To view presentations from this event please go to;

http://www.northseacommission.org/home/event/reports-from-events/161-presentations-from-the-conference-qthe-local-dimension-to-european-maritime-policyq.html

Conference Agenda

Monday 18 May 2009

12:00              Lunch and registration

Session 1 – The Strategic Dimension

 Chaired by the European Commission Office in Scotland

13:00              Welcome (Aberdeenshire Council & European Commission)

13:15              Keynote Address (European Commission - Maja Kirchner)

13:45              A European Parliament Perspective (Elspeth Attwooll, MEP)

14:15              OSPAR Commission: International Co-operation for the Protection of the North East Atlantic (OSPAR –Sebastian Unger)

14:45              A Japanese Approach (Professor Hideo Kojimoto)

15:15             Panel Discussion

15:45             Coffee break

Session 2 – Stakeholder Perspectives

Chaired by the East of Scotland European Consortium (ESEC)

16:00              Welcome to Session 2 (Kate Dean, Chair of ESEC)

16:15              Scottish Marine Bill (Richard Lochhead, MSP)

16:45              Community Engagement (Scottish Coastal Forum -Rhona Fairgrieve)

17:00              A Fisheries Perspective (Scottish White Fish Producers’ Association – Mike Park)

17:15              A Fishing Ports Perspective (European Association of Fishing Ports and Auctions - Pim Visser)

17:30              A Ports Perspective (European Sea Ports Organisation - David

                        Whitehead)

17:45              An Offshore Energy Perspective (Iain Todd, AREG)

18:00              Panel Discussion

18:30              End of proceedings

19:30  Whisky tasting and Official Dinner, hosted by the European Commission

Tuesday 19 May 2009

Session 3 – The Way Forward

Chaired by the North Sea Commission (Anders Fasth, Chair of NSC Marine Resources Group)

09:00              Welcome to Session 3 (North Sea Commission - Anders Fasth)

09:15              Maritime Spatial Planning (European Commission - Lieselot Marinus)

09:45              The Baltic Sea Strategy (Baltic Sea Commission - Bo Löfgren)

10:15              Coffee Break

10:45              Thematic Workshops

1)     Spatial Planning

The aim of this workshop is to explore how best to effectively implement Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in the EU.  A particular focus of the workshop will be the ‘regional seas’ and ‘ecosystem’ concepts and the interrelationship between them.  Some of the issues which the workshop will focus on include:

-          How to ensure local accountability in a transnational planning system;

-         How to accommodate the needs of diverse maritime industries;

-         How to achieve a high standard of environmental protection.

2)     Governance and Democracy

The aim of this workshop is to discuss the challenges of implementing a strategic, cross-sectoral EU policy in a way which meets the needs of EU citizens.  A particular focus of the workshop will be the role of local and regional authorities in implementing key components of the EU Maritime Policy.  Some of the issues which the workshop will focus on include:

-          How to ensure that the Maritime Policy reflects local specificities;

-         How to identify and clarify the roles of different levels of governance in   implementing the Maritime Policy;

-         How to engage with coastal communities and industries to ensure wide stakeholder participation.

3)     Capitalising on Maritime Assets

The aim of this workshop is to investigate means of growing and developing Europe’s maritime industries.  A particular focus of the workshop will be the opportunities presented by the European Maritime Policy for maritime enterprises.  Some of the issues which the workshop will focus on include:

-          How to balance the needs of traditional and emerging maritime sectors;

-         How to explore synergies across different maritime sectors (e.g. through clustering and research);

-         How to ensure that the fiscal and legislative regime for delivery of the Maritime Policy reduces the administrative burden for business.

11:45              Financing Maritime Projects (Christian Byrith - INTERREG North Sea Programme)

12:05              Tackling Marine Pollution (Tom Piper - KIMO)

12:20              The Way Forward through Stakeholder Engagement (NSRAC - Hugo Andersson)

12:45              Conclusions and Next Steps (Rapporteur)

13:00              End of proceedings and Lunch

14:00              Study Tours/travel to airport and rail station