Press releases
Maritime affairs
Re-energising the Oceans: EU launch event co-hosted with Global Ocean Commission
30/06/2014
Commissioner Damanaki is jointly co-hosting today 30 June 2014 a conference with the Global Ocean Commission in Brussels, to present their views on how to restore ocean health and sustainable productivity. This event follows the event organised by the Global Ocean Commission in New York on 24 June where their ocean recommendations were presented for the first time.
The event is attended by high level political representatives who chair the Global Ocean Commission such as David Miliband, José María Figueres, ex President of Costa Rica as well as Trevor Manuel, South African Minister in the Presidency and Head of National Planning. The Conference will be followed by a Press Conference.
Commissioner Damanaki warmly welcomes this event: "I am particularly proud to co-host this event. It is a terrific opportunity to reach out to a wide range of stakeholders on a matter that concerns us all: the health and wealth of our seas and oceans. I am looking forward to a fruitful exchange of views on how we can stimulate blue growth and thus create jobs whilst keeping our oceans healthy, clean and safe."
Global Ocean Commission Report in New York: Addressing the challenges of Ocean Governance (SPEECH)
25/06/2014
Commissioner Damanaki attended on Tuesday 24 June the Launch event of the Global Ocean Commission (GOC) report and recommendations in New York City. Read her speech below.
Maria Damanaki supports the GOC's ambition to address ocean challenges, and wants to take the discussion further in Brussels next week, when she will co-host a Conference with the GOC on how to restore ocean health and sustainable productivity. This event organised on 30 June will be the occasion to discuss the main challenges and threats to the high seas.
In New York City, Commissioner Damanaki will be in the company of the GOC co-chairs José María Figueres, Trevor Manuel and David Miliband, GOC Commissioner Foua Toloa, but also Rebecca Rimel President and CEO of Pew Charitable Trusts, Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York City and entrepreneur; and Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank.
Read more information on the Conference “Re-energising the oceans” on 30 June in Brussels here and read Commissioner Damanaki's speech below.
Creating jobs and growth on the seas: EU Ministers endorse “Blue Growth” Strategy
24/06/2014
The European Commission welcomes the backing from the EU's General Affairs Council for the progress made and next steps in delivering the EU's Blue Growth Strategy. This Strategy aims at creating sustainable economic growth and employment in the marine and maritime economy to help Europe's economic recovery.
Commissioner Damanaki said on this occasion: “In these difficult economic times, one of the keys to get people back into work lies in our seas, oceans and on our coasts: if we exploit them sustainably, we can raise the number of EU jobs in the maritime sector from 5.4 million to 7 million by 2020 in areas such as marine renewable energy, aquaculture, coastal tourism, blue biotechnology, and sea bed mining. But we need to pull our energy together to make it a reality soon. For example, in the area of ocean energy, our "blue growth strategy" could create 40,000 new jobs by 2035. But one thing is clear: we will not prioritise growth over environmental sustainability. If we want businesses to invest, then we must give them a marine environment that is clean, safe and secure.”
EU Maritime Security Strategy approved by the Council
24/06/2014
The Council today endorsed an EU maritime security strategy as a framework for effectively and comprehensively addressing the EU's maritime security challenges.
The objective is to secure the EU's maritime security interests against risks and threats in the global maritime domain, such as cross-border and organised crime, threats to freedom of navigation, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or environmental risks. The strategy covers both internal and external aspects of the Union's maritime security in a cross-sectorial and comprehensive approach.
Commissioner Damanaki stated: "My goal is to rekindle the maritime economy, but that goes hand in hand with security: no businessman will invest on a maritime activity if off-shore installations are not safe or trade routes are not secure. And today's threats call for a coordinated response. This strategy is lean, smart and comprehensive; it allows our nations to pool resources, be cost efficient and work hand in hand. But our work does not stop here. The next crucial step is to develop concrete actions and projects together, and I look forward to it. This is not only a responsibility which we cannot shirk but is also what the EU model is all about."
Read more about today's Council endorsement here 
and about the Maritime Security Strategy here.
What happens when you give a sea expert and a lawyer a football?
20/06/2014
It might not be the Brazilian World Cup, but the European Commission's "Schuman Trophy" is quite comparable when it comes to Brussels football tournaments. This year an explosive mixture of sea experts and lawyers from DG MARE and the Legal Service joined forces to compete against other officials from the Commission and rightfully raise the trophy cup. Commissioner Damanaki raised her glass in a moment of pride for "her" team and wished for many more successes. What made this combination reach the top? They say it was all about the team work.
The money raised for the tournament will go for deprived children in Belgium and around the world.
All aboard for a new Adriatic and Ionian Macro-Region
18/06/2014
European Commission has launched a new EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, led by Commissioner Damanaki and Commissioner Hahn, to help its 70 million residents to reap the benefit of closer cooperation in promoting the maritime economy, preserving the marine environment, completing transport and energy links and boosting sustainable tourism.
Commissioner Damanaki comments: "The maritime challenges we face in the Adriatic and Ionian Region are not unique to any one country: from overfishing to pollution, traffic congestion, transport connections and seasonal tourism: the only way that makes sense to tackle these issues is the united, coherent way. Since there is growth potential many of these areas, the action plan for the Adriatic Ionian can help propel the region out the crisis and put its economy back on track.”
