Brussels, 02/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - As in many other sectors in these times of crisis, shipbuilding orders are continuing to decline. The shipbuilding industry, however, creates jobs and possesses advanced expertise in engineering. During a public hearing on maritime industries on Thursday 2 February, which was organised by the European Parliament's Seas and Coastal Areas Intergroup in cooperation with the French region of the Pays de la Loire and the Conference of Maritime and Peripheral Regions (CPMR), Christophe Clergeau, the first vice president of the Regional Council of the Pays de la Loire (France) stated: “The European Union can play a decisive role. Our aims are therefore political: the future EU innovation strategy and future EU regional policy need to take full account of the importance of this industrial challenge.” This message was supported by the head of the intergroup, Corine Lepage (ALDE, France), who said: “Europe risks missing out on the third industrial revolution if we do not start investing right now in research and innovation by drawing on existing sectors. We have unequalled skills in Europe in shipbuilding and repair, so let us create the conditions to conserve them and put them to good use.” Fourteen maritime regions have decided to highlight to European decision-makers the challenges facing shipyards, and the regions request that this dimension be included in EU policy. At the same time the Commission is examining “blue growth” with the aim of a communication on the subject at the end of the year. A memorandum compiling recommendations from the regions has been submitted to the European Commission and calls for industrial, research, innovation, regional and fishing policies to support shipbuilding, as well for access to credit to be improved and the supervision of state aid to be maintained. (MD/transl.fl)