The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) has submitted the following feedback to the European Commission about the European Oceans Pact Initiative:
The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) acknowledges the European Commission's European Oceans Pact initiative and welcomes its vision for a holistic approach to ocean management and policies affecting the EU's coastal communities. To this end, the MSA proposes the mainstreaming of Social Impact Assessments (SIAs), including its adoption within the European Oceans Pact initiative. The International Association for Impact Assessment defines SIA as being the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions. An SIA is an interdisciplinary process, and follows established social-scientific methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Social impact assessments should not be one-off exercises, but ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders and which report back so as to ensure effective policy processes.
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