EUROPEAN MARITIME DAY - MAY-JUNE 2018

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BLACK SEA - The European Commission's Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the Bulgarian EU Presidency and the Municipality of Burgas were pleased to invite delegates from all over the world to their European Maritime Day 2018 event. The conference took place on 31 May and 1 June 2018 in Burgas, Bulgaria. They did not leave it there but hosted evening and other events on the 2nd of June for anyone enthusiastic about Burgas history.

European Maritime Day is an event in May of each year that allows EU member states to table topics to do with the sea, as per the theme taglines seen below. 

The EMD kicked off in beautiful Burgas beside the Black Sea at the Burgas Free University. Our hosts worked hard to offer an attractive programme and great networking opportunities that started on the 30th of May with a pre-event get together at the Sea Casino. The event on the 31st May and 1st June was well organised to allow speakers to present, and for workshops in rooms off the main auditorium to be conducted at the same time. That part of the event was superb. What was not so enjoyable, and largely beyond the control of Burgas as a blossoming city, was the transport network to and  from the city. They are not alone in that.

The next stop for the European Maritime Day cruise is in sunny Lisbon in May of 2019 with a theme yet to be announced.

BURGAS FREE UNIVERSITY - The venue for European Maritime Day was the Free University. Many of the caterers and support staff were students at this institution of higher learning.

CLEANER OCEAN FOUNDATION

Our journey to Burgas began with a volunteer engineer/boat-builder wending his way to Gatwick airport in the early hours in the morning of the 30th May in the hope of attending the pre-event networking session at the Sea Casino in Burgas at around 8:00pm local time. It was not to be, but before we get to that rather amusing tale, we should mention first and thank the 'Enterprise' organizers of the Back 2 Back meetings for arranging for such a pleasant venue.

Our man in Burgas was chosen because he networks while taking photographs and shooting video footage for our websites. He is also a skilled boat-builder involving welding and fabrication, woodworking and composites and was ideally qualified to explain the SeaVax concept for ocean regeneration using fleets of autonomous vessels in a coordinated attack on marine plastic. This concept revolves around the premise that we have just one ocean and that each country with a shoreline to benefit, should act responsibly to clean what they can afford to clean.

For this to work, contributing nations would be encouraged to donate in accordance with their ability - and that ability is related to their Gross Domestic Product - a small percentage of which we would ask them to consider granting to the Cleaner Ocean Foundation, or other contributors identified by the Foundation.

Such contribution would allow the Foundation to negotiate with the Top Twenty Governments around the world and represent their interests in the operation of SeaVax or other suitable ocean cleaning vessels, Ocean Awareness efforts and research into ways of wining the war on plastic.

Efforts to control marine pollution would also benefit other Governments in the securing of additional fish for food in the long term. Those other administrations might also be represented by the Foundation and their views and input incorporated in the drive to a cleaner, more sustainable world.

SEA CASINO - The venue for a pre-event networking get together that our delegate was unable to attend due to a series of transport issues.

BURGAS VISION PAPER - A Blue Growth Initiative for Research and Innovation in the Black Sea

Experts from the Black Sea coastal countries, namely the Republic of Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Turkey and Ukraine, as well as the Republic of Moldova, in cooperation with marine experts from leading European marine institutes and organisations, and with the support of the European Commission, aim to advance a shared vision for a productive, healthy, resilient, sustainable and better valued Black Sea by 2030. 

They believe that through their work they will help to deeper connect Black Sea societies through a bridge of new knowledge, technologies and services. They aim to foster human and infrastructures capacity building in coastal, marine and maritime sectors in view of unlocking unique opportunities for a sustainable and environmental friendly blue growth in the Black Sea.

They take into account - in their common work - the best practices of multilateral cooperation in European and world sea basins and the experience from international organisations such as the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the Black Sea Commission.

As a first step, the Burgas experts work towards developing a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) that will guide researchers, academia, funding agencies, industry and policy makers to promote the social well-being, prosperity of Black Sea citizens and support economic growth and jobs of countries bordering it.

