MEPs gave their green light Thursday to allocate a €40 million budget to integrated maritime policy pilot programmes and projects for 2011-2013. They struck an agreement with the Council at the first reading.
"This financial regulation will enable us to create synergies to support economic growth, innovation, employment, social cohesion and environment protection", explained Georgios Koumoutsakos (EPP, EL) in the debate preceding the vote, adding that "this is a first step towards developing genuinely integrated maritime governance, in collaboration with third countries".
The integrated maritime policy, launched in 2007, incorporates and combines maritime transport, tourism, fisheries, environment protection and biodiversity policies.
Parliament stressed that all players at international, national, regional and local levels should be involved in shaping this policy, to help develop coastal areas and the EU's ultra-peripheral regions.
MEPs demand that its funding be protected, by including it in the EU's 2014-2020 "financial perspectives" (multi-annual financial framework).
The report was adopted by 541 votes in favour to 33 against and 14 abstentions.
Procedure: Co-decision, 1st reading (with agreement)
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