Brussels, 04/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - The quality of so-called “blue” jobs is at stake in European maritime policies, such as the common fisheries policy and the social agenda for maritime transport. The social dimension must be given closer consideration in the common approach to the sea. The Region of Brittany (France), in cooperation with the French Institut maritime de prévention and with the support of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions, will discuss these matters at a conference to be held in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) on Monday 7 November.
Discussions will revolve around three topics and will be informed by studies conducted on the ground so that proposals can be brought forward to guarantee the quality of blue jobs in Europe. The first of these three topics focuses on the attractiveness of seafarer jobs and the difficulties found in taking on young people. Secondly, discussion will turn to living and working conditions for fishermen, and especially to risks in a sector where the accident rate is high. The Institut maritime de prévention will present a model for vessels that will improve living conditions on board.
And lastly, the conference will turn its attention to safety at sea, especially watch keeping on board vessels, accidents, such as collisions and running aground being still far too common.
The conference intends to frame proposals for taking better account of the social dimension in the maritime sector, and the intention is to work with the EU. The support that the EU can bring to quality blue jobs will be implicit in all the discussions. (MD/transl.rt)