The following characteristics and principles are to guide their vision and underpin the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda:

 We identify the Black Sea as a common resource, paleoclimate archive and natural laboratory, hosting unique forms of life in its diverse ecosystems, which need to be sustained with joint activities based on this vision and with the support of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.

 The Black Sea is the largest oxygen-free hydrogen sulphide-rich marine basin on Earth. Any new local, national or transboundary policy measures should consider its special ecosystem characteristics, its biodiversity and its submerged cultural heritage sites.

 Attention needs to be drawn to emerging challenges which are driven by a range of human-induced and natural drivers, such as pollution, maritime transport, eutrophication, climate change, and coastal hazards.

 The abundance of gas hydrates is a particular asset of the Black Sea that represents both opportunities and risks.

 Fish stocks and species diversity are under severe stress, common surveys and monitoring can provide a base for better assessment, management and prevention.

 Provide accurate predictive tools and capabilities to tackle the increasingly complex array of multi-stressors and their poorly understood interactions, including their connection with rivers flowing into the Black Sea.

 They see education, science and innovation as the most important tool that can fully unlock the potential for blue growth in living resources, offshore renewable energy, tourism, culture, transport, seafloor hydrocarbons that underpin the blue economy of the region.

 Science and innovation support the development and implementation of coastal and maritime policies and strategies in the Black Sea, including better ecosystem assessments, forecasts and management; understanding of vulnerability, risks and possible mitigation measures.

 Knowledge supports evidence-based and informed decision-making towards the sustainable growth of the Black Sea economies in response to the societal and environmental or climate-related challenges.

Based on these considerations, the Burgas experts, agreed to continue to work towards developing the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda and, in doing so, reach out to as many relevant public and private stakeholders as possible, and to be inclusive.

The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda will aim at becoming a reference framework for marine and maritime strategies to be used as a programmatic tool for defining, national, European, and sea-basin priorities.

Addressing fundamental Black Sea research challenges:

 Developing innovative multi-disciplinary research, building on existing initiatives, including research infrastructures, data sharing mechanisms that will generate the knowledge needed to increase ecosystems resilience;

 Providing new knowledge to assess and mitigate the impacts of global climate change and the multiple natural and human-induced stressors in the Black Sea from land-sea interface to the deep basin.
Developing products, solutions and clusters underpinning Black Sea blue growth:

 Supporting marine and maritime research and innovation to create synergy, increase economic benefits, reduce hazards for prospering, resilient and empowered communities deriving interest from the Black Sea basin;

 Creating incentives for marine and maritime innovation in traditional and emerging blue economy sectors such as:

* Energy – establishing of renewable energy sectors such as offshore wind and waves;

* Aquatic living resources and food – developing sustainable fisheries, and high-tech and eco-friendly aquaculture, including multi-platform use;

* Biotechnology – deriving high-value novel products from organisms of the unique habitats of the Black Sea;

* Transport – developing sustainable safe shipping and a cleaner marine environment;

* Blue tourism.

Building of critical support systems and innovative research infrastructures:

 Developing sustainable smart observation and monitoring systems, and assessment frameworks towards governance for a sustainable ecosystem, mitigation of climate change impact, and accurate forecasting for adaptive management;

 Building on existing best practice and latest achievements in science and technology to develop a harmonised set of working methodologies, standards and procedures on all aspects of coastal and marine research. This would provide compatible data, information and knowledge at the sea-basin level;

 Establishing facilities for promoting start-ups oriented towards the circular and blue economy in the region;

 Developing new marine-based technologies by harnessing the Industry 4.0 for the Black Sea to promote safe and sustainable economic growth of the marine and maritime sectors, the conservation and valorisation of marine cultural heritage.

Education and capacity building:

 Supporting formal and informal learning, education, training and utilisation and transfer of technologies and knowledge for established and new marine and maritime-related jobs;

 Promoting educational and vocational youth mobility related to the blue economy among the countries in the region;

 Contributing to enhanced science-policy dialogue in formulating coastal and marine policies and programmes;

 Empowering ocean-engaged citizens and policy-makers by providing high-level scientific output, contributing to a clean, plastic-free, healthy and productive Black Sea.

