European marine industry mobilizes
The campaign for the European elections remains timid at national level, but it is fully underway for all those who gravitate around EU bodies. The European Boating Industry - EBI, the association entrusted by the European boating industry with the task of making its voice heard by elected representatives and the media, is making no mistake, with a flurry of press releases, between manifesto on the challenges facing the boating industry during the 2024-2029 term of office and boating license appeals in Europe and harmonization.
Towards a Europe of yachtsmen and manufacturers?
The yachting market is undoubtedly globalized. While the Bénéteau group sells many sailboats in the United States, the Brunswick group, through its European brand Quicksilver, has a strong presence on the continent. And yet, even within the European Union, there are many different approaches to boating. The practice of boating is different in Scandinavia and Italy, if only because of the climate and the sailing basin. While this may justify differences in regulations, as sailors are by nature travelers, a little harmonization can't hurt. Harmonization is already well established for boats, so why shouldn't it be even more so for yachtsmen?
But Europe's yachting industry may also be of interest to manufacturers. We've become accustomed to seeing major brands setting up factories in Poland or Portugal, and to a lesser extent buying up competitors abroad. But today's yachting groups are still very much national in scope. Could the arrival of shareholders from outside the yachting industry change that? like the PPF group, owner of a Scandinavian charterer as well as French and even South African shipyards ?
When it comes to anticipating the future, it's said that there's strength in numbers. And this is probably where Europe will make its greatest contribution. Between sustainable construction and boat end-of-life, european projects are flourishing, and all the better for it ! A first step towards a common European course for the yachting industry?
