The Ukrainian Maritime Cluster (UMC) is a member of leading European professional associations, which enables it to remain within Europe’s unified information space, stay informed about key initiatives in the maritime sector, and promote the interests of Ukraine’s maritime industry at the European level.
Olena Zhukova, Executive Director and Co-founder of the PU “Ukrainian Maritime Cluster”, represents it in SEA Europe — the association of European shipbuilders and marine equipment manufacturers.
“At present, martial law remains in effect in Ukraine, which significantly constrains the country’s economic capabilities. Nevertheless, integration into the European Union continues to be a top priority of Ukraine’s state policy. We are pleased to note that our strategic objectives are aligned and, in some respects, converge in their approaches. This is especially evident in the area of targeted funding for innovation ecosystem and revitalization of Ukrainian naval shipbuilding. We are confident that our shared vision will serve as a strong foundation for effective collaboration between European partners and Ukrainian government to redefine shipbuilding landscape of Ukraine”.
SEA Europe represents the European shipbuilding industry in 17 nations, encompassing the production, maintenance, repair, retrofit, and conversion of all types of ships and floating structures, commercial as well as naval, including the full supply chain with various producers of maritime systems, equipment, materials, and services. The organization actively advocates for the interests of the industry, particularly in the context of shaping the European Maritime Industrial Strategy.
In an interview with le marin (https://www.linkedin.com/company/lemarin/), Christophe Tytgat, Secretary-General of SEA Europe, emphasized:
“The European Commission must more firmly support shipbuilding. The aim is to stimulate fleet renewal and conversion operations, to preserve skills through major staff training initiatives, and to support investments for the modernization of production sites. In coordination with shipowners, the goal is also to structure shipbuilding in Europe by identifying needs for the 2025–2035 period.”
In April 2025, SEA Europe, together with the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), presented a joint manifesto urging the European Union to place the maritime manufacturing industry at the heart of its new industrial strategy.
This manifesto outlines strategic proposals to:
🔹 Secure investment for innovation and infrastructure
🔹 Stimulate demand for clean maritime solutions
🔹 Foster cooperation across regions and sectors
🔹 Support the creation of Maritime Industrial Valleys as engines of growth
European Shipowners | ECSA and SEA Europe (Shipyards’ & Maritime Equipment Association of Europe) issued a joint statement calling for impactful actions in the upcoming EU Industrial Maritime Strategy and Sustainable Transport Investment Plan.
More specifically, the joint statement recommends:
🔹 Reinforcing the international competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience of Europe’s maritime manufacturing sector
🔹 Maintaining an internationally competitive European shipping sector through an international regulatory and taxation level playing field
🔹 Supporting European shipyards and European maritime equipment manufacturers through financial incentives that encourage demand via voluntary schemes, low- and zero-emission ships, retrofits, and clean technologies in Europe, and by incentivising investments to upgrade shipyards and maritime manufacturing processes to further enhance their efficiency
🔹 Introducing binding obligations for the production and manufacturing of clean fuels in Europe in line with the Net Zero Industry Act objectives, through the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan
🔹 Facilitating access to finance — through both public funding and private financing — for maritime investments in support of the energy and digital transition
Every seven years, the European Union sets its investment priorities in its long-term budget — the Multiannual Financial Framework. The European Commission will soon propose the next one, starting in 2028.
Every seven years, the European Union sets its investment priorities in its long-term budget — the Multiannual Financial Framework. The European Commission will soon propose the next one, starting in 2028. SEA Europe (Shipyards’ & Maritime Equipment Association of Europe) has responded to the European Commission’s public consultation. It was calling for:
- A dedicated funding channel for the maritime sector to support green and digital innovations, including investments in low-emission ships, clean technologies, alternative fuels, and workforce skills
- Ring-fenced funding for the maritime industry across EU programmes to scale up innovation and strengthen shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing
- Better alignment of funding rules between civilian and defence maritime projects to support dual-use technologies
- At least 20% of EU defence funds earmarked for the naval sector
- Clear EU-wide planning of funding priorities, with uniform rules to prevent competition distortions from different national implementations of EU programmes, and simpler procedures for applicants
In May, it was announced that the European Commission is investing over €7.3 billion through its newly adopted Horizon Europe work programme for 2025 to strengthen Europe’s research and innovation engine and global edge. This will drive cutting-edge science, accelerate the EU’s green and digital transitions, and enhance Europe’s competitiveness. It also includes support for Ukrainian researchers and the reconstruction of research infrastructure in Ukraine. The MSCA4Ukraine programme has already allocated €10 million for Ukrainian scientists and, in the longer term, aims to support their return and involvement in rebuilding the country’s scientific landscape.
More details: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_1146
Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for prosperity and industrial strategy, on the occasion of Europe Day, May 9, noted that Europe’s desire to reconcile “doing well” (economically) and “doing good” (socially and environmentally) has led to excessive administrative burden:
Many of you have complained about this, and rightly so. That is why the European Commission has launched an unprecedented simplification shock. By the end of this Commission’s term, we will reduce the administrative burden on large companies by 25% and on SMEs by 35%. Our credo is simple: ask less so you can do more… That is the whole point of the “strategy for the single market” that we will present on May 21. In an uncertain world, we want Europeans’ main trading partners to be… Europeans themselves.
Europe is a unique continent that deliberately links success to effort, power to duty, and the competitiveness of our industry to the survival of our planet. This is neither idealistic nor illusory. It is the only way forward. So I call on all of you, leaders of small, medium-sized, and large companies: let us be pragmatic and proud, and choose Europe!
The Ukrainian Maritime Cluster supports this call, shares European values, and stands for fair competition. We firmly believe that the future of Ukraine’s maritime industry lies in deep integration with the European industrial strategy — where state-level support for domestic manufacturers becomes the norm.
Let’s choose Europe together!
