The EU’s Blue Economy sectors are deeply embedded in the EU’s economy and broader political framework, underpinning efforts to achieve regional cooperation, climate resilience, and economic competitiveness while enhancing the health and biodiversity of marine environments. The Blue Economy is pivotal to the EU’s strategy for economic recovery and resilience. It offers enormous opportunities for innovation, job creation, and sustainable economic diversification.
However, current geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions and supply chain challenges, continue to pose risks to the EU Blue Economy realising its full potential. This conference will bring together policymakers from the EU, its Member States and local government, academics, NGOs and representatives from across the energy, marine, maritime shipping and technology sectors, to explore the latest policies, initiatives and innovations that ensure the EU Blue Economy can support a more sustainable and competitive Europe.
Elena Kountoura is Member of the European Parliament since 2019.
For the current mandate she is Vice President of Transport and Tourism Committee, TRAN, member of Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee – FEMM, and member of regional development Committee, REGI.
Previously, she had served as Minister of Tourism of Greece (2015 – 2019), and was recipient of several prestigious awards, including “Tourism Minister of the Year 2019” in ITB Berlin, and “Global Champion 2019” for Destination Stewardship, by the World Travel & Tourism Council, WTTC.
During her long-standing political career (2004 -2019) she was elected six times as Member of the Greek Parliament in the First District of Athens. She had also been appointed Secretary to the Standing Committee on Monitoring the Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, and Member of the Greek Parliamentary Assembly at the Council of Europe, PACE.
Member of the European Parliament, member of the Socialist Party and the Socialists and Democrats Group, where I am also one of the vice-presidents. I sit on the Environment and Public Health Committees as well as the Development and Industry, Research and Energy Committees as a substitute member. As Vice-President of the ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly and a member of the Parliament’s Intergroup on the Sea (SEARICA), my main concerns are the Union’s industrial, food and health sovereignty, and the ecological and energy bifurcation of our continent.
Nantes and the Atlantic
First and foremost, I’m from Nantes, in love with my city and the Atlantic coast. I live here. Nantes, the ocean, the Loire and Brittany are my anchor points and feed my imagination.
Energy and the sea
As a local councillor, I was lucky enough to support the birth of a new sector of the blue economy, marine renewable energy, in the port of Nantes Saint-Nazaire. In my role as a consultant, I have continued to fight for the energy transition and renewable energies, which are one of the keys to our future. I’m still a campaigner for the sea, which I live with every day, and which represents a new horizon for our economy, as well as a major challenge for the climate and biodiversity.
European commitment
Defending the shipyards led me to become involved in the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions in 2011. Since 2015, I have been a member of the European Committee of the Regions, and rapporteur for numerous opinions on the blue economy, research, health and protecting populations from crises.
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Karmenu Vella graduated in Architecture and Civil Engineering from the University of Malta and later obtained a Master of Science in Tourism Management from the University of Sheffield. During his political career, he has been appointed Minister for Public Works, Minister for Industry, and Minister for Tourism twice. In 2014, he was appointed European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs, and Fisheries. During his term in office, Mr. Vella addressed some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time and thus helped improve the well-being of our citizens and our planet. Under his leadership, the European Union adopted and implemented in full the Circular Economy Action Plan, adopted new rules to reduce single-use plastic products, updated the EU’s waste legislation, and stepped-up action to improve air quality across Europe and to make concrete progress in halting the decline of the EU’s biodiversity. During his mandate, Karmenu Vella also developed a leading international role for the European Union in the field of ocean governance, promoted the blue economy through increased investment, and worked to improve the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of fisheries in Europe and around the world.
William Priestley is Director of Maritime Transport in the Irish civil service. He is responsible for policy, connectivity and corporate governance across the sector. As over 90% of goods arrive into Ireland by sea, the importance of this role has been brought into sharp focus by Covid-19, Brexit and the ongoing war in Ukraine. William’s background is in education and social policy and he has held leadership positions in some of the most marginalised areas in Europe and America. He has shared a vision of youth empowerment from the TED stage and served as an elected official in his local community.
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Stewart has spent the last ten years dedicated to mainstreaming resilience and precovery across sectors and themes, with a passion for the ocean, water systems and breaking down silos between funders, practitioners, and policy makers, especially for urban, island, Indigenous and coastal contexts. Stewart was Global Director, Policy and Investments and co-founder at the Resilient Cities Network, the evolved, city-led network of the 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) program, creating the RCIFunds, co-founding/facilitating R21 and co-founding the Racial Equity through Resilience Community of Practice. During the 100RC period he served in variety of roles in Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean, as well as the co-creator of the Urban Ocean Program. Stewart led the team that developed the 100RC challenge starting in April 2013, through Context Partners, where he was partner and managing director.
He is a certified associate in the Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines (WEDG) and served as advisory board member for the Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW). Stewart has formal degrees, certification and training in international business, foreign languages, corporate social responsibility, conservation, and environmental science.
Stewart is also the founder of Precovery Labs, where creativity and community drive impact and awareness for clients like RISE- Coastal Resilience Innovations, Ocean Conservancy, Opportunity Finance Network, NDN Fund/Collective, and Conservatoire d’Littoral, among others. Through Precovery Labs, he is also an active professional documentary and fine art photographer, visualizing stories of change and impact.
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Dr Alicia Bugeja Said was born in 1987 into a working-class family in Mgarr. After she finished her studies in Malta, she obtained a Doctorate from the University of Kent, England in 2017. she was subsequently engaged as a post-doctorate in Canada, and afterwards in France. In 2020, she was appointed as the Director of Fisheries within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights.
Dr Bugeja Said is looking forward to fulfilling her vision of farmers, fishers, and ranchers, all having a sustainable environment to sustain livelihood. She has always been close to people as she believes in genuinely fostering grounded change and improve the quality of life.
As Director of Fisheries, Bugeja Said made multiple contributions in areas under her responsibility, and a lot of work has been done that has positively affected fishers. Prime Minister Robert Abela has now entrusted her with the responsibility of a Parliamentary Secretariat.
The portfolio related to Parliamentary Secretariat for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights entails demanding but crucial sectors in our country. The areas of fisheries, aquaculture and animal rights need attention to maximise their potential while always being prepared to overcome the difficulties that may be encountered.
Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said has sufficient knowledge to find solutions to the sectors’ difficulties. As a scientist, she is ready and prepared to work for the industries under her remit because she can understand the challenges they face.
Bugeja Said is married to Malcolm. They have a daughter, Margaux.
Nadia Antoniou is Senior Manager for EU Public Affairs at Booking.com where she leads EU engagement on a number of policy areas, including sustainability and consumer. Prior to joining Booking.com in 2020, Nadia worked for leading EU public affairs advisory firms.
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Heino Nau coordinates the work on International Blue Economy in the European Commission. He closely cooperates with international organisations like the World Bank, the OECD, the European Investment Bank, the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and other UN agencies. As part of his portfolio, he oversees work on European Cruise Tourism.
He previously coordinated the EU Arctic Policy in the European Commission and was an EU observer in the Arctic Council.
Prior to joining the European Commission, he worked for leading research organisations in Germany, France, the U.K., and the U.S. He authored and co-authored several books and published numerous articles in refereed journals.
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William Priestley is Director of Maritime Transport in the Irish civil service. He is responsible for policy, connectivity and corporate governance across the sector. As over 90% of goods arrive into Ireland by sea, the importance of this role has been brought into sharp focus by Covid-19, Brexit and the ongoing war in Ukraine. William’s background is in education and social policy and he has held leadership positions in some of the most marginalised areas in Europe and America. He has shared a vision of youth empowerment from the TED stage and served as an elected official in his local community.
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Philippe Hermes, Esq. is a leading expert in #BlueSecurity, focusing on maritime security, ocean governance, international law and human rights. With a foundation as a naval staff officer, Philippe transitioned to a distinguished legal career in ship finance and the maritime industry. Today, he leverages his diverse expertise as an international security consultant, advising public organisations and private enterprises on security strategies, emerging technologies, and the integration of human rights considerations into business development and investment initiatives of #BlueEconomy and #BlueTech.
It inspires me enormously to make a contribution with a lot of young, talented people at GBM Works to an improved living environment for humans and animals.
By structuring and financing a new organization, I can make extensive use of the experience I have gained over the past decades as an entrepreneur in the offshore industry. I really like to make, create and innovate and I look forward to all the international contacts that we will undoubtedly gain in our journey.
Eda Bayar is an environmental engineer with a specialization in marine environment policies with more than 10 years of experience. Her expertise contributes to the sustainable development of Europe’s blue economy. Since August 2022, she has served as a national expert at the European Environment Agency (EEA), where she leads a key project aimed at understanding the environmental impacts, trade-offs, and co-existence practices associated with offshore wind energy. This initiative seeks to promote a sustainable balance between the expansion of renewable energy production and the protection of marine ecosystems.
Marga is a bio-engineer . Since 1990, she has been active in the sector of waste collection, treatment and recycling. She got different positions from technical commercial consultant, commercial manager and several positions of general manager. She worked for companies dealing with the collection of hazardous industrial waste, recovery of silver from photographic fluids by electrolysis, collection and distillation of chlorinated solvents, dismantling and decontamination of PCB transformers, valorisation of bottom ashes from incinerators, treatment/valorisation of oil filters, of waste lubricating oils and waste fuel oils. Since March 2016, Marga is General Manager of treatment entities on shore at MTD, a port reception facility in Antwerp. Since October 2023, Marga is also the Chairman of Euroshore International, the association of port reception facilities.
Agnė Lukoševičienė is a dedicated environmentalist and the Environmental and Permitting Projects Manager at Ignitis Renewables, where she is working on Lithuania’s first offshore wind farm project, Curonian Nord. Committed to sustainability, Agnė ensures the project is not only a source of renewable energy but also positive force for marine ecosystems and environmental balance. With nearly a decade of experience in marine and environmental management, including significant expertise in marine conservation gained at Lithuania’s Ministry of Environment while implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Agnė brings a comprehensive understanding of marine conservation and policy implementation. Her expertise equips her to tackle the unique environmental challenges of offshore renewable energy with a holistic and forward-thinking approach.
Tobias Troll is Marine Policy Director at Seas At Risk and oversees the work of the biodiversity team. He has explored the question of systemic change and a just transition to a world beyond exploitation of people and planet for over a decade, previously as Europe Director of the EDGE Funders Alliance (‘Engaged Donors for Global Equity’) and with CONCORD, the European Confederation of Development NGOs. He holds a MA in Communication from the Berlin University of the Arts, and a MA in Development Education from University College London (dissertation: “Another World is Happening. Towards a Great Transition through a Global Citizens Movement”). He is passionate about systemic change, rethinking masculinity, cycling, sauna and the ocean.
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Frode is a special advisor with the Research Council of Norway (RCN), fully dedicated to its involvement as co-coordinator of the Horizon Europe Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership. Frode leads the Partnership’s Brussels liaison office, overseeing alignment and synergies with other European instruments and initiatives, and contact with regional stakeholders and international organisations. Prior to joining the Research Council of Norway, Frode spent 20 years at the crossroads of grants management and policy development working for institutions such as JPI Oceans, EEA and Norway Grants, the European Commission, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise.
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Jacopo is active as economic, financial and industrial advisor for public and private entities in the planning, design and implementation of interventions in the infrastructure sector (energy, social and transport), also obtaining recognition for market first projects for innovative financial structuring (e.g. land value capture, project bonds, availability fees, hybrid PPP); and support in interaction with the European institutions (European Commission DG MOVE, DG Regio; European Investment Bank, EBRD). He has gained over 24 years of professional experience providing support services mainly relating to the planning, organization, structuring and implementation of territorial and infrastructural development projects, acquiring consolidated technical, industrial and economic-financial skills in the configuration, evaluation and management of programs and projects. He has successfully followed the approval, financing, construction, management and privatization processes of infrastructure works, as well as the setup and implementation of EU co-funded financial instruments in PPP schemes.
He has been a consultant for the European Commission, Governments, Public Bodies, International Financial Institutions, Banking Institutions and Investment Funds and private operators in structured finance operations in the context of industrial, territorial and infrastructural development programs and projects, as well as in privatization operations. Since 2003 he has been among the advisors of DG MOVE of the European Commission for impact analysis in the transport and infrastructure sector. He has advised the European Investment Bank in the implementation of infrastructure and urban regeneration projects (Jasper, Jessica and Elena Programmes) .and Italian National Promotional Bank in the implementation of PPP initiatives and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
He carries out teaching and research activities at post-graduate level in the fields of transport economics, PPP and project finance. Among his positions he has been Research Fellow at the London School of Economics, dealing with development policies and transport economics. He held Master’s courses at the University of Rome 3 and the University of Bologna.
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István Ujhelyi, Former, MEP, President, Capital European Affairs, and United Nations Tourism Ambassador to the EU (confirmed)
9:05am – 9:15am Keynote Speech
9:15pm – 9:25pm Keynote Speech
9:25pm – 9:35pm Keynote Speech
9:35am – 9:45am Keynote Speech
The maritime transport sector, including shipping, shipbuilding and maritime technology, is a big contributor to the EU’s agenda of jobs, growth and competitiveness and the backbone to the EU’s trade and supply chains. Technological advancements and digitalisation are helping to improve efficiencies and security in the supply chain. Also, green technologies and alternative fuels are helping to reduce the environmental impact of maritime transport while providing opportunities for the maritime manufacturing value chain. This session will consider the overall role of the maritime transport sector in supporting EU competitiveness. Participants will also explore the different initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of the sector and the work that still needs to be done.
Moderator: William Glucroft, Deputy Editor, The Parliament Magazine (confirmed)
9:35am – 9:55am Setting the scene – the view from policymakers
9:55am – 10:25am Industry Panel Discussion
10:25am – 10:35pm The final word
European ports play an essential role in the EU’s economy, from driving economic growth and employment, facilitating trade, ensuring energy security, and driving regional development. European ports are also at the forefront of implementing environmental and sustainable practices. This session will explore the multifaceted role of ports in Europe’s economy and how they contribute to the EU’s competitiveness and future development in an evolving global context.
Moderator: Sanja Miovčić, Executive Director, Foreign investors Council (confirmed)
Speakers:
Marine renewable energy is the cornerstone of Europe’s strategy to enhance its competitiveness on the global stage. By driving technological innovation, ensuring energy security, creating jobs, and fostering sustainable economic growth, marine renewable energy not only supports Europe’s economic ambitions but also contributes to wider environmental and social goals. This session will explore the impact of different technologies and marine renewable energy sources on the EU’s economic and environmental goals. Participants will consider the crucial role of policymakers at EU, Member State and local level in advancing marine renewable energy, including regulatory frameworks, strategic funding initiatives and cooperation & partnerships.
Moderator: Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, CEO, World Ocean Council (confirmed)
Speakers:
2:10pm – 2:20pm – Keynote Speech
2:20pm – 2:25pm – Keynote Video Speech
2:25pm – 2:40pm – Keynote Fireside Discussion
Coastal tourism is one of the most popular and economically significant forms of tourism for the EU, particularly for southern Member States, and ensuring its sustainability is essential for achieving broader climate, economic and environmental objectives. This session will consider the role of the coastal tourism sector and its sub-sectors in supporting the EU meet its wider economic and environmental objectives. Participants will discuss the key trends and drivers supporting the sustainability of the sector, and ways to establish a fully sustainable sector.
Moderator: Mariana Oleskiv, Member of the Advisory Board, Capital European Affairs (confirmed)
Speakers:
The fisheries and aquaculture sectors can play a hugely important role in terms of EU competitiveness and sustainability. Both sectors align well with the EU’s broader objectives, contributing to food security, job creation and enhanced environmental sustainability. However, for these sectors to realise their potential of fully supporting EU goals, additional work needs to be done. This session will explore the measures being taken, including promoting cleaner energy sources and reducing the impact on marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Participants will consider the latest policy developments and the role of all stakeholders to ensure a more sustainable aquaculture and fisheries sector.
Moderator: Vera Coelho, Deputy Vice President, Europe, Oceana (confirmed)
Speakers:
To discuss the agenda, please contact:
Tom Chinnock at tom.chinnock@techforclimateaction.com
ABOUT:
Costa Cruises is an Italian company, based in Genoa, which is part of Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise group. For 76 years, Costa ships have been plying the seas of the world, taking guests to more than 200 different destinations, to be discovered through unique experiences, both on board and ashore. Currently, the Costa fleet consists of 9 ships, all flying the Italian flag, sailing in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and the United Arab Emirates, Far East, South-East Asia, as well as offering “Around the World” and “Grand Cruises”, to visit different continents in a single holiday. The company has a global workforce of about 18,000 employees working onboard and in its offices.
ABOUT:
We are an international green energy company operating in the Baltics and Poland. We focus on developing green generation and green flexibility technologies. By developing onshore and offshore wind, solar, battery and power-to-X technologies, we are implementing Ignitis Group’s strategic priority to deliver 4–5 GW of installed green capacities by 2030.
WHY PARTNERING:
We are leading the green generation breakthrough in the Baltics!
QUOTE:
“Meeting today‘s challenges in offshore energy requires a concerted effort from everyone. Raising environmental awareness, integrating sustainability into development decisions, transforming the energy sector, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and promoting renewable energy are all necessary to meet both international and national climate change and biodiversity targets“.