In the forthcoming months, for the benefit of local communities, We are committed to further refine these pillars, formulate concrete actions, and reach out to scientists, academia, business operators, decision-makers, and to society at large in the region. We hope that this work will be taken into consideration in the formulation of a broader Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea, but also serve as a valuable tool for the Black Sea countries’ authorities, the European Commission and other international donors to support its implementation.

BURGAS MAY 31 2018: Karmenu Vella giving the opening speech at the European Maritime Day in Burgas, Bulgaria. In this opening message Mr Vella managed to cover most topics and spell out the direction his administration is taking to drive blue growth. This agenda involves higher budgets to give greater scope to innovative concepts and research. Copyright © photograph May 31 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation.

OPENING SPEECHES - Iskra Mihaylova of the European Parliament regional development committee speaking about Burgas and blue growth, all of which are of interest to the Bulgarian Government in the drive for a circular economy and efforts improve the state of the Black Sea. Copyright © photograph May 31 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation.

TRANSPORT - Here is a man our delegate would like to have had a meeting with to discuss internal air and road link issues. Ivaylo Moskovki is the Bulgarian minister for transport, IT and communications, about which he spoke passionately and for some time. Having traveled to Burgas himself we feel sure that he understands what we are talking about. Copyright © photograph May 31 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation.

THE PORT - After a packed agenda on the 31st it was time for cocktails during an evening networking session at the local yacht club. This picture was taken as the sun set. You can see thermoclines in the harbour as water of different temperatures and salinity mix. Copyright © photograph May 31 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation.

FRIDAY 1 JUNE 2018 - AMBASSADORS: 'EMD IN THEIR COUNTRY'

There is not just one European Maritime Day. A series of local EMD events are also organised all over Europe for the public at large, so that the many European regions with a maritime culture can join in the celebrations and highlight the vital role of the seas and oceans for our life and for the economy. Many of these events involve educating our future Ocean Ambassadors to carry the torch.

For the first time at an EMD Conference 2018 in Burgas, four organisers of 'EMD events in my Country' (selected on a basis of geographical representativeness, innovation and added value to blue growth) the so-called 'ambassadors - EMD in my Country' had been invited to present their own EMD events held this year in advance of EMD conference and share views and ideas with EMD participants for future actions.

Navigando: Sea Culture Action

"Navigando 2018” is an activity programme involving students and citizens into an education path with the purpose to get them close to the thematics of the International conference on Ship and Maritime Research – NAV2018, that will be held in Trieste, Italy, from June 20 to June 22. The programme will be articulated into conferences for citizens, high schools and universities, and into didactic activities for students, from primary and high schools.

Speaker: Clio Kraskovic, Communication Officer, Maritime Technology Cluster FVG. Tel: +39 0481 723440

OCEAN AMBASSADORS - Agnieszka Dabrowska and Clio Kraskovic at the European Maritime Day. Clio opened up the session superbly, handing over to Agnieszka, a passionate speaker on all things plastic and marine. Copyright © photograph June 1 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation.

Marine Microplastics: To Encounter, To Understand, To Act'

This project focuses on the increasing problem of ubiquitous marine microplastics: to make people encounter it during the scientific engagement activities, to understand the scientific approach, to enable the proper impact on the situation.

Speaker: Agnieszka Dąbrowska, Ph.D, assistant professor at University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry, Laboratory of Intermolecular Interactions. Tel: +48 603 959 084

OCEAN AMBASSADORS - Filipe Porteiro and Agnieszka Dabrowska on stage at the European Maritime Day. Filipe presented slides on his work that involves monitoring marine litter in his role as the regional director for sea affairs. Copyright © photograph June 1 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation.

Zero Litter in the Azorean Sea: Regional Coastline Clean-up

A public coastal clean-up will be held in the 9 islands of the Azores on the 26th May 2018, involving many sectors of society. It integrates the Azores Entre-Mares Campaign (20th may – 8th June) an initiative that aims raising marine environmental awareness on the local population. The clean-up is also part of a much broader initiative named Azores Action Plan to Marine Litter that support scientific studies and the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) to Azores marine waters.

