Platform represents a great opportunity for all stakeholders to contribute to improving the welfare of animals through cooperation and networking. Hence, the outcome of the Platform will greatly depend on the active and constructive participation of each member.

29. Calls on the Commission to specify all the European funds available to finance blue economy activities and to concentrate them under a single platform accessible to citizens; also calls on the Commission to earmark funding for innovation and blue growth to finance fundamental research, R&D, training, job creation, business start-ups, SMEs, social enterprises, cooperatives, education and apprenticeships, reducing coastal poverty, biotechnological development, transport links, energy interconnectivity, shipbuilding and ship repairs ...[+++], coastal access to broadband, environmental protection and the sale of innovative products, services and processes;

1. Urges the Commission to take Parliament’s proposals into account and to propose a definition of the blue economy that covers all existing or future production and employment at sea, as well as the onshore ramifications thereof; calls on the Commission to specify those activities in the EU most likely to be of use in developing and consolidating the blue economy and, to that end, to draw up a non-exhaustive, inclusive list that covers, as a minimum, the following activities: maritime technology and innovation, sustainable fisheries, shipbuilding, renewable marine energy, sustainable seabed mining, marine biotechnology, seaweed farming ...[+++], fish farming, shellfish farming, coastal and maritime tourism, the development of offshore platforms, shipping, the cleaning-up of the sea and port areas, undersea pipeline and cable burial, and seawater desalination;

29. Calls on the Commission to specify all the European funds available to finance blue economy activities and to concentrate them under a single platform accessible to citizens; also calls on the Commission to earmark funding for innovation and blue growth to finance fundamental research, RD, training, job creation, business start-ups, SMEs, social enterprises, cooperatives, education and apprenticeships, reducing coastal poverty, biotechnological development, transport links, energy interconnectivity, shipbuilding and ship repairs, ...[+++] coastal access to broadband, environmental protection and the sale of innovative products, services and processes;

In particular, the Commission shall operate an EU-level platform to facilitate the construction of transnational partnerships, the exchange of experience, capacity building and networking and the capitalisation on and the dissemination of the relevant outcomes.

New economic challenges are rising from regions of the world where much more permissive legislation is allowing companies to build huge new airports that divert a lot of travellers from European hubs.