Speeches

Our Future is Blue

21/05/2012

Commissioner Maria Damanaki, joined Swedish ministers and other European personalities at the European Maritime Day Conference, in Gothemburg. The theme for this year is: "Sustainable Growth from Oceans, Seas and Coasts: Blue Growth". 'Blue growth' is the economic pillar of the EU's Integrated Maritime Policy which is fully integrated into the Europe 2020 strategy. Its main target is the creation of growth and new jobs in the maritime economy. This target could be achieved through further sustainable development of maritime sectors of the European economy. Europe is the most developed maritime economy in comparison with all other continents. Thus, EU can harvest an important share of the potential of oceans, seas and coasts to the benefit of citizens and society as a whole.

Unlocking the potential of European aquaculture

11/05/2012

Commissioner Maria Damanaki together with Nicolaus Berlakovich, Austrian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management hosted a high-level conference on the future of European Aquaculture, to discuss how the European Commission, the Member States, the European Parliament and the stakeholders can contribute to unlocking the potential for the further development of aquaculture and in particular freshwater aquaculture in Europe.

A new Fisheries Policy for Europe

10/05/2012

Commissioner Maria Damanaki visited Lithuania on May 9 and 10, 2012 to present the reform of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy to Lithuanian decision makers and stakeholders of the fishing sector. On May 9, the Commissioner met Kazys Starkevičius, Lithuanian Minister of Agriculture and took part in a special session of the Lithuanian Parliament on on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. She also had a meeting with Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius. On May 10, in Kaunas, Commissioner Damanaki delivered a speech during the official opening ceremony of the exhibition AgroBalt 2012, alongside the President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaite, Prime Minister Kubilius and other personalites.

Commissioner Damanaki presents Common Fisheries Policy Reform in Estonia

03/05/2012

Commissioner Maria Damanaki visited Tallin to discuss the on-going reform of the Common Fisheries Policy with the Estonian government and to participate in a meeting with the Estonian Parliamentary Committee for Agriculture and Fisheries on the same topic. Ms Damanaki had a bilateral meeting with Ms Keit Pentus, Estonian Minister for Environment, responsible for natural resources management. The new EU fisheries policy will aim at preserving fish stocks at sustainable levels for the benefit of current and future generations by managing fisheries in a responsible, science-based way. Regionalisation of the policy making is an important aspect of the reform and Commissioner Damanaki put emphasis on finding solutions for the Baltic Sea during her visit.

On seabed mapping

23/04/2012

At the International Hydrographic Organisation, in Monaco, Commissioner Maria Damanaki presented the initiative that the European Commission is putting in place for the mapping of the seabed. To this aim, Commissioner Damanaki signed a Memorandum of understanding with the President of the IHO. In Monaco, the Commissioner also met Prince Albert II of Monaco, to hear about the work of the Monaco Foundation in its search for concrete and modern solutions to problems related to biodiversity and climate changes.

Boosting maritime innovation in the Mediterranean

03/04/2012

Commissioner Maria Damanaki intervened at the 2012 Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Research and Innovation. Research and innovation play a major role in promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth and job creation – a top priority in the European Union’s response to the Arab Spring. In this context, the high-level conference aims at defining the agenda for Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation in Research and Innovation and promoting coordination among relevant actors to enhance scientific capacities of the Mediterranean countries and increase the impact and coherence of regional initiatives.

Moving forward on the Black Sea maritime agenda

29/03/2012

In the framwork of her visit to Romania, Commissioner Maria Damanaki spoke at the Ministerial Seminar "EU policies at the Black Sea: enhancing regional cooperation", in Bucharest.

Maritime spatial planning: the right answer to secure and support Blue growth for the European Union

26/03/2012

Commissioner Maria Damanaki hosted an international conference on how maritime spatial planning can contribute to boosting growth. The conference "The case for Maritime Spatial Planning: efficient resource management for sustainable growth", provided an opportunity for ministers, national authorities, industry representatives and NGOs to discuss best practice examples from within the EU and around the world and the challenges for Maritime Spatial Planning in the European context.

Save the Mediterranean and its biodiversity

20/03/2012

Commissioner Maria Damanaki took part in the event "Save the Mediterranean and its biodiversity", patronized by the European Parliament Members Rita Borsellino and Guido Milana. The initiative is organised to present and discuss examples of good practices supporting research, technology innovation and enhancing traditions and biodiversity in the Mediterranean.

How to take the Common Fisheries Policy reform forward?

15/03/2012

Commissioner Maria Damanaki presented the proposals for the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy in the framework of the hearing organised by the Italian Parliament.