Coastal zones: integrated management

The Committee's Opinion endorses the Commission's course of action and its analysis. The ESC advises the Commission to diversify its selection criteria in respect of the choice of demonstration programmes, to plan information dissemination activities that can motivate people living in coastal zones, to set its sights on both inter-regional and international cooperation that even involves third countries, to encourage initiatives in the areas of research and innovation and to take action concerning general and occupational training. The Committee refers to the polluter-pays principle in connection with protecting the environment. As there is a great deal of action that needs to be taken, the ESC calls on the Council to create a new horizontal financial instrument, and the Commission to broaden its aims and make them part of a wider-ranging strategy.