Transatlantic Blue Economy Initiative

The term “Blue Economy” has been used in different ways. A comprehensive World Bank Report defines the Blue Economy as “comprising the range of economic sectors and related policies that together determine whether the use of oceanic resources is sustainable. An important challenge of the blue economy is thus to understand and better manage the many aspects of oceanic sustainability, ranging from sustainable fisheries to ecosystem health to pollution.”

Sustainable management of ocean resources requires collaboration across nation-states and across the public-private sectors. In the United States as well as in the European Union (EU), the governments have started to implement Blue Economy programs on the national, regional, and local level. The challenges vary in each country, and there are different tools needed for maritime industries such as fisheries, transport, and tourism. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung USA (KAS) and the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program partner and propose the creation of a joint “Transatlantic Blue Economy Initiative” that would enable key decision-makers and policymakers in the United States and the EU to collaborate and work on concrete initiatives by sharing best practices as well as lessons learned from Blue Economy policies.

This initiative has several components, among them a recorded speech and Q&A with EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius, two webinars, and one publication of a policy paper (short policy briefs on subtopics by various authors with recommendations) to be released this fall.

This initiative is in partnership with and thanks to the generous support of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung's Washington Office