The European Commission has proposed that a "European Maritime Day" be celebrated annually throughout the European Union on 20 May. This initiative is linked to the new Integrated Maritime Policy for the EU, proposed by the Commission in October. During the consultation process on this new policy, numerous stakeholders voiced the opinion that celebrating Europe's maritime heritage and future as well as highlighting its maritime activities would help raise citizens' awareness not only to the importance of the maritime sectors, but also to the key role of the marine environment and Europe's coastal regions, islands and outermost regions. Similar initiatives already exist, but with a distinct sectoral focus. The aim of European Maritime Day, on the contrary, will be to highlight the whole web of relationships that bind together all maritime and marine-related issues and activities in Europe, in line with the joined-up and cross-cutting approach of the new policy. The first European Maritime Day is planned for 20 May 2008. The Commission encourages all the European regions, ports, cities and other maritime stakeholders to join in the celebrations and to work together so that European Maritime Day can serve in the future as the focal date launching a 'maritime week' of conferences, festivities, networking, best practice exchange and benchmarking activities throughout the EU.