better understanding and prediction of potential interactions;
- points out that, in addition to their own budgets for data collection, Member States should also be able to use European funds for data collection and research;
- considers that although some progress has been made, particularly the completion of the first phase of EMODnet, a number of challenges have yet to be overcome in order for the Commission to meet the objectives set in 2010;
- believes that there is a need to develop streamlined and effective planning application and evaluation procedures in order to process applications efficiently;
- emphasises the importance of pursuing the work already conducted, particularly on EMODnet, and of publicising the latter widely once it becomes operational (in 2014), so that it attracts the contributions it needs and is brought to the attention of its intended target audiences (the public and private sectors and the general public).
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- considers that marine knowledge is crucial especially in order to achieve sustainable growth and healthy and productive oceans, and to improve understanding of marine ecosystems and the consequences of human activities on them;
- believes that it is important to have centralised data about maritime activities in order to achieve a better understanding and prediction of potential interactions;
- points out that, in addition to their own budgets for data collection, Member States should also be able to use European funds for data collection and research;
- considers that although some progress has been made, particularly the completion of the first phase of EMODnet, a number of challenges have yet to be overcome in order for the Commission to meet the objectives set in 2010;
- believes that there is a need to develop streamlined and effective planning application and evaluation procedures in order to process applications efficiently;
- emphasises the importance of pursuing the work already conducted, particularly on EMODnet, and of publicising the latter widely once it becomes operational (in 2014), so that it attracts the contributions it needs and is brought to the attention of its intended target audiences (the public and private sectors and the general public).