Brussels, 17/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament Marine Industry Group (EPMIG) met for the first time on 8 November in Brussels, thus marking the beginning of cooperation between MEPs and the marine industry. This first informal meeting, which is to be followed by a second meeting in March 2006, brought together over 40 participants from the Community institutions, Member States and the marine industry, whose interests are above all represented since 2003 by EURMIG (European Union Recreational Marine Industry Group), a committee of the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA). Regular dialogue is being established with a view to fuelling the debate on developing European legislation likely to have an impact on the environment, transport, tourism, innovation, market access and job creation. The main challenges shaping up will relate to infrastructure and technological innovation, especially those aimed at reducing the impact that the marine industry has on the environment, EURMIG Secretary General Tony Rice says. Essentially composed of SMEs, the nautical activities sector in Europe employs around 272,000 and provides competitive services, James Grazebrook, President of the EURMIG Strategy Board, notes. Safeguarding the cleanliness and beauty of the environment is a major concern for this recreational marine sector which is urged to make an effort to come into line with EU legislation, although it is under growing pressure as competition from third countries increases as they move into mass production. In this context, it is necessary, MEP Martin Callanan, British Conservative and EPMIG President, says, to urgently review European legislation on the environment in order to do away with superfluous administrative formalities.