The European Maritime Day was established jointly by the European Council, European Parliament and European Commission in 2008 as part of the Integrated Maritime Policy for the EU. As stated in the Joint Tripartite Declaration signed by the Presidents of the three institutions, its aim is "to increase awareness and visibility of the importance of the oceans, of a vibrant maritime economy and of the rich European maritime heritage".

Since then, two European Maritime Day Stakeholder Conferences were held with a resonating success: in Brussels (2008) and in Rome (2009), confirming the key role of stakeholders in shaping the Integrated Maritime Policy of the European Union.

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Venue: Gijón, Spain