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European Boating Industry (EBI) held its General Assembly yesterday during boot Düsseldorf announcing new members to now represent 34 members across 24 European countries and presenting its new strategic framework guiding the organisation’s work towards 2028.

The meeting marked an important milestone for EBI with the enlargement of its membership. EBI members welcomed British Marine (BM) as new full member, further strengthening EBI’s representation across Europe. This marks an important step and underscores the close trading relationship and increasing regulatory cooperation. The UK is the largest importer of recreational boats into the EU and is the second most important export destination for EU-built boats.

The General Assembly also confirmed the membership of the newly-established Nordic Cluster, bringing together the existing close cooperation between industry associations in the Nordic region. The Nordic Cluster now brings together Danboat (Denmark), Sweboat (Sweden), Norboat (Norway), the Association of Estonian Marine Industries (Estonia), and Finnboat (Finland) into EBI membership. The Nordics are a key boating region and home to a sizeable marine industry, which is now fully represented in EBI.

Volvo Penta joins EBI as sustaining member, as a significant European-based manufacturer of engines and power systems for recreational boats. Volvo Penta is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of heavy trucks, buses and construction equipment.

Jarkko Pajusalo, CEO of Finnboat states: “I am very pleased to see that the Nordic boating industry has now a much stronger representation in EBI. Especially Baltic Sea is a very important boating region with plenty of beautiful coastlines and archipelagos. Promoting sustainable boating is one of our top priorities in the Nordics and together with our colleagues within EBI we can add much more value to the regional boating advocacy.”

Chair of Danboat, Dirch Petersen affirms: “Danboat is pleased to have joined EBI and looks forward to the collaboration, especially regarding European legislation that impacts the boating industry.”

CEO of the Association of Estonian Marine Industries, Anni Hartikainen, says: “Very few national industry associations have the capacity to maintain a strong presence in Brussels. For MERLI, working together through the Nordic Cluster makes clear sense: our marine industries operate in comparable conditions and share the same environmental and regulatory priorities.”

Thomas Nicolai Bjønness, Senior Advisor, Norboat states: “Norboat, the Norwegian Marine Industry Association welcomes with great enthusiasm and anticipation the strengthened role of EBI and its new strategic framework. We look forward with great expectations to close cooperation with EBI in advancing competitiveness, sustainability and effective advocacy at European level for the benefit of our members and the wider boating industry of the Nordic Cluster.”

Mats Eriksson, CEO of the Sweboat: ”Sweboat is happy to rejoin EBI in a Nordic context. The timing is good, with a stronger EU and regulatory work going on.”

Lesley Robinson, CEO of British Marine, commented: “EBI membership enables British Marine to engage more directly in EU-level advocacy on regulatory and market issues that are critical to our members, particularly those with significant European export activity. Through EBI’s work in Brussels, we can ensure member perspectives and UK industry expertise contributes to the development of forthcoming legislation, including, for example, the review of the Recreational Craft Directive.”

Hanna Ljungqvist, Senior Vice President Marine Business Unit Volvo Penta: “We are excited to join EBI as a sustaining member, and we are looking forward to working together to strengthen the future of the European marine recreational industry.”

Members also approved EBI’s new strategic framework for the period 2026–2029, focusing on advocacy, services and collaboration. At the core of the strategy is EBI’s mission of “advancing a sustainable boating and nautical tourism industry made in Europe”. The strategy focuses on building a favourable legislative framework at European level, strengthening recognition of the sector as an important contributor to Europe’s economy and tourism and of EBI as a trusted partner for EU institutions, providing valuable services to members and industry, and connecting and engaging the sector across the European value chain.

EBI’s advocacy work will be focused on three clusters

1. Industry & Competitiveness
2. Decarbonisation, circularity & environment
3. Nautical Tourism

Outside of its advocacy work, EBI will add a number of flagship initiatives in the coming years to support the industry, continuing the Blue Boat Horizon project on Life Cycle Assessment together with its international partners NMMA and ICOMIA, ramping up regulatory guidance support and increasing market data to the sector alongside its growing event platforms.

