The maritime strategy for growth and jobs in the Atlantic Ocean area (COM(2011)782 of 21.11.2011) identified challenges and opportunities in the area and took stock of initiatives supporting growth and job creation. The Strategy is implemented through an Action Plan (COM(2013)279 of 13.05.2013) containing a set of overarching priorities, and for each of these priorities, a number of specific ideas for actions and projects. It is up to the Member States concerned to decide how the proposed actions can be funded using planned EU instruments, especially through the European Structural Investment Funds or "ESIF Funds".
The European Commission, in cooperation with the "Atlantic Strategy Group" (a group of representatives from Member States of the Atlantic and from EU institutions, providing political momentum and steer in the implementation of the Strategy) and the Committee of Regions, organised a one day event on the state of play of the implementation of the Atlantic Strategy and its Action Plan, which took place in Brussels in 8th June, 2016.
The main objectives of this event were:
to improve knowledge and awareness of the Action Plan,
allow Managing Authorities to present their work on embedding the Action Plan in funding instruments (national, regional, crossborder and transnational) and
learn from other participants about current or forthcoming funding opportunities relevant for the Strategy and the Action Plan.
The event , which was attended by individuals, bodies and organisations involved in EU funding activities, in particular national and regional actors managing "shared management" funds, such as the ESIF funds, also provided an opportunity for the managing authorities to outline barriers or impediments to implementing the Action Plan.
“SYNERGASIA Ltd.”, recognizing that the sea may become a supporting pillar of the development of Greece was informed about the initiatives of other countries, through this event, as well as about the initiatives at a European level (Blue Growth) and the objectives of the European strategy for smart and sustainable maritime development.
