A two-day seminar entitled “Evolving EU Maritime Policy and the Proposed Action Plan – A vision for an integrated Maritime Policy for the EU and Neighbouring States” is being organised by the IOI-Malta Operational Centre of the University of Malta, with the support of the EC Task Team on the Green Paper on Maritime Policy, at Sundown Courts, Kappara tomorrow and on Tuesday.

This event follows the recent Communication issued by the European Commission on 10 October, which sets the vision for an Integrated Maritime Policy for the EU and introduces a detailed action plan for the coming years. The focus of this policy is the holistic approach in maritime affairs intended to maintain European excellence and competitiveness based on research and advances in science and technology, and targeting globalisation, climate change and pollution problems affecting the seas and oceans.

The seminar will review aims, objectives and underlying principles of the policy together with the EU Green Paper consultation process. It will tackle the institutional mechanisms and sectoral responses necessary to achieve the policy, which ideally would not only tackle the European framework, but also point to a mechanism for greater coherence with neighbouring countries. The regional and international impact of the evolving policy together with the implications of the policy for EU Small Island jurisdictions will also be addressed.

Dr Awni Behnam, president of the International Ocean Institute will open the event and speakers will include Rafal Mazanek and Izolda Bulvinaite, members of the EU Task Team on the Maritime Policy, Dr Aldo Drago, Director of IOI-Malta Operational Centre, and Dr Gordon Cordina, Rev. Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott and Dr Ranier Fsadni of the University of Malta.