“The growth of our membership and the launch of our new strategy mark an important step forward for EBI,” said Robert Marx, President of EBI. “With British Marine, the five Nordic countries within the Nordic Cluster, and Volvo Penta, EBI is strengthening its representation across Europe at a time when coordinated engagement at EU level is more important than ever. We are delighted to be truly representing the vast majority of the boating industry in Europe and we thank all new members for their trust and support.

European Boating Industry (EBI) will officially launch the inaugural Baltic Sea Boating Forum at the Helsinki International Boat Show, marking the start of a new platform for dialogue between the boating industry, policymakers and stakeholders on the future of boating the Baltic Sea with a strong focus on bridging environmental responsibility and the region’s boating success story.

Organised as part of Baltic Sea Day at the Helsinki International Boat Show, it is also supported by the Finnish Marine Industries Federation (Finnboat). The Forum aims to bridge environmental responsibility with the region’s boating success story, placing recreational boating firmly within discussions on marine protection, sustainability, economic potential and regional cooperation.

The Baltic Sea Boating Forum is designed to provide an annual format for structured dialogue between industry and policymakers on Baltic Sea issues, including the work of HELCOM and its Baltic Sea Action Plan which includes several actions for recreational boating.

High-level participation for the inaugural Forum

The first Baltic Sea Boating Forum will take place on Friday, 13 February from 14:00 to 15:30. It will bring together political leaders, industry representatives and civil society. Confirmed as speakers are Sari Multala, Finnish Minister of Climate and the Environment and Rüdiger Strempel, Executive Secretary of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM). A panel discussion moderated by Philip Easthill, EBI Secretary-General will combine contributions from policymakers, industry leaders and user representatives from across the Baltic Sea region.

Changing the conversation on boating and the Baltic Sea

The Forum will showcase and discuss solutions that the sector is driving, moving beyond perception and towards proactive engagement. Discussions will address how boating can be prioritised within government policies, how industry innovation contributes to environmental objectives, and how big environmental challenges require both big solutions and quick, practical actions that allows boating to continue its success story in the region. Key topics will include the role of recreational boating in delivering the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, aligning boating activities with the 30% marine protection target, while safeguarding access, tourism and regional economic activity.

The Baltic Sea Boating Forum is a cooperation between EBI and the Helsinki International Boat Show and will be developed as an annual event, supporting long-term cooperation and ensuring that recreational boating has a clear, informed and constructive voice in Baltic Sea policymaking.

More information about Helsinki International Boat Show can be found here: https://vene.messukeskus.com/en/

EBI participated in the 24th European Tourism Forum in Copenhagen on 3 December 2025, hosted by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Forum focused on how European tourism can build resilience by boosting competitiveness in a sustainable way.

Discussions centred on three themes: improving data and shared intelligence for tourism, digital transformation including AI and innovation, and balanced tourism that benefits local communities. EBI followed the programme with a particular focus on the data track, including the development of the European Tourism Data Space and how shared data can support better policy and decision-making.

The Forum also provided useful context for upcoming EU Commission work, including the EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism foreseen in 2026. EBI used the opportunity to contribute to the broader exchange on how nautical tourism and recreational boating fit within Europe’s tourism ecosystem and its sustainability and competitiveness objectives.

The third edition of the EBI EU Policy Day brought national associations together with EU policymakers in Brussels for a full day of targeted exchanges on the legislative and policy priorities expected in 2026.

EBI members from Croatia, France and the Netherlands met with Members of the European Parliament and Permanent Representations to highlight the sector’s priorities and share national perspectives on the challenges faced by boatbuilders, marinas and the wider recreational boating value chain. Discussions focused in particular on the upcoming Sustainable Tourism Strategy and the Industrial Maritime Strategy.

Meetings also addressed the evaluation of the Recreational Craft Directive, including the need for a clear and workable framework that supports innovation, safety and market access. Participants also reviewed progress on other initiatives expected next year, with a focus on issues that can have a direct impact on businesses across the sector.

EBI thank participating members for their active engagement in helping shape an EU framework that supports a competitive and sustainable recreational boating industry.

Blue Innovation Dock will take place at boot Düsseldorf from 17 to 25 January 2026 in Hall 10. Jointly organised by boot Düsseldorf and EBI, it will again serve as the policy and innovation programme alongside the trade fair, bringing industry, EU and national policymakers, researchers, athletes and civil society voices into the same agenda.

