OpenLobby.EU
Explore

Conférence des Régions Périphériques Maritimes d'Europe (CRPM)

CRPM - CPMR

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions represents the interests of coastal regions in European policy.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Christos Economou (Head of Unit Maritime Affairs and Fisheries), Felix Leinemann (Head of Unit Maritime Affairs and Fisheries)

22 Jan 2026 · Exchange of views on the Ocean Pact, Ocean Act, the Atlantic Maritime and Macro-Regional Strategy, the Pact for the Med and the Coastal Communities Communication, forthcoming events

Response to EU’s next long-term budget (MFF) – EU funding for competitiveness

28 Oct 2025

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) has reviewed the European Commission's proposals on EU funds for enhancing competitiveness. While CPMR acknowledges the importance of boosting competitiveness, it raises concerns about the frameworks impact on the EUs territorial development. Many EU regions face economic stagnation or decline, leading to skilled migration, reduced services, and further socioeconomic challenges. Such impacts, highlighted by Enrico Letta and the High-Level Group report on cohesion, remain insufficiently addressed. The proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) prioritizes direct-managed funds and national-level allocations, potentially favouring advanced regions and exacerbating inequalities. This approach overlooks the importance of local infrastructure, services, and innovation hubs in fostering resilient regional economies. Ensuring all regions benefit from EU competitiveness funds is essential for balanced growth. CPMR warns that the proposals treat competitiveness and cohesion as separate goals, neglecting their interdependence. Alarmingly, 28.5% of the EU population, in over 40% of regions, live in areas experiencing stagnation or decline. Many of the regions are wealthier and more developed. The neglect of the link between cohesion and competitiveness risks deepening inequalities and fuelling Euroscepticism. The approach will skew support to wealthier and more performing regions, which are better positioned to access funds. Even National Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP) seem to be prioritising more performing regions, rather than supporting declining regions to escape long-term stagnation or "development traps." These risks widening the gap between regions and wasting public funds by substituting private equity where non necessary. Regions with structural or geographical challenges - such as islands, coastal areas, outermost regions, and sparsely populated northern areas - face unequal competition for funding. CPMR emphasizes that competitiveness and cohesion must be complementary, requiring integrated policies to address diverse regional needs. Additionally, the limited involvement of regional authorities in designing and implementing competitiveness-focused funds is concerning. The proposals fail to link with NRPPs or acknowledge regional innovation programs like Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3). While initiatives like Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) and Regional Innovation Valleys in directly managed funds also demonstrate the value of regional collaboration. Centralized decision-making damages the flexibility needed for tailored, place-based strategies. The Competitiveness framework also lacks concrete actions to address the unique challenges and potential of maritime and peripheral regions. These areas, crucial to sectors like the blue economy, renewable energy, and sustainable tourism, face higher costs and structural barriers requiring targeted support to fully contribute to the EUs competitiveness agenda. In conclusion, CPMR urges the European Commission to balance competitiveness with territorial cohesion and equity. Targeted investment in disadvantaged and declining regions, coupled with stronger regional involvement in decision-making, is essential for sustainable, inclusive growth. CPMR remains committed to collaborating with members and EU policymakers to ensure no region is left behind in the EUs growth agenda.
Read full response

The CPMR Demands a Decentralized EU Budget and Guaranteed Funding

28 Oct 2025
Topic — The European Commission seeks feedback on the post-2027 long-term budget and regional funding.
Message — The CPMR requests a guaranteed 6 billion euro envelope for the maritime sector. They advocate for a place-based approach that ensures regions lead investment planning. The organization insists on applying the 'do-no-harm-to-cohesion' principle to all spending.123
Why — This would increase regional autonomy and lower the administrative burden for local authorities.4
Impact — Centralized national administrations would lose top-down control over investment planning and implementation.5
Read full response

Maritime regions demand role in EU military mobility planning

23 Oct 2025
Topic — New regulatory framework to harmonise national procedures and ensure uninterrupted military movement in Europe.
Message — Regional authorities should be directly involved in planning military mobility infrastructure adaptations. The CPMR also requests that funding covers the entire transport network, not just corridors.12
Why — This approach ensures that peripheral regions receive investment often neglected by national governments.3
Read full response

Meeting with Christophe Clergeau (Member of the European Parliament)

7 Oct 2025 · SEArica

Meeting with Philippe Chantraine (Head of Unit Mobility and Transport)

