Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Mr. Karmenu Vella opened the 2019 European Maritime Day conference in Lisbon. This year, the main focus of the conference was on boosting a “blue” economy, the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, through entrepreneurship, investment, and research and innovation.
Utilising this occasion, the European Commission also launched the second edition of...
The European Commission (EC) together with the European Investment Bank (EIB) launch the new Connecting Europe (CEF) Transport Blending Facility, an innovative financial instrument to support projects contributing to the environmental sustainability and efficiency of the transport sector in Europe.
With an initial budget of EUR 200 million from the EU budget, the Facility will finance investments in the European...
European seas are a hub of human activity. Maritime transport is so widespread that it inevitably affects anybody working in or with the ocean. For the first time those responsible for monitoring shipping emissions, identifying the best routes to lay pipelines and cables, assessing the impact of fishing on the seafloor or planning offshore...
The World Bank and the European Commission have launched the Blue Economy Development Framework (BEDF). The Framework is a novelty in the area of international ocean governance. It helps (developing) coastal states transition to diverse and sustainable blue economies while building resilience to climate change.
This transition starts with data and knowledge collection about the marine environment and ocean sectors...
On 19 March, more than 1000 people gathered in Brussels for this year’s largest EU event on oceans. Organised by MEP Gesine Meissner and European Commissioner Karmenu Vella, the event hosted our continent’s most influential advocates for healthy, safe and sustainable oceans. And with a large delegation of students and youth organisations in the room, the conference was more...
Ahead of the 21-22 March European Council discussion on innovation, industry, and competitiveness, the Commission takes decisive steps to set up a European Innovation Council (EIC)
Global competition is intensifying and Europe needs to deepen its innovation and risk-taking capability to compete on a market increasingly defined by new technologies.
That is why the Juncker Commission is introducing a European...
One more exciting European Maritime Day (EMD) is approaching. The focus of EMD 2019 in Lisbon Portugal (16 & 17 May), will be on blue entrepreneurship, innovation and investment. Check out the full provisional programme and register on line.
EMD 2019 is going to provide an inspirational opening session, 8 breakout sessions organised by the European Commission...
The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) contributes to the EU's integrated maritime policy. It was set up as a flagship project to prepare a seamless multi-resolution digital seabed map of European waters by 2020.
Following the Green Paper "Marine Knowledge 2020" It had been estimated that public bodies in European countries were spending over...