The 2nd Atlantic Steering Committee (ASC) Meeting took place on 30 April 2026 in Gijón, Spain, bringing together institutional representatives, experts, and partners of the Atlantic Strategy.
The meeting featured the presentation of an Atlantic Success Case, showcasing the SMarAI – Smart Maritime AI project, presented by the Spanish Maritime Safety Agency and the Jovellanos Training Centre...
The European Commission launched a public consultation to help shape the European Ocean Act, a key legislative initiative under the European Ocean Pact, which is planned for adoption by the end of 2026.
The European Ocean Act aims to strengthen ocean governance in the EU, serving as a single reference framework bringing together economic, climate...
The European Commission published a new study assessing the state of the EU fishing fleet, examining its evolution over time, the challenges it currently faces, and its long‑term sustainability.
Key findings
The capacity of the EU fishing fleet has decreased over time, reflecting a reduction in fleet size and engine power. However, this decline has not fully...
The Joint Atlantic - WestMED Project Awards 2026 are now open for applications.
Launched in the framework of the Joint Atlantic - WestMED Stakeholder Conference, this first-ever joint edition brings together the two sea basins under a unified Awards scheme, marking an important step towards enhanced cooperation and alignment between Europe’s Sea Basin Strategies.
The Awards recognise outstanding...
The Blue Challenge: Interreg Project Development Training Programme is a new capacity‑building initiative designed to empower young talent to develop high‑quality, fundable project proposals that contribute to the sustainable growth of the blue economy.
Jointly aligned with the priorities of the Atlantic Sea Basin Strategy and the WestMED Initiative and the, the programme aims to equip early‑career students and professionals...
The 2nd meeting of the Atlantic Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) Community of Practice (CoP) took place online on 26 March 2026, under the Spanish Presidency, with the support of the Atlantic Assistance Mechanism.
Building on the work initiated during the Irish Presidency, this second meeting marked an important step forward in the formalisation and consolidation of the Atlantic MSP...
The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) acting on behalf of the European Commission and DG MARE, invites all Atlantic stakeholders to take part in a dedicated survey supporting the Review of the Atlantic Maritime Strategy and its Action Plan.
The review study, carried out by Ramboll, assesses the implementation of the Atlantic Strategy since the last...
The MARVEL project (Madeira: Advancing in Regular Vigilance of the Environment and Legislative Compliance) was launched to strengthen the protection of marine biodiversity in Madeira by bridging the gap between scientific monitoring and regulatory implementation. Operating within the Special Area of Conservation “Cetáceos da Madeira”, MARVEL responds to the growing need for up‑to‑date ecological evidence to support decision‑making...
Applications are now open for exhibition stands at European Maritime Day (EMD) 2026, Europe’s flagship annual gathering of the maritime community. The event will take place on 21–22 May 2026 in Limassol, Cyprus, bringing together policymakers, industry, researchers, project promoters and maritime stakeholders from across Europe.
The EMD 2026 Exhibition provides a unique opportunity to showcase innovative projects...
The European Commission, together with EIB Advisory, has launched a new capacity‑building initiative to support the effective implementation of the EU Ports Strategy, helping ports across Europe strengthen their preparedness for future challenges related to competitiveness, sustainability and security.
The initiative aims to provide targeted advisory support to ports and public authorities, focusing on improving strategic planning...