EU Policy
The UK is required under European law to comply with a number of directives; many of which apply to the coastal and marine environment. Directives apply to all countries in the European Union and aim to preserve, protect and improve the quality of the environment, protect human health, prudently and rationally utilise natural resources and promote measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems.
The European Court of Justice has held that European Community law has priority over national law. Directives are known as secondary law. They are binding as to the results to be achieved, but their means of implementation and transposition into national laws are a matter for each EU member state. Once a Directive is passed by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, each country usually has two years to transpose it into their country’s legal system. This stage is necessary to allow time to align the Directive with relevant laws within each member state. In England the European Communities Act allows ministers to incorporate Directives into English law by means of regulations.
EU Legislation Applicable to the Coast
The following is a summary of EU legislation that applies to the coasts and seas around the UK.
- Conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources
- Natural habitats (Natura 2000)
- Conservation of wild birds
- Development and integrated management of coastal zones
- Water Framework Directive
- Flood management and evaluation
- Bathing water
- Quality of shellfish waters
- Strategy for the marine environment
- Accidental marine pollution
- Maritime safety: prevention of pollution from ships
- Maritime safety: prohibition of organotin compounds on ships
- Adapting to Climate Change
