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Lunch debate organised at the invitation of Ms Corinne Lepage, MEP, President of EPs Seas and Coastal Areas, and the Joint Programming Initiative healthy and productive seas and oceans (JPI Oceans).
Number of places limited.
More information : Anne LEZIN (email: anne.lezin@crpm.org - Tel +33 2 99 35 40 50)

The Cohesion policy Counselors to the EU in charge of negotiating Cohesion Policy Package, Pilar Saenz De Ormijana (ES), Adonis Costantinides (CY), Krzysztof Kasprzyk (PL), Ilias Bardas (GR), Sofia Johansson (SE), Linsey Moore (UK) and Ciara Delaney (IR) attended a meeting organized by the CPMR CORE Group and hosted by Joan Prat, Delegate of Government of Catalonia.

The meeting, chaired by Eleni Marianou, was an interesting exchange of views on the 2014-2020 Cohesion Policy Package between regions and representatives from Member States, who provided examples of the implementation of Structural funds in their regions.

Thematic concentration, ex ante and performance conditionalities, simplification of procedures, territorial dimension and cooperation, and also reference period were some of the topics discussed during the meeting.

• Agenda and List of participants

The CPMR has taken part in the discussions of the Forum PLATFORMA "Development and participatory governance - What multi-stakeholder partnerships in Europe and in partner countries? " from April 2 to 3 in Florence, Italy.

The forum was a key step in the process of this project funded by the EU which provides a stage for local and regional authorities in discussions on development policy.
The issue of multi-stakeholder partnerships is essential in the implementation and effectiveness of development policy and the European Platform expressed their regrets that the preparatory consultation on the development of the European Commission deals exclusively with civil society organizations . This consultation will result in a communication, to be released in October 2012, and it could have been the next Commission strategy for multi-stakeholder partnerships in the development field.

Eleni Marianou, Secretary General of the CPMR moderated the session "Frameworks at local level and division of work between European actors of development cooperation - models and perspectives" session which helped to highlight the creation of a space for dialogue between civil society (NGOs) and Local and Regional authorities. Through practical examples participants illustrated the different ways of working in synergy between NGOs / civil society and local and regional authorities.
The forum consisted of four sessions in two days, it has fully covered all current issues on a new form of cooperation involving multiple actors and multiple levels, the difficulties but also best practices in terms of projects and results.
Other Elected members of the CPMR regions have also taken part in the debate (Catalonia with Carles Llorens i Villa, Director General of Development Cooperation, and the Pays de la Loire region represented by Jean-Noel Gaultier , First Vice-President of the Commission on International Affairs).

For more information visit the NEW site PLATFORMA: www.platforma-dev.eu/

• Press release

Ole Christensen, Member of the European Parliament and Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the CPMR North Sea Commission today launched the North Sea Strategy which is intended to contribute to the objectives of EUROPE 2020

This Strategy provides a framework for policy integration and for the coherent development of the North Sea Region (NSR). It sets out to promote performance in selected target areas and to tackle priorities for the sustainable development of the NSR. The Strategy aims to remove internal market bottlenecks and improve the business environment. It sets out priority actions in order to achieve Europe 2020 Strategy objectives; each of the identified priorities support several of the Europe 2020 Strategy Flagships.


The main aim of the NSR 2020 is to provide arguments for and demonstrate the added value and benefits of having a strategy for the NSR by identifying challenges, opportunities and priority strategic areas, as well as suggesting concrete measures to be implemented. Declared Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the CPMR North Sea Commission

Ole Christensen (S&D-DK) announced that this strategy will be submitted to the Danish Presidency and he called for an North Sea Intergroup within the EU Parliament.

From the CPMR, Eleni Marianou, Secretary General underlined that this strategy should be based on regions and she underlined that The countries which surround the North Sea are all mature democracies, with well defined multi-level governance arrangements, with strong traditions of cooperation with their neighbours, which is not always the case for other EU macroregional strategies.

