For 33 regions, the future of the European shipbuilding industry is top priority for the economic development in the coming decades. Speaking on behalf of more than  60 million people, regional experts discussed on April 8th the sector's economic outlook and handed over a petition to Gerhard Stahl, the CoR's Secretary General, and other high-level EU representatives.

For more than 30 European regions from eight EU member states, the future of the European shipbuilding industry is a top priority for their economic development. Shipbuilding is a high-tech sector providing hundreds of thousands of highly skilled jobs at shipyards and countless suppliers of equipment and services to the yards.

Due to the economic crisis, demand for new ships has collapsed. The concerned regions argue that, at the end of 2009, about 20% of the jobs at shipyards were affected. This figure could dramatically increase in 2010: without new contracts before this summer, an employment crisis with half the jobs at stake could be unavoidable.

The petition, signed by the shipbuilding regions in Brussels, urges the European institutions to establish appropriate conditions for an emergency programme. A targeted fleet renewal programme is expected to boost regional investments and industrial activity, improve the infrastructure, reduce significantly dangerous emissions from ships and thus contribute to a healthier environment.

Shipyards are taking all necessary measures on their side to adjust to the changed business environment. The proposed support for the European industry, which was already at the agenda in the 2009 Progress Report on the achievements of the Integrated Maritime Policy, aims at bridging the temporary demand gap and improving key framework conditions for technologically advanced and competitive companies. The measures are not considered as attempts to delay structural change. However, they will give this future growth sector the means to successfully face the challenges arising from the distorted conditions of the global market.

The petition was handed over to Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, Gerhard Stahl, Secretary General of the Committee of the Regions, and representatives of the cabinet of European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani and the Spanish Permanent Representation in Brussels.