Fisheries and aquaculture in Europe 2012
The European Union’s maritime policy recently took on a new dimension as a result of two initiatives. First, on 13 September,the European Commission adopted a Communication on Blue Growth that recommends developing the maritime sectors to help Europe put its economy back on the road to recovery.
Then, on 8 October, in Limassol, Cyprus, an informal Council of Ministers echoed this call by adopting a maritime agenda
for growth and jobs. The blue economy has become a pillar of the Europe 2020 Strategy.
This is undoubtedly a turning point. Until now, the Integrated Maritime Policy has tried to end compartmentalisation of policies to the benefit
of sustainable development. Walls between maritime economic sectors had to be torn down to involve them in a coherent and sustainable
development process. Five years of a policy based not on legislation but on persuasion and constant dialogue with stakeholders laid the foundations
to facilitate and supervise the blue economy’s development.
Following the adoption of its Communication (1) on Blue Growth, the European Commission has connected the blue sectors with the rest
of the European economy and placed them high on the list of political and business priorities. In today’s grim economic climate, the development potential offered by most maritime sectors can help boost the economy so that it can achieve the growth and job creation targets set by the European Union (EU) in its Europe 2020 Strategy.Various figures show that the blue economy is already a success story.
Today, the EU’s maritime sectors generate EUR 485 billion in gross added value and employ 5.4 million people. Realistic projections for 2020 show gross added value of EUR 600 billion and seven million jobs. Growth is therefore more or less certain. The European Commission wishes not only to encourage this growth but also to expand it. Its aim is twofold: to remove obstacles to growth and to work out intelligent solutions to stimulate emerging maritime sectors.
