HEARING | 15 April 2015, 14:30 – 18:00 | Aberdeen, United Kingdom

Mercure Aberdeen Ardoe House Hotel & Spa | South Deeside Road, Blairs | Aberdeen AB12 5YP - UK

Event moderated by Mr. Brendan Burns

14:30 – 14:40 / OPENING
Mr. Brendan Burns, EESC Member, President of the study group on "Prospects for long-term smart, sustainable development of European offshore industry and its relations with the EU's maritime sectors"
14:40 – 15:00 / OFFSHORE INDUSTRIES
·  The position of the European offshore industries vis-à-vis Rest of World players. Does the issue of the level playing field affect the competitiveness of the European offshore sectors?
·  Offshore sustainable energy initiatives.
·  The drivers that create new markets or/and provide new business opportunities for offshore industries.
·  The European offshore wind industry - key trends.
·  Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis of European offshore industry.
Mr. Steve Kew, Chief Operating Officer and an Executive Director of Xcite-energy / Small business perspective
Mr. Liam Smyth, Membership Director, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce
15:00 – 15:30 / MARITIME INDUSTRIES (SHIPBUILDING, SMCR, MARINE EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS)
·  The scope of economic cooperation and interactions between the EU offshore industries and the European maritime and marine industries.
·  Are ties getting stronger between EU offshore sectors and European maritime and marine industries? How does this affect the competitiveness of both sectors in the global market?
Mr. Arkadiusz Aszyk, Managing Director of Remontowa Holding SA, Gdansk/Poland
Mr. Mischa Terzyk, Policy Advisor, IndustriALL
Ms. Sarai Blanc, Policy Adviser, SEA Europe / On interactions and cooperation between maritime and offshore industries
15:30 – 16:00 / QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
16:00 – 16:20 / COFFEE BREAK
16:20 – 17:00 / SOCIAL PARTNERS, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, R&D/UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVES
·  State of play of social dialogue and social standards in the offshore industries sector.
·  The level of investment in human capital, skills and competences at the offshore companies in Europe.
·  The issue of compliance with environmental and emission standards in the European offshore industry.
·  Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis of European offshore industry.
·  Research, development and innovation characteristics of the EU offshore industries and green market opportunities for its sectors (this question is mainly for EMSA and R&D/university)
Mr. Marian Cirnat, Senior P.O. for Pollution Response to Offshore Installations, Cooperation and Information, Pollution Response Services, European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)
Mr. Jimmy Gray, Councillor, Chair of the North Sea Commission’s Energy & Climate Change Thematic Group
Mr. Bertie Armstrong, CEO of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation
Professor John Paterson, School of Law, University of Aberdeen / legal and regulatory dimensions of the offshore oil and gas industry
17:00 – 17:45 / QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
· 
17:45 – 18:00 / CONCLUSIONS
Mr. Marian Krzaklewski, Rapporteur of the EESC opinion on " Prospects for long-term smart, sustainable development of European offshore industry and its relations with the EU's maritime sectors ", EESC Member
Mr. José Leirião, Co-rapporteur of the aforementioned opinion, CCMI delegate