• North Sea Commission Web Site

The leading regions in the ranking of regional GDP per capita in 2009 were Inner London in the United Kingdom (332% of the average), the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (266%), Bruxelles/Brussels in Belgium (223%), Hamburg in Germany (188%) and Bratislavsky kraj in Slovakia (178%). Among the 39 regions exceeding the 125% level, eight were in Germany, five in the Netherlands, four each in Italy and Austria, three each in Belgium, Spain and the United Kingdom, two in Finland, one each in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, France, Slovakia and Sweden, as well as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

The statistics show that seven capital regions are in the ten first places of the ranking, while peripheral regions are often on the side.

Balanced development across Europe as a whole is needed now more than ever. Disparities between regions levels of development are not being reduced.

Therefore Cohesion policy should be on the EU top agenda for the next years in order to ensure growth and stability.

The work programme setting out how the 40 million euros for further support to the Integrated Maritime Policy will be spent during the period 2011-2013 was adopted yesterday.

The Programme proposes 20 actions for a total amount of 40 million euro. All actions reflect the political priorities for the Integrated Maritime Policy expressed by the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.

The Programme will benefit Member States, regions, businesses, research institutes and other stakeholders across the EU.
Information about calls for proposals and for tenders will be published shortly.

• calls for proposals and for tenders

Ugo Cappellacci, both President of Sardinia Region and the CPMR Islands Commission, met on Friday 17 February 2012 with Competition Commissioner Joaquín Almunia in order to ask for more flexibility for islands in the rules on state aid.

Esteban Mas, Delegate of the Balearic Islands Government, Eleni Marianou, Secretary General of CPMR and Jean Didier Hache, Executive Secretary of the Islands Commission will also take part in the meeting.

• TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE SPECIFIC SITUATION OF THE ISLANDS IN THE STATE AID RULES

Todays crisis is putting EU solidarity to the test was the message of László Andor, European Commission for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, speaking at the seminar on European Solidarity as a driving force behind the development of Europes territories. What are the challenges for Eu cohesion policy 2014-2020? organised by the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) at the Committee of the Regions on 10 February 2012.

Solidarity, which for Jean-Yves Le Drian, President of the CPMR and Brittany Region, has created a political Europe and made it grow bigger and stronger.

Mr Le Drian also underlined that cohesion policy has now become a policy for territorial investments that support solidarity, and we need to create a climate of confidence and solidarity to start recovering growth again.

Finally, he commented that Europe needs political, economic, territorial as well as social solidarity, because we will not have sustainable development unless there is a social pillar.

• More information on the seminar

"The confidence crisis is far from over and that is why our work must be more vigilant," said Jean-Yves Le Drian, President of the CPMR and the Brittany Region (FR), at the CPMR political bureau held February 9, 2012 at the CoR in Brussels.
Jean-Yves Le Drian also recalled that "the role of the CPMR is to promote investment in areas that are essential for confidence and growth. The package presented by the Commission last year has met our expectations, but now we ask for it to be protected and maintained.

• Working papers

On 8 February the Islands Commission organised a meeting on How can the EU 2014-2020 cohesion policy integrate the EUs island dimension? »

The aim of the meeting was to address the European Commissions working paper on Territories with specific geographical features published in January 2010.

One of the responses of the CPMR Islands Commission was to present the EC with document containing concrete amendments to the Common Provisions Regulation on the structural funds as well as a policy position on state aid. Both these documents underline the specific features related to island status and the fact that these need to be taken into account across the board in all EU policies.

The CPMR welcomed the fact that a number of Member States, notably Cyprus, Malta and Greece, expressed support for the CPMR Islands Commissions proposals. Also a number of members of the European Parliament from different parties and nationalities backed the islands positions.

Jean-Didier Hache, Executive Secretary of the Islands Commission stated that specific territorial features need to be recognised, and the CPMR is asking for this not to remain just a hollow principle, but for it to be translated into a flexible use of funding as well as in the amount of funds allocated. The regulations will therefore need to be adjusted accordingly.

