Limassol, 06/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Cypriot communications and labour minister, Efthemios Flourentzou, unveiled the Cypriot Presidency's plans for integrated maritime policy on Thursday 5 July. Following on from the Danish Presidency's green economy plans, the Cypriot minister wants a “blue economy”. Flourentzou explained this meant growth stimulus, jobs and competitiveness in the maritime sector, which has unexploited growth potential crucial to the future of Europe and economic recovery. He said the EU's integrated maritime policy is an important tool for achieving the EUROPE 2020 Strategy targets, suggesting action should focus on shipping, ship-building and ship equipment, cruises and coastal tourism, renewable eneregy sources, fish farming and the development of new technology for sustainable submarine mining and prospecting. Flourentzou said it was also important to point out the sustainability, prosperity and need for a genuine coastline and maritime strategy in Europe.
Limassol statement to be issued on 8 October
EU27 maritime affairs ministers will be meeting in Limassol, Cyprus' main shipping centre, on 8 October to breathe new life into the EU's integrated maritime policy, launched in October 2007 under the Portuguese Presidency. Ministers are expected to adopt the “Limassol Statement”, a steppping stone for the development of the maritime strategy, which will be submitted to the General Affairs Council and the European Summit in December 2012. In addition to stressing the importance of “blue growth” and the underexploited potential of the maritime industry, the statement will focus on the importance of developing maritime spatial planning, marine knowledge, integrated maritime surveillance and effective implementation of the marine strategic framework directive.
Pointing out that Cyprus is a “maritime State” whose maritime industry accounts for 8% of GDP, Flourentzou said that maritime affairs are increasingly cross-border and hoped the October meeting would also examine maritime cooperation in the widest sense both within the EU and with other countries sharing the same maritime basins. (CG/transl.fl)