According to the autumn economic forecast of the European Commission, the EU economy has now entered a much more challenging phase after a strong first half of the year.

Although growth in 2022 is set to be better than previously forecast, the outlook for 2023 is significantly weaker for growth and higher for inflation, the largest threat comes from adverse developments on the gas market and the risk of shortages, especially in the winter of 2023-24. Amid the impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine, elevated uncertainty, high energy price pressures, erosion of households' purchasing power, a weaker external environment and tighter financing conditions are expected to tip the EU, the euro area and most Member States into recession in the last quarter of the year.

The inflation rate is yet to peak before gradually easing and decline in 2023 (remaining at 9.3%) and moderate to 3% in 2024.

Despite the challenging environment, the labour market has continued performing strongly, with employment and participation at their highest and unemployment at its lowest in decades.

You can read the full forecast here.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an opinion calling for an industrial strategy for the maritime technology sector.

The EESC is a consultative body made up of representatives of workers' and employers' organisations and other interest groups that acts as a bridge between the EU decision-making institutions and its citizens. It delivers opinions on EU issues to the European Commission, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament.

The strategy highlights 4 main working areas: market access and conditions; employment and skills, access to finance and research and development and innovation. Finally, the EESC calls for the creation of a “Maritime Expert Group” and a “European industrial alliance for the maritime technology sector” as two tools to improve and regain global competitiveness for the Maritime Technology sector.

European Boat Industry attended the meeting where the industrial strategy for the maritime technology sector was discussed and subsequently contributed to the recently published strategy. EBI tabled a number of amendments, reminding the committee that the recreational boating industry remains fundamentally #MadeInEurope and must be protected, EBI also pointed out that there is still work to be done in a number of areas such as the recycling of end-of-life vessels. Several of the EBI's recommendations have been taken into account.

You can read the strategy here.

boot Dusseldorf returns to its traditional in-person format in January 2023 and European Boating Industry, as part of its extended partnership agreement will organise two high-level events: the already established International Breakfast Meeting (IBM) and the new Blue Innovation Dock (BID).

In its eighth edition, the International Breakfast Meeting will focus on one of the main challenges facing the sector today: the lack of labour with the skills the industry needs. On Tuesday 24 January 2023, take advantage of an appointment with a panel of high-level speakers from the sector, associations and European institutions to discuss the present and future of boating. You can learn more about the IBM here and register now here.

The Blue Innovation Dock is the new platform that brings together visionaries, investors and politicians to make the industry fit for the future. It will take place as part of boot Düsseldorf from January 21-29. It convenes the key players on a dedicated stage in Hall 10 with exciting sessions throughout the 9 days of the show. No registration is required.
You can learn more about the BID here.

On behalf of EBI, our Council and our President, we want to wish you happy Holidays!

2022 has been both a challenging and rewarding year, during which EBI has undergone many changes and achieved many of its goals. For this reason, as we approach the end of the year, EBI’s president Jean-Pierre Goudant, wanted to address our members with a letter in which he briefly recapitulates the last 12 months.

From our side, we at EBI would like to wish you all a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year 2023! We are delighted with the time we have spent working together in 2022 and look forward to all the new opportunities in 2023.

You can read the message from EBI’s President here.

EBI and boot Düsseldorf have agreed to expand their partnership. In 2023 boot Düsseldorf will come back in a fully in-person format and will be accompanied by EBI as content partner in two events: the already tried and test International Breakfast Meeting (IBM) and the new blue innovation dock (bid).

 On its 8th edition, the IBM will focus in one of the most expanded challenges for the industry, the lack of workers with the skills needed by the industry. Under the title "Qualifications and skills: Addressing the current and future challenges", top-level speakers from the sector, associations and European institutions will get together to discuss and share solutions for the boating industry.

You can register now here.

The blue innovation dock is the new platform that brings together visionaries, investors and politicians to make the industry fit for the future. On each day of the fair there will be presentations on the stage of the blue innovation dock. You can find the first agenda with the main topics here.