The 2026 programme will focus on sustainability and decarbonisation, marina innovation and nautical tourism, circular materials and composite recycling, design and retrofitting, digitalisation and AI, and high-performance and competitive sailing. The format will combine panel discussions, keynotes, interviews and innovation presentations across the nine days.

The main partners for 2026 are Beneteau Group, Brunswick Corporation and Sanlorenzo. The opening address will be delivered by David Foulkes, CEO of Brunswick Corporation, followed by an on-stage interview with Marcus Krall. The speaker line-up is expected to include Members of the European Parliament Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann and Andreas Schwab, EU Commission representatives including Andreea Staicu (Head of the Tourism Sector), and senior national politicians. The programme also plans contributions from academia and industry, as well as sessions featuring personalities and organisations active in competitive sailing and ocean advocacy, including SailGP and GEOMAR.

The full programme will be published on 22 December here.

The 11th International Breakfast Meeting will take place on Tuesday 20 January 2026 at boot Düsseldorf (Hall 1, rooms 14–15), under the theme “Future-proofing boat manufacturing in Europe”. The meeting is designed as a focused, high-level forum for manufacturers and the wider value chain to take stock of where the market is heading and what it will take to keep European production competitive.

A key highlight will be the launch of the EBI Economic Index 2026, presenting updated market intelligence, data and trends, alongside economic and policy insights from Brussels that are directly relevant to strategic planning for the year ahead. The programme also features a keynote by Constantin Buschmann (CEO, Brabus), bringing an external perspective from the premium automotive and mobility sector, followed by a CEO discussion with Erna Rusi (Saxdor Yachts), Fabio Planamente (Cantiere del Pardo / EBI Special Representative for the Large Yacht Sector) and Norbert Leifeld (Bavaria Yachts) on how to reinforce Europe’s manufacturing strength and position yards for long-term success.

Seats are limited: members are encouraged to register early and share the invitation internally, especially with colleagues and company teams attending boot Düsseldorf, as it is a strong opportunity to gather insights and network with peers.

Register here.

The EU Commission has adopted its 2030 Consumer Agenda, setting out priorities for EU consumer policy over the next five years. The agenda aims to strengthen consumer trust and protection while improving legal clarity, enforcement and administrative processes for businesses, with a focus on competitiveness, social fairness and sustainable growth.

The agenda is structured around four priority areas. On the single market, the EU Commission plans an Action Plan for Consumers in the Single Market to address cross-border obstacles, including an evaluation of the Geo-Blocking Regulation, measures to improve travel comparability and booking, and work to enhance access to cross-border financial services.

On sustainable consumption, the EU Commission intends to support implementation of EU product and consumer laws to address greenwashing and improve durability and repairability, while also supporting circular economy approaches such as second-hand markets. On enforcement and redress, the agenda highlights increased risks linked to e-commerce and unsafe or non-compliant products, with plans in 2026 to review the Consumer Protection Cooperation Regulation, ensure enforcement of the General Product Safety Regulation, and propose revisions to market surveillance rules.

Implementation will be discussed regularly through the Annual Consumer Summit, alongside periodic ministerial forums on consumer protection.

The EU Commission has published its Sustainable Transport Investment Plan, which explicitly includes recreational craft in the EU’s transport investment framework. The Plan recognises the sector’s specific decarbonisation challenge linked to the slow renewal rate of the fleet and notes that, in the absence of mandatory targets, renewable drop-in fuels could play a major role in reducing emissions over time.

The STIP states “Similarly to the maritime sector, a broad set of possible alternatives to fossil fuels are being considered for […] for recreational craft.” It adds that “[…] recreational craft experience a low pace of penetration of new vessels […]. With no mandatory targets in place, at least 90% of vessels (…] may progressively be replaced by renewable drop-in fuels.”

The Plan sets out a technology-neutral approach for waterborne transport, indicating that a broad range of alternatives to fossil fuels are being considered for recreational craft. It references the potential role of different renewable fuel options alongside electrification and hybrid solutions, and highlights the importance of supporting the transition of existing vessels as well as new technologies.

The Plan also outlines investment opportunities linked to sustainable fuels, clean propulsion and supporting infrastructure, including in marinas. It indicates that the EU will explore options such as certification schemes, fuel traceability and book-and-claim approaches, with the aim of enabling uptake across different vessel types and operators.