30 Sept 2025 · Exchange of views on the CEF3 proposal

Meeting with Christophe Clergeau (Member of the European Parliament)

22 Sept 2025 · SEARICA

Meeting with Christophe Clergeau (Member of the European Parliament)

27 Aug 2025 · SEArica

CPMR calls for regional focus in EU Ports Strategy

28 Jul 2025
Topic — The EU is developing a strategy addressing security, competitiveness, and energy transition challenges in ports.
Message — The CPMR advocates for a place-based approach that recognizes regional specificities and involves local authorities. They urge including smaller ports in transport networks based on strategic relevance rather than statistics. The group also requests streamlined administrative procedures and better access to diverse EU funding sources.123
Why — Peripheral regions would secure more funding and influence over strategic maritime infrastructure projects.45
Impact — Environmental standards may face pressure from streamlined permitting and industrial land expansion efforts.67
Read full response

Meeting with Magnus Brunner (Commissioner) and

14 May 2025 · Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR)

Meeting with Arash Saeidi (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Apr 2025 · Échange de point de vue

Meeting with Costas Kadis (Commissioner) and

8 Apr 2025 · Discussion on the European Ocean Pact, the CFP and the EU Arctic Policy

Meeting with Christophe Clergeau (Member of the European Parliament) and Shipyards' and Maritime Equipment Association of Europe

8 Apr 2025 · SEArica

Meeting with Nora Mebarek (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Mar 2025 · Avenir de la politique de cohésion

Meeting with Delilah Al Khudhairy (Director Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) and

6 Mar 2025 · Discussion in margin of the European Oceans Days

Meeting with Christophe Clergeau (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Feb 2025 · SEARICA

Meeting with Sérgio Gonçalves (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Feb 2025 · Priorities for this mandate

Meeting with Raffaele Fitto (Executive Vice-President)

6 Feb 2025 · Exchange of views on Cohesion Policy

Meeting with Francesca Arena (Cabinet of Commissioner Costas Kadis)

23 Jan 2025 · Presentation of the organisation

Meeting with Christophe Clergeau (Member of the European Parliament) and European Milk Board and

15 Jan 2025 · SEARICA

Meeting with Christophe Clergeau (Member of the European Parliament) and WindEurope and

14 Jan 2025 · SEARICA

Meeting with Christophe Clergeau (Member of the European Parliament) and Notre Europe - Institut Jacques Delors / Notre Europe - Jacques Delors Institute

13 Jan 2025 · SEARICA

Meeting with Christophe Clergeau (Member of the European Parliament) and Water Europe

17 Dec 2024 · SEArica

Meeting with Christophe Clergeau (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Dec 2024 · SEARICA

Meeting with Christophe Clergeau (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Oct 2024 · Participation in the CRPM assembly

Meeting with Christophe Clergeau (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Sept 2024 · régions maritimes

Meeting with Caroline Roose (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Apr 2024 · Politique commune de la pêche et rôle des régions

Peripheral Maritime Regions demand stronger regional control over EU cohesion policy

26 Dec 2023
Topic — Assessment of progress in reducing regional disparities across the EU.
Message — The organization wants regional authorities to have priority in programming and implementation of cohesion policy, following the subsidiarity principle. They emphasize the need to address excessive bureaucratic burden caused by absence of proportionality principle in governance and control systems.12
Why — This would give their 150 member regions greater autonomy and reduce administrative compliance costs.34
Read full response

Meeting with Themis Christophidou (Director-General Regional and Urban Policy)

28 Nov 2023 · Cohesion policy

Meeting with François Alfonsi (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Oct 2023 · Intergroupe SEArica

Meeting with François Alfonsi (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

12 Jan 2023 · Macro-région Méditerranée

Meeting with François Alfonsi (Member of the European Parliament)

27 Oct 2022 · Assemblée Générale Commission des îles et Commission interméditerranéenne de la CRPM

Meeting with François Alfonsi (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Jul 2022 · SEArica intergroup

Meeting with Barbara Thaler (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

21 Jun 2022 · TEN-T

Meeting with Marc Lemaitre (Director-General Regional and Urban Policy)

9 Jun 2022 · From 21-27 implementation to the post-27 reflection

Meeting with Jakop G. Dalunde (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

16 May 2022 · TEN-T

Meeting with Catherine Chabaud (Member of the European Parliament)

2 May 2022 · Préparation de la conférence des Nations Unies à Lisbonne sur l'océan

Meeting with Charlina Vitcheva (Director-General Maritime Affairs and Fisheries)

25 Mar 2022 · Keynote address on the functioning of the CFP

Meeting with Jakop G. Dalunde (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

25 Mar 2022 · Speaker: Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions - TEN-T

Meeting with François Alfonsi (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Mar 2022 · MedCatDays

Meeting with François Alfonsi (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Apr 2021 · Préparation AG de la Commission des îles

Meeting with François Alfonsi (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Mar 2021 · Préparation AG Commission des îles

Meeting with François Alfonsi (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Feb 2021 · îles et aides d'état

Meeting with Elisa Ferreira (Commissioner)

18 Feb 2021 · Future programming of maritime cross-border regions

Meeting with François Alfonsi (Member of the European Parliament)

18 Feb 2021 · Webinaire Commission des îles

Meeting with François Alfonsi (Member of the European Parliament)

16 Feb 2021 · Webinaire SEArica : les îles et les aides d'état

Meeting with François Alfonsi (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Feb 2021 · Impacts COVID19 sur les îles

Meeting with Virginijus Sinkevičius (Commissioner) and

28 Jan 2021 · Speech at the webinar on a sustainable recovery of the blue economy in Europe

Meeting with François Alfonsi (Member of the European Parliament)

26 Jan 2021 · Impacts du COVID19 sur les îles

Response to Revision of Regulation on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T)

18 Dec 2020

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions welcomes the initiative of the European Commission to revise the TEN-T Guidelines. It agrees with the statement that the current context and challenges “necessitate changes in TEN-T policy”. In particular, the CPMR shares the observation that the Regulation needs to address “insufficient effectiveness of TEN-T to stimulate zero and low emission transport”, “lack of preparedness of the TEN-T for the digital transition in transport” and “Insufficient resilience of the TEN-T infrastructure”. The new regulation must also address the broader challenge of sustainability of the network, as well as ensure the benefits of the users. The objectives that are set in the roadmap need to be further defined. The CPMR regrets that the current objective of territorial cohesion is not clearly reaffirmed. Considering the major challenges ahead, it is important that all territories have similar access and possibilities to achieve a climate neutral and sustainable transport network. In this regard, the CPMR stresses that the revised Regulation must reflect the objective of the Smart and Sustainable Mobility Strategy that mobility is “affordable and accessible in all regions and for all passengers”. Measures related to the core network The CPMR welcomes all the efforts to promote climate neutral and sustainable transport. There should be access to alternative fuels ensuring the continuity of refueling infrastructures for zero and low emission vehicles. In that respect, the CPMR underlines that a territorial based approach is a condition for success and that the revision must be coordinated with the classification system for “green investments”. The CPMR welcomes measures that contribute to facilitating and accelerating the completion of the core network by 2030. It supports the examples provided in the roadmap, namely strengthening the role of the European coordinators, reinforcing the corridor approach, and coordinating with the rail freight corridors. It should be considered to introduce limited adjustments to the core network when proven of great strategic added value. Measures related to the comprehensive network The CPMR takes note of the will to extend a number of requirements from the core to the comprehensive network. It supports the proposed objective of requiring recharging and refueling infrastructure as for the core network. This must however be accompanied by the necessary financial support. The CPMR agrees that it is necessary to introduce “minor adjustments to the network design to further strengthen accessibility for all regions”, including peripheral, maritime, insular and outermost regions as well as cross-border mobility. These adjustments should follow a less restrictive approach to the eligibility criteria of key infrastructures, such as ports, to the network. The current double criteria for ports do not reflect their whole activity and strategic role for the development of our maritime Regions as well as future developments. The CPMR reiterates its call for putting in place instruments to facilitate the implementation of the comprehensive network, for instance by having a dedicated coordinator. Measures of horizontal nature Digitalisation will be key to achieve seamless intermodal transport and enable a more sustainable and efficient use of the existing transport system. The CPMR believes that further efforts are needed to facilitate data sharing to reduce cross-border administrative bottlenecks. The CPMR considers necessary to enhance the resilience of the network infrastructure notably in relation to climate adaptation, the introduction of new infrastructure quality requirements is needed. The CPMR underlines that waterborne transport, together with rail transport, are key to achieving the EU climate and sustainability objectives. The proposals of the Coordinator for Motorways of the Sea should therefore be integrated in the revised TEN-T as its new maritime pillar.
Read full response