16 November, 15:30 – 17:00 CEST                           Council meeting
                                                                                     METSTRADE, Amsterdam

21 – 29 January                                                          boot Düsseldorf

21 – 29 January                                                          Blue Innovation Dock

24 January 2023, 8:30 – 10:30 CEST                        International Breakfast Meeting

boot Düsseldorf will take place in January 2023 and this year, not only is the show returning to its on-site edition, but there are also some new additions to the extensive agenda.

As a result of an extension of the collaboration between EBI and boot Düsseldorf, this year will see the first edition of the blue innovation dock, a new platform offering the space to discuss the advancement of boating.

The new sustainability forum already got off to a successful start as an online event during the CARAVAN SALON in Düsseldorf in August and will set an international benchmark offering the opportunity during the nine days of the fair, to address the pressing issues surrounding the future of the sector and to exchange knowledge with companies from the marine industry and beyond, as well as politicians and researchers, as well as business visitors.

You can read the full press release here.

Clean air and water are essential for the health of people and ecosystems, which is why the European Commission is proposing stricter standards on ambient air, surface and groundwater pollutants and urban wastewater treatment.

For both air and water, the new standards offer a clear return on investment in terms of health benefits, energy savings, food production, industry and biodiversity.

The Commission proposes to revise the Ambient Air Quality Directive and the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive both to tighten permitted levels of pollutants and to improve implementation to ensure that pollution reduction targets are more often met in practice. Today's proposals are a key step towards the European Green Pact's zero pollution ambition, which is to have an environment free of harmful pollution by 2050.

Among the main proposals is the initiative to set interim quality standards more in line with the World Health Organisation, which will be reviewed periodically to ensure they are optimal, as well as adding new substances with proven misleading effects to the lists of harmful substances, such as PFAs or certain pesticides. This will put the EU on a trajectory to achieve zero air pollution by 2050 at the latest, in synergy with climate neutrality efforts.
Today's proposal will help achieve a dramatic improvement in air and water quality across Europe by 2030.

You can read the full press release here.

The European Commission launched the EU Tourism Dashboard, a website that aims to support and promote sustainable European tourism.

The EU Tourism Dashboard was conceived and developed as an online knowledge tool to collect, publish and provide meaningful information on indicators relevant to tourism, in particular those related to key policy objectives such as the green and digital transition. The indicators identify issues and corresponding supporting policy actions.

In addition to providing useful information to users, the Dashboard tracks the progress of tourism destinations over time in relation to policy areas. Currently, the Dashboard’s set of indicators starts in 2019 (or the closest available year) and ends in 2021 (or the closest available year), to cover pre- and post-COVID situations. While it does not cover specific indicators for boating and nautical tourism, the data provides relevant information for the sector.

You can check the EU Tourism Dashboard and learn more about it here.

In a resolution approved by the Parliament’s plenary in early October, MEPs called on the European Union to be a leader in protecting, restoring and raising awareness of the crucial role of the oceans in combating climate change and maintaining a habitable planet for all.

The conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, including areas beyond national jurisdiction, is of crucial importance and was recognised by MEPs, who regret that, despite progress the High Seas Treaty has not been adopted. They therefore call on the Commission and Member States to urgently resume negotiations on the Treaty so that an ambitious, effective and future-proof international framework can be adopted as soon as possible.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on strengthening ocean governance and the protection of marine biodiversity in preparation for the forthcoming COP27 and COP15. The resolution calls for the promotion of a sustainable blue economy, as healthy oceans are key to the long-term sustainability of many activities, including tourism. MEPs underlined their willingness to adhere to the European Green Deal by supporting ambitious measures, but taking into account the social needs linked to the transition towards a sustainable blue economy. Among others, the European Parliament calls on the European Commission to support the reskilling and upskilling of the existing workforce, as well as the attraction of new people.

MEPs also underline the importance of the oceans in the fight against climate change and for the full achievement of the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity. In this context, they recall Parliament's call for the EU to push for an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework at COP15 to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, including through legally binding global restoration and protection targets of at least 30% by 2030.

You can read the report here and the full press release here.