​On 30 June the ENVE commission adopting the opinion of the member of the Welsh assembly Mr Thomas have called for more EU investment to be funnelled into ocean energy. As part of the drive towards creating a more sustainable economy, the local leaders note that renewable energy from tides and waves could satisfy 10-15% of EU power demand by 2050 and generate up to half a million jobs.
 
Mr. Thomas said that Ocean energy could be one of the cornerstones for building partnership between local governments, businesses and research institutes. With interesting projects across the EU at sub member state level  in islands and maritime regions, especially in the Atlantic coast, local governments  are at the forefront but coordinated action, long term investments,  framework and vision is needed to make this emerging  industry take off. It can provide local jobs and most importantly energy security of supply but it needs greater financial support at all levels and suggests ocean energy should be one of the priorities of the new €315bn European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI).
The opinion calls for the European Commission to reflect on the necessity of strong local and regional support for ocean energy in its Ocean Energy Forum and suggests that this Forum be transformed into an industrial platform to help coordinate a co-working relationship between levels of governance, business and research institutes.