Maritime sector 'can boost European industry'

In the framework of the European Parliament’s Seas and Coastal Areas Intergroup, Sergio Cofferati (S&D-IT) and Corinne Lepage (ALDE-FR), in association with the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), organised the seminar 'Implementing Leadership 2020 for the future of European maritime industries', on 4 December 2013.

The purpose of the Seminar was to underline the importance of implementing the guidelines of the LeaderShip 2020 Report, particularly on the issues of training and employment, as well as the public-private partnership for the development of the ships of the future.

Annika Annerby Jansson, president of the Regional Council of Skåne (SE) and of the CPMR, participated in the debates, recalling the impact of the maritime sector on European industries. Referring to the European Council on EU industrial policy scheduled for 13-14 February 2014, he said: “Member states have to reaffirm their support to renewable energies,” and stressed “it is necessary to combine the access to cheap energy with the respect of the commitments of the European Union concerning climate change, and with a long-term perspective". Furthermore, Annika Annerby Jansson underlined “the need for interactions between emerging industries and existing industries which are currently diversifying their activities”, and also “the importance of reaffirming the contribution of marine energies to the energy supply to European industries”.

During the debates, Christophe Clergeau, First Vice-President of the Region Pays de la Loire (FR) highlighted the strong contribution of the CPMR Regions during the LeaderSHIP initiative presented by the European Commission last February and the need for its implementation. “LeaderSHIP could be the user manual for blue growth, the industrial pillar that is missing from the Integrated Maritime Policy,” declared Christophe Clergeau, after affirming that “we now need to deploy an offensive strategy for maritime industries, help our industrial fabric to develop, and structure the sub-contracting chain. We need especially to invest in research and innovation as well as production processes, and develop port areas to cater for new activities.”

Sergio Cofferati said:  “Europe needs growth to exit the crisis and there is not growth without crisis,” and particularly on maritime issues, he called on the EU “to build a bridge between the instruments for innovation and research and the historical traditions of our industrial past”.

Corinne Lepage, referred also to the European Council of February, which will deal with EU industrial policy, inviting the 28 member states “not to be lured by some siren song, albeit powerful, that would have us go back to fossil fuels, while we ought to be turning towards renewables. According to Corinne Lepage: “It is absolutely necessary for maritime renewable energies to be fully included in initiatives that will be taken in the coming years.”

Members of the EP Gesine Meissner, Coordinator in the Committee for Transport and Tourism for the ALDE group and Amalia Sartori (EPP), Chair of ITRE Committee also participated in the debates of the Intergroup, as well as different representatives from the European Commission and from the private sector.

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