Transport Minister Attends European Maritime Day Conference
Transport Minister Radovan Zerjav attended on Monday a two-day conference in Brussels to mark the European Maritime Day. He pointed to Europe's maritime history and said that Europe should strive to remain a leading maritime power.
The European Maritime Day, which will be celebrated every year, aims at promoting the role of the oceans and seas in everyday life of all EU citizens, not only those living in coastal regions.
However, the European Commission hopes that it will also give coastal regions an opportunity to present their important contribution as well as point to the challenges they face.
Zerjav reminded the participants of the conference that the constitutional charter of the Euro-Mediterranean University would be signed in the Slovenian seaside town of Piran in the beginning of June.
Two important focuses of the University will be sustainable development in the Mediterranean and environmental protection, said the minister.
On Maritime Day, the European Parliament will vote on the E'sU common maritime policy. According to a report, the policy should embrace the great potential of the maritime sector in terms of innovation and research possibilities as well as environmental and biological diversity of the EU coastal regions.
Zerjav also mentioned an action plan, which prompted the Commission's proposals on how to fight illegal fishing activities, promote the development of EU port areas, reassess the social framework for maritime labour issues and encourage harmonisation of energy and maritime policies.
The official celebration marking Maritime Day will take place in Strasbourg on Tuesday. Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa as the current president of the European Council, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and President of the European Parliament Hans Gert Poettering will sign a trilateral statement on the occasion.
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