The two Commissioners responsible presented the Strategy today at a Press Roundtable with the aim to reach and inform the wider public of the new Communication and Action Plan.
Innovation is key to Blue Growth – Commissioner Damanaki at International Festival for Business
14/06/2014
The sea is a still underexploited source for growth and jobs, and “blue innovation” is needed for the maritime economy to kick start. This is the message Commissioner Damanaki delivered to the Mersey Maritime Grand Gala Dinner in Liverpool on 13th June. The event was the highlight of a two-week programme focusing on maritime, logistics and energy as part of the International Festival for Business. Taking place on the banks of the River Mersey, it brought together 400 key actors from the maritime sector on Merseyside and beyond.
Commissioner Damanaki spoke alongside Minister of State for Employment, Esther McVey, and Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Philip Jones of the Royal Navy. As part of the International Festival for Business programme, the European Commission also organised a workshop on financing and chances for SMEs as part of its Atlantic Action Plan.
Maritime Spatial Planning: Supporting our economy and preserving our environment
05/06/2014
Commissioner Damanaki underlined today the importance of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) to the EU's economic and environmental sustainability goals by participating in a European Commission event on MSP hosted in Athens. Commissioner was joined by Mr. Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Greece's Minister of Shipping, Maritime Affairs and the Aegean and Ms. Gesine Meissner, MEP and Rapporteur on the Directive for Maritime Spatial Planning.
The conference brought together a range of stakeholders and experts, as well as representatives from industry and NGOs, and discussed how shipping and other maritime sectors can operate side by side in an increasingly crowded marine space. Participants explored the benefits of Maritime Spatial Planning in terms of safety, access to space, environmental protection and the efficiency and competitiveness of maritime transport.
The Directive on a European Framework for Maritime Spatial Planning was adopted by the European Parliament on 17 April 2014 and is scheduled to be approved by the Council in July 2014. The Directive will support Member States in their action to develop plans to better coordinate the various activities taking place at sea, ensuring they are as efficient and sustainable as possible, and coherent across sea basins.
In many maritime areas, activities compete for space and resources: fishing grounds, aquaculture farms, marine protected areas exist alongside maritime infrastructures such as cables, pipelines, shipping lanes and oil, gas and wind installations. The new Directive will help avoid potential conflicts between such diverse uses and create an environment attractive to investors, thereby contributing to sustainable growth.
For further information read more here: Conference Maritime Spatial Planning and Shipping and Maritime Spatial Planning.
"Energy Efficiency Measures on Existing Vessels" - Conference by HELMEPA
05/06/2014
In the framework of the 2014 Posidonia International Shipping Exhibition in Athens, the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association has organised a conference on June 4 dedicated to Energy efficiency measures related to existing vessels.
Commissioner Damanaki was invited to attend the conference and discuss the important issue of energy saving. She met with Dr John Coustas, Chairman of HELMEPA (Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association) and Jeff Lantz, US Coast Guard and Chairman of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council.
Workshop on Maritime challenges for the EU
04/06/2014
Commissioner Damanaki will partake on June 6 in Athens in a workshop on "Maritime challenges for the EU", co-organised by the European Union Institute for Security Studies and ELIAMEP, the Hellenic foundation for European and Foreign Policy.
Commissioner Damanaki will address the audience on maritime security. This issue is complex as threats at sea have become increasingly cross-sectorial and are thus not any more of relevance 'solely' for particular sectorial authorities but are relevant to many actors simultaneously, both at land and at sea. The challenges require a combination of different actions, civil and military, addressed in a co-ordinated manner.
On 6 March 2014, the European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy a Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council "For an open and secure global maritime domain: elements for a European Union maritime security strategy". This joint communication presents a vision of the Union's maritime security interests and threats, and proposes the areas in which cooperation between various maritime players can be enhanced beyond what is already good practice today.
Watch commissioner Damanaki and VP/HR Ashton's press conference of 6 March 2014. Read more about the Maritime Security Strategy.
Opening Ceremony of Posidonia 2014 in Athens
02/06/2014
Commissioner Damanaki attended, together with Greek Prime Minister Samaras and Commissioner Kallas, the Opening ceremony of the renowned International Shipping Exhibition "Posidonia 2014" in Athens. This year's edition of the exhibition will welcome, from June 2 to June 6, stakeholders of the international shipping community for five days of business and exchanges around the shipping industry.
Commissioner Damanaki receives Peter Benchley Ocean Awards
02/06/2014
Commissioner Damanaki was distinguished on Friday May 30 by the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards for her commitment to the protection of coasts and oceans and her pledge to restore sustainability in our seas.
Commissioner was unable to attend the Awarding ceremony but addressed the honourees and the jury by enhancing the "need to stand shoulder to shoulder to address the tremendous challenges that our oceans and seas are still facing". Download Commissioner Damanaki's video message on her Awarding of the Peter Benchley Awards here.
