The commitment that Greece will play a leading role in the effort to develop the “blue economy” was highlighted by the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Christos Stylianidis during his speech at the Franco-Hellenic Dialogue entitled “Thalassa: From the Archipelago to the Oceans”, which was held today in Paris.
Mr. Stylianidis characterized the shipping sector as the main pillar of the “blue economy”. He added that new sectors such as marine biotechnology, renewable energy sources, aquaculture, as well as new forms of coastal and marine tourism offer great potential in the development of the “blue economy”. As he pointed out, “the “blue economy” will contribute to the development of the competitiveness of European shipping and Greek-French cooperation at an economic and technical level”.
In fact, he characterized the cooperation, both between the member states of the E.U. as well as between the member states and the IMO for a sustainable “blue economy”. “With this cooperation, common challenges at sea will be tackled”, as he underlined, “that is, cross-border and organized crime, threats to freedom of navigation, threats to biodiversity, illegal, illegal and unregulated fishing and environmental degradation. Greece and France can cooperate closely in these areas as well. Today’s event is a first-class opportunity to lay the foundations of this cooperation, which will last over time.”
At this point, Mr. Stylianides pledged that Greece will be the bridge between the European Union and the IMO during the sector’s transition to the era of decarbonization, the use of new zero-carbon fuels and digitalization, as, as he said, “they are introducing a new dynamics in the “blue economy”.
Concluding his speech, Mr. Stylianidis invited the attendees to the Ninth “Our Ocean Conference” for the protection of the oceans that will be hosted in Greece between April 15 and 17, 2024.
Yesterday the Minister met with the Deputy Minister of Ecological Transition and Regional Cohesion of France, responsible for the sea and biodiversity, Hervè Berville. The meeting confirmed the further strengthening of the cooperation between Greece and France, both bilaterally and multilaterally (EU and IMO). The aim of this cooperation will be to ensure the competitiveness of the EU, the adoption of realistic measures, at a global level and the undertaking of initiatives and policies that will strengthen the sustainable development of shipping. In this direction, they agreed on the need to jointly promote new financial tools at the EU level.
The following is the full speech of the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy.
Cross-checking
“Dear Prime Minister,
Dear Commissioner,
Ms. Ambassador,
Colleagues,
attendees,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is my great honor and pleasure to address you today – as Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy of the Hellenic Republic – at this important meeting of the Franco-Greek Dialogues, entitled: “Thalassa: From the Archipelago to the Oceans”.
I would like to start by thanking the organizers – the Delphi Economic Forum, the Sorbonne Institute of Oceans, the Permanent Greek Delegation to UNESCO, Mr. Michel Foucher – and Mr. Tsomokos for the invitation and for the opportunity he gives us to we are all here, together, to share our perspectives on such an interesting topic.
Dear friends,
The history of Hellenism is inextricably linked to the sea. In fact, to the point where one is almost impossible to understand without the other. Cradle of Hellenism, the Archipelago was the artistic, spiritual and economic hearth – not only of the ancient Greek and Hellenistic world – but also of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.
A great crossroads between different worlds, the Archipelagos is the living school of Greek seamanship. He opened the roads through which the Greeks expanded, first to the Mediterranean and then to the World.
And then, Greek shipping – the greatest power in the world which I have the honor to represent as Minister of Shipping – changed, spectacularly expanded the scale of Hellenism: from the Archipelago to the Oceans.
France was one of the first to be nurtured in this Greek maritime spirit. It is of course also a historic maritime power, with the second largest maritime space in the world and with great involvement in the entire scale of maritime stakes. Greece and France are therefore linked by strong ties to the sea and by a common maritime tradition.
One of the goals of the Franco-Greek Dialogue is to further strengthen our cooperation on multiple issues related to the sea, such as security and International Law, our external European borders, commercial shipping, tourism and more broadly the sea as source of wealth.
As Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, I assure you that I will be helpful in this effort, primarily utilizing the already excellent cooperation I have with the Ambassador of France in Greece, Mrs. Laurence Auer.
Ladies and gentlemen,
According to OECD estimates, the “economy of the seas and oceans” is estimated at 1.5 trillion dollars. Amount, which is projected to double by 2030.
Key parameters for the development of the “blue economy” are new sectors, such as marine biotechnology, renewable energy sources, aquaculture, but also new forms of coastal and marine tourism. Sectors that offer great potential for economic and technical cooperation between Greece and France.
The shipping sector is a main pillar of the “blue economy”. The transition of the sector to the era of decarbonisation, the use of new zero-carbon fuels, as well as digitization, introduce a new dynamic to this blue economy. However, they are – at the same time – also important challenges for the sustainable future of shipping. Challenges that, however, can and should be turned into opportunities.
To strengthen the sustainable development of the shipping industry, contributing substantially to the increase in global competitiveness, not only of Greek shipping, but also of European shipping as a whole.
Greece will play a leading role in this effort and adjust its policies accordingly. And of course it will form the bridge between the International Maritime Organization IMO – in which our country was recently re-elected with the most votes in Category A – and the European Union.
Friends,
Protecting and securing the seas and oceans is fundamental to free trade, the economy and prosperity. A basic condition for a sustainable “blue economy” is cooperation. Working together to address common challenges at sea such as cross-border and organized crime, threats to freedom of navigation, threats to biodiversity, illegal, illegal and unregulated fishing and environmental degradation.
Greece and France can cooperate closely in these areas as well. Today’s event is a first-class opportunity to lay the foundations of this partnership, which will last over time.
In closing, I would like to invite you all to the Ninth “Our Ocean Conference”, which will be hosted in Greece between April 15 and 17. It is an important dialogue forum that will bring together representatives of governments, international organizations, academia, the private sector and NGOs, who share a common vision for ocean protection.
Thank you very much for your attention.”
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