EUROSION study

As an echo to the threats that represents the coastal erosion, both the European Parliament and the European Commission have felt the need to undertake a Europe- wide study meant to provide quantified evidence that coastal erosion in Europe does constitute a problem of growing magnitude that public authorities do not always succeed in containing, hence to assess the needs for action. The results of this two-year study, named EUROSION and steered by the Directorate General of Environment of the European Commission, have been made public in May 2004.These results consist in:

• A cartographic assessment of the European coasts’ exposure to coastal erosion, based on spatial data and GIS analysis.

• A review of existing practices and experiences of coastal erosion management at the level of local and regional authorities

• A set of guidelines to better incorporate coastal erosion issues into environmental assessment procedures, spatial planning and coastal hazard prevention, and into regional and local information decision-support systems.

• A set of policy recommendations meant to improve coastal erosion management in the future at the European, national, regional and local level. 

Project partners

• National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management (RIKZ) – Lead partner (NL)
• EUCC The Coastal Union
• IGN France International (FR)
• Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) (ES)
• European Information and Technology EADS SD&E
• Institut Francais de l’Environnement (FR)
• Institute for Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) (FR)