LeaderSHIP 2000 to boost European maritime

The strategy was presented by Vice President of the European Commission responsible for enterprise and industry policy, Antonio Tajani, in Brussels.

LeaderSHIP 2020 provides a series of recommendations for from the short to the medium term to support sustainable growth and high value jobs in the European maritime technology industry whilst addressing Europe’s societal challenges. A strategic vision for 2020 is presented to support an innovative, competitive and global industry and the European maritime technology stakeholders identified four pillars for action to foster conditions for business success: Employment and Skills; Improving Market Access and Fair Market Conditions; Access to Finance; and Research, Development and Innovation.

SEA Europe believes that through coordinated and integrated policy action with the European Commission and maritime stakeholders the high-tech capabilities, strategic vision and long term viability of the sector can be realised.

“The adoption of LeaderSHIP 2020 should not be seen as the final outcome of a comprehensive consultation process, said Douwe Cunningham, Secretary General of SEA Europe. “It provides a solid and necessary political basis for the industry to look to the future, enabling the sector to further increase its innovative and competitive edge in specialised market areas which has been one of its core strengths throughout the last decade. Now is the time for us to work closely together with the European Commission and the other LeaderSHIP 2020 stakeholders in order to ensure that the recommendations are effectively implemented.”

LeaderSHIP 2020 will allow the European maritime technology industry to continue to place a strong emphasis on innovation, greening, application of new technologies and diversification into new emerging markets, such as offshore wind energy.