Europe’s Maritime Leaders Set Sail for Cork

Cork is taking centre stage as it welcomes over 1,000 European maritime leaders, policymakers, researchers and stakeholders for European Maritime Day (EMD) 2025.

The event is being hosted by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, in partnership with Cork City Council and the European Commission.

European Maritime Day is the EU’s flagship event for maritime affairs, bringing together Europe’s maritime community to collaborate on issues ranging from sustainable ocean governance and marine innovation to coastal community development and blue economy initiatives.

Cork, with its deep-rooted maritime heritage and institutions such as Haulbowline Naval Base, the National Maritime College, and the Research Ireland Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, provides a fitting backdrop for the event.

The three-day conference will feature 24 workshops across six thematic tracks: Coastal Communities, Maritime Security and Surveillance, Blue Energy, Enablers, Maritime Cooperation, and Food Security.

Among the attendees will be EU Commissioner for Fisheries Costas Kadis, MEPs, NGOs, academics and a host of other international stakeholders.

In addition to the main event, a free public celebration, European Maritime Days To Play, will run on Friday and Saturday, 23–24 May, offering boat tours, seafood tastings, science exhibits and family-friendly entertainment along Cork’s harbour.

As Ireland prepares to assume the EU Presidency in the second half of 2026, EMD 2025 offers an important platform to reaffirm its leadership in shaping Europe’s maritime future.

Further details on European Maritime Day are available via the European Commission’s website.