Today, the European Commission adopted the European Ocean Pact, an all-encompassing strategy to enhance ocean protection, boost the blue economy, and improve the well-being of coastal communities. The pact consolidates EU ocean policies under a single framework, addressing significant threats to our ocean, coastal communities, islands, and outermost regions.
One Ocean, One Strategy
The European Ocean Pact focuses on six priorities:
- Protecting and Restoring Ocean Health
The Commission will support Member States in restoring degraded coastal and marine habitats. Key actions include encouraging the establishment and management of marine protected areas and revising the Maritime Strategy Framework Directive and the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive.
- Boosting Competitiveness of the EU Sustainable Blue Economy
The ocean is vital for sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, tourism, and energy. The Commission plans to enhance the EUs maritime industry with a new Industrial Maritime Strategy and an EU Ports Strategy. It will also evaluate and potentially revise the Common Fisheries Policy. To ensure thriving EU fisheries and aquaculture, a long-term vision for these sectors will be presented in 2026. The Commission will also promote access for young professionals in marine research, ocean tech, and sustainable fisheries by introducing a Blue Generational Renewal Strategy.
- Supporting Coastal, Island Communities, and Outermost Regions
Coastal communities are key to a sustainable and competitive blue economy. They provide Europeans with healthy, sustainable food and clean, affordable marine renewable energy. Ensuring the future of these communities is essential. The Commission will present a dedicated strategy for the development and resilience of EU coastal communities and consult stakeholders on a new strategy for islands and an updated outermost regions strategy. Additionally, the Commission will propose the creation of European blue carbon reserves.
- Advancing Ocean Research, Knowledge, Skills, and Innovation
The Ocean Pact proposes an ambitious EU Ocean Observation Initiative to enhance our ocean knowledge. Supported by an Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy, it will feed the European Digital Twin of the Ocean and maintain the EU as a global leader in ocean science, technology, and data. To raise awareness of ocean importance, the Commission will establish an EU Ocean Youth Ambassador Network to engage young advocates in ocean sustainability across the EU and globally.
- Enhancing Maritime Security and Defence
The Commission will strengthen EU coast guard and naval cooperation and maritime border security. A coordinated strategy will be implemented to remove unexploded ordnance from European waters, starting in the Baltic and North Seas. Investment will be made in a pioneering European drone fleet, utilizing technologies like artificial intelligence and advanced sensors for real-time monitoring of maritime activities, enhancing the EUs maritime surveillance capabilities.
- Strengthening EU Ocean Diplomacy and International Ocean Governance
The Commission will intensify its fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing through mandatory implementation of IT CATCH, digitalizing the IUU catch certification scheme by January 2026. The Commission will also bolster European ocean diplomacy to promote EU ocean goals and interests internationally. Priorities will include swift worldwide ratification and implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, an ambitious Plastics Treaty, and designating three large marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean.
Implementation and Monitoring
To achieve the Ocean Pacts targets, the Commission will present an Ocean Act by 2027. This pact will create a single framework to facilitate the implementation of the pacts key objectives, while reducing bureaucracy.
It will be based on a revised Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, enhancing cross-sectoral coordination and sea basin management.
The Commission will also set up a high-level Ocean Board, uniting representatives from various ocean-related sectors to guide the Ocean Pacts implementation, and launch an EU Ocean Pact dashboard, providing a public, transparent, and centralized platform to track progress towards its objectives.
Next Steps
The European Ocean Pact will be presented at the upcoming United Nations Ocean Conference on 9 June by President von der Leyen.
Background
The European Ocean Pact was introduced in the political guidelines of the von der Leyen II Commission and called for in the Conclusions of the European Council of 20 March 2025.
For More Information
Questions and answers on the European Ocean Pact