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Oceans and fisheries
News announcement21 October 2021Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Celebrating the Atlantic blue economy at the 8th Atlantic stakeholders Platform Conference, Dublin

European Union Capitals - Dublin, Ireland

On 21 October 2021, the eighth Atlantic Stakeholder Platform Conference is taking place in Dublin, Ireland. The conference marks a double celebration: that of the ten-year anniversary of the EU’s Atlantic maritime strategy, and that of the updated Atlantic action plan 2.0. And what better way to celebrate than to attend one of the many workshops, pitching sessions and the fifth Atlantic Project Award ceremony!

The EU’s Atlantic maritime strategy is ten years young, and with the new approach to a sustainable blue economy, it is more relevant than ever. The blue economy has been identified under the European Green Deal as a major pillar of sustainable growth for Europe, and nowhere in Europe is the blue economy as well established as in the Atlantic sea basin.

In those ten years, the Atlantic strategy has mobilised at least 1200 new maritime projects and nearly €6 billion of investment. The first action plan, which accompanied the strategy, was undoubtedly a success.

The Atlantic maritime strategy was the first ever sea-basin strategy in Europe. It was a pioneering experiment, and its learnings have helped us develop the blue economy also in other sea basins.

(European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius)

At the same time, the changing circumstances, including the recovery and the Green Deal ambitions of decarbonisation, biodiversity, circular economy and zero pollution, have required an update of the Atlantic action plan in 2020 – an action plan 2.0, if you will.

Its purpose is to respond to those challenges and turn them into opportunities for the Atlantic blue economy. The plan came about after a series of bottom-up national consultations. The participating countries themselves defined its focus – four areas to work on with specific concerted actions. These are:

  • Ports as gateways and hubs for the blue economy
  • Blue skills and ocean literacy
  • Marine renewable energy
  • Healthy oceans and resilient coasts

At the conference in Dublin, dubbed ‘Atlantic Pathways to a Green Blue Economy’, Atlantic maritime stakeholders will develop those focus areas. Innovative projects, start-ups and accelerators will pitch their ideas or businesses in front of a jury of key players in the Atlantic blue economy and the winners of the Atlantic Project Awards will be announced.  

More information about the conference and the Atlantic maritime strategy

8th Atlantic Stakeholder Platform Conference | ASPC 2021 | Atlantic Action Plan | Atlantic Strategy

Atlantic Ocean (europa.eu)

European Atlas of the Seas

 

 

Details

Publication date
21 October 2021
Author
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries