European Parliament

Thursday, 01 April 2021 14:23

EBI welcomes European Parliament report on sustainable tourism giving strong political support for boating industry measures

The European Parliament adopted its Report on Establishing an EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism with a resounding majority. Through it, MEPs call for several measures to make tourism cleaner, safer and more sustainable, as well as to support the sector’s recovery. EBI welcomes the report and calls on the Commission and on EU countries to implement the proposals. The report singles out the potential of nautical tourism and recreational boating through concrete support measures which EBI has been advocating.

The report was adopted on 25 March by the Parliament’s plenary, with 577 votes in favour, 31 votes against and 80 abstentions. It is non-binding but promises to be a precursor for future Commission initiatives and offers strong political support. Prior to that, the report had been approved by the Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee by 47 to 2.

The report stresses the grave impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the tourism sector and proposes a wide array of measures to make tourism more environmentally friendly, diversified, and resilient to the crisis. It asks EU countries to implement common and coordinated criteria for safe travel, including a common vaccination certificate (as was proposed by the Commission last week – see the Commission’s press release). It also calls for Member States to include travel and tourism in their recovery plans, in order to ensure that adequate investment is available for the sector’s modernisation and digitisation and makes investment proposals. In addition, the report proposes the creation of an EU hygiene certification seal and of an EU Agency for Tourism. Altogether, it aims for the ambition of a European Tourism Union.

At the plenary session, the report’s rapporteur, MEP Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar, said: “The 27 Member State recovery programmes must have plans to cover the tourism sector. The EU has to bring its efforts together and push forward a European tourism plan. This report is key to make sure our compatriots understand that the EU has measures and has funding to help companies, institutions and citizens”.

EBI has been playing an active role in the report, being in close contact with the key MEPs and with its allies to provide input that reflects the needs of the sector. This has been successful, with a number of key points that EBI has been advocating finding cross-party support. Namely, the report:

“Commends the Commission for its work on the 14 actions which make up the Strategy for Coastal and Maritime Tourism, and invites it to present the results, which can be used to channel financing to infrastructure (ports and marinas), logistical and operational support, waste prevention and the use of renewable energy; stresses the need to respect the maritime ecosystem, promote dialogue between Member States, regional and local authorities, stakeholders and civil society, and foster the sustainable development of coastal and maritime tourism.” (point 49)
“Calls on the Commission to develop initiatives for nautical and coastal tourism with regard to the recognition of skipper qualifications, VAT rules on boats, marinas and anchorages, to tackle seasonality and promote cross-border routes, such as a network of routes for nautical tourism.” (point 50)
“Urges the Commission to work together with associations in the sector and to use best practices to issue recommendations and provide financial support for the organisation of trade tourism events, fairs [and] congresses.” (point 70)

This achievement is embedded in EBI’s strategy of working closely with the EU institutions and emphasising the role of the sector in tourism policy at EU level. Last September, the European Economic and Social Committee, an EU advisory body, published its opinion “Tourism and transport in 2020 and beyond”, which contained several proposals specific to boating and nautical tourism as a result of EBI’s advocacy efforts (see EBI’s press release). In addition, on 20 April, EBI and boot Düsseldorf will be holding the 2021 International Breakfast Meeting, an event involving high-level panellists from business and politics who will be discussing the present and future of the boating industry within tourism and recreation. It will include the participation of Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, as well as MEP Ismail Ertug (information and registration here). Through these efforts, EBI aims to be at the forefront of policy discussions and decisions affecting the boating industry and nautical tourism.

The “Report on establishing an EU strategy for sustainable tourism” can be found here.

Published in Newsletter March 2021

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Thursday, 17 December 2020 19:45

European Parliament Renew Europe Group’s position paper on inland waterways

The liberal group in the European Parliament, Renew Europe, has published a position paper that puts forward a strategic agenda for inland waterway transport in Europe. It concludes that inland waterway transport offers great potential as an alternative to road transport: inland waterway freight vessels can carry the load of several hundred trucks, and therefore make for a cleaner and more efficient transport means. The paper calls for the Commission to develop a strategic agenda for the sector, based on seven pillars: the modal shift to inland waterway transport, the greening of vessels, the implementation of digital innovations, the transformation of ports into clean energy hubs, education and training, a financing plan, and inland waterway passenger transport and tourism.

Thanks to EBI’s liaison with Renew Europe MEPs in charge of the document, the paper also stresses the importance of recreational navigation on inland waterways, and calls on the Commission and the Member States to “further explore the potential of inland waterway cruise vessels and recreational boating, in order to boost growth, create new job opportunities, and enhance tourism in the related regions”. Through the paper, Renew Europe calls on the Commission to include inland waterway tourism in its upcoming European Agenda for Tourism 2050. Besides, the paper advocates the use of zero-emission alternative fuels and infrastructure upgrading in ports and inland marinas.

More information, together with the full position paper, can be found here.

Published in Newsletter December 2020

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European Parliament

Thursday, 29 October 2020 14:43

EBI participates in European Parliament’s SEARICA meeting on maritime industries’ recovery

On 14 October, EBI had the pleasure of participating in an online meeting organised by the European Parliament’s Intergroup for Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas (SEARICA). The meeting, titled “Maritime Industries: recovering from the COVID-19 crisis and building a strong renewal strategy”, brought together representatives from the EU institutions and from different maritime industries to discuss the impacts of the crisis and present the needs of the maritime sector.

EBI Secretary-General Philip Easthill, who presented the interests of the recreational boating industry, pointed out that the crisis has had an impact on tourism, thereby affecting marinas, charter companies and boatbuilders. He also noted the positive effect resulting from some consumers resorting to recreational boating as an outdoor recreation and tourism option that enables social distancing. He then presented the priorities for the industry, which include:

Recognition and support for the industry’s investment needs within EU and national funding schemes
Funding for the development of nautical and marina infrastructure (such as berths, environmental sustainability and digitalisation)
Research, development and innovation targeted towards low-emission boating (such as electric and hybrid engines, biofuels, and new materials)
Improved differentiation between the investment needs of recreational boating and maritime transport

MEP Tonino Picula and MEP Petros Kokkalis (Chair and Vice-Chair of SEARICA, respectively) introduced the event, stressing the importance of maritime industries, not least in the context of the European Green Deal. On behalf of the Commission, Felix Leinemann (Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) explained how the EU has been helping the maritime sector and pointed out the relevance of the blue economy to the European Green Deal, while Magda Kopczynska (from the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport) highlighted the importance of financial aid and stressed her reassurance that maritime industries would be at the forefront of the greening and digitalisation of the economy. Other speakers included representatives from the shipbuilding, renewable energy and port sectors, among others.

Published in Newsletter October 2020

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Thursday, 29 October 2020 10:23

European Parliament calls for a 60% cut in emissions by 2030

On 8 October, the European Parliament adopted the position it will take in the negotiations of the forthcoming EU climate law. The plenary voted in favour of a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. This goes further than the Commission’s position, released in September, which called for a reduction of at least 55% by 2030. Once the Council (which represents the Member States) has adopted its own position on the issue, the three institutions will enter negotiations to draft the final climate law, which intends to turn the political objective of achieving a carbon-neutral EU by 2050 into a legal obligation.

The position adopted by the European Parliament would require not only the EU as a whole but also all Member State to become climate-neutral by 2050, and it states that the EU and the Member States should be climate-negative after 2050 (removing more greenhouse gases than they emit). Furthermore, the proposal calls for sufficient funding to achieve the stated goals, and it stipulates that all fossil fuel subsidies should be phased out by 2025.

Published in Newsletter October 2020

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Friday, 29 November 2019 12:37

EBI celebrates 10-year anniversary with high-level policy event in Brussels

EBI 10 year anniversary Bogusław Liberadzki (Member of the European Parliament) 1 European Boating Industry (EBI), the voice of the recreational boating industry celebrated its 10-year anniversary in early November. Members of the European Parliament, the European Commission and leaders of the European recreational boating sector gathered in Brussels for high-level discussions, setting a vision for the next decade. Strengthening the EU’s Single Market, de-escalating the EU-US trade war, harmonising qualifications, tackling environmental challenges and strengthening European industrial excellence are the key priorities.

The high-profile event celebrating the anniversary of the 2009 founding of the European Boating Industry (EBI) took place at the Representation of the Region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine to the EU. The recreational boating industry is central to the development of many maritime and coastal regions.

Opening the anniversary, EBI President Jean-Pierre Goudant remarked “Our anniversary is a great time to look back at EBI’s achievements and celebrate ten years of advocacy for our sector. It is also an opportunity to emphasise the importance of our sector as an economic actor for the EU. Our members, many of them SMEs, provide tens of thousands of jobs and are often the backbone of local communities and economies. As EBI, we will work to strengthen them and our sector through a truly European approach in close collaboration with the EU institutions and our stakeholders.