ABOUT:
Port Reception Facilities are a key partner of the maritime industry to help it make the sector more sustainable. They work with ports to provide environmental services. They are in charge of collecting waste from ships in accordance with the rules of the IMO MARPOL Convention to protect the marine environment from discharge at sea. They also contribute to the decarbonisation of the sector by recovering and recycling as much waste as possible, proposing every day the most advanced technologies.
WHY PARTNERING:
EUROSHORE INTERNATIONAL’s members are solution providers and part of the whole chain of the maritime industry. We strongly believe that partnering will all actors of the chain, understanding constraints of each other and solutions each one can contribute to, is the best way to achieve the highest sustainable goals. We also want to promote the use of adequate port reception facilities all over the word because the issue is global. Participating to the conference will help make this crucial activity better known and understood by the participants and new European key decision makers attending.
QUOTE:
“I am looking forward to discussing and meeting so many key actors of the blue economy. The sector needs to be both competitive and sustainable. The best way to achieve this it to work together to find the best solutions. Our sector is almost at the end of the chain, before ship recycling, but fully engaged and committed to its double role of contributing to protecting our oceans and help the maritime sector to reduce its impact on the environment” Marga Hauttekeete, President of Euroshore International
ABOUT:
At Capital European Affairs (CEA), we recognize that sustainability and competitiveness are not only two central pillars of today’s EU policies but also the cornerstones for the years to come. These dual objectives underpin the European Union’s vision, and we are committed to supporting our partners in achieving their goals within this context.
We are privileged to work alongside prestigious industry leaders such as the Global Humane, the WTTC, the GSTC, the WSHA, and many more. This collaborative spirit allows us to leverage insights from across the sector to develop innovative and effective solutions for our clients.
As a dedicated and dynamic Brussels-based public affairs consultancy, we specialize in EU-related matters and provide tailored services designed to meet the unique needs of our valued partners. From small organizations to large entities, we offer expert guidance to navigate the complexities of EU policies and maximize opportunities aligned with sustainability and competitiveness objectives.
Our team comprises seasoned professionals with extensive experience in EU policy, regulation, and advocacy. This includes public relations specialists, policy advisors, and former EU officials. Together, we offer a comprehensive and multifaceted approach, ensuring our partners are well-equipped to succeed in the evolving European landscape.
WHY PARTNERING:
The cornerstone of our partnership with Motis lies in our shared commitment to addressing one of our generation’s greatest challenges: climate change. At CEA, we firmly believe that achieving the EU’s and global climate goals requires decision-makers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to work hand in hand. This collaboration ensures we deliver future-proof solutions that uphold our climate ambitions while maintaining competitiveness and leaving no one behind during these transformative times. We strongly advocate for meaningful discussions and cooperation as key drivers of innovative and impactful solutions.
In this context, the event series organized by Motis plays a significant role, and the Second European Blue Economy Conference is no exception. As part of this dynamic series, it focuses on a crucial area—advancing sustainable growth while safeguarding the marine and coastal ecosystems that are vital to our shared future. We are proud to partner with Motis in fostering dialogue and action to address these critical challenges.
QUOTE:
“As a dedicated bridge-builder, I firmly believe that sustainability and competitiveness must go hand-in-hand. It is a great privilege for me, as the UN Tourism Ambassador to the EU Institutions and Founder and President of Capital European Affairs, to serve as Rapporteur for the second European Blue Economy Conference. The Blue Economy plays a pivotal role in achieving our climate goals for 2030 and 2050. Tourism policy holds immense potential in this context. Given my decades of experience in the tourism industry at national, European, and global levels, I am honoured to share my thoughts on key issues such as the Global Tourism Pact, crisis management mechanisms, and a common support strategy for developing countries.” István Ujhelyi, Founder & President, Capital European Affairs
MotisCo is an events organizer and events consultancy business. We specialize in bringing communities together to address the world’s most pressing challenges. Through our own initiative events and strategic partnerships, our goal is to support existing efforts and build new networks to achieve meaningful change. The choices we make now will have a profound impact on our future. Start today, for tomorrow.
For more information on any aspect of this event, please contact
Tom Chinnock
The European Blue Economy conference featured over 150 delegates and a notably diverse forum of speakers. The conference successfully explored concepts, ideas, challenges and opportunities on the role that technology and innovation can play in supporting a sustainable blue economy in Europe.
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