The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a voluntary initiative by the European Commission aimed at helping organisations, including those in the nautical tourism sector, improve their environmental performance. EMAS enables companies to develop a structured environmental management system, ensuring efficient use of resources and reducing their environmental impact.

Key benefits include:

• Enhanced resource efficiency and cost savings.
• Full compliance with EU environmental regulations.
• Publicly available environmental performance reports that boost transparency.
• Improved brand reputation for sustainability-conscious consumers.

For companies in the nautical tourism sector, EMAS offers an opportunity to align with sustainability targets, particularly under the European Green Deal, and stay ahead of future regulations like the Green Claims Directive. Participating businesses can also build a strong sustainability culture while meeting customer expectations for environmentally responsible tourism.

The registration process involves an environmental review, creating an environmental management system, and obtaining verification by an independent body. Registration costs vary by Member State.

For more information, visit EMAS Sustainable Tourism.

EU Commission President von der Leyen has announced the portfolios of the next Commissioners. They will now face hearings in the European Parliament and will then have to be approved by the plenary of the Parliament over the next weeks.

The structure of the Commission has been changed, with six Executive Vice-Presidents. Two of these will be critical for the recreational boating industry. The Spain-nominated Teresa Ribera will be Executive Vice-President of a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition guiding the work to ensure that Europe stays on track for its goals set out in the European Green Deal based on an industrialised economy at the same time. Stéphane Séjourné, from France will be the Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy. He will also be responsible for the Industry, SMEs and the Single Market portfolio. The Directorate-General GROW will be reporting to him, meaning that he will also be politically responsible for the likely revision of the Recreational Craft Directive.

Among the team of Commissioners, Cypriot Costas Kadis will be the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. Among his areas of responsibility will be the blue economy, one of EBI’s core interests and he will be charged with developing the first European Oceans Pact. The Swedish Commissioner, Jessika Roswall will be the Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy. Among her priority areas will be water resilience, which is a big priority at EU level for the years ahead. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, nominated by Greece will be Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. This is the first time that there is a Commissioner with tourism in their title, which will be an important development for the boating and nautical tourism sector.

EBI will closely monitor the hearings in the EU Parliament and the Commissioner’s priorities, aiming to meet with them or their teams in the coming months to introduce the boating industry and its priorities.

EBI attended the 5th edition of the Polboat Yachting Festival in Gdynia, Poland, organised by POLBOAT. The event took place from July 18-21, 2024. This year's event attracted over 22,000 visitors, setting new records with the largest number of exhibitors, vessels, and premieres to date.

During the festival, EBI actively engaged with Polish policy-makers and yards, discussing key industry projects such as the Blue Boat Horizon (LCA) project and TEcoNaut. The event provided an excellent platform to advocate for a sustainable boating sector and engage with Polish stakeholders.

The event featured 110 boats, including 23 premieres. Exhibitors included Polish manufacturers and distributors of watercraft, as well as other industry-related companies.

EBI would like to extend its gratitude to POLBOAT for the invitation and congratulate them for the success of the boat show.

EBI has joined a coalition of 31 leading European business associations aiming to promote open trade policy, essential for enhancing the EU's competitiveness and economic resilience.

The Joint Declaration underscores the vital role of trade in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and strengthening resilience against global challenges. Trade openness directly supports one in five EU jobs and benefits consumers by expanding choices. To achieve these goals, the coalition is calling for new and renewed trade agreements to open and diversify markets. The Joint Declaration emphasise the importance of appointing a dedicated Commissioner for Trade to ensure focused leadership and strategic direction.

Moreover, the coalition advocates for continued support of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and maintaining a rules-based international trade environment. Enhanced collaboration with third-country partners and stronger trade diplomacy are also highlighted as crucial components of a successful EU trade policy.

EBI's involvement in this coalition highlights our commitment to ensuring that the interests of the boating industry are represented in these critical discussions. The coalition's position paper further details strategies for achieving these goals and reinforces the necessity of maintaining an open and dynamic trade policy.

Read the Joint Declaration here.

European Tourism Manifesto, in which EBI is a member, published a set of priorities for the tourism sector. It highlights the importance of tourism as a key driver of economic growth, jobs, and social development in Europe.

The priorities focus on promoting sustainable tourism, supporting innovation and digitalisation, and enhancing the competitiveness of European tourism. The manifesto also emphasises the need for a coordinated approach to tourism policy at EU level, taking into account the diversity of European destinations and the specific needs of different regions.

EBI has contributed to the manifesto, recognising the importance of nautical tourism and the need for a supportive policy framework to promote sustainable and responsible tourism practices. By joining forces with the European Tourism Manifesto, EBI aims to ensure that the needs and concerns of the boating industry are taken into account in EU tourism policy

Read the position paper here.