Tiziana Beghin (Member of the European Parliament) opened the event with an introductory statement highlighting the positive impact of the recreational boating industry in Europe and Italy, as well as its relevance for the EU institutions. Moderated by prominent journalist Jennifer Baker, the debate brought together Felix Leinemann (European Commission, DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries), Mirna Cieniewicz (Groupe Beneteau), Bogusław Liberadzki (Member of the European Parliament), Sebastian Nietupski (POLBOAT) and Dr. Anne-Cécile Dragon (WWF European Policy Office).

Topics taking centre-stage were the de-escalation of the EU-US trade war harming the sector, strengthening the EU’s Single Market for the boating industry, harmonisation of qualifications to address skills and workforce shortages, the circular economy and the development of an environmentally friendly industry.

Following the event, EBI Secretary-General Philip Easthill commented “We are committed to strengthening our work with the EU institutions, our members and stakeholders in order to contribute to common challenges at European level. We look forward to advancing discussions around trade, environment, circular economy, skills and the Single Market in our second decade. Getting economic and environmental sustainability right is crucial for our sector to grow, provide jobs and further develop. Clean and healthy oceans and seas are the lifeblood of our industry.”

Quotes from the panelists

Felix Leinemann (Head of Unit, European Commission DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) - “In the context of the European Green Deal, we will need to balance growth in nautical tourism with sustainability. I appreciate EBI’s commitment to work with the Commission on several sustainability elements: climate change, circular economy, respect for the environment, and especially our cooperation towards developing a European concept for the recycling of end-of-life recreational craft”

Tiziana Beghin (Member of the European Parliament) – “The recreational boating industry is a key economic activity and employer for many regions across Europe, including the region of Liguria where I come from. Key for the industry is its export orientation where the EU has an overwhelmingly positive trade ratio. It is crucial for us as policy-makers to support this development and ensure that European companies can continue to grow by removing tariffs and trade barriers.”

Sebastian Nietupski (President, POLBOAT) - “One of the major challenges for our industry is that customers are getting older and younger generations have a different approach. As is happening with cars, bikes and houses, sharing is becoming the new norm and the same is true for boating. The sharing economy has the benefit to make boating even more accessible, but it forces producers to adapt their strategy in a new and wider way. A boat will not just be a boat - it will be a full-service package including financing and maintenance. This shift from product to service will be crucial for the EU to take into account when looking at its future industrial policy and extending the Single Market.”

Mirna Cieniewicz (Director, Groupe Beneteau) - “Being sustainable is no longer a question, it is just about how to get there. Life-cycle assessment, eco-design, advanced production processes and materials are all areas to be investigated. We need more of this together with the support from the EU institutions to ensure progress is made across all the Single Market for the boats and their equipment. Having contributed to the creation of European Boating Industry as first-ever Secretary-General ten years ago and now working for Europe’s largest boatbuilder Groupe Beneteau, I am delighted to participate in these discussions at a European level within EBI”

Bogusław Liberadzki (Member of the European Parliament) - “The boating industry has a positive economic impact for Europe as I have clearly seen at the example of my own country Poland. As Member of the European Parliament, my vision for the coming years is to support and develop the boating industry and ensure it can thrive and grow across Europe. Ensuring coherence between sustainability and providing the basis for growth is the duty of the European Parliament and all EU institutions”

Dr Anne-Cécile Dragon (Policy Officer, WWF EU) - “The coming years are crucial to protect our ocean and the resource base on which a sustainable Blue growth depends. Integrated maritime policies, sustainable financial and investment flows, as well as ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning are all important means to ensure an environmentally sustainable development of blue economy. WWF looks forward to working with the EU institutions and stakeholders, such as the European Boating Industry to make this a reality”

Published in Newsletter November 2019

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Wednesday, 13 November 2019 10:55

Economic sustainability, environmental protection and industry innovation: a vision for the future of the European recreational boating industry

European Boating Industry (EBI), the voice of the recreational boating industry celebrated its 10-year anniversary in early November. Members of the European Parliament, the European Commission and leaders of the European recreational boating sector gathered in Brussels for high-level discussions, setting a vision for the next decade. Strengthening the EU’s Single Market, de-escalating the EU-US trade war, harmonising qualifications, tackling environmental challenges and strengthening European industrial excellence are the key priorities.

The high-profile event celebrating the anniversary of the 2009 founding of the European Boating Industry (EBI) took place at the Representation of the Region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine to the EU. The recreational boating industry is central to the development of many maritime and coastal regions.

