This policy is among the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency and during the meeting, the Presidency aimed to adopt the 'Limassol Declaration' on the future development of the policy and its contribution to creating growth and jobs.
It is expected that the Declaration will be based on the Commission's recently adopted 'Blue Growth' initiative on opportunities for marine and maritime sustainable growth. Here the Commission sets out how maritime economic sectors can contribute to creating growth and jobs to back the Europe 2020 strategy. It focuses on action in selected, promising maritime sectors with the greatest potential: marine renewable energy, aquaculture, blue biotechnology, coastal tourism and sea bed mining.
The Cyprus meeting convened EU ministers in charge of maritime affairs and was attended by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias. The EU Integrated Maritime Policy, created in 2007, aims at facilitating the cooperation of all maritime players across sectors and across borders for an environmentally sound development of the European maritime economy.
Ministers to Discuss Potential for 'Blue Growth' in Marine, Maritime Economy
EU - On 7 and 8 October in Cyprus, Commission President, Jos Manuel Barroso, and Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, represented the European Commission at the ministerial meeting organised by the Cypriot Presidency on the EU's Integrated Maritime Policy.
by Lucy Towers
