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European Network of Maritime Clusters
The European Network of Maritime Clusters (Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom) was founded on 4 November 2005 in Paris by maritime organisations of ten countries, with the objective to learn from each other and to promote and strengthen the maritime clusters of member states and Europe as a whole. The basis for this founding session was created during a first meeting which took place in The Hague on 26-27 April 2004, and a joint-presentation of the various maritime clusters at the Maritime Industries Forum Plenary Session on 26 January 2005 in Bremen. The European Network of Maritime Clusters organised itself as a flexible network in which members cooperate on a voluntary basis for issues related to their national agenda’s, and in a more structured way for actions at the European level. Meanwhile the Spanish Cluster was officially founded in January 2007 and joined the ENMC as participant. Organisation
The European Network of Maritime Clusters is under the responsability of a presidium, consisting of a chairman, a vice-chairman and a secretary. Presently the presidium is held by:
- Francis Vallat Chairman
- Fabrice Maire Vice-Chairman
- Paul Marceul Secretary-General Contact
The European Network of Maritime Clusters can be contacted through the national cluster organisations or through the secretariat. The secretariat is located at one of the member offices. Presently the secretariat is based at the offices of:
Luxembourg Maritime Cluster
7, rue Alcide de Gasperi
L-1645 Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Telephone +352 26 38 90 27 / e-mail: contact@cluster-maritime.lu
Mission Statement
The objectives of the European Network of Maritime Clusters is simple: to promote and reinforce the European Maritime Cluster and its maritime sectors. This has been done by setting up a network, rather informal at the beginning, that will create a link, to be reinforced year after year, between national cluster organisations .
The purpose of this Network is to put the entirety of the European maritime cluster on the map. The size and the interrelation of the maritime sectors should be clearly expressed, and the Network provides a platform from which joint activities can be developed. The Network should however not replace the maritime branche organisations who have existing representation and lobbying “traditional” structures well in place and are most useful for their members. The network however can become the channel through which trade organisations can - at least indirectly - be jointly active in support of their own lobbying activities. Apart from this function the Network could provide the cluster knowledge basis that can be underpin the branche demands.
Acting jointly in a European cluster means that it will be easier to attract EU authorities’ attention and with this attention it will be easier for an individual sector to press it’s point. On the other hand authorities (start to) realize that individual sectorial policies might conflict with each other and that a more integrated approach should be preferred as underlined by the “green book” approach. The Network can contribute to this integrated approach:
a. by pushing the national clusters to gather the various maritime sectors of their respective countries
b. by bringing the then real national clusters together. Proposed Charter
Name and domicile
Article 1.
The Network will use the name: European Network of Maritime Clusters, and will take domicile at the offices of one of its members. The European Network of Maritime Clusters will not constitute a legal entity and will not bind any of its members into any obligation whatsoever.
Mission
Article 2.
The Network has the mission: “to promote and reinforce the European Maritime Cluster”
Definition Maritime Cluster
Article 3.
The European Maritime Cluster is deemed to be made up of the Maritime Sectors in the EU member states and Norway. The Network will decide from time to time on the extent of the European Maritime Cluster. For all practical purposes this definition may be different from national maritime cluster definitions used in member states and Norway.
Activities
Article 4.
In order to achieve its mission the Network will be involved in:
1. Promotion of the concept of cluster oriented industrial policy at a European level.
2. Promotion of the concept of the European Maritime Cluster in Europe.
3. Inventory and survey of the European Maritime Cluster in all its aspects, as well as stimulation of other
parties to do so.
4. Enhancement of cooperation between national maritime cluster organisations through intensifying
contacts, exchange of information and ideas, as well as joint activities.
5. Any other action, legally acceptable, which will serve the mission of the Network.
Members
Article 5.
The members of the Network are national associations, authorities or other bodies in the EU member states and Norway that represent their national maritime cluster. New members will be admitted as and when existing members so consent in a simple majority vote. The names and addresses of the members of the Network will be entered in a names register, Membership of the Network will not constitute to any obligation, financially or otherwise. Members are to carry their own expenditure unless agreed otherwise.
Forum Meetings
Article 6.
The European Network of Maritime Clusters will hold Forum meetings as and when required. Representatives of the members of the Network will be invited to participate at the Forum meetings. Representatives will have adequate authority to represent their respective members.
The Forum meetings will be organized annually at alternating locations, reflecting the geographical spread of the Network’s members.
Executive Board
Article 7.
Members representatives in the Forum will nominate an executive board that will consist of
- chairman
- vice chairman
- secretary/treasurer
The chairman and vice chairman will not be representatives of the same organisation. The secretary/ treasurer will be from the member organisation where the Network is domiciled. All functions will be carried out without entitlement to remunerations.
Secretariat/Treasury
Article 8.
The secretariat will have the responsibility to call for an annual Forum meeting, prepare agenda and discussion documents, prepare minutes of meetings, and carry out actions as decided at the meetings. The secretariat will also keep a register of Members. Any financial income of the Network will be kept in a separate bank account, with reference to the European Network of Maritime Clusters. The treasurer will prepare annually a State of Income and Outgoings for approval by the Executive Board and the Forum Meeting. |