A seminar on "The Future of the European Fisheries Sector" was held on 1 February 2012 in the EP and brought together MEPs, regional authorities and the European fishing industry to look at the new prospects for EU action in fisheries and aquaculture in relation to the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy after 2012

During the discussions, the CPMR regretted that the Commissions proposals on the future Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) failed to provide satisfactory responses to real multi-level governance, given that the Regions are fully involved in developing the fisheries and aquaculture sectors while also managing responsibility for economic development and regional planning.

• Further information on the seminar

With work on Blue Growth underway at the European Commission and a Communication due out at the end of 2012, Pays de la Loire Region, the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) and the Seas and Coastal Areas Intergroup of the European Parliament chaired by Corinne Lepage, organised a public hearing today on Think differently: new horizons for the maritime industries.

A memorandum was approved by the maritime regions members of the Maritime Industry for Blue Growth initiative and was formally presented to the European Commission to highlight their commitment to working closely together.

• Further information on the meeting

We welcome the European Commissions proposal for a common strategic framework for the different European funds, as it will help translate the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy into investment priorities and will be complemented by partnership agreements, to be developed at national level. In order to clarify the responsibilities of the different tiers of governance, we believe that the Commissions 'code of conduct', expected early next year, should highlight the establishment of a territorial pact at national level, which should bring together all actors on the ground. Indeed, it is imperative to associate all of these regions if we are to ensure the successful economic growth of Europe. Said Jean-Yves Le Drian, President of the Region of Brittany and President of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions, speaking at the Conference "Governing in partnership .United to build a stronger Europe", in the presence of President Barroso and Commissioner Hahn .

The event was organised by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) in collaboration with the Assembly of European Regions (AER), the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) and EUROCITIES.

"Blue Growth" and the future of the marine and maritime innovation in Europe have been at the heart of discussions during the seminar organized by the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), 7 December 2011 , at the European Parliament, at the invitation of MEP Gesine Meissner and with the participation of the Commissioner for maritime Affairs and fisheries, Maria Damanaki.

• read the programme and the speakers power point presentations

At the invitation of Mr Aristides GIANNAKIDIS, Governor of the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace, the CPMR met in Kavala (GR) on 3 December for a Conference on EU Cohesion Policy 2014 2020: Towards a balanced development and territorial cohesion.
The ongoing discussion on the financial period 2014-2020 and its impact on the next Cohesion Policy programmes, especially in the framework of the Black Sea Strategy, was at the core of the works in Kavala.
On this occasion, Pavlos DAMIANIDIS, President of the CPMR Balkan and Black Sea Commission, inaugurated a new CPMR office in this area.
This office will facilitate cooperation among the Balkan and the Black Sea and will be a point of reference for the future of the EU Black Sea Strategy. Declared Mr Damianidis during his intervention.

On 1 December 2011, the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) and the Baltic Master II project in collaboration with Corinne Lepage, President of the Seas and Coastal Areas Intergroup of the European Parliament held a seminar on the implementation of the Erika 3 package and new directions for action on EU maritime safety.

• More information on the seminar

Jean-Yves Le Drian took part in the discussions of the High Level Conference "An Integrated approach to development - towards a smart, sustainable and inclusive Europe " preceding the Informal Council on Cohesion in Poznan,Poland.

In his speech, at the round table with Commissioners László Andor and Johannes Hahn, President Le Drian highlighted the role of regions as part of an effective and inclusive partnership.

The CPMR was the only regional organisation invited to speak during the conference and Poland confirmed the traditions of the previous Presidencies to invite the CPMR to the informal Councils on Cohesion.

• link to the conference

The CPMR has sent a letter to the Vice-President of the European Commission and Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas, further to the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) review and the publication of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)

Under the Presidency of the Region of Aragon, including Ms Rudi, President of the Region, who opened the talks, the CPMR Inter-Commission TEN-T working group studied the proposals that were published on 19 October 2011 by the European Commission: the review of the Trans-European Transport Network and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Regulation.
32 Billion will be allocated by the EU to transport infrastructures for the 2014-2020 period, with a strong concentration of this amount on 10 priority corridors. The CPMR is preparing an overall reaction to these documents, which be available early in 2012. It will concentrate on improving the territory covered by these corridors, and the importance of maritime transport in the future network.

