Committee Chair appointed to represent the Council at two European Maritime networks

30th May 2025

Committee Chair appointed to represent the Council at two European Maritime networks.

The Chair of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans has been appointed to the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) and the North Sea Commission (NSC.

Both organisations can provide access to broader based lobbying on common priorities and issues.

Chair, Councillor Ken Gowans said: "The Highland Council is a longstanding member of the CPMR and NSC, with a track record of pro-active involvement in the work of the network. It provides opportunities to influence policies that may affect the Highlands and also offers a wide range of information exchange so we can learn from other European partners.

He added: I very much welcome this opportunity to learn from others and to exchange common experiences on aspects of regional development and service delivery, especially in relation to issues that are relevant to the North Sea."

The CPMR brings together more than 150 regional authorities from 24 countries across the European Union and beyond, representing around 200 million people. Organised into geographical commissions, the CPMR operates as both a think tank and a lobby, focusing on key areas such as policy, maritime affairs, transport and accessibility, energy and climate change, migration, neighbourhood and development,

The North Sea Commission is one of the six geographical commissions of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) and its mission is to strengthen partnerships between regional authorities which face the challenges and opportunities presented by the North Sea.​