On October 7^th 2012, EU Ministers responsible for maritime affairs agreed and adopted a political declaration which aims at re-energising the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP), five years after its initial launching in Lisbon. The Limassol Declaration was presented on October 8^th at a special ceremony in Limassol by Cyprus’ Communications and Works Minister, Mr. Efthemios Flourentzou, in the attendance of the President of Cyprus Mr. Demetris Christofias and the President of the European Commission, Mr. José Manuel Barroso. The Limassol Declaration is expected to mark a milestone for the future implementation and development of the EU’s IMP, by providing guidelines for a comprehensive and coherent approach to the maximum sustainable exploitation of the EU’s seas and oceans for achieving economic growth.

The two-day Informal Ministerial Meeting in Cyprus was chaired by Mr. Flourentzou and focused exclusively on the future of the EU’s IMP. Ministers agreed to endorse the political declaration, which constitutes a Cyprus Presidency initiative.

The EU’s IMP constitutes an innovative cross-cutting policy which is considered extremely important in the efforts to enhance the EU’s ability to exploit to the maximum the sustainable use of oceans, seas and coasts in an all-rounded way.

Through the Limassol Declaration, ministers expressed their intention to provide the EU’s IMP with a new impetus, thus helping the EU meet its objectives of Strategy “Europe 2020” and provide the Union with more potential options for getting out of the financial crisis.

The Declaration, which focuses on ‘Blue Growth’ and the IMP’s external dimension, is a Cyprus Presidency initiative, and was formulated through a cooperation of the Cyprus Presidency, the European Commission and the Friends of the Presidency Working Party of the Council of the EU.

The text of the declaration is available here.

Luxembourg was represented by Mr. Robert Biwer, Government Cooissioner for Maritime Affairs.