A master thesis from Aalborg University
Funding the Blue Economy: the role of funding mechanisms in EU integration: How do EU funding mechanisms enable the blue economy?
[Funding the Blue Economy: the role of funding mechanisms in EU integration]
Author(s)
Term
4. semester
Education
Publication year
2024
Submitted on
2024-05-31
Abstract
This thesis looks into the existing gap between global challenges and goals, and their proper implementation on the local level. This is taken from the perspective of local actors engaging in the blue economy, while considering the process of European integration. The blue economy is a sector that provides a series of challenges and opportunities, with high potential for development in the coming years, especially in Europe. As our oceans become a more prevalent topic and area of concern all over across the European landscape, it is important to consider and understand how to achieve the sustainable development goals and what are the opportunities in the EU for enabling the blue economy sector. The analysis proposed looks at how the existing gap between the global/regional and local levels is influenced by the existence of European funding mechanisms. To do so, the research considers the case study of Portugal and the engagement of Portuguese local actors with funding opportunities, conducting interviews to gain insights into their experiences and perceptions. Supported by the theoretical perspectives of Institutional Liberalism and Multi-level Governance, the thesis discusses whether these European mechanisms can be efficient at tackling the existing gap, and if they are able play a significant role in stimulating the blue economy. The findings of this research suggest that the EU funding mechanisms play a crucial in enabling the blue economy, providing local actors with means to conduct their projects, while they support to develop an important sector for the EU and assist in achieving global landmarks.
Keywords
Documents
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