STATE AIDS AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM FOR EU ISLANDS
Tourism is a major source of income for
the coastal areas of the European Union, the more so in the
many islands where it tends to be the dominant industry. While
precise data is hard to quote, it is obvious that the share
of “island tourism” against European tourism as
a whole is comparatively much higher than the proportion of
islanders with regards to the European Union’s population
(less than 3%). The islands’ contribution to the EU tourism
economy must therefore be underlined.
However,
the prosperity brought by the tourism industry in the islands
is relative because profits arising from tourism do not necessary
remain in the islands, especially when this industry is largely
in the hands of large tourist operators who re-export its
proceeds. Moreover, even when profits arising from tourism
remain in the island, they are seldom reinvested in other
industries since the tourism-related activities tend to be
more profitable by far. This leads many island economies to
be increasingly dependant on tourism, with little other alternative,
and henceforth highly vulnerable to its market’s fluctuations.
Unlike
profits, the costs related to tourism remain in the islands.
Generally, they have to be dealt with by the local community
and the local and regional authorities. Such costs, which
are well known, may be connected to the environmental damages
or the cultural pressure, but also, more directly, they could
be related to the provision of transport, health, water, sewage,
or energy services. Of course, all these points are not strictly
island specific, but they affect the islands with special
intensity. Because of the islands’ limited dimension,
of the extra-costs arising from their isolation, of their
lack of economy of scale, the provision of infrastructure
and services tend to be higher in islands than on the mainland.
In
the context of the European Union legislation, unfortunately
there is no specific reference to tourism in the existing
consolidated Treaty, no specific budget, and reduced involvement
by the European Commission. However, tourism is directly affected
by numerous EU legislations and policies, such as transport,
health, environment, taxation, or regional policy. Nonetheless,
tourism gets limited recognition in Community policies. The
Green Paper on the EU future maritime dimension, as an example,
underlines the importance of tourism for the economy of the
coastal regions, and emphasizes its importance for the islands!...
Jean-Didier
Hache
CPMR Executive Secretary
|
|
DEATH
OF LOYOLA DE PALACIO
|
 |
The CPMR deeply regrets the death of Loyola de Palacio, Vice-President
of the European Commission led by Romano Prodi from 2000 to
2004. Responsible for Transports and Maritime Safety, she was
the first Commissioner in charge of this domain to have established
a deep and steadfast relationship with the Regions. It was during
her mandate that the Erika packages were courageously launched
to promote more reliable maritime transport, the inclusion of
Ports in the Trans-European Transport Networks and the selection
of modal transfer of freight to promote maritime transport.
We send our sincere condolences to her sister and her family.
|
|
CROATIA
CONTRIBUTES TO THE EUROPEAN POLICY OF THE SEA
|
Vesna
Loncaric was interviewed by
Enrico Mayrhofer
Vesna
LONCARIC works for the Croatian Parliament as the secretary
of the European Integration Committee which monitors the harmonisation
of the legal system of the Republic of Croatia with that of
the European Union. It co-operates with the European Parliament
and the European Affairs committees in the member states.
The Committee is also regularly informed about the implementation
of the EU pre-accession assistance instruments for Croatia...
|
THE
BALTIC SEA IS THE NEW MARE NOSTRUM
|
|
By Enrico
Mayrhofer
Since
the Baltic Sea has almost become an internal sea of the European
Union, we may refer to the Baltic Sea as Romans used to call
“their” Mediterranean Sea: Mare NostrumRE NOSTRUM !
Indeed, except for Russia, the other eight countries surrounding
the Baltic Sea are now members of the EU.. Together, they have
147 million people and are represented in the European Parliament
by 228 Members. Moreover, this area has, strategically speaking,
become very important for the European Union in terms of the
cooperation with Russia, our largest energy supplier....
|
|
FOR
THE EUROPEAN MARITIME ECONOMY CONFERENCE.
|
|
By
Julie Gourden
The
french daily publication, 'Les echos' and the weekly 'Le marin'
organised the second convention on sea economy, wich was held
in Paris on 5 and 6 December. Close to 200 maritime personalities
– industrialists, researchers, fishermen ... – and
representatives of the State and French Regions were present.
Mr Joe Borg, the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime
Affairs, who was also present, underlined the importance of
the European Maritime Policy Green Paper for France, and invited
participants to respond to the Green Paper consultation which
ends on 30 June 2007...
|
THE
MARITIME REGIONS AND THE COMMON FISHERIES POLICY 2007-2013
|
|
|
By
François Desrentes
Over
the last two years the CPMR and the DG for Fisheries have organised
a series of inter-regional conferences in anticipation of the
next programming period (2007-2013) and in particular in preparation
for the introduction of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), adopted
in July 2006...
|