Fisheries
Serious overfishing in Mediterranean while Northeast Atlantic fish stocks recover
26/06/2014
Fish stocks in the North and West of Europe are recovering, but there are still serious problems of overfishing in the Mediterranean Sea. That's the key message Commissioner Damanaki passes in this year's report on the state of fish stocks and the preparation of setting next years' fish quotas.
"I am very worried how badly things are going in the Mediterranean Sea", Commissioner Damanaki said. "Now that scientists have assessed many more fish stocks over the last five years, the time of denial is over: the Mediterranean Sea is heavily overfished. I see a long struggle and hard work ahead: We need to build up the science, adopt regional fishing plans to bring fishing down to sustainable levels. If we do not act now, we will lose the tremendous potential of these resources for future generations. The new Common Fisheries Policy offers an opportunity that we must live up to, and I shall be discussing this with all the Fisheries Ministers in the Mediterranean Member States".
On the situation in the Northeast Atlantic area, Commissioner Damanaki stated: "The successful recovery of fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic proves to me that with the right rules in place, it is possible to bring overfishing to an end. When good science is available, when catches are set at the right level and when – most important of all - the fishermen join in the efforts to protect the stocks, then I am sure we will see further improvements ahead. These are the principles that the reformed Common Fisheries Policy is based on."
For the first time, the Commission could take into account scientific advice for the state of the stocks in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
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The fish stock data for the Mediterranean show a dismal picture: 96% or more of the Mediterranean bottom-living fish are overfished, and for the middle-water stocks like sardine and anchovy the figure is 71% or more. For the Black Sea, all bottom-living fish and 33% of pelagic stocks are overfished.
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In the Northeast Atlantic area, including the Baltic and North Seas, overfishing has fallen from 86% (30 stocks overfished out of 35 assessed) in 2009 to 41% (19 out of 46 stocks) in 2014.
The annual consultation document on fishing opportunities 2015 (the levels of Total Allowable Catches, quotas and fishing effort) is now open to the views of stakeholders via an online public consultation, before the Commission makes its proposals during the autumn.
"Our Oceans" Conference organised by John Kerry calls for international cooperation in ocean protection
17/06/2014
PHOTO GALLERY - Sustainable fisheries, marine pollution, and ocean acidification were the key issues discussed at the "Our Ocean" conference organised by US Secretary of State John Kerry on 16th June in Washington DC which Commissioner Damanaki attended. The event brought together world leaders, business executives, scientists, and environmental activists in an attempt to deal with major threats to oceans.
Commissioner Damanaki spoke during the "Political Change Makers" session in which political leaders shared their insights on how they sought to address ocean issues and implement ocean conservation. Commissioner Damanaki drew upon the reform process of the Common Fisheries Policy and its focus on sustainability, the fight against illegal fishing, the EU’s role in international fisheries governance, and the Blue Growth strategy. Other speakers include US Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) speaking of their roles as co-chairs of the Senate Oceans Caucus.
Commissioner Damanaki meets Mr John Podesta, Councillor to US President Obama and Former White House Chief of Staff
Commissioner Damanaki also met with US Undersecretary Dr. Kathryn Sullivan to discuss EU-US cooperation on a range of different ocean and fisheries issues.
Forced labour allegations in Thai prawn industry “raise grave questions”
13/06/2014
Condemning the evidence provided by recent reports in the media and by NGOs on the human rights situation in Thailand’s prawn industry, Commissioner Damanaki stated: "The alleged human rights abuses in the Thai prawn industry are shocking and raise grave questions. We cannot accept that dubious operators disregard human rights, health provisions and sustainability requirements this way. There is no place for forced labour in our world. The situation needs to be investigated thoroughly. We may also have to intensify our probe from the perspective of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fisheries".
Herring dispute between European Union and Faroe Islands nears end
11/06/2014
The European Commission and the Faroe Islands have reached a political understanding to end their dispute on the management of Atlanto-Scandian herring in the North-East Atlantic. This has been done between Commissioner Damanaki and the Minister of Fisheries of the Faroe Islands, Jacob Vestergaard, after a lengthy dialogue between Faroese and EU officials in recent months.
Read Commissioner Damanaki's Statement on the agreement reached on the “herring dispute” with the Faroe Islands:
"It is with great pleasure that I am announcing today that the EU and the Faroe Islands have agreed at political level to end their “herring dispute”.
According to the understanding that I reached with the Faroese Minister of Fisheries, Jacob Vestergaard, the Faroe Islands will put an end to their unsustainable fishery of Atlanto-Scandian herring in the North-East Atlantic. On our side, the European Commission will take action to stop the trade restrictions that we imposed on the Faroe Islands in August 2013 in reaction to the unsustainable management of the stocks.
I’m also happy to announce that we reached an understanding that the Faroe Islands will close the proceedings launched against the EU at the World Trade Organization and in the context of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in response to the EU measures.
Both sides will now finalise the procedural aspects of this political understanding.
After long and intensive negotiations, I am satisfied that we can soon consider the herring dispute as something of the past: Faroese fishermen will be able to come back to EU waters and European fishermen can continue their traditional fisheries in Faroese waters. Let’s now focus on working hand in hand towards sustainable fisheries in the North-East Atlantic."