Speaker: Filipe Porteiro, Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs, Regional Director

Conoce tu Puerto: An Opportunity to Discover Your Port

Port Authority of Algeciras Bay (APBA) is organizing its sixth CONOCE TU PUERTO (KNOW YOUR PORT) activity, which offers to local population and visitors of the area the opportunity to discover the port facilities from the sea. From 21 May to 7 June 2.400 visitors will board on scheduled boat trips, enjoying a pleasant ride, including the chance to spot the dolphins that inhabit the waters of the bay.

The activity planned by the Port Authority of Algeciras Bay will help to promote the "Blue Growth" strategy through the information provided to the participants. During the course of the boat ride, a crew member will give information on the economic importance of port activities (including traffic, employment and new developments), the measures being applied to achieve sustainable development and the opportunities offered by technological advances.

Speaker: Estefanía Selva, Communication Officer, Algeciras Port.

OCEAN AMBASSADORS - Androniki Rapti and Estefanía Selva on the stage at the European Maritime Day. Estefanía showed us some of the work spreading information about port life and from Androniki we saw some of the projects that students worked on in schools and how maritime culture is interwoven as part of life to promote blue growth with heritage issues and respect for mariners inbuilt. Copyright © photograph June 1 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation.

European Sea Days 2018 in Thermaikos, Greece

Participants are involved in activities such as the “Fishing Nets workshop - How to sew fishing nets in a traditional way", the retrospective review "Fish Then and Now - informative speeches about fish in schools", walks and visits to old lighthouses and narrations of sea stories by elderly mariners honoured for their participation in Greek maritime heritage.

Speaker: Androniki Rapti, Communication Officer, Municipality of Thermaikos, Thessaloniki.

HANDOVER CEREMONY - Alberto Laplaine Guimarães accepts a gift of local maritime art from Ruska Boyadzhieva. Alberto is the Secretary General of Lisbon City Council. Ruska is the Deputy Mayor of the City of Burgas. Copyright © photograph June 1 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation.

CLOSING SESSION - The children of Burgas present a handmade gift to Alberto Laplaine Guimarães at the handover ceremony that closed the European Maritime Day. Sustainable growth and aims for a circular economy are for our children and their children, and their children, and their children - lest we forget why we are working to clean our act up. Copyright © photograph June 1 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation.

EMD conference 2018  brought you:

* 19 stakeholders workshops

* a political opening with Ministers from Black Sea riparian states

* a high-level debate on "Black Sea Big Bang" – how to spur sustainable blue growth, generate investment and * increase cooperation for an economic boom of the Black Sea region

* a session on how to facilitate access to EU funds for Blue Growth and Sea-basin-cooperation projects

BLACK SEA - Exhibition of sunken treasures, interactive games for children and the International Scientific Conference.

ENTERPRISE EUROPE NETWORK - MATCHMAKING EVENT - 31 MAY 2018, BURGAS

Enterprise Europe Network- Yambol (hosted by Yambol Chamber of Commerce and Industry) is organizing a matchmaking event during European Maritime Day 2018 In Burgas, Bulgaria. The matchmaking event is an efficient and easy way to meet potential cooperation partners in the timeframe of 20 minutes pre-arranged meetings with local and international partners. This is usually enough to identify opportunity and build connections. It is an ideal way to find technology and business partners from Bulgaria and abroad, during an event which attracts delegates and experts from across Europe and beyond. The interested parties need to register, present themselves, their company/organization and a cooperation idea and select partners of interest in advance of the event, using especially designed b2b platform. The meetings are envisaged between 10.00 and 13.00 on 31.05.2018 in the building of Burgas Free University.

The link for registering in the matchmaking event is: https://european-maritime-day-2018.b2match.io/home

The event is free of charge. It gives opportunity to forge new partnerships for research projects, technology transfer and business collaborations and/or participation in projects funded by European programs. It is expected that participants from all across Europe will take part in the B2B meetings.

WHY PARTICIPATE?

Meet face-to-face new partners and customers;
Acquire new cross-border contacts ;
Promote your technologies & know-how;
Find out latest trends in the marine and related industries;
Find technologies to partner with, license or acquire.

