Overview   Blue growth

Commissioner Karmenu Vella, responsible for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, today announced a set of actions that will include a major political initiative on international ocean governance next year. Based on a wide public consultation and listening tour, this initiative reaffirms the European Commission's commitment to better international ocean governance and will strengthen the EU’s external action in this regard.

A new infographic is on-line

European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, has intensified dialogue with international maritime stakeholders on how to improve ocean governance globally. To take advantage of the opportunities offered by this global outreach, the Ocean governance consultation period ends on 15th of October.

European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, is in Washington this week to convey the EU's commitment to sustainable development.

Commissioner Karmenu Vella outlined his Ocean Governance plans at European Union Committee of the Regions today. Central to his message was the need for sustainable blue growth. Maritime regions can benefit significantly from advances in ocean energy and litter clean-up projects, ocean surveillance programmes and other blue growth initiatives, the Commissioner said.

On his latest stop on the listening tour on international ocean governance, EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella visited Tromsø, Norway, following an invitation by Norwegian Fisheries Minister Elisabeth Aspaker.

"We would like to put on record a sincere thanks to the European Parliament and in particular Mr João Ferreira and the Members of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, for this very extensive and welcome report on the potential of research and innovation in the Blue Economy to create jobs and growth, which also takes account of the opinions of the Committees on Fisheries and on Employment.

The aim of the consultation is to gather input on how the EU could contribute to achieving better international governance of oceans and seas to the benefit of sustainable blue growth.

20th North Atlantic Fisheries Ministers Conference, Valetta, Malta – 16 and 17 July 2015

Meeting with members of the German Bundestag's tourism committee today, Commissioner Karmenu Vella, responsible for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, exchanged views on the EU's strategy for more growth and jobs in coastal and maritime tourism.

The event on "Innovative Strategies for Sustainable Coastal and Island Tourism" was held on 16 June 2015, in Brussels.

European Maritime Day 2015 will take place between 28 and 31 May 2015 in Piraeus, Greece. The event will bring together Europe’s maritime community around the theme of ports and coasts as engines for Blue Growth.

A new video that illustrates the key role of science in contributing to the so called 'Blue Growth', the maritime contribution to achieving the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

Registration is open: http://fr.amiando.com/UMSC.html?page=1253736

Some of the EU's best innovators and researchers are working away to explore the largely unexplored biodiversity of the sea and design ways in which to maximise their economic and scientific potential. Read more in the Online magazine.

The EU and Norway have reached an arrangement for the 2015 management of shared fish stocks in the North Sea.

Event organised on the 30 October by the Italian Presidency and the European Commission (with the support of the Port Authority of Augusta and the Italian Navy).

Speech by Lowri Evans at Blue Day opening session - an event organised by the Italian Presidency and the European Commission, Augusta, Sicily, 30 October 2014

The European Commission has welcomed the endorsement today by EU leaders of the new EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR).