The European Commission welcomes BioMarine, an international maritime forum on oceans sustainability an innovative solutions, organised under the aegis of the French Presidency of the European Union, which gathers business, scientific and political communities. This is a major event which will enable Europe's maritime community to reinforce the development of an integrated approach to maritime affairs.

BioMarine aims to trigger and facilitate dialogue and networking between stakeholders in order to better address the sustainable development of all sea-related activities. During its forty sessions a variety of marine and maritime-related issues are being discussed by renowned experts from all around the world, with diverse backgrounds including scientists, policy-makers, representatives from maritime industries and civil society.

At the launching of the event, early this week, President Barroso commented that the aim whem the new European Maritime Policy was developed was “to move away from the narrow sector-based approach applied to maritime matters. Today, we can state that a new broad and comprehensive governance of maritime affairs is clearly underway in Europe.” President Barroso also highlighted the active role played by French Government in this process and for having the insight to uphold the new oceans and seas' integrated approach well before assuming the presidency of the European Union.

When introducing the Forum Commissioner Borg stressed the excellent opportunity which it represents for the European Commission to engage itself “in an open exchange of ideas with Europe's maritime stakeholders. Its agenda demonstrates the potential of Europe's oceans and seas and invites for cross-sectoral cooperation among policies and with the people concerned by them. This bodes well for the European Union's Integrated Maritime Policy."

In his speech, Commissioner Borg will focus on research, innovation and maritime governance, the key issue for integrated policy-making. Also of high relevance in this context is the work carried out by the Commission, in close cooperation with the Presidency, on moving towards a more integrated maritime surveillance system in the EU and in particular in the Mediterranean Sea. Wide-ranging and continuous dialogue and cooperation with stakeholders is another important element in moving the Integrated Maritime Policy forward. Furthermore, later this year the Commission intends, inter alia, to present its proposal for a road map on maritime spatial planning, which will be an essential tool for maritime integrated governance.

The BioMarine got under way on October 20th in Toulon and is continuing in Marseille from October 22nd to 24th.