24/01/2020 (Agence Europe) – In order for fisheries and offshore wind farms to coexist peacefully, the association WindEurope called on the European institutions on Wednesday 22 January to connect stakeholders and offer “a dedicated place for sharing best practices and solutions”. According to WindEurope, while the EU currently has 20 GW of offshore wind energy, the European Commission estimates that this capacity will need to be between 400 and 450 GW by 2050 to achieve carbon neutrality. “Collaborative approaches” are therefore essential to ensure that this growth does not disrupt the activities of other users of the sea, in particular the fisheries sector, the association insists. It also added, “Early dialogue, communication and clear safety rules could allow the two sectors to share the space at sea [...] and thus minimise spatial conflicts”. (DG)