• To be defined in conjunction with the Rapporteur
• stresses the need to use a cross-policy integrated approach in the coordination of research policy, economic policy, the common fisheries policy and transport policy.
• calls for a broader focus on the aquaculture sector and marine, coastal and cruise transport;
• calls for the creation of a specific Knowledge and Innovation Community for the Blue Economy as a further measure for the development of skills and the transfer of ideas from marine research to the private sector;
• calls on the European Commission to further extend the use of scientific research in its efforts to achieve regionalisation in the common fisheries policy.
• notes that protection and conservation of marine ecosystems must be a key element in European maritime policy;
• recommends the development of clearly defined performance indicators for growth and innovation in the blue economy;
• notes that Commission's plans to increase SME participation in the blue economy should be backed by adequate financial assistance under both existing and future programmes. The need for funding is particularly visible in the aquaculture sector;
• notes that an enhanced policy framework for the inclusion of private business in the blue economy is necessary. Businesses should have an important voice in identifying research needs as well as in formulating norms, standards and business-friendly solutions;
• stresses that entrepreneurship in the blue economy extends beyond operations in our seas and oceans. It is important to plan appropriate support for onshore businesses related to the blue economy such as local fish processing plants to create a sustainable business environment for local fishermen.
notes that PPPs should not only be used for the blue economy for the purpose of acquiring large businesses as private partners. Public-private partnerships should take account of the financial potential and risk management capacity appropriate for the small and medium-sized business sector which will also allow smaller authorities to use the resources held by such businesses.
The CoR's NAT commission appointed Mr Adam BANASZAK as rapporteur on Innovation in the Blue economy on 05/06/2014, less than a month after the publication of the communication of the European Commission COM(2014) 254, which gives the opinion a forward looking character and opens up the possibility to have a significant impact on policy shaping in the field. This is confirmed also by the immediate invitation for Mr Banaszak to give a keynote speech on a high-level policy conference in Bari, Italy.
At the time of the adoption of the opinion in plenary session on 03/12/2014 the file was still in its preparatory phase at the European Parliament. On 08/09/2015 the European Parliament adopted a resolution on innovation in the blue economy (European Parliament resolution of 8 September 2015 on untapping the potential of research and innovation in the blue economy to create jobs and growth), which has taken up some of the points raised in the CoR opinion:
The EP resolution on Innovation in the Blue Economy takes account of the CoR opinion in the preamble of the document (citations, line 17), linking to the text of the CoR opinion in Official Journal.
CoR points partially taken up in the EP resolution:
P.1 of the resolution ("…points out that the communication is of limited scope and does not cover all sectors making up the blue economy; calls on the Commission to adopt an integrated and more comprehensive approach encompassing the challenges of innovation and job creation over the whole varied range of interacting sectors;") takes up partially P. 6 ("stresses the need to use a cross-policy integrated approach in the coordination of research policy, economic policy, the common fisheries policy and transport policy") and P. 27 of the CoR opinion ("notes that the communication does not take account of some areas with the biggest share in the blue economy such as shipbuilding, maritime transportation and blue energy")
Paragraps O (Preamble), 2, 5, 6, 54, 57 of the EP resolution refer to the ecosystems-based environment protection in a similar way as P. 7, 8, 13, 22 of the CoR opinion.
P. 31 of the EP resolution takes up points 12 and 31 of the CoR opinion in which the Committee requests the creation of a Knowledge and Innovation Community for the Blue Economy (P. 12) and adequate financial backing under both existing and future programmes (P. 31)
On inter-institutional level, the elaboration of the opinion very much helped develop and strengthen the working relation with EC's DG MARE. Since the adoption in the NAT commission (03/10/2014) the CoR has been regularly invited to participate in meetings of the high-level Atlantic strategy group, an informal group focused on blue economy organised by the Atlantic countries and hosted by EC's DG MARE.
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- stresses the need to use a cross-policy integrated approach in the coordination of research policy, economic policy, the common fisheries policy and transport policy.
- calls for a broader focus on the aquaculture sector and marine, coastal and cruise transport;
- calls for the creation of a specific Knowledge and Innovation Community for the Blue Economy as a further measure for the development of skills and the transfer of ideas from marine research to the private sector;
- calls on the European Commission to further extend the use of scientific research in its efforts to achieve regionalisation in the common fisheries policy.
- notes that protection and conservation of marine ecosystems must be a key element in European maritime policy;
- recommends the development of clearly defined performance indicators for growth and innovation in the blue economy;
- notes that Commission's plans to increase SME participation in the blue economy should be backed by adequate financial assistance under both existing and future programmes. The need for funding is particularly visible in the aquaculture sector;
- notes that an enhanced policy framework for the inclusion of private business in the blue economy is necessary. Businesses should have an important voice in identifying research needs as well as in formulating norms, standards and business-friendly solutions;
- stresses that entrepreneurship in the blue economy extends beyond operations in our seas and oceans. It is important to plan appropriate support for onshore businesses related to the blue economy such as local fish processing plants to create a sustainable business environment for local fishermen.
- notes that PPPs should not only be used for the blue economy for the purpose of acquiring large businesses as private partners. Public-private partnerships should take account of the financial potential and risk management capacity appropriate for the small and medium-sized business sector which will also allow smaller authorities to use the resources held by such businesses.