The European Union’s View on the Shipping Crisis

Mr. Zoltán Kazatsay, Deputy Director General of European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, attended the Maritime Cyprus 2009 Conference that is currently taking place in Limassol. The conference is organised by the Ministry of Communications and Works (Department of Merchant Shipping) and the Cyprus Shipping Chamber. Mr. Kazatsay addressed the conference, on behalf of EU Commissioner for Transport Mr. Tajani, on Monday 28 September where he delivered a speech on "The European Union's View on the Shipping Crisis".

Mr. Kazatsay did not omit to stress his pleasure for taking part at the 11th edition of the Maritime Cyprus Conference in "a Member State renowned for the importance of its fleet and of its long-standing involvement in maritime transport", as he said.

During his speech, he referred to the six strategic priority areas on which the European Commission will act in the coming years. These include the maintenance of European shipping competitiveness; the reinforcement of the human factor; the establishment of European quality shipping as a trademark; reaffirming EU presence on the international scene; supporting Short Sea Shipping; and using the European research, technological development and demonstration framework programme in order to improve the competitiveness of EU shipping industry. Moreover, Mr. Kazatsay refered to the actions aiming at a 'greener' maritime transport.

The Commission will present a roadmap for the actions announced in the "Maritime Transport Strategy 2018" Communication to the stakeholders at a conference to be held in Copenhagen in February 2010.