Facts and figures
Some general facts
- 22 out of 27 EU countries have a coastline.
- The EU's coastline is 7 times as long as the US' and 4 times as long as Russia's.
- The EU's maritime regions are home to almost half its population and account for almost half its GDP.
- In terms of surface area, there is more sea than land under the jurisdiction of EU countries.
- Including its outlying regions, the EU has the world’s largest maritime territory.
European Atlas of the Seas
The European Atlas of the Seas provides direct access to information about European seas (available in English, German and French). The maps cover 8 main themes:
- Geography
- Nature – bathing water quality, protected areas, etc.
- Tourism – museums, aquariums, etc.
- Security and safety – major oil spills, accident density, etc.
- People and employment – coastal population, employment in the fishing industry, etc.
- Transport and energy – shipping for goods and passenger transport, etc.
- Governance and European policies – fisheries local action groups (FLAGs), regional advisory councils (RACs), etc.
- Fisheries and aquaculture – fishing quotas, state of fish stocks, fish farms, etc.
Other sources of maritime information on this website
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News
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21/05/2013 -
Success All Year Round: Challenges and Opportunities for Maritime and Coastal Tourism
Speech by Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (European Maritime Day, Valetta, Malta)
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17/05/2013 -
A European Maritime Day on sustainable maritime tourism and connectivity
Coastal development and sustainable maritime tourism are the focus themes of this year's edition of European Maritime Day.
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15/05/2013 -
Joint Statement by HR/VP Catherine Ashton and EU Commissioner Maria Damanaki regarding Arctic Council decision on EU's observer status
Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and EU Commissioner for maritime affairs and fisheries, Maria Damanaki made today the following statement..