The members of European Boating Industry (EBI) met for the second yearly General Assembly to discuss the latest industry developments after a turbulent first half of the year for the industry and chart the association’s future positioning. Representing Slovenia, SMIA joins as new full member and IMCI joins as sustaining member, growing EBI’s network across Europe.

Taking place virtually on 9 September, EBI’s members discussed the future positioning of the association, providing support and a strong platform for its advocacy activities at EU level. Five new position papers were presented on international trade, VAT, Environment, Nautical Tourism, and Industry & Single Market policy following a six-month development process (see below). These offer a clear overview of EBI’s positions and will continue to be developed in the next years.

Members also discussed the latest developments related to COVID-19 that will remain in the focus of EBI’s activities in the coming months. Supporting boating companies in the recovery and working towards a successful 2021 season will take centre-place. Since the start of the crisis, EBI has led the industry’s engagement through dozens of meetings with Members of the European Parliament, Member State representations, and Commissioners to successfully present the concerns of the recreational boating industry. EBI has also been updating its members and the wider industry of the latest developments at EU level regarding COVID-19, as well as working with its key partners.

The General Assembly of EBI accepted the application of the Slovenian Marine Industry Association (SMIA) to join as full member representing Slovenia. Founded in 2016, the association represents producers and service providers, contributing to the export of Slovenian know-how. SMIA supports companies in dealing with challenges in foreign markets, represents them in front of state institutions, and works to increase the visibility of Slovenian expertise in the nautical industry in the long term. Around 1,800 people are employed in the Slovenian recreational boating industry.

EBI is also delighted to announce that the International Marine Certification Institute (IMCI) was accepted as a sustaining member. IMCI is an EU-based, independent, non-profit organisation committed to adding value to the worldwide recreational craft industry by assessing compliance of companies, products, services and experts with the highest recognised standards of quality and safety. IMCI is believed to be the market leader with regards to the CE certification of products under the Recreational Craft Directive.

After the General Assembly, EBI President Jean-Pierre Goudant commented “We have set the course for EBI to further grow the influence of the recreational boating industry at EU level. The clear positioning that we now have is a crucial element of this endeavour. Welcoming SMIA as new full member and IMCI as new sustaining member broadens our network and will enrich our discussions. Together this further strengthens our voice at EU level, and we are delighted that they have joined EBI.

Our industry has the potential to take advantage of new business opportunities in an environment that has fundamentally changed over the last months. We will lead the way and work with our members, partners and the EU institutions in ensuring a bright future for the recreational boating industry.”

Following the approval as full member of EBI, President of SMIA Jurij Korenc commented “Slovenian Marine Industry Association is happy to become a part of the global EBI family, in this way being able to contribute its creativity and innovations and at the same time benefit from everything EBI membership will offer. SMIA members will now have a chance to present themselves to a global industry through EBI in a more efficient and direct way.”

On being accepted as sustaining member of EBI, Ulrich Heinemann, Managing Director of IMCI said “IMCI is very happy to be on board of EBI and very willing to contribute to the activities of the association, especially regarding technical matters.”

For more on SMIA, please find their website here: http://www.smia.eu/en/home/

For more on IMCI, please find their website here: https://www.imci.org/