EBI welcomes the EU Commission’s new Single Market Strategy, which aims to deepen and modernise the EU Single Market, an essential pillar for the boating sector. The Strategy tackles long-standing challenges such as cross-border trade barriers, administrative burdens, and regulatory fragmentation. With measures like a competitiveness check on future legislation, streamlined recognition of qualifications, and faster development of harmonised standards, the Commission’s plan directly responds to EBI’s ongoing advocacy to create a fairer, more efficient Single Market that supports growth and sustainability in our industry.

Of particular importance are the proposals to revise the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD), making it more digital-friendly and consistent across Member States. The strategy’s promise to reduce red tape, boost market surveillance, and foster mutual recognition of rules will help thousands of SMEs in our sector operate more competitively across Europe.

Read more in the EBI press release and members have received a detailed briefing that can also be requested from the EBI Office.

The EU Commission published a public consultation on the upcoming Consumer Agenda 2025-2030.

The strategy aims to strengthen consumer protection by enhancing enforcement of consumer protection legislation. Particularly, digital fairness and the promotion of a green and digital economy are expected to be at the core of EU's consumer protection actions until 2030.

Among the challenges that the EU Commission wants to address is the growing circulation of unsafe products coming from outside the EU via online market places, and difficulties to ensure compliance with consumer protection rules and fair competition in the market, in particular as regards traders not established in the EU. Also being considered are issues around sustainability that the EU Commission wants to strengthen further, as well as administrative burden and simplification for businesses.

The public consultation remains available until 11 August 2025, as the Commission adoption is set for the fourth quarter of 2025. EBI will continue to follow and analyse the upcoming developments and interested members are invited to respond to the consultation here.

European Boating Industry (EBI) welcomes the EU Commission’s Single Market Strategy and the specific measures to lighten the load for businesses in the boating industry. The plans to lighten the load on companies, move towards digital-first and strengthen common rules for all EU countries is crucial to support businesses and reduce costs as EBI has long advocated for. Rapid implementation is now crucial.

The Single Market and ease of trading across the EU is essential for businesses in the boating industry and must be further strengthened and the regulatory burden reduced. This the objective of the EU Single Market Strategy announced by the EU Commission this week, which is welcomed by EBI.

"Trade in the EU’s Single market is a key strategic asset for the boating industry that can support further growth and support innovation and sustainability efforts. We welcome the EU Commission’s ambition to reduce barriers to trade within the EU and lighten the regulatory load on businesses. Follow-through on the ambition and further measures are now needed.” said EBI Secretary-General Philip Easthill. 

Reducing red tape is important for the thousands of SMEs that make up the boating industry, allowing them to reduce costs and become more competitive. Important measures announced by the EU Commission are efforts to increase the speed and effectiveness of the standardisation system, strengthening market surveillance and moving to digital-first solutions rather than paper format.

Manufacturers of boats, engines and components currently have to provide products with significant number of documents in paper form. Changes proposed by the EU Commission for the industry’s key legislation, the EU Recreational Craft Directive, would transform this to a digital-first approach.

The Single Market Strategy follows several of EBI’s key proposals to the EU institutions to reduce administrative burden and improve competitiveness of the boating industry. EBI will now analyse the proposed changes with its members to provide input into the legislative process and looks forward to further EU initiatives level in line with its calls for action for the current legislative mandate.

EBI warmly congratulates Piero Formenti on his appointment as President of Confindustria Nautica for the 2025–2029 term. A long-standing member of the EBI Council and former EBI President, Mr. Formenti brings decades of experience and strong industry leadership, particularly in representing the small boating sector. His programme will focus on strengthening the supply chain, promoting Made in Italy excellence, and enhancing the Genoa International Boat Show. We look forward to continued collaboration with Confindustria Nautica under his leadership.

Read more information here.

EBI has been awarded the prestigious ‘Impact’ Award at the European Association Awards 2025, held on 10 April in Brussels. The award recognises the success of EBI’s Blue Boat Horizon project—its largest and most ambitious sustainability initiative to date. The project promotes the use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to measure and improve the environmental performance of recreational boats, uniting industry leaders across Europe in a shared mission. The awards are organised by the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE), the leading organisation representing association professionals in Europe and promoting excellence across the sector.

