Brussels, 19/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) have reiterated their commitment of one year ago to “work collectively and in partnership” to develop marine and maritime cooperation in the Mediterranean region. This resolve to support a “sustainable blue economy” was confirmed on the occasion of the 12th conference of the FEMIP (Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership Facility), held in Athens on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 April.
A press release indicates that the European Commission has presented its approach and recalled that financing for the region amounted to €7.48 billion for the 2007-2012 period. The EIB, for its part, provided the countries of the region with “over €13 billion in funding between end 2002 and 2012”, and “deployed around €35 billion in additional capital”, the EIB vice-president, Philippe de Fontaine-Vive pointed out. The IMO spoke of its mission to obtain “the adoption of higher standards for maritime safety, security and efficiency of shipping”. It will also be responsible for tasks relating to the “prevention and control of marine pollution from ships”.
Maria Damanaki, EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, called for the constitution of a network of maritime training establishments taking inspiration from the flagship project initiated in the Baltic Sea. She added that the aim is to “create European centres of excellence for maritime education”. In the Mediterranean, “it is by working in the cross-border and cross-sector context that we shall be able to operate more effectively and attain the critical mass that is essential”, said the commissioner. De Fontaine-Vive felt the effort should be based on “private sector financing”.
Damanaki nonetheless pointed out the limits to cooperation, saying: “We live in difficult times. The economic crisis in Europe is a reality, especially in its Mediterranean area (…). The problems and difficulties encountered by the Mediterranean countries that do not belong to the EU are just as serious - different but serious”. The context, she affirmed, “is uncertain”, going on to call for caution. “Everyone can be a captain in calm weather but we are (currently) faced with a stormy sea, which means we must sail closer to the wind”, she said (our translation throughout). (FB/transl.jl)