The term ‘maritime’ in this context covers not only maritime transport but also affairs related to underwater and the seabed, and with the sea-to-land and sea-to-air interfaces. In short, it covers matters related to tourism, climate change, fisheries, aquaculture, the energy and mineral resources of the sea, as well as the cultural resources on the seabed.

Obviously, such wide-ranging matters do not fall within any single ministerial portfolio. But while the issues are wide-ranging, they are inter-related in several and intricate ways. They promise to become more important as this century unfolds, and the sea becomes a more vital source of food, new knowledge and new economic opportunities. At stake are the competitiveness of our economy, its sustainable development, and its strategic positioning for the future.

The greater the importance assumed by matters related to the sea in the 21st century, the more important it becomes for these affairs to be coordinated and governed in a holistic manner. Competing uses of the sea – by entrepreneurs, by fishermen, by leisure seekers, by researchers – to name just four, need not just to be assessed but also planned in a rational and equitable way.

Maritime initiatives require international cooperation – with fellow member states of the European Union and with third countries – in order to be truly effective. The process of coordination and consolidation began well over a year ago, with the consultation of the various ministries and authorities with an interest in maritime affairs: a non-exhaustive list includes not just the ministries for the environment and for tourism and culture, but also those for foreign affairs and home affairs; not just the Malta Maritime Authority, but also the Resources Authority, and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. A Maritime Permanent Forum was set up within government, under my chairmanship, to tackle the relevant issues and questions.

With the national conference on the maritime green paper which we recently organised, we have reached the second phase of this process of coordination and consolidation: the initiation of a wider consultation, outside government and the authorities, with stakeholders among local councils, the private sector and NGOs. Our aims were threefold.

First, we wanted to enrich our sense of the range of interests and points of view. We have a good idea of what many if not all of them are, but it makes a difference to see them represented together. The process of constructing a holistic policy involves bringing, early on, the various voices together. It gives a clearer idea of what harmony needs to be orchestrated.

Second, we are aware that stakeholders’ own views are continually developing and are likely to continue to do so. So we want to hear, not only from those organisations and individuals who have already articulated views on the subject but we are also interested in a first meeting with those organisations and individuals who may not currently have a well-defined view of their particular interests in relation to the whole, but who may soon be articulating important views on the subject.

Although the conference covered a broad range of subjects, we are aware that scarcity of time prevented coverage of other, equally important issues. As I stated, the conference was the start of a new phase of the consultation process and we are looking forward to receiving different views.

What happens beyond the national conference which we organized is connected to two issues: the Maltese response to the Commission’s Green Paper and the organisational form that consultation from now on will take.

Malta is interested in taking a more holistic approach to maritime affairs independently of the initiative taken by the Commission. However, the Green Paper obviously needs to be taken into account. In its position paper submitted before the Green Paper was issued, Malta welcomed the initiative. The position we took on various issues kept the European common good, including those of landlocked states, firmly in mind. The tradition of our foreign and European policy, our small size and strongly developed sense of interdependence, all show that a holistic European approach to maritime affairs would be good, in general terms, for Malta.

Prior to the publication of the Green Paper, and since then, Malta has continued to participate in an expert taskforce organised by the Commission. In the spring, Malta shall send in its reactions to the specifics of the Green Paper – to the questions it raises, the proposals it floats, the choices it poses. I therefore strongly encourage all interested parties to send in their views on the Green Paper to the Competitiveness and Communications Ministry: this would give us a better understanding of how the Green Paper may affect Maltese interests and initiatives.

We are venturing into new territory here, and the kind of consultation needed has no long-established, tried and tested form. It is our intention to proceed with flexibility and responsively to your concerns.

Importantly, we intend to continue with regular meetings between all interested stakeholders. Such meetings will serve the aim of giving updates of government progress and on its policy. But they should also serve as occasion for any stakeholder to bring issues that matter to them on the national agenda.

Our ambition is not just to make this consultation process work. It is to make the process an example of best practice in this area. With this kind of national cooperation, we can reach the goal of making Malta a truly 21st-century maritime state.

Censu Galea is Competitiveness and Communications Minister