EBI was also a finalist in the ‘Event Innovation’ category, alongside boot Düsseldorf, for the Blue Innovation Dock.

The full press release is available here.

From 1 May 2025, the Mediterranean Sea officially became the world’s fifth Emission Control Area (ECA) for sulphur oxides. Ships operating in the region are now required to use marine fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 0.1%, down from the previous 0.5% global limit. The objective is to curb air and water pollution caused by sulphur emissions, which are linked to respiratory conditions, sea acidification, and environmental degradation.

This measure follows the example of similar ECAs in the Baltic and North Seas, where sulphur oxide emissions have dropped by approximately 70% since 2014. In the Mediterranean, the new limits are expected to bring comparable benefits, improving air quality and reducing pressure on marine ecosystems. However, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in the region have continued to increase—by 8% since 2015—highlighting the need for further regulatory measures. The EU Commission and Mediterranean countries are assessing next steps to address this issue.

The Mediterranean ECA was established under the Barcelona Convention and endorsed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2022. It will complement existing EU legislation, notably the Sulphur Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and is a key tool to achieve Good Environmental Status of EU waters. The Directive, recently evaluated by the EU Commission, underlined the need for enhanced enforcement and stronger alignment across marine and environmental legislation.

A new ECA in the Northeast Atlantic, targeting both sulphur and nitrogen oxides, is also under preparation. It was approved by the IMO in April and is expected to enter into force in 2027.

Find more information here.

The 2025-2030 working plan for the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Energy Labelling Regulation was adopted by the EU Commission. It provides the list of products that should be prioritised to introduce ecodesign requirements and energy labelling over the next five years. The priority products are steel and aluminium, textiles (with a focus on apparel), furniture, tyres and mattresses. These were selected based on their potential to deliver on the circular economy.

In addition, the Commission will introduce horizontal requirements on repairability for products such as consumer electronics and small household appliances. This will include the introduction of a repairability score for products with the most potential, and requirements on recyclability of electrical and electronic equipment.

Requirements will focus on product performance (minimum durability, minimum energy and resource-efficiency, availability of spare parts or minimum recycled content) and product information, including key product features such as the products' carbon and environmental footprint. Product information will mainly be made available via the Digital Product Passport.
The working plan continues the work that started on 16 energy-related products (such as dishwashers, electric motors, electric vehicle chargers or displays) from the 2022-2024 ecodesign and energy labelling working plan.

European Boating Industry (EBI) proudly announces being selected for the 'Impact' category at the European Association Awards 2025. The awards ceremony took place on 10 April at TheMerode in Brussels, recognising EBI's pioneering Blue Boat Horizon project, which aims at promoting sustainability based on Life Cycle Assessment in the recreational boating sector.

The European Association Awards, organised by the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE), celebrate excellence within the association community. The winner was chosen by a jury of leading association professionals.

EBI was honored to be nominated in two of the four award categories: 'Event Innovation' together with boot Düsseldorf for the Blue Innovation Dock and 'Impact'. The 'Impact' award acknowledges initiatives that have made significant contributions to society, aligning with the Summit's 2025 theme, "Association Excellence in a Shifting Society" .​

Blue Boat Horizon is the biggest project in EBI's history and an ambitious industry collaboration. For the first time, it brings together key players to develop a common approach to improving environmental performance. It has galvanised the sector with the same mission: Making Life Cycle Assessment the building block to improve environmental performance and transform the boating industry.

It now approaches the next steps of the project, which sees the collaboration with leading international marine associations, such as the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). It focuses on quantifying and improving the environmental performance of recreational boats.

Philip Easthill, Secretary-General of EBI, expressed his appreciation: "We are honored to receive the 'Impact' award, which underscores our commitment to advancing sustainability in the recreational boating industry. Thank you very much to ESAE and the esteemed jury members. Blue Boat Horizon exemplifies our dedication to environmental stewardship based on a strong business case and our proactive approach to addressing the challenges of a shifting society. We have enourmous gratitude for the boat building businesses and national associations that have been leading this project over the last year and will now embark on the next steps with us.”