EBI Secretary-General Philip Easthill spoke at the European Ocean Days in Brussels on skills for maritime professionals. The conference is organised by the EU Commission and is a key opportunity to engage with policy-makers and stakeholders around maritime and ocean policy.

EBI emphasised the key needs and role of the boating industry, including the variety of jobs in the boating industry, the importance of a lifecycle approach to improving environmental performance, as well as the lack of mutual recognition of professional qualifications in nautical tourism that is holding back businesses. EBI also called on the EU Commission to place an emphasis on these issues as the EU develops its new ocean policy framework to support the blue economy.

Joining the panel discussion were Manuela Geleng (Jobs and Skills Director, EU Commission DG Employment), Valentina Lovat (Associate Programme Specialist - Ocean Literacy, IOC-UNESCO), Alessandro Pititto (Coordinator, EMFAF Study on Blue Skills) and Roos Swart (Course Leader, ProSea Marine Education & Partner in EMFAF Turning Blue project).

The recording of the panel discussion can be found here.