The Committee of the Regions (CoR) has called for a greater public and private support for ocean energy to boost the economic growth and secure jobs in the EU’s regions.
CoR argues that the greater commitment would boost energy security and enable the European Union to retain its competitive advantage in this pioneering sector, CoR’s press release reads.
The opinion was drafted by Rhodri Glyn Thomas from the Welsh Assembly (UK/European Alliance).
Thomas said: “Ocean energy is at the cutting edge of renewables and offers a unique opportunity to promote local jobs and sustainable economic growth. But, to bridge the gap towards commercialisation, greater cooperation between public and private sector and research centres is of paramount importance.”
The opinion which has secured the support of all five political groups in the CoR states that, in the long term, ocean energy could be a game-changer in the decarbonisation of the economy, and to achieve this potential, the EU institutions, member states, local and regional authorities, industry, NGOs, as well as financing institutions and research institutes should work together to bring ocean-energy technologies to maturity.
According to CoR, the meeting scheduled for October 20, 2015, in Dublin, will see the ministers from the EU’s member states, the European Commission and key stakeholders discuss a roadmap from the Ocean Energy Forum, which, the CoR hopes, could eventually lead to the launch of a formal European Industrial Initiative for the sector.
The opinion highlights Ireland and Portugal as countries that have national ocean energy strategies, and mentions the local authorities in France (Brittany, Aquitaine, Pays de la Loire, Basse Normandie), Spain (Basque Country, Cantabria, Galicia), Belgium (Flanders) and Sweden (Västra Götaland) show a particular interest to take the lead in harnessing the potential of ocean energy.
Created in 1994, the European Committee of the Regions is the European Union’s assembly of regional and local representatives.
Image: rhodriglynthomas.org