Maritime Industries, a key sector for the EU. The European Commission published a Communication on a new EU Industrial Strategy.
The context of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impacts on the sector and the constantly increasing worldwide industrial competition is calling on the EU for strong action in this regard. Maritime transport and services have proven to be of crucial importance in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis. They kept the whole EU connected and contributed to ensuring that no territory has been left aside, regardless of how peripheral it is. Maritime industries have a central role to play in EU recovery and industry’s renewal. This sector, which gathers traditional activities such as shipbuilding and newer technologies such as marine energies, is key for the sustainable development of our coastal Regions and of the whole EU.
In this context, the Seas, Rivers, Islands, and Coastal Areas Intergroup has organised an event to exchange views with key stakeholders on how the EU can answer the needs of the sector. After an opening by the European Commission, the event was designed as a round table. Representatives of the sector discussed the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the maritime industry sector and maritime Regions. It provided the opportunity to share the views of the stakeholders on the short-term perspectives of recovery and the initiatives taken to support the sector. The panelists looked at the longer-term perspective, addressing the needs of the maritime industry to contribute to the Green Recovery of the EU. They will focus on the role of the sector in the transition of the Union towards climate neutrality as well as on the needs in terms of access to finance.