Meeting with François Alfonsi (Member of the European Parliament)

28 Oct 2020 · SEArica intergroup

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (Executive Vice-President) and European Environmental Bureau and

27 Oct 2020 · Business and investor support for higher ambition and the just transition

Meeting with Charlina Vitcheva (Director-General Maritime Affairs and Fisheries)

29 Sept 2020 · Discussion on the recovery of the maritime sectors, the sea-basins strategies and the revision of the Common Fisheries Policy

Meeting with Elisa Ferreira (Commissioner)

26 Jun 2020 · Post-COVID Recovery in the Atlantic Arc

Meeting with Marc Lemaitre (Director-General Regional and Urban Policy)

11 Jun 2020 · Future of the EU Budget

Meeting with François Alfonsi (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Jun 2020 · SEArica intergroup

Response to 2030 Climate Target Plan

14 Apr 2020

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) calls for the carbon neutrality objective to be supported by increasing the European Union's greenhouse gas reduction target to a minimum of 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. This effort of EU Member States must be combined with a partnership with third countries located in Europe, whose contribution to achieve the objective of a climate neutral European continent is crucial. The CPMR also calls on European Union to be a leader in international climate arena. However, the CPMR underlines that to achieve a prosperous, competitive, and fair climate neutral society for all regions in Europe, not only increased targets for 2030 are needed but also a long-term and adequately funded growth strategy, a full partnership with regions and a fair and just transition for all. Therefore, 1) The CPMR welcomes the European Green Deal as the response to the growing challenges of climate change in Europe and its Member Regions. 2) The CPMR affirms that the European Green Deal should be a long-term and adequately funded EU growth strategy with a focus on sustainable growth in regions, for now and future generations. 3) The CPMR emphasises the importance of the role of regions, cities, civil society, and business to implement and deliver the European Green Deal. 4) The CPMR supports the need to ensure a fair and just transition that considers every region’s challenges and conditions for the transition to climate neutrality. Please find in attachment the CPMR policy position “CPMR Member Regions at the heart of the European Green Deal”, which is a political response to the latest political developments and initiatives linked to the European Green Deal.
Read full response

Meeting with Pierre Karleskind (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Mar 2020 · POlitique commune de la pêche

Meeting with Michel Barnier (Head of Task Force Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom)

19 Dec 2018 · Meeting with the Task Force for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 TEU

Meeting with Dominique Ristori (Director-General Energy)

7 Dec 2018 · les opportunités et le potentiel des îles dans le contexte de la transition énergétique et l'importance de synergies de tous les acteurs

Response to Realignment of the North Sea – Mediterranean Core Network Corridor - BREXIT preparedness

26 Sept 2018

As of today, the United Kingdom is part of the North Sea – Mediterranean transport corridor. Subject to any transitional arrangement, as of the date of its withdrawal from the EU, the United Kingdom will no longer be part of the corridor. Facing an obvious need to revise the alignment of the corridor in order to ensure a continuous connection between the section located in Ireland and the section in the Continental EU, the European Commission launched a public consultation between 28 June 2018 and 12 July 2018. The CPMR contributed to this first consultation highlighting that it is indeed of outmost importance that this alignment enhances Ireland's connectivity with continental EU after the Brexit. It stressed that maritime links should be added between the Irish core ports of Dublin and Cork and the NSM corridor’s ports on the continent. At this occasion, it underlined that ports of the Atlantic coast benefit from an ideal location with regard to Ireland connectivity as they combine short shipping time and existing links. Therefore, the CPMR asked the European Commission to consider Atlantic ports as a longer term complementary option to better connect Ireland after the withdrawal of the UK as a complement to the new maritime link of the North Sea / Mediterranean corridor. On 1 August 2018, the European Commission published its proposal. It proposes that the line connecting Ireland to the Continental EU would be "Baile Átha Cliath/Dublin/Corcaigh/Cork – Zeebrugge/Antwerpen/Rotterdam". The CPMR welcomes this new connection as it consolidates the link between Ireland and continental EU and answers the legal uncertainties related to the period of time between Brexit and the beginning of the next programing period. The CPMR also calls for a complementary connection between Ireland and the Atlantic Corridor given the uniqueness of the challenges generated by the withdrawal of the UK from te EU for Ireland. In light of this proposal for the period from Spring 2019 to 31 December 2020 and considering the need for a variety of options to connect Ireland in a long term perspective, the CPMR: · Calls on the European Parliament and the Council to integrate this new section of the North Sea / Mediterranean Corridor in the Annex to the CEF II proposal in order to ensure sufficient visibility to the actors of the sector; · Calls on the European Parliament and the Council to add Ireland to the Atlantic Corridor and adapt the sections of this corridor accordingly by integrating new maritime links with the ports of Cork, Shannon Foynes and Dublin; · Calls on the European Commission to pay a special attention to the evolution of flows between Ireland and continental Europe. In addition to the proposed re-alignment of the North Sea / Mediterranean corridor, the EC could propose modifications of networks and priority sections to adapt the existing tools to the need for maritime connections. Such modification should capitalise upon existing maritime links including those with ports of the comprehensive network and be paired with a stronger support to the Motorways of the Sea
Read full response

