Mediterranean

As a Contracting Party to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean, Malta is bound with this regional framework Convention and its Protocols. The Mediterranean Action Plan has facilitated action on ICZM through its Priority Actions Program Regional Activity Centre which assisted a number of Mediterranean States to undertake Coastal Area Management Projects. From 2000 - 2002 Malta benefited from funding under the Mediterranean Action Plan for a Coastal Area Management Program (CAMP) which was aimed at introducing and applying the principles, methodologies and practices of sustainable coastal management in Malta, particularly in the North West area. A major achievement for ICZM has been the adoption by the Contracting Parties of the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean in January 2008. Malta is signatory to this Protocol.

European Union

Currently there is no specific legislation directed towards coastal zone management on a regional level within the EU, however the Union recognises that coastal problems are of a European dimension and cannot be solved by Member States separately. In 2002 the European Commission adopted a Recommendation for a European Strategy for ICZM. The Strategy defines the EU's role as one of leadership and guidance to support the implementation of ICZM by the Member States, at local, regional and national levels. Where possible the Strategy builds on existing instruments and programmes, even though many were not conceived exclusively for the coastal zone. These cover sectors such as agriculture, transport, telecommunications, energy, industry, fisheries, aquaculture and environment protection.

The EU ICZM Recommendation called upon Member States to prepare national strategies by Spring 2006. The Recommendation identifies the actions and principles to be followed in developing such strategies but leaves a degree of flexibility for individual Member States to identify their nature and extent. Malta proposed its approach to implementing ICZM in the National Report which has been drafted in consultation with other government agencies and has been submitted to the European Commission accordingly.