PHOTO COURTESY EUROPEAN BOATING INDUSTRYThe Belgian EU presidency, the European Commission and European Boating Industry convened on March 18 at the Egmont Palace in Brussels to address end-of-life concerns created by recreational boats.
The event brought together stakeholders that included recreational boating industry representatives and policymakers. Presenters included Belgian deputy prime minister and minister of mobility Georges Gilkinet, director for maritime policy and blue economy at the European Commission Delilah Al Khudhairy and Robert Marx, president of EBI.
“As we move forward, it is imperative that the momentum generated by this conference translates into concrete action,” Marx said in a statement. “The implementation of the EU Roadmap must be the key next step after the approaching EU elections. Industry is ready, the technology is ready and we now need to set up the regulatory framework to make it happen. We are delighted to have the support of the European Commission and Belgian Council Presidency in this endeavor.”
Topics included financial and legal frameworks, technical advancements in recycling and environmental impact assessments. There is also research ongoing focused on composite materials and lifecycle analysis.