MAIN TOPICS FOR B2B MEETINGS

Maritime Industries:

Maritime Policy;
Coastal Areas and Ports;
Maritime Environment and Protected Areas;
Maritime and Shipyard Technologies and Equipment;
Maritime Services, Transport and Shipping;
Maritime and Port Security;
Skills and Training.

Blue Growth:

Aquaculture;
Coastal Tourism;
Marine Biotechnology;
Ocean Energy;
Seabed Mining;
Marine Research, Development and Innovation.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Register and publish your organizational focus and collaboration wishes at

https://european-maritime-day-2018.b2match.io/home

The participants should register with their own username and password. Using the password, they are able to publish organizational and cooperation profile, product description, field of activity and type of partner they are looking for

Send, receive and validate meeting requests once booking is opened:

After 2 April 2018 the participants can start with the booking of meetings, followed by confirmation and scheduling of accepted meetings.

Your personal B2B meeting schedule will be ready before the event in your profile.

We kindly ask the participants to accept or cancel their meetings in order to receive their final actual schedule. Each participant will receive electronically a list of scheduled meetings which is also easily accessed from their personal profile.

TASK DEADLINES

1 February 2018 – 28 May 2018 Registration and submission of a cooperation profile
2 April 2018 – 30 May 2018 Online selection of face-to-face meetings
31 May 2018 Bilateral meetings (10:00 – 13:00)

Working language of the international b2b meetings is English

CONTACTS:

Daniela Ilcheva
Enterprise Europe Network
Yambol Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Tel: +359 46/ 662939
Е-mail: yccibg@gmail.com
http://www.yambiz.com/

GETTING TO BURGAS

Book your accommodation during the Burgas Maritime Festival and the European Maritime Day (30 May-02 June 2018)

You can choose and book online among the many great hotels in Burgas. Accommodation is in great demand in the area at the end of May and beginning of June, so book your hotel or apartment as soon as possible. For your convenience Burgas team has pre-booked rooms in a selection of hotels. For these hotels please use the code 'EMD2018'.

THE ROAD TO BURGAS

Complications meant that an emergency flight had to be arranged while our man trod the terrazzo tiles waiting in lines of stranded travelers for news of any rescue package. It was nearly a no-go, but with quite a bit more expense than originally allowed for, he obtained passage to Sophia on a Lufthansa dog-leg from Gatwick to Frankfurt and then on to Sophia to replace the Easyjet direct transfer. Of course this meant considerable delays. Once at Sophia airport another snag cropped up in the form of a shuttle coach breaking down.

Several delegates gathered in Sophia airport's lounges to learn of their fate, making the best of their time to network and find out about each others marine interests, all the while imbibing too much coffee to help relieve the boredom. The sick coach was eventually replaced with our weary traveler now five hours out of time for any event in Burgas and unable to wake up the owners of the rented apartment along Demokratsia Boulevard, one of the longest roads in the city.

At 1:00pm on the 31st May he enlisted the help of a local taxi driver (at an agreed rate) to  drive across the city in the dark to find a hotel room for the night. Four hotels later and a very expensive room of lesser appeal was secured for a (very) little shut-eye before the opening day of the event. Many of the taxi operators in Burgas do not speak English that well, but at least enough to get by. While the locals typically speak no English, but are friendly enough.

Our delegate first had to secure his lodgings for the next night. He quickly homed in on Demoktratsia Boulevard and a little shop adjacent. Ringing the doorbells yielded no results, but a van driver outside the little off-licence made a telephone call and within 10 minutes the apartment owner showed up to hand over the keys and explain the rules of occupation. He then drove our man to the university in good time to register with security for the event.

Several B2B meetings had been arranged for the 31st May that fortunately our volunteer was able to attend on time. The traveling period on the coach was around 4 hours. The main highway was under repair along a considerable length of a dual carriageway, making it a single carriageway, so slowing progress to that of a chugging van that hogged the lane. There are no direct flights from England to Burgas at the moment and the internal flights from Sophia to Burgas are not that reliable as our chap was to find out on the return leg. Some flights from England to Varna are available, cutting any road trip down to 2 hours from 4.

