The aimoftheSEAS-ERAinitiative(2010–2014),developedwithintheEuropeanUnionFramework

Programme(EUFPVII)(contract249552),wastocoordinatethestructureofnationalandregionalmarine

and maritimeresearchprogramstoempowerandstrengthenmarineresearchallacrossEurope.Amajor

goal wasthedevelopmentandimplementationofcommonresearchstrategiesandprogramsrelatedto

European seasbasins.Toachievethisgoal,SEAS-ERAwasappliedattwodifferentlevels,regionaland

pan European,toidentifycommonprioritiesandneedsin five areas,namelystrategicplanning(marine

researchagendas),jointresearchactivities(commonprogramsandjointcalls),marineresearchinfra-

structures andhumancapacitybuildingtoreduceimbalancesamongregions.SEAS-ERAwasalso

stronglycommittedtoenhancingpublicawarenessofmarineandmaritimescientific andpolicyissuesin

Europe.