site.btaUPDATED Maritime Businesses Want More Balanced Approach to Introduction of New European Environmental Regulations

The European Network of Maritime Clusters (ENMC) wants to improve the dialogue with the European Commission (EC) to find a more balanced approach in the transition to green industry, Ilse Atanasova, chairwoman of the board of Marine Cluster Bulgaria, told BTA on Tuesday. Atanasova was among the participants in a forum that brought together investors, innovators, researchers and business representatives from the blue economy sectors near Varna.

According to her, the business is currently facing difficulties because its capacity to adapt is significantly slower than the adoption of regulations with environmental requirements, which should become a fact by 2030 and 2050. These changes require significant investment, Atanasova explained. She said that further difficulties are created by the current unpredictability of affairs, and the serious shocks in the supply networks.

Atanasova said that the ENMC has already started regular meetings with other maritime organizations to prepare joint positions to be presented to the EC. The next talks will take place in Brussels in November.

The forum in Varna is organized by a consortium under the Horizon 2020-funded BRIDGES project. Maritime Cluster Bulgaria is hosting the event. The meeting, which brings together experts from Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, Denmark, France, Italy, Portugal, Germany and Spain, aims to support the implementation of the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea. The event showcases EC financial instruments to support the blue economy, and successful projects and initiatives to implement innovative business models and technologies from the Atlantic, Baltic and Mediterranean basins.

According to Atanasova, highlights include new technologies for monitoring pollution in water areas, advanced ways of scanning and mapping, data collection and observations.