European Maritime Day: Putting People First
Every year on May 20, European Maritime Day is celebrated across the European Union to showcase the importance of the sea and oceans for our everyday life. This year, Gdańsk (Poland) will host the 4th edition of the European Maritime Day Conference on 19-20 May.
Commissioner Maria Damanaki stated: "European Maritime Day is first and foremost a celebration of Europe's maritime community, but I like to think that it also provides a great working environment. An environment in which thoughts can be exchanged, experiences can be shared and new concepts and strategies can be devised. I am sure that participants will use this opportunity freely and creatively, for the benefit of the Integrated Maritime Policy of the European Union."
Watch the conference (webstreaming on 19 May, as from 9:30)
Around 1,000 participants are expected. Maritime Day has become the main European event where stakeholders from a large range of maritime sectors meet and discuss the opportunities and challenges currently facing maritime regions and sectors across Europe: from tourism and fisheries to maritime transport and climate change.
On May 19, the conference opening session will feature personalities including Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, Cezary Grabarczyk, Polish Minister for Infrastructure, Pál Völner, Hungarian Minister of State for Infrastructure, Commissioner Maria Damanaki, Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation, Mieczysław Struk, President of Pomorskie Voivodship and Paweł Adamowicz, Mayor of Gdańsk. Key note speeches will be delivered by Maria Damanaki, Member of the European Commission responsible for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Siim Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Mobility and Transport, and Janusz Lewandowski, Member of the European Commission responsible for Financial Programming and Budget.
On 20 May a number of maritime stakeholder events, workshops and exhibitions will take place.
