The European Commission (EC), the governing body of the EU, this week set out its "vision" for maritime control which includes central planning and direction over a wide range of marine affairs now governed its by its member states.

The often emotive "European maritime transport space without barriers" policy called for integrated maritime policies, surveillance, spatial planning, control of "pirate fishing" and "destructive high seas bottom trawling", a review of labour law exemptions for the shipping and fishing sectors, a central marine observation data network and a central "strategy on climate change".

In its "An Ocean of Opportunity: Commission Proposes Integrated Maritime Policy" statement, the EC communique saw scientific discoveries, "huge strides in technological development, globalisation, climate change and marine pollution" as "altering Europe's relationship with the seas and oceans".

The statement continued: "With all the opportunities and challenges that this presents, an integrated maritime policy will enable the union to meet the challenges head on. This proposal is grounded in an extensive public consultation which ended last June."

Said EC President Jose Manuel Barroso: "I am convinced that a great part of our future lies in the untapped potential of the oceans. Our proposal for an integrated maritime policy has been designed to generate growth, jobs and sustainability. We conceived it to promote our common European interest and to seize all opportunities that the oceans offer. It is part and parcel of our strategy to modernise Europe and prepare it for the globalised world".

Said European Sea Port Organisation Secretary General Patrick Verhoeven: "The consultation on a future European maritime policy has been a worthwhile exercise. We very much welcome this initiative as it will increase legal certainty for port development projects."

For more information, key in http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/index_en.html .