Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests,
Thank you for inviting me to the WIN-BIG Med Conference!
Although I cant join in person, it is an honor to address you and recognize the great work of the WIN-BIG project. This project, funded by the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, addresses the role of women in the blue economy.
Traditionally, the blue economy has been male-dominated, but this overlooks the important contributions of women.
Women make up a significant part of the workforce in coastal and maritime tourism, transport, and research in marine biology.
Consider also the thousands of women involved in fisheries, processing, and sales of seafood.
Achieving gender balance in the sustainable blue economy requires recognizing women and promoting them to leadership positions.
The EU treaty emphasizes eliminating inequalities and promoting equality.
We are improving social data collection to better highlight womens roles.
The WIN-BIG project collects information on gender representation and addresses inequalities.
We must ensure equal opportunities for women in maritime businesses.
Only 3.7% of EU fisheries workers are women, a statistic we aim to improve.
We strive for increased participation and visibility of women in maritime sectors.
The European Ocean Pact aims to ensure coherence in ocean policy and promote gender equality.
Gender balance is a core value and must be ensured in our ocean economy.
I wish you great success and a productive exchange.
Thank you for your attention.