The European Maritime Day shows the importance of the sea and oceans for everyday life, both in coastal communities and across Europe as a whole. It also highlights the opportunities and the challenges currently facing maritime regions and sectors: from tourism and fisheries to maritime transport and climate change.

This year, a major stakeholders’ conference in Rome (19 & 20 May) brought together decision-makers and practitioners from across the EU. They looked at the way a wide range of policies and practices can combine for sustainable development of maritime regions, and respect for the sea. Views raised at the conference will feed in to the development of the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy. Before, during and after the conference, a number of organisations organised exhibitions, workshops or presentations on themes linked to the conference agenda. The conclusions of the conference [ ~11 Kb] emphasised the importance of the maritime economy and the benefits of the Integrated Maritime Policy.

On and around the European Maritime Day, a range of events were organised by stakeholders throughout Europe which turned the spotlight on their activities related to the sea. In this way, national and regional government, NGOs, employers, unions, scientific institutions, port authorities, environmental groups and many more could show their activities and learn from each other.

Find out more about European Maritime Day 2009 and the range of events planned to celebrate it.

> Tripartite Declaration on Maritime Day signed by Presidents of the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission [ ~95 Kb]
> European Maritime Day Stakeholders' Conference, Rome, Italy 19-20 May 2009
   >> Know more about the agenda and the conference
> Events around the Rome conference, 18-20 May 2009
> European Maritime Day: stakeholder events throughout the EU,
> Questions and Answers on European Maritime Day 2009
> Press corner