Response to Realignment of the North Sea – Mediterranean Core Network Corridor - BREXIT preparedness

12 Jul 2018

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions welcomes the initiative of the European Commission to propose the alignment of the North Sea Mediterranean (NSM) corridor to answer the gaps generated by the withdraw of the United Kingdom as from March 2019. It is of outmost importance that this alignment enhances Ireland's connectivity with continental EU. While a large share of the Irish road freight reaching continental Europe passes through the UK today, maritime links should indeed be added between the Irish core ports of Dublin and Cork and the NSM corridor’s ports on the continent. This alignment should affect both the Core ports of the NSM and the Comprehensive ports. Furthermore, ports of the Atlantic have an ideal location with regard to Ireland connectivity as they combine short shipping time and existing links. Ports of the Core network and the Comprehensive network of the Atlantic coast offer great opportunities to enhance continental EU connection with Ireland. Based on these maritime links, the CPMR invites the European Commission to consider a re-alignment of the Atlantic corridor to answer connectivity challenges the Brexit will raise to Ireland. Finally, the needed realignments illustrate the importance of ports and Motorways of the Sea in allowing a greater connectivity and cohesion in Europe by ensuring a continuous link between maritime borders. The CPMR, therefore, considers that both ports and Motorways of the Sea should be considered as cross-border links in the Connecting Europe Facility Regulation.
Read full response

Meeting with Marc Lemaitre (Director-General Regional and Urban Policy)

2 Jul 2018 · Paquet législatif Cohésion post-2020

Meeting with Dominique Ristori (Director-General Energy)

25 Jun 2018 · clean energy transition

Meeting with Andras Inotai (Cabinet of Vice-President Karmenu Vella)

10 Jan 2018 · ocean governance, our ocean conference 2017, blue growth

Meeting with Alessandro Carano (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc), Friedrich-Nikolaus von Peter (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)

5 Jul 2017 · Motorways of the Sea policy

Meeting with Andras Inotai (Cabinet of Vice-President Karmenu Vella)

26 Apr 2017 · future of europe, blue economy

Meeting with Andras Inotai (Cabinet of Vice-President Karmenu Vella)

26 Apr 2017 · Blue Growth

Meeting with Jocelyn Fajardo (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)

22 Mar 2017 · Maritime issues

Meeting with Ann Mettler (Director-General Inspire, Debate, Engage and Accelerate Action)

15 Mar 2017 · Future of Europe

Meeting with Marc Lemaitre (Director-General Regional and Urban Policy)

16 Feb 2017 · L'avenir de la politique régionale post-2020

Meeting with Marc Lemaitre (Director-General Regional and Urban Policy)

10 Nov 2016 · Future of cohesion policy and shared priorities of DG REGIO and the CPMR

Meeting with Juho Romakkaniemi (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen) and Helsinki EU Office

25 Aug 2016 · European Fund for Strategic Investments

Meeting with Henrik Hololei (Director-General Mobility and Transport)

17 Mar 2016 · TEN-T and CEF

Meeting with Walter Deffaa (Director-General Regional and Urban Policy)

25 Nov 2015 · Conclusions on Cohesion Policy of 43rd General Assembly - post 2020 Cohesion Policy

Meeting with Desiree Oen (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)

11 Feb 2015 · Transport policy - TEN-T- CEF

Meeting with Karmenu Vella (Commissioner)

4 Feb 2015 · Blue growth, regional maritime strategies, environmental liability

Meeting with Andras Inotai (Cabinet of Vice-President Karmenu Vella), Aurore Maillet (Cabinet of Vice-President Karmenu Vella)

12 Jan 2015 · Sustainable blue growth in maritime regions