ATLANTIC STRATEGY IN ACTION (includes webstreams)

9:00

Registration of participants / Welcome coffee

9:30

Welcome and introduction

- Mr Jerry LUNDY, Member Committee of Regions
- Mr Felix LEINEMANN, Assistant to the Director General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

- Ms Marcella SMYTH, Chair Atlantic Strategy Group, Irish Permanent Representation to the EU (Brussels)

9:45

Atlantic Strategy and the Action Plan: state of play

- Mr Juan RONCO, DG MARE.C-1

Short presentation by DG MARE about the state of play in the implementation of the Strategy and the Action Plan.

10:00

Supporting implementation and monitoring: the "Support Team for the Atlantic Action Plan" (Central Office and National Units)

- Mr Alexandros CHLOROS, Project Manager
- Presentation of the National Units (Ireland, France, Portugal, Spain and UK) of the "Support Team".

The Assistance Mechanism will introduce itself, explain its role, presents its work (e.g. website, roadshows, national events) and the National Units.

10:30

Funds in support of the Atlantic Strategy and Action Plan

- ERDF Mr Vicente RODRIGUEZ SAEZ, Deputy Head of Unit, DG REGIO D-1

- EMFF Ms Viktoria VARGA LENCSES, Deputy Head of Unit, DG MARE C-3

- ESF Mr Florian HAUSER, DG EMPL F-1
- EAFRD Ms Eva DIMOVNE KERESZTES, DG AGRI H-1

Commission officials will discuss how the different funds can be used to help implement the Strategy and the Action Plan.

11:15

Coffee Break

11:30

European Investment Plan : the "European Investment Project Portal"

- Mr Michael FEITH, DG ECFIN L-3

Presentation of the European Investment Project Portal (EIPP), a web portal enabling EU based project promoters, public or private, to reach potential investors worldwide. It is part of the "Investment Plan for Europe" initiative to mobilise investment, promote economic growth and create more jobs across the EU.

11:45

Experiences from the Baltic

- Ms Joanna KIRYLLO, DG REGIO D-1

Short presentation on what can be done/achieved to support a Strategy based on the experience in the Baltic.

12:00

Showcasing of funded projects / programmes in support of the Atlantic Strategy and Action Plan

- Ms Maria MUÑOZ, Senior Adviser, Directorate General for EU Funds, Spanish Ministry for Finance and Public Administration: "The Spanish actions to implement the Atlantic Strategy, including through a 'Blue Integrated Territorial Investment''

Managing authorities / funding bodies will make, or introduce, presentations with examples of projects/programmes in support of the Atlantic Strategy and Action Plan.

12:30

Lunch break

13:30

Breakout sessions: discussion

(Rooms JDE 51, JDE 7162, JDE 53 JDE 70)

Dedicated sessions at Member State level, involving Managing Authorities, National Units of the "Support Team for the Atlantic Action Plan", Commission staff (DG REGIO, DG MARE) to discuss:

1) Stocktaking in the implementation of the Strategy and the Action Plan: areas of interest, problems.

2) Covering the gap between available programme funding and projects: project and project ideas, available funding.

3) Next steps: how to better cooperate and reinforce each other initiatives and actions, for ex. national units, contact persons from the Interreg programmes, managing authorities, other initiatives/bodies in the area, etc.

14:45

Breakout sessions: wrap up and conclusions

(Rooms JDE 51, JDE 7162, JDE 53 JDE 70)

Within the break-out sessions participants will, with the help of a moderator, draw operational conclusions on the further implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan.

15:15

Boosting skills and career development in the blue economy
- Ms Alessia CLOCCHIATTI, DG MARE C-1

Supporting development of careers and skills in relevant sectors to underpin a prosperous and sustainable blue economy in all sea basins, including the Atlantic area.

15:45

Coffee break

16:00

Funding cooperation across the Atlantic Area: crossborder and transnational programmes

- Mr. Michael O'BRIEN, Atlantic Area Programme

- Representatives other programmes crossborder and transnational programmes.

16:30

Wrap-up, conclusions and next steps

- Ms Lena ANDERSSON, Director DG REGIO D

- Ms Marcella SMYTH, Chair Atlantic Strategy Group, Irish Permanent Representation to the EU (Brussels)

17:00

End of the event