Brussels, 20/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - European Maritime Day is celebrated every year on 20 May, and this year, Gijon hosts the European Maritime Day Stakeholder Conference from 18 - 21 May. The event, which is now in its third year, brings together stakeholders interested in maritime affairs from around Europe.
European Maritime Day was set up as a central event of the EU's Integrated Maritime Policy, launched in 2007. At this year's conference, more than 1,250 participants from 14 member states and 10 non-EU countries will take part in a vast array of conferences, debates and specialised workshops to discuss state-of-the-art maritime tools and policies. Under discussion will be sustainable economic growth, employment and innovation, cross-cutting policy tools, sustainability and the governance of sea basins.
Commissioners Maria Damanaki (Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) and Janez Potocnik (Environment) will attend the conference along with ministers and other leading figures from Spain and elsewhere. Commission President José Manuel Barroso will address the conference by video-link. Spain's Prince Felipe de Borbón, Prince of Asturias, will attend the conference on 20 May. Alongside the central events in Gijon, over 40 maritime events will take place across Europe around 20 May.
This year's edition of European Maritime Day is centred on innovation. It has been organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the Principality of Asturias and the Spanish Presidency of the Council.
European Maritime Day, officially proclaimed in a tripartite declaration by the Presidents of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on 20 May 2008, aims to raise awareness of maritime stakeholders and the general public on the added value of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy. The previous European Maritime Days were held in Brussels and Rome in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
The complete programme, is available at http: //ec.europa.eu/maritimeday (L.C./transl.rt)