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development of offshore wind energy installations. The Ministers invite the oil and gas industry to consider the market potential for renewable energy, in particular offshore wind, within the North
Sea and to further the existing cooperation with the offshore renewable energy industry with respect to the sharing information, technology and infrastructure.
The Ministers express their concern about the fact that, despite the wide range of measures taken in recent years, marine litter is still causing environmental, safety and economic problems to marine and coastal environments, as well as to coastal communities in the North Sea States. The Ministers agree that litter can only be addressed by efforts from all sectors of society and emphasize the importance of the role of the voluntary sector, particularly in mounting clean-up campaigns, information activities and educational projects. The Ministers commit themselves to implement the EC Port Reception Facilities Directive, and strive for a coordinated approach in the future.
The Ministers agree that strengthened cooperation in the spatial planning processes of the North Sea States related to the marine environment is needed. They invite OSPAR to establish present uses of the North Sea and to improve arrangements for the exchange of information and national experiences in the spatial planning processes of the North Sea States and to make use of INTERREG IIIB North Sea Programmes.
The Ministers agree that it is valuable to continue the cooperation of the North Sea States and welcome the offer from Sweden to host a ministerial meeting on the environmental impacts of shipping and environmental consequences of fisheries by 2006 at the latest. Ministers note that it is desirable to develop new methods which will stimulate flexible and open dialogue between government representatives, industry, environmental non-governmental organizations and other parts of civil society, including local and regional government in order to facilitate the protection of the marine environment in the North Sea at as many levels as possible.
The Ministers agree to continue to explore ways of working with other countries to achieve levels of protection for the marine environment comparable with those established for the North Sea. In particular they reiterate the support for the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities.
The Ministers agree to invite Norway to take forward the results of the Fifth North Sea Conference to the preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development to take place in Johannesburg in August/September 2002.
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