We have similar problems with some towns in England, such as Eastbourne, a town that is hard to get to by road, reducing coastal tourism opportunities - and even with the MP's lobbying for improvements Burgas is more likely to see improvements before our South Coast bottleneck is cured. Potholes in both countries are a problem.

GATWICK - Aircraft taxi in a slow queue awaiting their turn to jet into the sky. This was the view from our delegate's window as the passengers endured delays that saw queues of planes creeping along the concrete feed road. Copyright © photograph May 30 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation.

LIGHTS - It was a misty day but not so gray that you'd think the landing lights would be switched on for the runway. They looked much prettier in real life than in this picture taken from behind two glass portals. Copyright © photograph May 30 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation.

TAKEOFF - One of the best parts of flying for any engineer is the moment the aircraft parts company with the runway. This is where most fuel is consumed, hence most pollution is created in our atmosphere. Low sulfur fuels, or maybe even electric flights using methanol fuel cells might one day replace fossil fuels. Judging by the slow take-up of electric vehicles in the 1900s and present lack of infrastructure as we head into the 2020s we are stuck with aviation technology that is damaging to the environment. Ignoring that for now, we could not do without flying for some purposes. Holidays are another issue that should attract some serious claw back for sustainable research.  Copyright © photograph May 30 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation.

BLUE SKY - Once the aircraft punches through the clouds and turbulence it is like being in heaven with the sun dancing on the wings at a higher intensity from increased altitude over the planet's surface and the tallest of mountains. Copyright © photograph May 30 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation.

BRAKES - Coming into Sophia with the flaps at full extension causes a high drag that slows the aircraft significantly until a point is reached where conventional disc brakes can be used to good effect on the tarmac. Aircraft runways are generally concrete based, hence solid roads rather then the flexible construction of roads designed to carry cars and trucks. A layer of tarmac is a good leveler to smooth the expansion joints and other irregularities for smoother landings. Copyright © photograph May 30 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation.

By plane

Burgas has an international airport. Burgas airport has a direct 20-minute bus link to the city (main Burgas bus station).

Participants can also fly to Varna and Sofia. We will organise shuttles from and to Varna and Sofia airports (more information will be available in April). Varna-Burgas is a 2-hour drive and Sofia-Burgas a 4-hour drive.

The organizers have prepared an indicative timetable of flights to Burgas, Varna and Sofia before and after the conference. This list will be updated with possible new flights after 20 March and after 1 April.

By train

The Burgas Train Station is located in the city centre, immediately next to the main Bus Station and the Maritime Station.

There are trains to Burgas from all large and most of the smaller cities in Bulgaria. There are trains from and to Sofia throughout the day and night.

BY BUS

There are daily bus lines from and to Burgas, linking it with other large cities in the country – Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Stara Zagora, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, etc

The event organizers have laid on free of charge shuttle buses to take you from Sofia and Varna to Burgas and back.

Travel time Sofia-Burgas: approximately 4 hours.

Travel time Varna-Burgas: approximately 2 hours.

30 MAY TO BURGAS

SHUTTLE BUS DEPARTURE

FROM SOFIA airport 
12.30pm
14.30
17.30
19.00
21.30
23.00 to be confirmed upon specific request

FROM VARNA airport 
14.15
20.30

1 JUNE FROM BURGAS

SHUTTLE BUS DEPARTURE

TO SOFIA airport 12.50 (with lunch pack)
TO VARNA airport 12.50 (with lunch pack)
TO BURGAS airport 12.50 (with lunch pack)
TO BURGAS airport 13.50

2 JUNE FROM BURGAS

SHUTTLE BUS DEPARTURE

TO SOFIA airport 08.00
TO VARNA airport 08.00


By car

There are good road connections between Burgas and all other Bulgarian coastal cities. European Route No. 8, which is the shortest land link between the Adriatic and Black Sea Coasts, passes through Burgas.

Whichever way you choose to travel to Burgas – by plane, train, bus, car or sea, you can’t go wrong. One thing is sure – Burgas is closer than you can imagine and the trip there is sure to be worthwhile.

