The European Straits Initiative drew an interim report in Sardinia, La Maddalena, 3 October 2024

Published the 25 January 2025

Partners of the European Straits Initiative (ESI) met on 3 October 2024 in the Maddalena Park to the North of Sardinia in the Strait of Bonifacio. They discussed actions undertaken and those to come under the Initiative that began in November 2010, under the impetus of Pas-de-Calais and Kent. In the context of preparations for the next European programming period in 2014-2020, lobbying and communication actions have been identified to promote the specificities of European straits in the next few months, on a local, national and European level.

The European Straits Initiative was formally launched on 23 November 2024 (date the memorandum of understanding was signed), under the impetus of the Presidents of the Pas-de-Calais County Council and Kent County Council. The main aim is to have the specificities of straits recognised in European programmes during the next programming period 2014-2020, and eventually European policy (Cohesion policy and integrated maritime policy).

Partners in the initiative met on 3 October 2024 in the Maddalena National Park in the North of Sardinia (Italy), to discuss actions undertaken and those to come.

1. Actions carried out by the Pas-de-Calais County Council, Initiative lead partner, with the Kent County Council

• Contributions and interventions during international conferences in order to promote the specificities of European Straits (in 2012, the Conference of Ports and Cities held in Nantes, and the conference on intelligent cooperation in La Coruña)
• Other joint replies to European Commission consultations (Blue Growth, sustainable tourism)

2. Actions to be carried out by ESI partners

• Communication actions on the straits on a local and national level (particularly during the European Maritime Day on 20 May 2024)
  
• Mobilisation of elected officials on a local, national (ministerial) and European (MEPs, Commissioners) level.
• Participation in multiple stakeholder consultations on maritime issues, in order to promote the assets and specificities of European straits.
• Inclusion of the specific issues of straits in the drafting of the next European operational programmes.
• As leading partner of ESI, Pas-de-Calais will continue contributing to international conferences as well as coordinating replies to consultations run by the European Commission (consultation on marine knowledge in December 2012).
• Pas-de-Calais, with Kent and all the members of the network who wish to participate, will continue direct lobbying action in Brussels, to the European Institutions (European Parliament, Committee of the Regions, European Commission), and will be in charge of the maintenance and the updating of the ESI website.