The Ocean Energy Forum was established in April 2014 to accelerate the development of the ocean energy. It brings together key stakeholders to work on the issues that currently hinder further progress in the sector. It is organised into three workstreams: a technology workstream, a finance workstream and an environmental and consenting workstream. These groups have permanent steering groups and chairs but anyone with a stake in the sector can join any workstream and contribute. The Forum has already met two times in large plenary sessions: for the opening in Brussels in April 2014 and in Dublin in June 2014. A highlevel meeting with ministers and CEOs took place in October 2014 in Paris.

The European Commission is supporting the creation and organisation of an Ocean Energy Forum. This Forum brings together stakeholders in a series of workshops in order to develop a shared understanding of the problems at hand and to collectively devise workable solutions. It will be instrumental in building capacity and critical mass as well as fostering cooperation through the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders. The forum will also explore the synergies with other marine industries, particularly offshore wind, in matters relating to supply chains, grid connection, operations and maintenance, logistics and spatial planning, bringing together people from the industry, the Member States and regions, financers, NGO.