At the National Assembly, the elected officials would like to see the political power revive the future Treaty on the High Sea, whose preparatory discussions started in 2006.
by
An agreement for the high seas “the most ambitious possible”: This is what some 200 members want to ask the French government to weigh with all its political weight to achieve it. A resolution in this sense must be voted to the National Assembly Thursday, November 25. If its adoption does little doubt, the remaining question is about the number of voters present to support it. The proposal is borne by MP Jimmy Pahun (Modem, Morbihan), with Maina Sage (French Polynesia) and Olivier Becht (Haut-Rhin) of the group act together, the presidential majority.
Their initiative is part of a diplomatic process that remains poorly known, when it concerns 60% of the area of the planet. Since 2017, the States have been negotiating under the aegis of the United Nations a future treaty on the high seas (“Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction”, BBNJ) – after preparatory discussions that started in … 2006.
This international legal instrument must provide a binding framework for new maritime activities that could develop in the ocean, beyond coastal waters. It is, in other words, “the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas not falling under the respective national jurisdiction of each State. Even though wholesale chapters are not included, especially fishing or exploiting large seabed, negotiations are laborious. They were supposed to succeed in 2020, before Covid-19 shakes the calendar.
“Special responsibility” of France
At the National Assembly, the supporters of a consistent agreement would like to see the political power take over and energize this process, certainly legal, but which will contribute “greatly to the preservation and enhancement of the ecosystem services rendered by the Ocean (climate regulation, food, materials, leisure, etc.) from a sustainable development perspective, “says the motion for a resolution. At the head of the state, Emmanuel Macron announced, for his part, the organization of an Ocean Summit, in February 2022, in Brest. The idea is, among other things, to federate international actors involved in the protection of the high seas. France will exercise at that time the presidency of the European Union.
In fact, it is up to the latter and not Paris that participates in the first line in the discussions in New York. What does it matter: the exclusive economic zone of France – with the overseas, it has the second largest zone in the world – gives it “a particular responsibility” and must commit it, always according to the text of the resolution , “At the forefront of the fight against climate change” and its corollary, the safeguarding of marine ecosystems. His voice must wear.
You have 48.77% of this article to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.