Opening the anniversary, EBI President Jean-Pierre Goudant remarked “Our anniversary is a great time to look back at EBI’s achievements and celebrate ten years of advocacy for our sector. It is also an opportunity to emphasise the importance of our sector as an economic actor for the EU. Our members, many of them SMEs, provide tens of thousands of jobs and are often the backbone of local communities and economies. As EBI, we will work to strengthen them and our sector through a truly European approach in close collaboration with the EU institutions and our stakeholders.

Tiziana Beghin (Member of the European Parliament) opened the event with an introductory statement highlighting the positive impact of the recreational boating industry in Europe and Italy, as well as its relevance for the EU institutions. Moderated by prominent journalist Jennifer Baker, the debate brought together Felix Leinemann (European Commission, DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries), Mirna Cieniewicz (Groupe Beneteau), Bogusław Liberadzki (Member of the European Parliament), Sebastian Nietupski (POLBOAT) and Dr. Anne-Cécile Dragon (WWF European Policy Office).

Topics taking centre-stage were the de-escalation of the EU-US trade war harming the sector, strengthening the EU’s Single Market for the boating industry, harmonisation of qualifications to address skills and workforce shortages, the circular economy and the development of an environmentally friendly industry.

Following the event, EBI Secretary-General Philip Easthill commented “We are committed to strengthening our work with the EU institutions, our members and stakeholders in order to contribute to common challenges at European level. We look forward to advancing discussions around trade, environment, circular economy, skills and the Single Market in our second decade. Getting economic and environmental sustainability right is crucial for our sector to grow, provide jobs and further develop. Clean and healthy oceans and seas are the lifeblood of our industry.”

Quotes from the panelists

Felix Leinemann (Head of Unit, European Commission DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) - “In the context of the European Green Deal, we will need to balance growth in nautical tourism with sustainability. I appreciate EBI’s commitment to work with the Commission on several sustainability elements: climate change, circular economy, respect for the environment, and especially our cooperation towards developing a European concept for the recycling of end-of-life recreational craft”

Tiziana Beghin (Member of the European Parliament) – “The recreational boating industry is a key economic activity and employer for many regions across Europe, including the region of Liguria where I come from. Key for the industry is its export orientation where the EU has an overwhelmingly positive trade ratio. It is crucial for us as policy-makers to support this development and ensure that European companies can continue to grow by removing tariffs and trade barriers.”

Sebastian Nietupski (President, POLBOAT) - “One of the major challenges for our industry is that customers are getting older and younger generations have a different approach. As is happening with cars, bikes and houses, sharing is becoming the new norm and the same is true for boating. The sharing economy has the benefit to make boating even more accessible, but it forces producers to adapt their strategy in a new and wider way. A boat will not just be a boat - it will be a full-service package including financing and maintenance. This shift from product to service will be crucial for the EU to take into account when looking at its future industrial policy and extending the Single Market.”

Mirna Cieniewicz (Director, Groupe Beneteau) - “Being sustainable is no longer a question, it is just about how to get there. Life-cycle assessment, eco-design, advanced production processes and materials are all areas to be investigated. We need more of this together with the support from the EU institutions to ensure progress is made across all the Single Market for the boats and their equipment. Having contributed to the creation of European Boating Industry as first-ever Secretary-General ten years ago and now working for Europe’s largest boatbuilder Groupe Beneteau, I am delighted to participate in these discussions at a European level within EBI”

Bogusław Liberadzki (Member of the European Parliament) - “The boating industry has a positive economic impact for Europe as I have clearly seen at the example of my own country Poland. As Member of the European Parliament, my vision for the coming years is to support and develop the boating industry and ensure it can thrive and grow across Europe. Ensuring coherence between sustainability and providing the basis for growth is the duty of the European Parliament and all EU institutions”

Dr Anne-Cécile Dragon (Policy Officer, WWF EU) - “The coming years are crucial to protect our ocean and the resource base on which a sustainable Blue growth depends. Integrated maritime policies, sustainable financial and investment flows, as well as ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning are all important means to ensure an environmentally sustainable development of blue economy. WWF looks forward to working with the EU institutions and stakeholders, such as the European Boating Industry to make this a reality”

Published in Latest News

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Displaying items by tag: European Parliament

EBI welcomes European Parliament report on sustainable tourism giving strong political support for boating industry measures

European Parliament Renew Europe Group’s position paper on inland waterways

EBI participates in European Parliament’s SEARICA meeting on maritime industries’ recovery

European Parliament calls for a 60% cut in emissions by 2030

EBI celebrates 10-year anniversary with high-level policy event in Brussels

Economic sustainability, environmental protection and industry innovation: a vision for the future of the European recreational boating industry