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Newsletter February 2026
A new European Commission report highlights that a multi-fold increase in EU industrial capacity for advanced biofuels is possible by 2030, provided the right policy, investment and regulatory conditions are in place. Advanced biofuels will play a crucial role in decarbonising hard-to-electrify transport sectors, including maritime, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening Europe’s energy resilience through sustainable, domestically sourced solutions. For the recreational boating sector, this development is particularly relevant. As EBI continues to…
The EU and Mercosur (Argentia, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay) signed its long-negotiated trade agreement in January 2026. In a tight vote, the European Parliament requested the European Court of Justice to rule on whether the free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur can be applied. However, the EU Commission confirmed at the end of February that the agreement will be provisionally applied in the meantime. The announcement comes after Uruguay and Argentina ratified the agreement…
UN Tourism has launched a Road Map to prepare the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism 2027, following the United Nations General Assembly mandate for UN Tourism to lead its implementation. UN Tourism’s new Secretary-General, Shaikha Al Nuwais, presented the Road Map as a step to move from dialogue to delivery, positioning tourism as a sector that can contribute to wider post-2030 priorities, including sustainability and resilience. The Committee also welcomed the intention to…
In February, a workshop was held within HELCOM on release of biocides from antifouling products used in recreational craft. EBI participated in the workshop in its role as observer at HELCOM. The workshop was the starting point for implementation of one of the key actions of the Baltic Sea Action Plan with the aim to: "Minimize the release of biocides from antifouling products to the marine environment, and preferably by 2027 replace the use of…
Fabio Planamente, EBI Special Representative for the Large-Yacht Sector, represented EBI on a panel at the Bosphorus Boat Show in Türkiye, organised by YATED. The session, “Growth in the yachting sector and the effects of regulatory frameworks”, provided a platform to exchange views on market developments and policy factors shaping the sector. The panel brought together Orhun Senturk (Secretary General, YATED), Joe Lynch (CEO, ICOMIA), Tarik Sanli (Sales Operations Manager, Sirena Marine) and Fabio Planamente…
EBI has joined the Active Tourism Coalition, a group of European associations representing cycling, walking, hiking and water-based activities, working jointly to contribute to the forthcoming EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism. The Coalition has published proposals calling for active tourism to be explicitly recognised in EU sustainable tourism policy, including inland and coastal boating and nautical tourism. For the recreational boating ecosystem, the proposals highlight the need to prioritise investment in the EU’s next long-term…
EBI Secretary-General Philip Easthill took part in a high-level dialogue in Brussels with Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas on the upcoming European Sustainable Tourism Strategy. Commissioner Tzitzikostas, responsible for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, hosted the high-level meeting with the key sectoral representatives of the tourism sector. He highlighted the need to maintain Europe’s global tourism leadership, bring a tourism perspective into all relevant EU policies, cut unnecessary red tape and support local businesses. He confirmed that the…
EBI has submitted its response to the upcoming European Strategy for Vocational Education and Training (VET), underlining that the green and digital transition of the recreational boating sector is also a skills transition. As a highly innovative and predominantly SME-based ecosystem within Europe’s blue economy, the sector increasingly faces shortages of skilled workers in areas such as alternative propulsionand sustainable materials. Representing a sector that provides 280,000 jobs across 32,000 businesses in Europe, EBI calls…
EBI has submitted its response to the EU Skills Portability Initiative, highlighting the urgent need for improved mutual recognition of professional skipper qualifications for small commercial vessels under 24 metres. Nautical tourism is a key pillar of the EU Blue Economy, generating up to 280,000 jobs and €45 billion annually, yet fragmentation in qualification recognition continues to hinder labour mobility and the functioning of the Single Market. EBI underlines that current recognition procedures are often…
EBI submitted a response to the EU Commission’s public call for evidence on the European Ocean Act. In parallel, the EU Commission also invited EBI to reply to a more detailed survey for selected stakeholders, reflecting the importance of recreational boating and nautical tourism in the discussions. EBI’s response focuses on access to coasts and waters as a basic condition for water-based activities and for the sector’s ability to operate and grow, at a time…
The EU Commission has presented its proposal for “EU Inc.”, a new optional EU-wide corporate legal framework intended to reduce fragmentation across national company law systems and make it easier for businesses to operate across the Single Market. The proposal is presented as the cornerstone of the broader 28th regime for EU companies. The initiative is mainly aimed at improving conditions for startups and scaleups, while remaining open to any company that chooses to use…
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