1. Christophe Clergeau, European Comittee of the Regions rapporteur
A new stage in the European policy on blue growth HOW TO FINANCE PROJECTS ?
Christophe Clergeau,
European Comittee of the Regions rapporteur

2. The sea at the heart of Europe
We need a political new agenda
What are the priorities ? The moon or the sea ?
The claim for a white paper « The sea at the heart of Europe »: new governance and cross-sectorial approach
A blue coalition to face MFF agenda ?
We need concrete decisions to finance projects
New tools to finance blue growth ?
Projects exist but are risky
Modernisation and diversification in traditionnal activities
Innovative sectors and technologies

3. A better mobilization of cohesion policy in a bottom up approach
Bassins strategies as a framework for coherent smart specialisation strategies
A blue growth dimension in cohesion policy operational programmes
Not as a specific axis but via a maritime impact appendix
And a set of blue growth tools including financing risk
A booster for inter regional projects
Bottom up projects in line with sea bassin strategies and S3
European top up funding
Integrated programmes for local communities pooling cohesion and and maritime policies

4. New tools for a new ambition
FP9 : a target of 10% for marine and maritime research
Place-based industrial roadmap for marine renewable energies, shipyards and biotechnologies
European blue economy investment fund/mechanism
Junker plan initiative for blue economy
Large scale projects : ocean energy pilot farms or shipyards
But also financing local projects via blue economy platforms

5. Setting regional blue economy platforms
Combine sea basins strategies and Junker plan
A regional or inter regional area with a high potential for projects pipeline
A coordinated strategy to identify and support projects
Same methods and tools accross associated regions
Mobilizing national and regional funds and cohesion policy
To set up and select projects in traditional and innovative sectors
1 to 20 M€ project size
A partnership between EIB and rooted financial actors
Financial EIB allocation minimum of 200 M€
1-3 financial actors for loans and private equity
Pooling national, regional, cohesion policy and other EU budgetary contributions to finance risk