Activities of Keith TAYLOR related to 2012/2297(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on Blue Growth: Enhancing sustainable growth in the EU’s marine, maritime transport and tourism sectors PDF (251 KB) DOC (160 KB)
Amendments (25)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the size and scope of the environmental impacts of the Blue Growth focus areas are highly uncertain and potentially harmful given our limited knowledge about the intricate complexity of the marine ecosystems; stresses that related decision-making must therefore be guided by the precautionary principle as enshrined in Article 191(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU);
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission's Communication on Blue Growth, which forms the maritime dimension of the ‘Europe 2020’ Strategy and gives a clear indication of the potential of the maritime economy to create sustainablpromotes smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and employment opportunities;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that, in order to boost the competitiveness of the Union's maritime economic sectors in the global market, national, regional and European authorities must create the necessary conditions for sustainable growth, namely by establishing spatial systems, upgradingcombining different policy instruments, including marine spatial planning framed by the objectives of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, an ecosystem-based approach to management of human activities at sea and the application of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive, whilst in parallel upgrading necessary infrastructure, creating access to professional skills and securing funding;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses the inherent linkages between blue growth and climate change including the devastating effects of ocean acidification; stresses that all maritime activities must support the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change with the view to contributing to a more climate- resilient Europe;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that at a time when Member States are cutting public investment, it is urgently necessary that development policies and above all high-cost projects, such asnecessary transport and energy infrastructure projects, receive adequate funding during the 2014-2020 programming period and beyond;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses, however, that the increased economic activity associated with blue growth must not come at the expense of marine and coastal ecosystems and must be compatible with the environmental objectives of the Maritime Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)adhere to the environmental objectives of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and must not be prioritised over the health of our marine and coastal ecosystems, which are extremely sensitive and amongst the first to suffer from the impacts of climate change;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Notes that only healthy marine ecosystems can be a basis for a sound and sustainable blue economy; calls on the Commission to continue researching the cumulative impacts of human uses of the marine environment and of maritime activities in all sectors;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Calls on the Commission to provide adequate long-term environmental monitoring and conduct research on early warning systems;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to significantly step-up their efforts to reach an international agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport, taking into account the growing impact of greenhouse gas emissions from ships;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses that the EU shipbuilding industry has the potential to increase its contribution to growth and employment by exploiting the opportunities arising from demand for ‘clean ships’ (increased energy efficiency and reduced SOx, NOx emissions) ands well as vessels suitable for the construction and operation of offshore wind farms; calls on the EU shipbuilding industry to take up this opportunity, especially given the expected increase in short sea shipping along the EU coastline;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls upon Member States, with the direct involvement of local and regional authorities, as well as civil society organisations, to support initiatives to develop and upgrade sustainable tourism infrastructure and make every effort to eliminate bureaucracy and the lack of transparency in the sector, while respecting environmental legislation; notes the importance of creating or upgrading specialised high-level schools (administration and economy of tourism enterprises, tourism professions, maritime colleges, cookery schools, etc.);
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses that the cruise industry is an important economic resource for European ports and neighbouring local communities that is also vital in the development and use of more energy efficient ships with lower emissions; encourages the planning of attractive tourist programmes designed to enhance the visitor's experience by highlighting the cultural and historical importance of port destinations;.
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Stresses the need to preserve our natural capital and heritage and encourage sustainable forms of tourism such as eco-tourism; calls upon Member States to protect biodiversity by urgently delivering marine conservation (including trans-border) actions to protect and restore marine and coastal ecosystems, including through the Marine Natura 2000 networks;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls on the Commission to step up its efforts to boost the competitiveness of European ports by supporting and coordinating trans-border port infrastructure capacities and upgrading the services provided (e.g. by bringing them into line with the Schengen requirements) in order to make European ports more attractive for cruise ships and more beneficial for local communities;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls on the Commission to include maritimesustainable maritime, island and coastal tourism in related actions and programmes, such as the ‘EDEN - European Destinations of Excellence’ and the ‘Calypso’ programmes;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the Commission to take account of the contribution and role of local and artisanal gastronomy in the development of European coastal tourism; considers it necessary to use and coordinate existing policies and tools and to draw up new programmes and actions to encourage synergies between small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) of the primary and tertiary sectors in coastal areas of the EU;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Urges the Commission to create a ‘Virtual Tourism Observatory’ that links up with research institutes, enterprises and public authorities with the aim of driving forward market research, providing enterprises and public authorities with forward-looking information on the development of supply and demand and creating more favourable business conditions and which provides information on the link between biodiversity, climate protection and sustainable tourism initiatives;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Notes that climate change is one of the main threats to marine biodiversity worldwide and that the energy aspects of a blue growth strategy must be based on renewable energies and energy efficiency;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Paragraph 29 b (new)
29b. Warns against any investments which could lead to dependency on any fossil fuels and calls for a ban of oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean and the Arctic;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Calls on the Member States to work together to facilitate the sustainable construction of the North Sea Offshore Grid for renewable energy; calls on the Commission to make a proposal for a corresponding regulatory framework;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Points out that the EU has yet to establish a comprehensive framework for aquaculture; calls on the Commission to urgently establish such a framework and base it on the ‘precautionary principle’ enshrined in Article 191(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. RecogniseQuestions the existence of favourable conditions for marine mineral extraction; stresses, however, that the seabed environment is linked to the rest of the planet through interchanges of matter, energy and biodiversity, which, if disrupted, may cause unpredictable changes in fish stocks and a loss of biodiversity;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Calls on the Commission to pay particular attention to the environmental consequences of mining the seabed, to support relevant research projects, andparticularly in highly sensitive marine environments, to support relevant research projects, to apply the ‘precautionary principle’ enshrined in Article 191(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and to cooperate with the authorities of third countries involved in the sector in an attempt to fill existing gaps in scientific knowledge more rapidly;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Recognises that more efficient resources use, combined with enhanced recycling policies, offer a much more cost-effective and sustainable approach to meeting our mineral needs than marine mining; notes the greater and more long- term employment opportunities that lie in this alternative approach;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Calls on the Commission to clearly define the issues and challenges related to blue biotechnology (for example bio- nanotechnology, biomaterials and the introduction of genetically modified fish, shellfish and microorganisms) and to employ a scientifically sound approach based on the precautionary principle to identify, assess and manage the associated environmental and health risks and their management;