In October 2014, two years were completed since the signing of the “Limassol Declaration”. The “Limassol Declaration” signed during the Cyprus Presidency of the EU in 2012, re-iterates the EU’s commitment towards the creation of Growth and Employyment opportunities in the marine and maritime sectors. Experience so far by EU Member States shows that a dynamic and coordinated approach in marine and maritime matters enhances the development of the “blue economy” in the EU and secures jobs and prospects in the Member States, an approach that Maritime Cyprus should also adopt for its own National Maritime Strategy.

In an effort to celebrate the event and discuss how can benefit from the implementation of an Integrated Maritime Policy, the Cyprus Shipping Chamber in cooperation with the Maritime Institute of Eastern Mediterranean (MarInEM), organized a panel discussion on “EU Integrated Maritime Policy and Blue Growth”. The panel formed part of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber’s October Members’ Meeting, on Friday, 10th October 2014 which took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Limassol.

The event was addressed by the Minister of Communication and Works, Mr. Marios Demetriades who informed the participants that the National Strategy for the Integrated Maritime Policy was approved by the Counsil of Ministers on the 22nd August 2014. Mr. Demetriades noted that “the preparation of an action plan is considered as the next iportant step towards the actual implementation of the strategy. Working groups with experts from the public and private sectors will be established for each of the priorities described int he strategy and responsible persons will be tasked to study and propose specific actions to be included in the plan”.

A video message from the Commisioner of Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Mrs. Androulla Vassiliou, was also presented in which Mrs. Vassiliou emphasized the opportunities that the Blue Growth offers in the fiels of education and training of young people.

During the event a clear message was delivered on how Cyprus can benefit from the implementation of an Integrated Maritime Policy . The panel consisted of the Adviser of the Mediterranean and Black Seas at the EU’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs (DG MARE), Mr. Franz Lamplmair, the Acting Director of the Department of Mersant Shipping Mr. Andreas Chrysostomou, the President of Cyprus Shipping Chamber, Capt. Eugen H. Adami and the President of MarInEM, Mr. Zacharias Siokouros who cordinated the discussion.

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