The second meeting of the BSPC Working Group on Integrated Maritime Policy was held on 15-16 April in the premises of the European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions in Brussels.
Members of the European Parliament and representatives of the EU Commission and the Committee of the regions gave presentations and opinions on issues such as EU Integrated Maritime Policy, maritime transport, Trans-European Networks and cooperation between EU and Russia on maritime affairs. The European Ports Organization and the European Community Shipowners Association were also represented at the meeting, and informed about their views on port infrastructure, maritime traffic and emissions, and short sea shipping. The meeting coincided with the ash eruption of the Eyjafallajökull volcano in Iceland.
The Working Group will now proceed to draft political recommendations and an interim report, to be submitted to the 19th BSPC in Mariehamn in August 2010. The next meeting of the Working Group will be convened in Copenhagen on 15 June.