Brussels/Copenhagen, June 2025– European Boating Industry (EBI) and the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), the organisation behind the Blue Flag certification, joined forces with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at accelerating sustainable practices within the European nautical tourism sector. This collaboration reflects both organisations' strong commitment to promoting innovation, environmental stewardship, and responsible growth across the industry.
Bringing together complementary expertise, the partnership combines EBI’s influence in European recreational boating policy with FEE’s global leadership in sustainable tourism. With initiatives such as Blue Flag and Green Key, FEE sets internationally recognised standards, while EBI engages directly with policymakers and industry actors to advance sustainable development and connects the boating sector at European level from manufacturing to tourism and services. This collaboration creates a strong foundation for unified efforts, shared advocacy, and greater impact to support the nautical tourism sector.
Through this partnership, EBI and FEE commit to a close and ongoing collaboration aimed at advancing sustainability. This includes mutual promotion of activities, the joint development of projects aligned with shared priorities and regular exchanges of information. The partnership is grounded on a shared commitment to delivering meaningful and accountable outcomes.
Philip Easthill, Secretary-General of European Boating Industry, emphasised the significance of the partnership by stating, “This is an important step forward for the recreational boating industry in Europe. By aligning with FEE, we are reinforcing our commitment to a sustainable future for nautical tourism, one that balances growth with environmental responsibility.”
Daniel Schaffer, CEO of the Foundation for Environmental Education, welcomed the collaboration, noting:
“The Foundation for Environmental Education is proud to formalise its collaboration with the European Boating Industry Association through this Memorandum of Understanding. As custodians of the Blue Flag, one of the world’s most recognised voluntary eco awards, we see this partnership as a vital step forward in promoting sustainable practices across the pleasure boating sector in Europe. By aligning with EBI, we aim to further our shared commitment to protecting marine and coastal environments while supporting innovation and responsibility in the recreational boating community. Together, we can chart a more sustainable course for the future of European waters.” ”
About European Boating Industry (EBI)
EBI represents the recreational boating industry in Europe. It encompasses all related sectors, such as boatbuilding, equipment manufacturing, marinas and service providers. The industry is a significant contributor to the European economy, representing 32,000 companies, predominantly SMEs that employ over 280,000 people directly. The mission of EBI is to advance and represent a sustainable boating and nautical tourism industry.
About Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)
The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is one of the world’s largest Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) organisations, with over 100 member organisations in 85 countries. With a network of over 50,000 educational institutions, the Eco-Schools, Learning About Ecosystems and Forests and Young Reporters for the Environment programmes empower young people to create an environmentally conscious world through experiential, project-based learning. The Green Key and Blue Flag programmes are globally recognised for promoting sustainable business practices and the protection of natural resources. With over 40 years of impactful experience in ESD, FEE’s strategic plan, GAIA 20:30, prioritises impactful action across all five programmes to address the threats of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution.
