The ‘Athens Declaration’ A Year On: Exploiting the Full Potential of Short Sea Shipping, May 2015

The European Commission and Member States should work together to put in place practical, meaningful and effective solutions for outcomes envisaged in the Athens Declaration and contribute fully to the economic and social development of the European Union, the European Shippers’ Council and other European maritime organisations have argued in a paper issued in May 2015.

On 7th May 2014, the Informal Maritime Ministerial meeting in Athens issued a statement recognising the importance of the shipping sector to the European economy and calling on the European Commission and Member States to 'make all relevant efforts to reach a high-ambition agreement for shipping'. The aims and objectives of what is now the Athens Declaration were very well received by the shipping and wider maritime community, being clear and unequivocal recognition of the value of the sector to the European economy.

By letter, and through their individual contributions to the Mid Term Review, the ESC, CLECAT, ECASBA, ECSA, ESN, ESPO, Feport, Interferry and the WSC are calling on the European Commission and Member States to work together to put in place practical meaningful and effective solutions for outcomes envisaged in the Athens Declaration and contribute fully to the economic and social development of the European Union.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Mobility and Transport: Transport Modes: Shipping: Short sea shippng http://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/maritime/short_sea_shipping/index_en.htm

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