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.

EBI proudly participated in JEC World 2025 in Paris, a global event for the composites sector. The event highlighted the latest innovations and applications of composite materials, also showing the rising importance in the marine industry and the push towards sustainability.

One of the highlights was the panel discussion titled “Setting Sail Towards Sustainability: Composites in the Marine Industry,” moderated by EBI Secretary-General Philip Easthill. The session featured perspectives from across the value chain, stressing how technological advancements, circular practices, and cross-sector collaboration are shaping the future of boatbuilding.

Additionally, EBI was honoured to be part of EuCIA’s General Assembly, where we presented our initiatives and strengthened our collaboration with the composites sector. The discussions emphasised the strong alignment between our industries, especially as both are increasingly required to use low-impact materials, ensure recyclability, and design sustainable products.

Our partnership with EuCIA and the broader composites community is central as the boating industry continues to evolve towards a greener, more circular economy.

Together with sustaining member IMCI, EBI has developed guidance and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the new EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). 

The GPSR is in place and applicable since 14 December 2024. Despite the specific regulation for parts of the boating industry – the Recreational Craft Directive and in parts the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation – several requirements of the GPSR are relevant for all products and should be carefully considered. The FAQ provides an overview and relevant information for manufacturers, importers and distributors. This also responds to a number of questions EBI has received from industry.

EBI advises informing businesses about the GPSR and the FAQ document. In case there are any further questions, EBI is available to assist further.

On 18 March, EBI hosted a webinar presenting the outcomes of the Blue Boat Horizon project, including the Version 1 of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology developed for the boating industry. The session outlined key aspects of the project, such as the alignment with EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) standards, practical testing of the LCA tool, and the global collaboration with NMMA and ICOMIA.

Member testimonials from British Marine and the Beneteau Group underlined the methodology's potential for streamlining sustainability improvements and addressing regulatory requirements.

Members are encouraged to watch the full recording of the webinar here.

EBI strongly opposes tariffs and underlines the potential risks to businesses on both sides of the Atlantic and the entire value chain. The boating industry is globally integrated and North America and Europe are the largest markets. Tariffs disrupt businesses, hinder economic growth, and jeopardise jobs, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that form the backbone of the boating industry.

We welcome the EU’s objective to reach a negotiated solution with the US and EBI stands ready to contribute with proposals to enhance the recreational boating industry’s mutual success. The permanent removal of tariffs would support economic growth, jobs and investment on both sides of the Atlantic.

EBI is in constant dialogue with the EU institutions. The recreational boating industry, uniquely ‘Made In Europe’, consists of over 32,000 businesses and directly employs more than 280,000 people. Over 96% of businesses in the sector are SMEs.

Members can contact EBI for any questions on the current EU-US trade developments. Further information will be provided as soon as there are updates.

The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) has released the third edition of its report, “Advancing Towards a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Mediterranean,” offering a comprehensive overview of the region's maritime sectors and their sustainable development. This edition places a particular emphasis on coastal and maritime tourism, a sector closely linked to the recreational boating industry.

The report highlights several areas relevant to the boating sector. It emphasises the need for sustainable practices in coastal and maritime tourism, aligning with the industry's efforts to reduce environmental impact. It also points to the growing importance of marine renewable energies in tackling climate change, presenting new opportunities for the sector. Lastly, it addresses evolving maritime skills and career pathways, offering useful insights for boating professionals looking to adapt and invest in workforce development.

For a more in-depth understanding, the full report is available in English at this link.

The OECD has released the report "The Ocean Economy to 2050," which provides detailed forecasts and analyses on the future of marine sectors. Recognising the ocean as a powerful economic driver—equivalent to the world’s fifth-largest economy—the report emphasises significant transformations expected in the marine economy by 2050.

Recreational boating is notably discussed within the broader category of marine and coastal tourism, identified as one of the largest segments in terms of economic value and employment. According to the report, marine and coastal tourism generated over USD 1 trillion in gross value added (GVA) in 2019, highlighting its critical role in the global ocean economy.

The OECD underlines that coastal and marine tourism will likely continue to expand due to growing demand from emerging economies and an ageing demographic in Europe and North America. However, the industry also faces vulnerabilities from climate risks such as extreme weather events, coral bleaching, and rising sea levels, potentially impacting tourist destinations and coastal infrastructures.

Strategic recommendations from the OECD for sustaining growth in the boating and marine tourism sectors include enhancing ocean governance, promoting technological innovations such as digital transformation, and advancing ocean data collection for better-informed policy decisions. These measures are considered crucial for ensuring long-term environmental sustainability and economic resilience.

Read the full report here.

The EU Commission has launched the Union of Skills, a new initiative aimed at tackling labour and skills shortages across Europe. It introduces a set of targets for 2030 and focuses on enhancing basic education, upskilling and reskilling opportunities, and improving the recognition of skills across Member States.

The initiative includes several key actions: a Skills Guarantee pilot to support workers facing restructuring, the expansion of EU Skills Academies aligned with the Clean Industrial Deal, and the development of a Skills Portability Initiative to support free movement of talent. It also aims to attract global talent through new tools like the EU Talent Pool.

EBI is a member of the Pact for Skills and can contribute to shaping the European agenda on workforce development for the recreational boating sector. If there is interest from members, EBI is well placed to engage further in this area and support relevant initiatives.

Find more information here.

The MRV Regulation currently mandates the monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas emissions from large ships (5,000 gross tonnage or more) calling at EU/EEA ports, with the scope expanding to include offshore ships and general cargo ships of 400 GT and above.

The European Commission has published a report reviewing the possible extension of the MRV Regulation (2015/757) to vessels between 400 and 4,999 GT, which includes certain larger yachts.

These smaller ships represent 42% of the fleet covered by MRV but account for only 9% of CO₂ emissions. The report concludes that while expanding the scope could help improve energy efficiency, the direct environmental benefits would be limited, and administrative costs would be disproportionately high. As a result, the overall Social Net Present Value (NPV) of such an extension is negative. Specifically,

The Commission notes that more meaningful benefits could emerge if these vessels were integrated into broader climate policies such as the EU ETS or FuelEU Maritime in the future. This will be assessed further as part of the 2026 review of the EU ETS Directive.

Yachts above 400 GT, especially those used commercially, may therefore be affected by future policy changes. EBI will continue following the discussions closely and advocate for proportional and appropriate treatment of the recreational boating sector.

Find the report here.

The EU Commission has published its evaluation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), finding that while the Directive has advanced marine protection policy, it has not led to significant improvements in the state of Europe’s seas. Although the framework is well-established, it suffers from limited coherence with other EU legislation and lacks clear, enforceable objectives.

The evaluation highlights that most EU seas remain in poor environmental condition, and the 2020 goal of achieving Good Environmental Status (GES) has not been met. Weak coordination among Member States, insufficient data collection, and vague environmental targets have limited the Directive’s effectiveness. Furthermore, challenges persist in aligning the MSFD with other key instruments, including the Water Framework Directive (inland water bodies) and the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive.

For the recreational boating sector, improved implementation of the MSFD is essential to ensure water quality, healthy marine ecosystems, and balanced spatial planning that accommodates both environmental and economic uses.

Read the full evaluation here.