Latest news with #CostasKadis
Euronews
5 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
High Seas Treaty gets major boost from EU and 6 member states
The European Union and six of its member states formally ratified the United Nations treaty to protect the high seas on Wednesday in New York. This international agreement is seen as a critical opportunity to safeguard parts of the ocean that lie beyond national maritime borders. The latest wave of ratifications comes ahead of the landmark UN Ocean Conference, scheduled to take place in Nice, France, in early June. EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, described the move as a 'historic step towards protecting the world's oceans and preserving the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystem.' Ratification means that the EU and the six individual member states have formally agreed to the treaty becoming binding international law. This often involves aligning national legislation with what the treaty outlines. In April, the European Commission presented a proposal for a directive that would transpose the High Seas Treaty into European law. The High Seas Treaty has the potential to bring about a significant shift in global ocean conservation efforts. Areas beyond national jurisdiction -including the high seas and seabed -cover nearly two-thirds of the world's oceans. These regions face increasing threats from pollution, overexploitation, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Currently, only about 1 per cent of the high seas is protected. Following years of negotiations, a global consensus on the need to protect the high seas was reached in March 2023. The text of the treaty was formally adopted in June 2023 at the UN headquarters in New York. The agreement paves the way for protecting marine life in areas outside of national maritime boundaries. It allows for the creation of marine protected areas and supports the global goal of safeguarding at least 30 per cent of the world's oceans by 2030. Classified as a 'mixed agreement,' the treaty needs to be ratified by both the EU and its individual member states separately. On Wednesday, Cyprus, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal, and Slovenia joined the EU in submitting their ratification. France and Spain had already ratified the treaty earlier this year. To come into force, the treaty requires ratification by 60 parties. With these latest additions, the number of ratifications has reached 29. A total of 115 countries have signed the treaty, indicating their potential commitment to ratification. The EU is urging all remaining parties to ratify the agreement without delay, in the hope of securing the 60 ratifications required for it to enter into force by the time of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice. Nathalie Rey, European Regional Coordinator for the High Seas Alliance, described the EU's action as a 'powerful acceleration' toward meeting the ratification threshold just days before the summit. 'EU leadership is essential in confronting the biodiversity and climate crises. This bold move sends a clear message that ocean protection is not optional - it's a global priority,' she said.
Irish Examiner
21-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Experts from over 40 countries to attend European Maritime Day conference in Cork
The European Maritime Day conference, which kicks off today, will host experts from over 40 countries to discuss a range of topics – from maritime security to coastal tourism and marine pollution to ocean energy. An estimated 1,000 people will descend on Cork for the three-day event, with the conference workshops taking place in City Hall and adjoining venues. A free family-friendly festival will be held along the city quays on Friday and Saturday. People working in the maritime sector will be travelling from China, Canada, Japan, Africa, Denmark, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, France, and Germany to the event. Taoiseach Micheál Martin is due to attend the conference, as will European Commissioner for Ocean and Fisheries, Costas Kadis, as well as Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Commissioner, Michael McGrath. Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O'Brien and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Timmy Dooley are also scheduled to take part. The conference is organised by Cork City Council, the Government and the European Commission. Sisters Saoirse Healy (aged 8) and Caoimhe Healy (aged 10) at last month's launch of the free family-friendly maritime celebration, 'European Maritime Days to Play' which will be held this weekend in Cork to mark the city hosting Europe's premier maritime conference. Picture: Clare Keogh Cork City Council Chief Executive, Valerie O'Sullivan said: 'It is an honour for Cork City Council and the Government of Ireland to host European Maritime Day and to see the positive impact this conference is having on the city's hospitality and tourism sector. "The importance of the maritime sector to Cork and the national economy is significant. Up to 37% of Ireland's marine companies and 40% of our blue bio-economy and seafood industry are based in the south of the country.' She pointed out that the Naval Service is based at Haulbowline, the National Maritime College of Ireland, part of Munster Technological University, is located in Ringaskiddy and that the Port of Cork is one of Ireland's main commercial ports. 