Priority 4: Create a socially inclusive and sustainable model of regional development

Specific objectives of this priority include:

1. fostering better knowledge of social challenges in the Atlantic area

Exchanging best practice on enhancing the health, social inclusion and well-being of coastal populations and developing appropriate and usable marine socio-economic indicators to measure, compare and follow trends in the development of the blue economy;

2. preserving and promoting the Atlantic's cultural heritage

Combating seasonality and improving prospects for SMEs through diversification of maritime and coastal tourism products and development of niche markets by investing in:

  • marine sport, marinas and nautical leisure activities;
  • port services, including those for cruise passengers;
  • identifying and promoting cultural and natural attractions of the Atlantic seaboard such as artisanal fishing, local cuisine and maritime heritage;
  • protecting and restoring tourist attractions, including coastal and underwater cultural attractions and maritime heritage sites, with archaeological, ecological or historical value (*).

*  following as appropriate the principles of the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.