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Action 21023 - Protection and Conservation of European Seas (PROCAS)

In 2005, the European Commission completed the preparatory work for a Marine Strategy and presented a proposal for a Directive establishing a Framework for Community Action in the field of Marine Environmental Policy. The overall objective of the proposed Directive is to establish a framework for the development of Marine Strategies designed to achieve good environmental status in the marine environment and to ensure the continued protection and preservation of that environment and the prevention of deterioration. In order to achieve this ambitious objective, a knowledge-based approach needs to be ensured which is essential to i) assess European marine waters, ii) determine good environmental status, iii) establish environmental targets and iv) establish monitoring programmes as called for in the Marine Strategy proposal.

In 2006, the Commission published a Green Paper entitled "Towards a future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European vision for the oceans and seas". All economic activities of Europeans which are linked to or impact on the oceans and seas, as well as all the policies dealing with them, are examined in this Paper with a view to finding the best way to extract more benefit from the oceans in a sustainable manner. Research and technology are needed not only to maintain the European lead in advanced products, but also to make informed policy choices and prevent degradation of the marine environment. In this respect, the Marine Strategy will form the environmental pillar of the Maritime Policy.

The PROCAS Action supports this Strategy.

Specific objectives of the Action

• To provide scientific and technical advice on environmental monitoring and reporting in order to support the implementation of the European Marine Strategy and the further development of the Maritime Policy; analyse potential synergies and overlaps between EU policies dealing with the coastal and marine environment (See also Action 22002).
  
• To update the IES coastal and marine data and information and to include new thematic products in the coastal and marine information system.
  
• To derive and disseminate datasets and information from satellite observations and numerical modelling as required for the analysis of marine ecosystem status and trends (including climate change) on a European and regional seas scale.
  
• To develop value-added products for the study of status and trends of coastal and marine ecosystems in European regional seas, with an emphasis on eutrophication and biodiversity assessment.
  
• To consolidate established cooperation with the Black Sea riparian countries in order to harmonise Black Sea monitoring and assessment with a view to preparing for the European Marine Strategy.
  

The Action maintains and further develops an Environmental Marine Information System (EMIS) which provides online scientific information by way of geo-referenced maps (created in real-time), and supplies the user with basic navigation and interrogation tools. The system will be further developed to find synergies with the advancements of the Water Information System for Europe (WISE) which currently does not include marine information.

More information can be found on the Global Environment Monitoring Unit website.

Main customers

• DG Environment

• DG Fisheries and Maritime Affairs

• Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission / Helsinki Commission

• OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the North-East Atlantic

• Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution

• The United Nations Environment Programme, Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP-MAP)

• European Environmental Agency (EEA)

• International Council for Exploration of the Seas (ICES)

EU Legislation and Documents supported by this Action

• Communication to the Council and to the European Parliament, Thematic Strategy on the Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment (COM(2005)504 final)

• Marine Strategy Directive (COM(2005)505 final)

• Sixth Community Environment Action Programme

• Green Paper - Towards a future maritime Policy for the Union: A European vision for the oceans and seas? (COM(2006)575 final)

• Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area

• Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic

• The Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution

• Barcelona Convention / Convention for the Protection Of The Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution