Objectives

Creating sustainable jobs and growth in the Atlantic area by bringing together the 5 EU countries with an Atlantic coastline (France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom), regional and local authorities, business and other stakeholders to identify key investment and research priorities, as well as concrete project ideas.

Implementing the EU maritime strategy for the Atlantic Ocean [49 KB] All available translations., which outlines the challenges: applying the ecosystem approach, reducing Europe's carbon footprint, sustainably exploiting seafloor resources, dealing with risks & emergencies and promoting socially inclusive growth.

Focus in 2012:

• gathering ideas for concrete actions, through conferences with stakeholders and input from EU countries
• identifying and agreeing on priority projects resulting in the publication of an Action Plan
• considering EU funding for the Action Plan for the period 2014-20.

Funding, timeline and key actors

Developing a "blue" economy

The enormous economic potential of our seas and oceans remains largely untapped. Ocean energies, seabed mining, marine biotechnology and other emerging sectors, as well as a revitalization of traditional activities such as fisheries, aquaculture and tourism can contribute to the development of a “blue economy” in Europe – driven by innovation and technology – that can provide jobs and spur economic growth.

Europe has developed technologies to build platforms at sea that can withstand hurricanes, submarines that can reach the deep ocean floor, sensor technologies that can see what is there and robotics technology to bring it to the surface. These and other advances place us in a position to benefit from the sea's economic potential in a sustainable manner.

More info

Maritime Forum

• Atlantic section (projects, background info, working documents, events)

European Atlas of the Seas

• Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Coast
• Celtic Seas

Maritime affairs 

• All news (press releases, speeches, etc.)
• Links to EU and international organisations