Citizens' Dialogue in Msida with Commissioner Violeta Bulc and Commissioner Karmenu Vella

We have to be more ambitious when we plan for our ‘better’ future.

Commissioner Violeta Bulc

The European Commission cannot act alone on maritime challenges - we need to collaborate on a global level.

Commissioner Karmenu Vella

Commissioners Bulc and Vella held a Citizens’ Dialogue in Msida on maritime transport and the environment. The debate was hosted by the ‘International Maritime Law Institute’ (IMO) and was mainly attended by the highly specialised post-master professionals at the Institute.  The participants came from all corners of the world and 52% were women.

As the participants at this debate were some 70 multinational post-master professionals completing their last year in international maritime law at the IMO in Msida, the focus centred naturally on the sustainability of our oceans. The discussion specifically revolved around both how maritime affairs should be managed and whom they should be managed by.

Commissioner Vella argued passionately that we need to protect and care for our oceans. He explained that the European Commission’s historical approach has changed from the usual fishery administration to a much more ambitious approach based on how to preserve and protect the oceans’ environment.

The Commissioner continued explaining that the damage done by plastic in oceans – against which the Commission is successfully progressing on - is in relative terms less harmful than the damage that pesticides from the agriculture sector cause. However we need to work together to find sustainable and feasible solutions.

Commissioner Bulc reminded the audience that 75% of all global trade is seaborne – and that the EU’s part thereof is 36%. Likewise, this means that the maritime transport sector is the single largest source of ocean pollution.

“Only with a change in mind-set we can address these challenges” the Commissioner said and argued strongly for an increase in innovation and investment in this sector.

Educational institutions have to embrace new technologies and innovations for future demands – it is not sustainable that we only continue to build new ships with traditional combustion engine technology based on fossil fuel. Innovation will bring new sources of energy and provide benefits for the environment and economy.

One participant from Luxembourg wanted to know how her country - with no sea border - could benefit from maritime affairs and improved legislations. The Maltese Commissioner replied that currently Luxembourg is playing a major role in the maritime insurance sector.