Spanish city of Gijon is hosting this year the activities of European Maritime Day. A three day conference, an exhibition and other acts are part of the programme for this event.

Our continent has almost 70 000 km of coastline and 22 of the EU’s 27 Member States are coastal or island countries. Our maritime regions are home to 40% of our population, generate 40% of our economy and employ some 5 million people. For all these reasons, the European Union decided in 2008 to declare May 20 as European Maritime Day.

Last year, the Commission organized a 3-day conference in Rome which attracted over 1200 participants to discuss the global challenges faced by maritime Europe. This year it's turn for Spain. Gijon will host the European Maritime Day Stakeholder Conference with a programme of around 50 workshops, which cover an array of maritime issues, under the leitmotiv of innovation for sustainable growth of maritime sectors and coastal regions.

The highlight of the conference will be plenary sessions on 20 May. Speakers include Diego Lopez Garrido, Spanish State Secretary for Maritime Affairs, Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, as well as H.R.H. Felipe de Borbón, Prince of Asturias. The full programme of the conference can be found at the event website.

Alongside the conference, there will be a large exhibition area where stakeholders will hold stands and exhibitions bringing a wide variety of maritime issues and activities to the public's attention.

Background

This is the 3rd edition of European Maritime Day and its annual conference has already established itself as the meeting place for European stakeholders representing all maritime sectors and activities. This year's event is co-hosted by the Spanish Presidency of the EU, the European Commission and the Government of the Principality of Asturias. Besides the conference in Gijon, European Maritime Day will be celebrated with various maritime events across Europe around 20 May.

European Maritime Day was established as part of the EU's Integrated Maritime Policy to showcase the importance of the sea and oceans for everyday life, both in coastal communities and across Europe as a whole. It also highlights the opportunities and the challenges currently facing maritime regions and sectors: from tourism and fisheries to maritime transport and climate change.