CrossGov is proud to announce the release of a comprehensive new report, “Horizontal coherence in EU law and policy: Analysing, explaining, and improving the horizontal coherence of EU policy design.” This groundbreaking study offers an in-depth examination of how well EU policies align to meet the ambitious environmental goals in the European Green Deal (EGD), with a particular focus on marine governance.
Understanding Policy Coherence Under the European Green Deal
The European Green Deal, launched by the European Commission in 2019, aims to tackle the most pressing environmental challenges of our time—biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution. However, achieving these interconnected goals requires high policy coherence across various sectors. Our latest report investigates how EU policies related to marine biodiversity, pollution control, and renewable energy are working in harmony—or not—to support the EGD’s vision.
Key Findings
1. Biodiversity and Environmental Protection: The report reveals significant gaps in aligning EU directives focused on marine biodiversity, including the Habitats Directive, Birds Directive, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and the newly adopted Nature Restoration Law. These policies, while well-intentioned, are fragmented in their legal obligations, timeframes, and scope, which could hinder the EU’s ability to halt biodiversity loss and restore degraded ecosystems by 2030.
2. Renewable Energy vs. Biodiversity: As the EU expands offshore wind energy as part of its green energy transition, the report emphasizes the need for better integration of biodiversity considerations. The current policy framework must ensure that renewable energy projects, particularly offshore wind farms, do not compromise marine biodiversity. Enhanced environmental assessments and streamlined permitting processes are crucial to achieving this balance.
3. Fisheries and Agriculture vs. Biodiversity and Pollution: The report also highlights the complexities of aligning sector policies with biodiversity protection and pollution control. While the Common Fisheries Policy and Common Agriculture Policy are crucial tools, their effectiveness in providing environmental protection is often undermined by conflicting objectives and insufficient integration of legally binding instruments connected to their environmental objectives.
4. Explanatory factors: The report identifies several barriers to achieving policy coherence, such as inconsistent legal frameworks, varying timelines, and the fragmentation of responsibilities between different EU institutions and Member States. To address these challenges, the report provides insight into the explanatory factors behind the barriers through their constitutional context and expert interviews.
Moving Forward
This report is vital for policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers committed to advancing sustainable ocean governance in Europe. By addressing the gaps and inconsistencies in current policies, the EU can better align its marine governance strategies with the overarching goals of the European Green Deal.
Read the full article: https://www.crossgov.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/D2.2-Policy-landscape-and-design.pdf
Join us in shaping a more sustainable future for Europe’s seas!
