Task Force "Maritime Systems of the Future"
The Commission Task Force on "Maritime Systems of the Future" was created in early 1995 at the initiative of Commissioners Bangemann, Cresson and Kinnock. The Task Force is one of several established by the Commission to fulfill following aims: - To work with industry to coordinate efforts on research and industrial policy; - To identify industrial and technological objectives; - To create synergies between EU, national and other initiatives. The European Commission has recently published an information brochure on the work of the "Maritime Systems of the Future" Task Force. This presents an overview of the maritime industry in Europe, objectives for the future and the role of the Commission in supporting developments in this sector. It also provides a brief introduction to the MARIS (Maritime Information Society) research programme created under the G-7 Summit on the Information Society in February 1995. MARIS projects are aimed at ensuring that the maritime industry worldwide takes advantage of the latest developments in communication and information technologies. The coordination of MARIS management is part of the Task Force activities.