The 1st ASC (Atlantic Steering Committee) Meeting, the first one held under the Irish Presidency, took place on February 18th in an online mode. The meeting was attended by the Atlantic Committee members and guests.
The Irish Presidency opened the meeting by presenting its goals and priorities for the year 2025, setting the stage for discussions on key strategic initiatives. The agenda and minutes from the last ASC meeting were reviewed and formally approved.
A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), with contributions from the Irish Presidency, the Irish Marine Spatial Planning Advisory, and AMMSP, complemented by other Committee members. This session provided an overview of the ongoing efforts and future strategies in marine spatial planning, leading to a fruitful discussion and planed actions.
MARE A4 presented the Energy Transition Partnership, and DG Mare introduced the “Fishers of the Future” study. Both presentations were valuable in increasing the Committee's knowledge on these topics and fostering discussion and synergies.
Following the lunch break, the Atlantic National Hubs presented their roadmap for the first semester of 2025, detailing their planned actions and strategic priorities.
Another highlight of the meeting was DG Mare’s introduction of the Ocean Pact, outlining its general objectives and expected impact.
A session on Cross-Sea Basin Dialogue provided an opportunity to discuss synergies and policy feedback, with the Sea Basins Assistance Mechanism and the Irish Presidency leading the discussion. Updates on calls and funding opportunities, including an analysis of the algae project portfolio, were provided by CINEA, followed by an intervention from the Interreg Atlantic Management Authority on the progress of Calls 2 and 3.
The meeting was highly productive, generating valuable ideas and actions for the future. There was strong engagement from the Committee and a firm commitment to the challenging and exciting year ahead. The meeting concluded with a brief session on any other business before being officially closed by the Irish Presidency.