European Maritime Day
- European Maritime Day is celebrated annually across Europe on 20 May
- The aim is to to emphasize the great importance of the marine environment and maritime economic activity for Europe.
- An intense competition takes place every year between different countries for who gets to host the European Maritime Day. The next EMD will be held in Pool, England, in 2017.
The main theme of the conference is Investing in competitive Blue Growth – smart and sustainable solutions. Smart and sustainable solutions related to Blue Growth and more widely to maritime policy will be discussed at the conference. The challenges and solutions of the northern regions will also be under special attention.
The conference has five theme areas where topics such as investment, Blue Growth, development of know-how, as well as energy questions will be discussed. Additionally, the programme includes 21 work groups with cruise industry, maritime industry and digitalization, Blue Growth, and SMEs as themes, among others.
An impressive selection of representatives of business life, decision-makers, and organization workers is included in the programme. Speakers at the opening include Commissioner Karmenu Vella, who is responsible for maritime affairs in Europe, Minister of Agriculture and the Environment Kimmo Tillikainen, and Bernard Meyer from CESA (Community of European Shipyards’ Association). Many enterprises, such as Wärtsilä, Cargotec, Rolls-Royce, and Fortum, are also represented.
–Turku is at the heart of the Finnish maritime cluster and the Baltic Sea co-operation This conference gives us a possibility to showcase the know-how in Turku and Finland Proper on a European level. The companies in the area have strongly been taken into account in the programme, Aleksi Randell, Mayor of Turku, says.
Companies and communities have a chance to network and find partners in the exhibition section of the Networking Village and the Business-to-Business matchmaking event of Enterprise Europe Network. The conference guests also have a chance to visit Meyer Turku shipyard, Meriaura, and Auriga Business Center, as well as the NaviGate fair that is organized at the same time and gathers the subcontractors of the field in the Turku Fair Centre.
The European Maritime Day conference has gained great publicity throughout Europe and the number of a thousand participants was reached before the registration deadline. The conference is organized by the European Union’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the State of Finland, and the City of Turku.
Numerous maritime policy events during the EMD
Tueday May 17: The Finnish maritime policies’ planning and coordinating meeting
The objectives of the planning meeting in Turku are to bring together all the operators in the Finnish maritime field and to increase co-operation and synergy between different sectors. The convener of the meeting is the Prime Minister’s Office in co-operation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the City of Turku, and Turku University’s Centre for Maritime Studies.
Wednesday May 18: HELCOM ministerial debate
A HELCOM ministerial debate summoned by the Minister of Agriculture and the Environment Kimmo Tiilikainen will convene in Logomo to discuss Blue Growth and sustainable maritime environment on Wednesday, May 18, during the EMD conference.
Friday May 20: Annual forum of Centrum Balticum
The theme of the 9th annual forum of Centrum Balticum is the maritime cluster of the Baltic Sea area. Thematic panels cover topics from shipbuilding to sea traffic and maritime policies, and professionals from as far as Alaska and Japan will be participating.
Friday May 20: Advisory board of Centrum Balticum
A high level international advisory board of Centrum Balticum gathers for the first time lead by President Tarja Halonen. It will discuss the future visions for developing multidisciplinary co-operation in the Baltic Sea region.