EBI welcomed the inclusion of recreational craft in the Plan and will continue engaging on follow-up work with the EU Commission and Member States, including in the context of the upcoming Industrial Maritime Strategy and Sustainable Tourism Strategy expected in 2026.

European Boating Industry (EBI) welcomes the European Commission’s Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) released today as a groundbreaking moment for Europe’s boating industry. For the first time ever, recreational craft are explicitly included in the EU’s transport investment strategy — marking a historic milestone that recognises the sector’s importance in Europe’s green transition and maritime industry. It comes after continued EBI engagement with the EU Commission on the importance of alternative fuel and infrastructure for the boating industry over the last year. This milestone also represents an important achievement in EBI’s Manifesto for this EU  mandate.

The STIP states “Similarly to the maritime sector, a broad set of possible alternatives to fossil fuels are being considered for […] for recreational craft.” It adds that “[…] recreational craft experience a low pace of penetration of new vessels […]. With no mandatory targets in place, at least 90% of vessels (…] may progressively be replaced by renewable drop-in fuels.”

The key takeaways for the boating industry are:

• First-ever recognition of recreational craft - The Plan explicitly includes recreational craft in the EU’s transport investment plan — acknowledging their unique challenges and innovation potential in adopting clean propulsion, electrification, and a wide scope of renewable fuels from e-fuels to hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO), green methanol and hydrogen rather than a single pathway.
• New EU funding and investment opportunities - The Plan mobilises €2.9 billion in EU support by 2027 and aims to leverage over €100 billion in total investment by 2035, with clear openings for projects in sustainable fuels, electric and hybrid technologies, and marina infrastructure.
• Support for sustainable fuels and infrastructure in marinas - The Commission will explore certification schemes, fuel traceability, and book-and-claim systems to support smaller operators and promote renewable fuels across all vessel types — a vital step for the industry’s decarbonisation roadmap.

Building on this momentum, EBI will continue to work closely with the European Commission and Member States to ensure that the boating sector fully benefits from initiatives coming out of the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan, the upcoming EU Industrial Maritime Strategy and Sustainable

Tourism Strategy, both expected in 2026. These frameworks will be essential to advance clean technologies, develop sustainable marina infrastructure to have a comprehensive framework for decarbonisation and strengthen Europe’s leadership in sustainability and innovation.

EBI in partnership with boot Düsseldorf, announces the 11th International Breakfast Meeting, taking place on Tuesday 20 January 2026 in room 14-15, Hall 1 of boot Düsseldorf. The event brings together leading CEOs from across the boating sector to discuss how to strengthen series production and ensuring that European manufacturers remain competitive in a changing global environment. The programme includes a keynote by Constantin Buschmann, CEO of Brabus, offering a perspective from the premium automotive and mobility sector.It will also feature the launch of the EBI Economic Index 2026, providing industry leaders with updated market intelligence, data and trends relevant to strategic planning.

10th IBM. © Messe Düsseldorf / ctillmann

The 11th International Breakfast Meeting, titled “Future-proofing boat manufacturing in Europe”, will be opened by Petros Michelidakis, Director of boot Düsseldorf, and Robert Marx, President of EBI and boot Düsseldorf. EBI will launch its Economic Index 2026, bringing the latest market intelligence, economic trends and policy insights directly from Brussels to the industry.

The programme will feature a keynote by Constantin Buschmann, CEO of Brabus, bringing a high-level perspective from the premium automotive and mobility sector.

A strong lineup of industry leaders will follow, bringing perspectives from some of Europe’s most recognised boatbuilders. Erna Rusi, CEO of Saxdor Yachts, Fabio Planamente, Board Member of Cantiere del Pardo and EBI Special Representative for the Large Yacht Sector, and Norbert Leifeld, CEO of Bavaria Yachts, will share their views on how to reinforce the manufacturing strength that Europe holds and position European yards for long-term success. Their contributions will provide insight into the opportunities and challenges shaping the industry.

Registration is now open. Seating is limited, find the full details and secure your place here.

Breakfast and networking will begin at 08:00 in room 15, Hall 1 (South Entrance), followed by the conference from 09:00 to 10:30, and a networking coffee until 12:00.