The European Union will dedicate a day to the promotion of its maritime sector if a proposal submitted by Maltese EU Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner Joe Borg goes through.

Speaking during a business breakfast in Brussels by the European Policy Centre - an EU affairs think-thank - Dr Borg said he has just proposed May 20 to be the EU's Maritime Day. This would help raise public awareness on the importance of the maritime sector.

"The aim of the European Maritime Day will be to highlight the entire web of relationships that bind together maritime and marine-related issues and activities across Europe." Dr Borg said the marine environment can play a vital role in mitigating many of the mounting risks from global warming and can also hold the solution to current energy concerns.

"No Lisbon Strategy, no Gothenburg Strategy, no climate change and energy policy can make full sense without a marked maritime dimension," he said.

Dr Borg said that, although the new maritime policy has just been put in action, the Commission has already started implementing some of its proposals including a communication on ports, suggesting a framework for ports to attract investment and another on sustainable and competitive European tourism that looks at all the factors contributing to offering top-quality tourism.