British boating authorities are hoping a new pan-Europe lobby group will mean boaters' voices pack more of a punch in Brussels.
The European Leisure Marine Industries Federation (ELMIF) brings together for the first time the leisure marine industries of countries such as the UK, Spain, France the Netherlands and Norway.
The stand-alone organisation will be guided by an elected council of nine representatives, and will have a permanent presence in Brussels. The UK is represented by Jon Eads of MDL Marinas, the current BMF president.
Rob Stevens, chief executive of the British Marine Federation, said: "The BMF has played a leading role in the creation of this new lobbying group and so we are delighted to see it finally launched after two years of negotiation with our counterparts across Europe.
"It is vital for the leisure marine industry to have the strongest possible representation within the European Union at this critical time in such a tough economic climate. I am confident ELMIF will deliver much needed results for the industry."
The 13 European marine industry associations who are the founding members of ELMIF are:
• ANEN (Spain)
• APICAN (Portugal)
• APL (Czech Republic)
• BMF (United Kingdom)
• BVWW (Germany)
• DANBOAT (Denmark)
• FINNBOAT (Finland)
• FIN (France)
• HISWA (Netherlands)
• NAUTIBEL (Belgium)
• NORBOAT (Norway)
• POLSKA IZBA (Poland)
• SWEBOAT (Sweden)
• UCINA (Italy)
8 June 2009