BURGAS FREE UNIVERSITY - The matchmaking event will be in the building of Burgas Free University from 10:00 to 13: 00 on 31 May, 2018, where the main events of EMD 2018 will take place (8001, Burgas, 62 San Stefano Street)

Important: The rooms are reserved until April 16, 2018. For reservation of rooms, please use the contacts below.

The city offers a great number of rooms in small family hotels and apartments, which you can book online via the Official Tourist Portal of Burgas – https://www.gotoburgas.com/

The city of Burgas and the resort villages in the area offer all the amenities to make your stay with us unforgettable. Every participant in the European Maritime Day can book a room in one of the hotels listed below using code EMD2018.

ABOUT BURGAS

Burgas is the most dynamic and rapidly developing city of Bulgaria. It is the fourth largest city in Bulgaria with population of 220 000 people. The city lies on the Southern Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. Surrounded by three lakes and the sea it provides mild climate in the winter and moderate summer temperatures. Over 43% of the territory of the city is part of NATURA 2000 ecologic network.

Burgas serves as an important commercial and transport hub, with an international airport that handles more than 2.8 million passengers per year and one of the biggest ports on the Black Sea Coast.

Well-developed transport infrastructure connects the city with mainland by highways and railways.

CREATION - The European Maritime Day (EMD) was officially created on 20 May 2008 where the President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering, Council President Janez Janša, and Commission President José Manuel Barroso signed a Joint Tripartite Declaration establishing it.

EMD HEADLINE THEMES

* Brussels 2008: "A regional approach to the implementation of Maritime Policy"

* Rome 2009: "Integrated Maritime Policy and the contribution of maritime clusters"

* Gijón 2010: "How to foster innovation?"

* Gdansk 2011: "Maritime Policy: Putting People First"

* Gothenburg 2012: "Sustainable Growth from the Oceans, Seas and Coasts"

* Valletta 2013: "Coastal Development and Sustainable Maritime Tourism"

* Bremen 2014: "Innovation driving Blue Growth"

* Piraeus 2015: "Ports and Coasts, Gateways to Maritime Growth"

* Turku 2016: "Investing in blue growth – smart and sustainable solutions"

* Poole 2017: "The Future of our Seas"

* Burgas 2018: Bulgaria "Black Sea Big Bang"

* Lisbon 2019: Portugal "TBA"

* Cork 2020: Ireland "TBA"

* Den Helder 2021: The Netherlands "TBA"

* Ravenna 2022: Italy "TBA"

* Brest 2023: France "TBA"

* Svendborg 2024: Denmark "TBA"

The European Maritime Day (EMD) is the annual meeting point for Europe’s maritime community to network, discuss, and forge joint action, in support of an integrated approach to maritime affairs. It is an inspiring, interactive and dynamic event with a strong focus on key European Commission priorities. EMD was officially created on 20 May 2008 and since then is celebrated annually across Europe on 20 May.

The main event of EMD is the European Maritime Day conference, held in a different region with a different theme each year. The EMD conference includes plenary sessions (with the participation of high level and key-experts), stakeholder workshops as well as B2B matchmaking meetings and an exhibition. It attracts regularly more than 1000 participants - policy-makers, maritime stakeholders, industry professionals and NGOs - from across the EU.

For more information about European Maritime Day, please visit the EU's website: 

26 Alexandrovska street, Burgas 8000
Email: info@burgasmaritimefestival.com
Phone: +35 9886717271

http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/maritimeday/

LINKS & REFERENCE

https://burgasmaritimefestival.com/en/pre-event-networking-drink/

https://european-maritime-day-2018.b2match.io/

https://burgasmaritimefestival.com/en/sea-festival/

https://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/maritimeday/en/content/conference

https://www.bfu.bg/en

 This website is provided on a free basis as a public information service. copyright © Cleaner Oceans Foundation Ltd (COFL) (Company No: 4674774) 2018. Solar Studios, BN271RF, United Kingdom. COFL is a charity without share capital. The names AmphiMax™, RiverVax™ and SeaVax™ are trade  names used under license by COF in connection with their 'Feed The World' ocean cleaning sustainability campaign.