EC sets up think-tank

Brussels has called a meeting to discuss the state of Europe’s shipbuilding and marine engineering industries. The key meeting of government and industry figures in Bremen on 11 September is being organized by the office of Günter Verheugen, vice-president of the commission for trade and industry.

It is part of the Leadership 2015 initiative, which has the long-term goal of developing the community’s policies in shipbuilding and R&D. However, it is being limited to only 30 participants “for optimal effectiveness and to facilitate commitment and implementation,” according to a statement on the European Commission’s Enterprise and Industry website.

It adds, “Industry has launched an analysis of the intensifying challenges facing the sector that is expected to deliver recommendations for new policies and actions in the course of 2009.” This is mid-way through the 12-year-long Leadership 2015 framework program. The commission recognizes that the urgency and importance of this has been increased by the economic downturn.

The meeting comes after a number of yards in Europe have reported difficulties, with some announcing the discontinuation of shipbuilding. Engineering firms have also been hit as cancellations increased and their once-healthy backlogs began to decline.

As one solution to the ongoing challenges facing the region’s industry, Leadership 2015 had been pushing for Europe to focus on technology innovation and development, along with the building of highly technical specialized ships such as dredgers, vessels for the highly diverse offshore sector, cruiseships and mega-yachts.