The Atlantic Stakeholders Platform Conference 2023 REPORT is out!
The 2023 edition of the Atlantic Stakeholder Platform Conference (ASPC2023) took place in Oporto, Portugal on 18 and 19 October 2023. The theme of this year’s conference was “Atlantic Future: New synergies and innovations for a sustainable ocean economy”. The Conference focused on providing insights of the key Atlantic Action Plan (AAP) 2.0 activities and challenges of achieving sustainable blue growth and contributing to greater territorial cooperation and cohesion in the Atlantic area, both in the EU as well as internationally. Special focus was also
given to synergies identification and promotion.
The conference was held as a hybrid event with physical and online participation and brought together over 170 stakeholders both traditional as well as new ones from different geographies to discuss future cooperation on blue economy, investments, innovation and sustainability.
Structure
Opening Ceremony
Welcoming the audience with a recorded message by the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius; followed by welcoming remarks from DG MARE and the National Representatives.
3 Plenary Sessions
Discussing the three levels – National, European and International with regards to the European & International dimension of the AAP 2.0, investment and innovative finance, and R&I in the Atlantic area.
- 1st Plenary session - European and International dimension of the AAP 2.0 to boost sustainable blue economy
This session was structured in 4 pillar focused parts, during which the different visions were presented from the European, inte rnational
and project level perspective and future cooperation prospects were discussed between the panel speakers. - 2nd Plenary session - Cross cutting enabler Investment and Innovative Finance: from a National, EU and International perspective
This session presented the three different perspectives on what is innovative finance and how it can support the implementation of the
revised Atlantic Action Plan (AAP 2.0) while fostering sustainable blue economy on both sides of the Atlantic. Speakers prese nte d the EU,
international and national perspectives, with special focus put on identifying synergies between EU and international funds. - 3rd Plenary session - Cross cutting enabler Research and Innovation: the international dimension of the Atlantic Strategy and the Mission ‘Restore our ocean and waters by 2030’
The third and final plenary session explored opportunities and challenges for cooperation on Research & Innovation (R&I) in the Atlantic area, with a roundtable discussion being held representing the three levels of R&I cooperation: international, national and regional.
Networking and Matchmaking
Bringing together all participating stakeholders to connect, discuss and network in the exhibition area.
Atlantic Project Awards
Six awards granted in five award categories as a recognition of the projects’ outstanding performance, promoting the key priorities of the Atlantic Strategy
Closing Ceremony
Ministerial Meeting
The Ministerial Meeting took place in Porto back-to-back with the Atlantic Stakeholders Platform Conference and the first Atlantic Ministerial Declaration was approved! During the Ministerial Meeting France, Ireland, Portugal and Spain, supported by the European Commission, committed to further build on Atlantic's success by cooperating on a wide variety of Sustainable Blue Economy topics.
Find everything about this memorable moment here!