A recent workshop at Venezia Certosa Marina with EBI involvement marked a milestone in the development of the JPI Oceans European Marinas Network Scoping Action. More information on the background of the proposal can be found here.

The workshop discussed the importance of marinas in coastal ecosystems. They highlighted the potential benefits of environmental monitoring and data collection for ocean science, emphasising the challenges and opportunities in achieving sustainability, digital transformation, and community engagement in the marina sector. It can also add to the value proposition of marinas for stakeholders and policy-makers, supporting the value to society through participation in science.

Thorsten Kiefer, Executive Director of JPI Oceans provided an insightful overview of the tools and approaches for implementing Joint Actions, detailing the life cycle from idea generation to implementation. This was followed by Melanie Symes (TransEurope Marinas) and Philip Easthill (EBII) presenting the original Joint Action idea, which focuses on leveraging marinas for ocean science and sustainability. The proposed platform aims to centralise data collection and analysis from various sources, including citizen science initiatives and environmental sensors.

Participants from various countries and organisations shared their perspectives and expertise. The first round of discussions emphasised importance of data-driven decision-making. The conversation also covered the role of citizen science and innovative sensor technologies in monitoring marine environments.

Key goals for the potential Joint Action include developing an understanding of environmental conditions within marinas, empowering marinas as hubs for ocean stewardship, and informing policy and decision-making. The group discussed establishing a network of marinas, deploying standardised sensor packages, and creating a central data repository.

The intended outcomes of the Joint Action include establishing a coordinated network of marinas, developing standard sensor packages, and creating an open-access data repository. The aim will be to enhance understanding of marina environments, promote sustainable behaviours, and support smart policy decisions.

The workshop concluded with plans to draft a concept paper that will be put forward to the JPI Oceans Management Board in autumn 2024. EBI will continue to be involved in development of the concept. Interest in collaboration can be signalled to the EBI Secretariat.

EuCIA, the European Composites Industry Association and close partner of EBI, has published the latest edition of its European Composites Circularity Solutions listing. This tool aims to facilitate access to organisations offering recycling services and other circular solutions for composite materials and parts.

The directory, previously called European Composites Recycling Solutions, has been renamed and expanded to include the full range of circular solutions for composite materials.

EuCIA regularly updates this resource as part of its mission to support and advance the circularity of composite materials. The list is published every six months and includes contact details for organisations offering recycling services and the type of waste processed.

If your organisation would like to be included in the European Composites Circularity Solutions listing, please contact EBI.

According to a report from the European Travel Commission, European tourism is set to reach new heights, with 76% of Europeans planning to travel between June and November 2024. Visiting another European country remains the most popular choice for 58% of travellers, with Southern/Mediterranean Europe being the top region for summer travel.

Sun & Beach trips are the undisputed preferred option for summer travel, with 19% of Europeans choosing this type of leisure trip. This trend is particularly prominent among Europeans aged 45 and above, who show a notable preference for extended vacations lasting beyond seven days.

The preferred countries for seaside destinations include Spain, Italy, France, and Greece. These countries are expected to see a significant influx of tourists during the summer months.

Travel concerns include safety, pleasant weather conditions, and bargains, while economic situation and personal finances are also significant factors. A notable trend is the increasing concern about extreme temperatures, with 32% of travellers avoiding destinations with extreme temperatures, particularly those over the age of 55.

In terms of planning, travel websites, online search engines, and online maps are the top digital tools used by Europeans to plan their trips. This highlights the importance of having a strong online presence for destinations and travel businesses.

Overall, the European travel market is expected to experience significant growth in the coming months, with seaside destinations being a major draw for tourists.

Read the full report from the European Travel Commission here.

The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU began on July 1, 2024, during a significant period of institutional transition. With the EU elections having recently concluded, this presidency takes on the task of managing a slower and less predictable schedule. As Hungary assumes the helm, its government will set the agenda and chair numerous ministerial meetings, continuing the work from the Belgian Presidency and sharing responsibilities with Spain as part of the Trio Presidency.

Hungary's program aims to address European challenges by promoting a technology-neutral industrial strategy, establishing a farmer-oriented agricultural policy, and reducing irregular migration through enhanced border protection and innovative asylum solutions. Additionally, it focuses on demographic challenges, reducing regional disparities, and continuing financial services negotiations to emphasise sustainable financial reporting and digital finance.

The Hungarian Presidency comes with unique challenges due to its contentious relationship with Brussels and ongoing concerns about its adherence to democratic principles. Despite this, Hungary will work to advance unresolved files inherited from the Belgian Presidency, aiming to make significant progress during its tenure.

EBI will follow the work of the Hungarian Presidency to ensure that the boating industry’s interests are represented and to contribute to discussions on relevant policy areas.

Read the Hungarian Presidency’s program and priorities here.