Atlantic regions are facing the consequences of Brexit
in fisheries, trade and transport while also suffering
from the impact of COVID-19 on maritime links, tourism
and logistics chains
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has put
forward a set of proposals to strengthen
cooperation between EU Atlantic regions to better
tackle the impact caused by Brexit and the COVID-19
pandemic. The EU's assembly of cities and regions
calls for the creation of an Atlantic macro-region
that defines common strategies to boost blue
economy priority sectors, including fisheries,
commerce, tourism and transport. EU Atlantic
regions are located in four Member States: France,
Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The CoR proposals can
be found in an
opinion
led by the Spanish region of Cantabria, to be
adopted at this week's
plenary session
.
The Spanish region of Cantabria has presented the
opinion
'A new approach to the Atlantic maritime
strategy – Atlantic action plan 2.0'
. It includes a list of concrete proposals to
strengthen cooperation between EU Atlantic regions,
amongst which is the creation of an Atlantic
macro-region.
Paula Fernández Viaña (ES/Renew Europe)
, regional minister for the Presidency, Home Affairs,
Justice and External Action of the Government of
Cantabria, said:
"Atlantic regions are facing a twofold economic
crisis. Firstly, the yet to be quantified
consequences of Brexit for fisheries, tourism,
trade and transport. Secondly, the impact generated
by COVID-19, which includes a drastic reduction in
mobility with specific effect on infrastructure,
maritime links, logistics chains and the tourism
industry.
The creation of an Atlantic macro-region would
greatly strengthen the alliance between Atlantic
regions in order to better face the challenges
brought on by COVID-19 and Brexit. The macro-region
is an essential tool to compete for funds of the
EU's new Multiannual Financial Framework and to
develop common strategic projects in the blue
economy. Regions must take an active role in the
governance of the Atlantic. That is the reason why
we firmly defend an effective multilevel governance
respecting the institutional framework of each
Member State."
The
opinion
gathers concrete measures including:
- The creation of an Atlantic macro-region according to
the multi-level governance model of the Alpine
macro-region.
- The inclusion of fishing, shellfish and aquaculture
as a pillar in the Atlantic Action Plan (APP), since
the supply of seafood products is a
Green Deal
priority.
- The extension of scope of the sea motorways in the
Atlantic, allowing new connections between ports,
emphasizing its strategic value in connecting Ireland
with the continent in the post-Brexit scenario.
- The development of a specific economic and budgetary
tool for the Atlantic Strategy.
- The adoption of regional strategies for the
methodological development of the blue economy at local
and regional levels.
- The elaboration of an inventory of blue economy
activities in each region by the CoR to create a real
map of blue economy development within the EU.
- The reinforcement of transnational cooperation
between Atlantic regions to meet the objectives of the
new AAP.
- The creation of the conditions to foster work in
multidisciplinary and multicultural teams and to align
interests and agendas.
- The harmonization of public funding in research and
innovation so that available resources are allocated
more efficiently.
The CoR opinion welcomes the renewable energy pillar of
the new APP, considering it as an unmissable
opportunity to boost offshore renewable energy
production in the EU.
The EU's assembly of cities and regions nevertheless
regrets that key blue economy activities are excluded
from the AAP, such as naval and maritime construction,
transport industries, recreational boating, ancillary
industry and sustainable tourism activities relating to
the marine environment, including water sports, cruise
tourism and ferries.
Neither fisheries, shell fishing nor aquacultures are
dealt as subjects in their own right in the AAP, the
CoR opinion recalls.
The CoR proposes that the new Atlantic macro-region
focuses on a number of sectors that have large
transnational capacity like maritime energy, fishing,
environmental protection, climate change, transport and
scientific and technological research.
The opinion led by region of Cantabria supports the
development of the "Atlantic rail motorway" and of rail
port connections as well key "last-mile" connecting
roads, both between existing infrastructures and
between
TEN-T
corridors and other routes in the Atlantic area.
The CoR regrets that none of the AAP pillars are
related to tourism and cultural heritage, 'a sign of
identity of the European Atlantic area'.
Cantabria's draft opinion received the unanimous
support of the Members of the
NAT commission
on 19 January 2021. The final opinion is to be
officially adopted Friday 19 March 2021 following the
publication of plenary votes.
Background:
The 19 regions involved in the project of an Atlantic
macro-region are the following:
-
France
: Normandie, Bretagne, Pays de la Loire, Nouvelle
Aquitaine
-
Ireland
(all): Northern and Western, Eastern and Midland,
Southern
-
Portugal
(all): Norte, Centro, Alentejo, Área Metropolitana
de Lisboa, Algarve
-
Spain
: Comunidad Foral de Navarra, País Vasco,
Cantabria, Asturias, Galicia, Andalucía, Canarias
Read here the interview with Paula Fernández
Viaña
(ES/Renew Europe) on the Atlantic maritime strategy
(published 15 March 2021).
In 2011, the European Commission adopted the Atlantic
maritime strategy in response to repeated calls for
more ambitious, open and effective cooperation in the
Atlantic Ocean area. In 2013, an
Atlantic action plan
was introduced to implement the strategy and in July
2020, the EC adopted an
updated action plan
for a sustainable, resilient and competitive blue
economy in the EU Atlantic area, covering France,
Ireland, Portugal and Spain.
The blue economy refers to economic activities in
oceans, seas and coasts. It represents 5.4 million jobs
in the EU and generates a gross added value of €500
billion a year
(EC)
. Blue economy sectors particularly suffer from the
current crisis, especially tourism, the largest sector
of the Atlantic blue economy generating EUR27 billion
and employing almost one million people.
Green Deal Going Local (GDGL)
is a new initiative by the European Committee of the
Regions, which aims to place cities and regions at the
core of the European Green Deal, ensuring that both the
EU's sustainable growth strategy and the COVID-19
recovery plans translate into direct funding for cities
and regions and tangible projects for every territory.
Green Deal Going Local was launched on 15 June 2020
with the creation of a specific Working Group
composed of 13 members
. Read the press release
here.
Discover 200 Green Deal best practices in our
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Press contact:
Berta López Domènech
Berta.LopezDomenec@cor.europa.eu
David Crous Duran
david.crous@cor.europa.eu