The revision of the EU Adriatic and Ionian Region Strategy introduced a stronger emphasis on blue skills as a key driver for the sustainable economic growth of the blue economy sector in the region. As a result, during the December meeting of Blue Economy Stakeholders, participants reached an agreement to establish a new regional partnership focused on blue skills development.
Pact for Blue Skills in the Adriatic and Ionian Region: a Step Toward a Sustainable Blue Economy
- 16 December 2024
On 10 December 2024, the Greek Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, in collaboration with the European Commission, organized an event dedicated to Blue Skills. The event, held in the Chamber of Commerce in Pireaus, gathered over 100 representatives from business networks of SMEs, maritime sectors, fisheries, aquaculture, and port management, united by a shared vision of advancing the blue economy.
The goal of the meeting was to discuss the pressing need for the development of blue skills as a cornerstone for sustainable economic growth of blue economy in the Adriatic and Ionian Region. This topic was already highlighted in the conclusions of the Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, held in Šibenik on May 2024.
The matter of education, training, reskilling and upskilling to ensure people have the necessary skills to work in the blue economy inclined the participants of the Blue Skills event to establish new regional scale partnership on blue skills for a sustainable blue economy in the Ionian and Adriatic Region. This new partnership, called “Pact for Blue Skills” will anchor the EU Pact for Skills in the Adriatic and Ionian Region Strategy. All members of the Pact will benefit from three dedicated services offered by the EU Pact for Skills: the Networking Hub, the Knowledge Hub and the Guidance Hub. The Pact will be opened to all stakeholders from the EU Member States and EU candidate countries and will facilitate access to information on EU funding instruments for skills by offering a single-entry point at EU level. By fostering collaboration and innovation, the new initiative promises to not only enhance the workforce's skills in digital and AI economy, sustainable green environmental protection, transition to decarbonised marine economy, renewable energy sources, maritime tourism but also contribute to sustainable economic development, ensuring that the Adriatic and Ionian Seas continue to be a source of prosperity for generations to come.
The new partnership will bring education, government, science, and businesses stakeholders as well as collaborators from REGIO, MARE, GROW and EMPL directorates of the European Commission.