The launch event of the large-scale project #BlueGeneration that opens the way to young people (15-29 yrs old) to pursue a sustainable career in the Blue Economy sector, was held with success in Brussels (30/11/2018).

 The purpose of this event was to spread the word about the objective of the #BlueGeneration project to inspire, attract and engage young people to take advantage of the job opportunities available in diverse Blue Economy sectors – from coastal tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, and maritime transport, to ocean energy, marine biotechnology, and mineral resources.

The event attended stakeholders and organisations in Blue Economy across Europe, representatives of the European Commission and the EU Parliament, the fund operator of the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment (ECORYS in Poland), and all the beneficiary and expert partners forming the Blue Generation Project consortium.The opening welcome was delivered by Mr. Christophe Tytgat, Secretary General of Sea Europe, and Mr. Kyriakos Lingas, representing the Blue Generation Project lead partner Militos Consulting SA in Greece. Ms. Wera Helstrøm, initiated the event presentations, stressing the important role and initiatives of the Mission of Norway within the scope of the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement.  The nexus between Blue Economy and Youth employment in the European Union, as a much promising development area, have been addressed by key speeches by Ms. Alessia Clocchiati, representing European Commission’s DG Mare, and Ms. Minna Nurminen, representing European Commission’s DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion respectively. Lastly, Ms. Silja Teege, representing project partner Sea Teach in Spain, and Mr. Kyriakos Lingas, presented the objectives, the work philosophy and the international partnership of the #BlueGeneration project.

The audience engaged in an open discussion with the project partners and key speakers, exploring and initiating on the spot cooperation ideas and synergies, securing this way a well-established basis for further collaboration, that will substantially help the project to reach its objective to actively involve approx. 40,000 young people in Blue Economy jobs and training – an endeavor that should be supported by all relevant stakeholders at labour market, education and training, as well as policy-making levels.

The Blue Generation Project (June 2018 – August 2022) is funded by the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment, it is coordinated by Militos Consulting SA in Greece and Sea Teach in Spain and is implemented by an international consortium in five EU Member-States (Bulgaria, Greece, Poland, Portugal and Spain), with support from Blue Economy Experts from Belgium, Germany, Iceland and Norway.

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