The attractiveness of seafaring professions, living and working conditions in the fishing sector and maritime safety were the subjects addressed at the seminar on the "Social Pillar of the European Maritime Policy", held on 7th November 2011 at the Committee of the Regions, at the initiative of Brittany, the French Maritime Prevention Institute and the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR).

The seminar brought together the principal European maritime stakeholders, including the Commission represented notably by Carla Montesi, Head of DG Mare, the maritime Regions, represented by Isabelle Thomas, Vice President of Brittany Region (FR), and Leslie Angus, European Spokesperson for the Shetland Islands (UK), the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), and various marine and maritime institutes specialised in prevention and maritime jobs.

"The social dimension is fundamental to the maritime economy, a sector which is part of the EU2020 strategy and represents 65% of EU GDP by contributing to 2.25% of total employment in Europe. Globally, Europe is now the largest maritime player, but we need to be able to maintain this leading role: it is a real challenge we need to face ... and for this reason, the people who work in the maritime sectors are crucial to maintain the high standard of Europes maritime economy, said Eleni Marianou, Secretary General of the CPMR.

For the European Commission, Carla Montesi was convinced that "the sea can contribute to economic growth in Europe today, recalling that the maritime economy represents a production value of 450 billion euros in our continent". According to data from DG Mare, "wind energy will increase by 30% in 2020, cruise tourism is increasing annually by 5% and shipping by 3% a year or 6% if we refer to short sea shipping. The marine economy contributes significantly to future growth and higher employment in the future, so we must be responsive and act now to make these jobs a reality."

Isabelle Thomas underlined that "we must think in terms of three pillars: economic, social, and ecological." For the Vice-President of Brittany Region "welfare is the condition for economic success." And one example is the attractiveness of the different professions: "if working conditions are poor, conditions at sea are too hazardous and wages are low, then people will not want to do these jobs ... and if we have no appetite for the sea, we will have no economic activity." But Isabelle Thomas also noted that "a real integrated maritime policy for Europe cannot develop without a social dimension, and we cannot ignore the maritime professions that are a real reservoir of employment for Europe as a whole."

On behalf of Brittany, Christophe Marques from the Regions Maritime Department also presented a survey conducted among school students in Brittany regarding their perception of the sea: "It is surprising that 58% of people in a coastal region like Brittany are not attracted by maritime professions and have a rather negative image of fisheries and aquaculture."

If we go any lower, we will go anywhere. Said, speaking on the European budget, Eleni MARIANOU Secretary General of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions. The importance of this manifesto is the joint message that we want to send across to all Institutions, Member States and to those Regions that represent our networks. She added.
Marianou also spoke in favor of the partnership contract, the thematic concentration and the ex ante conditionality. Whatever is there to make our policy visible and efficient on the ground we support it Marianou concluded.

Integrated maritime policy will only develop if it based on a high quality and well-trained workforce Said Eleni Marianou during the Seminar Maritime professions for blue growth -education, mobility and adaptability held in the European Parliament on 11 October 2011.

The Seminar was organized by Jan kozlowski, Member of the Budget and Employment Committees and Baltic Intergroup at the European Parliament at the presence of Lowri Evans, General Director at the European Commission (DG MARE) and Anna Wypych - Namiotko, Polish Undersecretary of State in charge of Maritime economy, who highlighted perspective actions forseen by the Polish presidency in this field.

For the Secretary General of CPMR To successfully achieve blue growth, Europe must progressively adopt appropriate instruments in the field of maritime training, but it should also be aware a certain lack of interest on the part of young people in maritime careers.

Therefore, Eleni Marianou underlined the opportunity for the Commission of launching a kind of Maritime Earsmus: Vasco da Gama is the youth mobility instrument for tomorrows European Maritime Policy. She said, higlighting the recent idea proposed by CPMR.