Conference objectives

The objective of this event is to promote the dialogue on the added value of an integrated maritime policy, to reveal new potentials for sustainable maritime development, and to review the progress of the ongoing consultation process.

The contributions and findings of this conference will be incorporated into the ongoing work of the Commission and the Portuguese Presidency of the Council in the second half of 2007.

Contents

It aims to promote to growth and employment in the maritime sector in keeping with the Lisbon Agenda and protect the maritime environment. The Commission's objective is to develop the framework for a cross-sector maritime policy in cooperation with the EU member states.

With contributions from policymakers, the business and science communities and civil society, the goal of the European conference in Bremen is to provide an overview of the current status of the consultation process scheduled for completion by the end of June 2007.

The conference will focus on four key areas:

1. Employment and competitiveness

The global competitiveness of maritime transport, shipbuilding, marine equipment and port industries is extremely important to the EU. To what extent can an integrated maritime policy leverage better regulations and the mediation of opposing interests to contribute to creating a climate more beneficial to growth, employment and investments? How can maritime clusters, regional centres of excellence and networks within maritime industries enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in particular? How can maritime jobs be made more attractive through better training and working conditions, higher wages, and more security while remaining in line with competitiveness in the sector?

2. Research and innovation

Research and innovation are indispensable prerequisites for growth and employment in the maritime economy as well as for political decision-making. On its way towards an integrated maritime policy, Europe needs excellence in the individual disciplines along with a stronger interdisciplinary and transnational network of scientists, engineers and social scientists. The objective of this part of the conference is to define the pillars of a common vision for maritime research and development in Europe - from basic insights to specific applications. In this context, the structural and content-related challenges for top performance, as well as the necessary contributions from policymakers and self-organisation in the science and business communities will be identified.

3. Shared responsibility for the maritime environment

The wide variety of possible maritime uses - some of them complementary, some conflicting - calls for everyone who directly or indirectly depends on the oceans or seas as a source of income, or lives on the water, to share responsibility for the maritime environment. This shared responsibility must be assumed and efficiently implemented within the framework provided by the regulations of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We share a special responsibility for protecting the maritime environment and ensuring the conservation of maritime ecosystems and natural resources. This responsibility also applies to the fishing industry. Maritime security policies designed to protect the oceans and seas must be implemented reliably and responsibly in order to detect external dangers at an early stage and avert them as necessary. Marine spatial planning provides us with a tool to consider the interests of the different maritime uses in a balanced way and to add emphasis to the shared responsibility.

4. Life on the coasts

Coastal regions and cities are driving forces for the development of life on the coasts. The combination of maritime competence and responsiveness to citizens' needs forms a fertile ground on which policymakers and representatives form the science and business communities develop concrete prospects for action. As centres of economic and cultural development, port cities must use the benefits of continuous structural change to enhance their attractiveness. This change is characterised by modernised harbour districts, urban development in port areas, living by the sea, maritime heritage and tourism are the elements that define this change.