The European Maritime Day (EMD) took place on 19th and 20th May 2022 in Ravenna, Italy with EBI participating in-person and with a dedicated workshop (see below). Organised by the European Commission, EMD is the event where maritime stakeholders meet to address the sector's most pressing issues and work together to find the right solutions.

This year's event focused on the crucial role of seas and oceans in the recovery and development of the global economy and therefore the critical need to protect them. The Blue economy concept is at the core of this, with the most debated and popular topics were the skills needed for the future of the blue economy and how to engage young talent. As well as the opportunities that digitalisation and new technologies offer the maritime sector, improving its efficiency while increasing its sustainability were on the agenda too.

Sustainability was at the heart of the discussions, with Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius stating “We are determined to make the sustainable blue economy part of our green recovery”. In his introductory speech, the Commissioner mentioned that there is no time to lose when it comes to engaging in a sustainable blue economy, encouraging all participants to seize the current momentum towards sustainability. There is a common will to create a global policy that protects sustainable development, but this requires a strong and structured agenda, so everyone's collaboration is essential.

This year's event was hybrid, making it accessible to a wider audience and bringing together people from across the EU and beyond. All participants shared a passion or interest in oceans and seas, but there was a wide range of backgrounds, from academics and industry workers to researchers and NGO managers. This diversity allowed for high-level exchanges across sectors.