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

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

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

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

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