European Maritime Day 2020

Attention, in application of the precautionary principle in the face of the Covid 19 epidemic, the event is postponed to a later date.

We are entering an exciting new decade, a blue decade that recognises the fundamental role of our seas and oceans and works towards balancing ocean economy and ocean health. Whether it concerns the EU’s goal to become carbon neutral by 2050 and achieve a new ‘Green Deal’ or to deliver a sustainable economy that works for people, EU maritime policy and Europe’s dynamic and innovative blue economy have a key role to play.

Since 2008 the EMD is hosted each year by a different port city providing a unique flavour to its proceedings. In 2020 the City of Cork will open its gates and its safe harbour  to Europe’s maritime stakeholders. European Maritime Day 2020 will be celebrated together with ‘ Our Ocean Wealth’ (OOW) , Ireland’s flagship annual event for the marine sector.

Apart from the main conference, the EMD also includes a public outreach element, whether it is through locally organised public days activities or the ‘EMD in my Country’ events. Raising ocean awareness among the general public and in particular young people is going to be a strong focus of this year’s EMD. In Cork in 2020, it will be held back-to-back with ‘SeaFest’ , Ireland’s largest free family-friendly maritime celebration.  

The EMD Conference and Expo will take place on 14 and 15 May 2020 in Cork City Hall.

Stakeholder workshops

Stakeholders’ workshops are at the core of the conference. Each workshop lasts 1.5 hours. For 2020 we are planning to select 20 high-quality workshops (four slots with 5 workshops running in parallel).

Workshop organisers shall apply under one of the following possible themes:  

• blue economy – horizontal themes (e.g. strategy, research and innovation, financing, investment, digitalisation AI and big data)
• blue economy – sectoral themes (e.g. bio-economy, aquaculture, tourism and coastal communities, ocean and off-shore energy, shipping and shipbuilding, ports and port clusters)
• sea basin cooperation
• maritime spatial planning
• ocean literacy, maritime skills and people
• maritime security and surveillance
• marine pollution, climate action, decarbonisation

Policy sessions

Policy sessions will be organised by the European Commission (Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs & Fisheries DG MARE in cooperation with other Directorates-General) and will focus on a number of strategic EU policy initiatives to support Europe’s Sustainable Blue Economy.