Cross-border maritime cooperation

• Definitions and concepts in the area of maritime cooperation
• EU context
• Problems and issues of local cross-border maritime cooperation
• Recommendations

Recommendations

Local and regional level

• Develop observation and coordinate planning of the development of local maritime spaces
  - Develop networked measures for observation and shared studies (environment, fishery resources, coastal habitats, climate change, transport and port activity, law of the sea, socioeconomic data, etc.); consider cooperation on this with national and European levels.
  - Develop joint planning in an integrated sustainable development approach (identify priorities and coordinate efforts; jointly plan the setting-up of Natura 2000 zones, corridors for transport of hazardous materials, etc.).

• Give impetus to cooperation projects on topics specific to local maritime spaces
  - Joint networking of ports and port cities.
  - Cooperation on maritime pollution control.
  - Start with projects, the vision of the inhabitants: develop relations and the common culture, promote cooperation on education and training.

• Organise the governance of maritime cross-border territories at the different relevant levels
  - At local level: this approach can be appropriate for maritime spaces where there is a fixed link (Øresund), border coastlines and estuaries or a local basin (Corsica/Sardinia) and, if appropriate, with the aid of the new tools proposed by the 2014-2020 EU Regulations: ITI, CAP...
  - At the level of maritime basins (Channel, Tyrrhenian Sea, Adriatic, Caribbean, etc.), which often correspond to the scale of the cross-border cooperation programmes.

National level

• Include coastal local and regional authorities in the definition and management of policies which have an impact on their development (transport, maritime safety, environment, etc.)
  
  
• Coordinate cooperation policy with coastline policy (in France, this comes under the remit of the “préfet maritime” or maritime prefect)
  
  
• Ensure coordination between States, particularly concerning the development and implementation of the partnership agreements for the 2014/2020 cohesion policy.

European level

• Encourage the development of a local maritime transport public service
  - increase short-distance transport between communities,
  - authorise public aid for maritime transport,
  - introduce a new EU instrument promoting short sea shipping.

• Ensure that maritime cooperation needs and the specific nature of certain spaces (straits, maritime basins) are taken into account in EU policies
  - in European legislation that has an impact on maritime spaces,
  - in cohesion policy
  - by supporting initiatives for observation and for the capitalisation of experience in maritime matters, and the networking of actors involved in cross-border maritime cooperation.

Photo : Shutterstock / RogerMechan