On the 1st of March 2016, the SEARICA Intergroup – representedby MEPs Gesine Meissner, Sergio Cofferati and Dariusz Rosati – hosted an event in the European Parliament entitled “skills for the future maritime technology”.
The event was attended by representatives from the European maritime technology sector, including CEOs, HR directors, representatives from trade unions, maritime education and training providers, regional authorities, representatives from the European Commission and Members of the European Parliament.
Panel speakers from left to right: Ms. Gesine Meissner, MEP, President of SEARICA Intergroup; Mr. Ramón Sarmiento, Co-chair of the European Social Dialogue Committee on Shipbuilding; Ms. Lowri Evans, Director General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs; Mr. Sergio Cofferati, MEP, Vice-President on Maritime Industries of SEARICA Intergroup; Mr. Dariusz Rosati, MEP, member of SEARICA Intergroup; Mr. Christophe Tytgat, SEA Europe Secretary General; Ms. Sophie Normand, HR Director at DCNS Group
The European maritime technology sector is innovation-driven industry that encompasses both enterprises involved in the design, construction, maintenance and repair of the most complex and technologically advanced ships, and marine equipment. The sector employs over 900,000 people directly and indirectly and generates an annual turnover of € 91 billion. For Europe, it is one of the sectors with the highest investment intensity in Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) activities.
“The maritime technology industry is an important sector for the industrial modernization of Europe and for achieving the goals of the Europe 2020-Strategy” said Ms Lowri Evans, Director-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. “This industry is strategic for the EU and its full potential needs to be “exploited” to maximize the contribution of the sector for Europe´s Blue Growth”.
Over the last decade, the European maritime technology sector evolved towards the building and repairing of the most complex and technologically advanced ships, as well as the design of sophisticated technologies and equipment. These complexities require expertise and know-how that today can only be found in Europe. Given the importance of the sector, it is of utmost importance for Europe to retain its competence and skilled people so as to remain competitive versus its global competitors.
Participants in the Conference “Skills for the Future Maritime Technology”
Aware of the challenges and risks for the future of the sector and Europe’s growth, and mindful of the recommendations of the LeaderSHIP 2020 sectoral strategy which was adopted by the European Commission and industry stakeholders in February 2013 and endorsed by the European Competitiveness Council in May 2013, the social partners for the Maritime Technology Sector – IndustriAll Europe and Sea Europe – embarked in the creation of a European Skills Council for the sector. The Skills Council will help the Maritime Technology Sector in anticipating the needs for skills more effectively supporting the facilitation of future skills, training and mobility.
Source: Sea Europe
