ENCORA initiative and Public Participation in the coastal management in the EU Case Study compiled for EU-COMET 2 project Alan Pickaver & Wouter Kreiken EUCC – The Coastal Union
Jan 05, 2016
ENCORA initiative and Public Participation in the coastal
management in the EU
Case Study compiled for
EU-COMET 2 project
Alan Pickaver & Wouter Kreiken
EUCC – The Coastal Union
Outline
• Introduction to the ENCORA initiative
• The status of Public Participation in coastal management in the EU
European platform for sharing knowledge and experience in coastal
science, policy and practice
1 Feb 2006 – 1 Feb 2009
EU funding ~ 3,5 million EUR
What is ENCORA?
Bottom-up process of sharing coastal knowledge and experience
science
practice policy
Take advantage of EU-scale
Bridge science-policy-practice
Overcome fragmentation
1.Multifunctionality 2.ICZM Participation3.Spatial planning4.Pollution5.Long-term change
6.Coastal habitat change7.Biodiversity change8.Engineering techniques9.Observational techniques10.Capacity building
Belgium
France
Greece
Italy
Poland
Sweden
UK
Ukraine
Denmark
Germany
Ireland
Netherlands
Portugal
Spain
Russia
Algeria (Morocco, Tunisia)
NATIONAL NETWORKS
THEMATIC NETWORKS
ENCORA search services:
ICZM Websearch
Contact database
Contact Search Mechanism
ENCORA other services:
Coastal Wiki
YPEP
Forum
ENCORA Services
ENCORA: Theme 2
• Theme 2: ICZM participation and implementation in Europe
• Led by EUCC – dr. Alan Pickaver• Survey through ENCORA network:
– Status of PP in ICZM in Europe
Status of PP in EU
Survey in Cyprus, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France , Greece,
Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, UK
Questionnaire to 150 PP experts in the EU (ENCORA & EUCC networks)
Background in: Science, local, regional and national policy, consultants, NGOs
Results
Country Perceived level
CY 2-4BE 2-4DE 3-5ES 2-3FR 1-4GR 1-2IE 2-4IT 4NL 4-5PO 3-4PT 4-5SW 4-6UK 3-5
Level 1 - all decisions are taken by government;
Level 2 - committees for the main purpose of engineering support;
Level 3 - informed but no channel for feedback;
Level 4 - consultation i.e. opinions asked;
Level 5 - advisory role where advice is
actually taken;
Level 6 - real negotiation between
stakeholders and decision-makers;
Level 7 - decision-making delegated.
7 levels of Participation*
*Arnstein, Sherry R. “A Ladder of Citizen Participation,” Journal American Planning Association 35, 216-224, 1969
Striking results
• Main obstacle: Lack of public awareness• Large gap between legal world and reality• Small projects have earlier participation• General public is not always involved“institutions are stakeholders, but stakeholders are
more numerous than institutions”
• Participation in stages• Consultation fatigue
Recommendations
• Information dissemination to general public • Organised stakeholders as a first step of
public participation • Targeted information campaign for relevant
authorities • Small and local projects more likely to
involve general public • Formalize participation in stages • Accept that there is a limit to participation
• End result: European Action Plan
• More information on ENCORA at:• www.encora.eu
• More information on public participation in Europe:
• www.encora.eu/coastalwiki/
ENCORA
Meet your partners
Help your colleagues
Find your information
Build your network
Your pool of knowledge & experience
Share your knowledge & experience
EU Action plans
THE NETWORKING SERVICES