Maritime Europe and the EU Green Paper on Maritime Policy. A Geographical Perspective

Juan Luis Suarez de Vivero

University of Seville (ES)

The emergence of a new geographical reality from a generalization of European States' maritime jurisdictions is one of the focal features for the future maritime policy for the EU. The geographical definition of Europe now includes new elements that create a new iconography of Europe (the continent plus adjacent waters).

New geopolitical parameters: Europe as a maritime empire takes on new importance on an international scale that allows it to exercise global leadership with regard to the oceans. Europe and its waters now become the most widely extended political entity on the planet.

The Green Paper, surpassing the maritime tradition of modernity. A European response to the new generation of ocean strategies that arose in the post-UNCLOS/UNCED phase and with the dawn of the twenty-first century.

A new strategic role for the seas and oceans: knowledge, innovation and technological development in a global environment, displacing traditional but less competitive activities and maintaining the European way of life (a higher employment rate and quality employment).