The 3rd meeting of the Atlantic Strategy Committee (ASC) under the Irish Presidency took place in Brussels on Friday, 26 September, following two days of the EU Macro-Regional and Sea Basin Strategy Days. The meeting brought together the European Commission, the Irish Presidency, National Representatives, National Hubs, Pillar Coordinators, and other observers.
The morning started with a presentation from Christos Economou, Head of Unit Sea Basin Strategies, Maritime Regional Cooperation and Maritime Security, DG MARE on the Ocean Pact, outlining its main objectives, impact and relevance. This provided the basis for an exchange between the Committee on its potential implications for the Atlantic Strategy and stakeholders.
Building on this, the discussion turned to the revision of the Atlantic Action Plan. As one of the Presidency’s priorities for this year, the Presidency was pleased to confirm strong support from the European Commission and the Member States. The revision process is already underway and will formally begin in the next weeks.
Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) was then addressed, a topic central to discussions since the start of the year and one of the Irish Presidency’s key areas of focus. With a final document proposal agreed among the Member States, the discussion centered on practical steps for implementation, the importance of engaging stakeholders and opportunities to maximize impact.
National Hubs presented their roadmaps for the next six months, highlighting upcoming activities and priorities. CINEA also reported on developments related to Fisatur, a project that has been followed up for some time with great impact and shared information on future calls.
Updates were provided on preparations for the Atlantic Stakeholder Platform Conference 2025, that will happen on 13th November in Galway, Ireland, as well as on the ongoing Implementation Report 2025.
The meeting concluded with a networking lunch, providing participants with the opportunity to discuss topics in greater depth and strengthen connections. Overall, the session was highly productive, and perception common priorities and reinforcing a shared vision of the Atlantic Cooperation in line with the Ocean Pact and the latest developments that are happening in the blue economy.
