CLIA, Cruise Europe to Develop European Cruise Sector

zoomIllustration; Image Courtesy: Costa Cruises Cruise industry trade organization Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Europe and Cruise Europe have signed a letter of intent to develop, grow and strengthen the European cruise sector. Under the agreement, the two organisations plan to cooperate in a series of initiatives to further drive the growth of the industry in Europe, including the creation of a working group to focus on European environmental issues over the next five years. The organizations said that this group would be introduced at the beginning of 2017. It will launch, through a collaborative agenda, a programme of joint activities promoting an EU framework that supports sustainable shipping operations and the protection of the environment. This joint initiative, based on mutual cooperation and knowledge sharing, will strengthen our industry’s social responsibility whilst keeping a focus on European economic contribution, CLIA Europe Chairman, Pierfrancesco Vago, said. It is one of our many responses to collaborate with environmental stakeholders, develop innovative technologies and lead the maritime sector in best practices and policies for a sustainable environment, Vago added.