Celebrations in Rome of the European Day of the Sea
Rome, May 18-20
From May 18-20, Palazzo Colonna in Rome will have the honour to
host the main celebrations related to the second edition of the
European Day of the Sea, one of the initiatives of the Integrated
Maritime Policy launched by the EU. On 20 May 2008, in Strasbourg,
the Presidents of the European Commission Barroso,of the European
Council Jansa and of the European Parliament Pöttering signed
a Tripartite Declaration in which it was decided to celebrate the
European Day of the Sea on May 20 of each year.
The coast of the continent extends to almost 70,000 kilometers, 22
of the 27 EU Member States are coastal or island countries, 40% of
its population lives in coastal regions, where 40% of the
continent's economic output is generated and which employs around 5
million people: these are the basic reasons why the sea plays a key
role in the European prosperity.