'From a tourism perspective, Cork Harbour is Ireland's top cruise destination with over 115,000 passengers visiting each year,' she added. It is estimated that more than €2m will be spent in Cork over the three days. The workshops attract a number of highly topical issues and leading speakers. The discussion on the EU's response to maritime security involves top French, Italian, and Greek naval and coast guard officers. A related workshop of protecting subsea infrastructure includes Camino Kavanagh, a visiting senior fellow of the Department of War Studies at King's College London and Lieutenant Commander Mike Brunicardi of the Irish Naval Service. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) will examine the EU Maritime Security Strategy. The Irish Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), located in Wexford, will discuss the 'complex' area of maritime regulation and EU directives and hold a workshop on improving co-operation between maritime practitioners, bodies and regulators. Read More Ireland to join intel-sharing alliance amid fears over threat to subsea cables
Irish Examiner
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Free family maritime festival to take over Cork's quays this May
A free maritime-themed family festival will take place along Cork's city quays next month as the city hosts a major European maritime conference. The two-day European Maritime Days to Play festival, featuring tours of naval and research vessels, street performances, cooking demos, and live music along Albert Quay and Kennedy Quay, will coincide with the European Maritime Day conference, which runs from May 21 to 23, hosted by Cork City Council and the Government. The conference will bring up to 1,000 maritime professionals together from across Europe to network, discuss and outline a range of proposed joint actions on maritime affairs, including fisheries and maritime security, to exploring the potential of the sustainable blue economy, including off-shore renewables. The conference, which will be attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, European fisheries commissioner Costas Kadis, and MEP Michael McGrath, will take place at City Hall and other nearby sites from May 21 to 23. But the free maritime festival for the public will spill out onto the quays on the Friday and Saturday, May 23 and 24, to engage the city. Saoirse Healy at the launch of the festival. It will involve input from the city council, the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Irish Naval Service and Commissioners of Irish Lights. The programme of events includes cooking demos by rising stars of the Irish culinary world, with a focus on seafood, interactive science exhibitions, as well as opportunities to explore an aquaculture classroom on wheels and to tour some of the country's naval, research, patrol and buoy laying vessels. BIM's Taste the Atlantic: Seafood Experience event showcasing the Atlantic coastline's sustainable seafood will be on the quays, hosting cooking demos by BIM Taste the Atlantic Young Chef ambassadors. The Marine Institute's science exhibition will include a series of interactive displays and exhibits exploring the marine world, from the rocky seashore to the deep sea. The Commissioners of Irish Lights, the marine regulator Mara, and the RNLI will also have stands, and there will be an exhibition on the history of Irish lighthouses from 1786. The programme will also feature creative activities, from street performances to live music and children's entertainment, with the army band, Evelyn Kelly and the Cork Pops Orchestra, and various circus acts among the performers. The European Fisheries Control Agency's patrol vessel, the Naval Service's LÉ Aoibhinn, the Marine Institute's RV Tom Crean and the Commissioners of Irish Lights' ILV Granuaile will be open to the public on the Saturday for tours. The event is being funded by the Department of Environment, Cork City Council, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, EirGrid, the marine environment section of the Department of Heritage, and Mara. Lord Mayor, Cllr Dan Boyle, said the city was honoured to host European Maritime Day conference. 'To celebrate this event and Cork's rich maritime heritage, people of all ages can enjoy the free and fun 'European Maritime Days to Play', which will increase understanding around how our river, harbour, seas and oceans enrich our lives," he said. Council chief executive Valerie O'Sullivan said the city was delighted to be working with Government to welcome some of Europe's leading maritime experts to Leeside. 'As we know, the marine sector, bioeconomy, seafood industry and maritime commercial companies play a key role in the Cork economy, providing quality jobs to our highly educated workforce and coastal communities, while marine tourism is thriving along the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East,' she said. The festival also marks the annual return of the Cork Harbour Festival, which runs from May 24 to June 2, with more than 80 events being staged at a dozen locations across the city and county. Read More Cork Airport to welcome 62,500 passengers this May bank holiday weekend
