Speech via video message by Commissioner Kadis at the Mission Ocean and Waters Conference hosted by the Danish EU Presidency

Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished guests,

I am delighted to address, todays Mission Ocean & Waters Danish EU Presidency Conference.

What better place to gather the mission community to discuss and reflect on what has been achieved and on the way forward for our ocean and waters?

Nyborg is a coastal city, whose history has been closely related to the sea over centuries. Its maritime tradition is deeply ingrained in its culture and identity.

Like Denmark, the EU as a whole is deeply tied to the Ocean.

But pressures on the ocean and waters are harming marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Inevitably, this has direct impacts on coastal communities, fisheries, and sea-based activities.

Yet, the ocean remains vital for blue economy sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, tourism, and offshore renewable energy. It therefore becomes key for the EU to boost the competitiveness and to accelerate the sustainable transition of these sectors, particularly by reducing CO₂ emissions and scaling up innovative solutions.

This is why the Mission Ocean and Waters is essential! It contributes (i) to the protection and restoration of our ocean and waters through research and innovation, (ii) to the resilience of coastal and island communities, and (iii) to the transformation of the blue economy to make it sustainable, circular and carbon neutral.

The Mission has also set sound foundations for the development of the European Digital Twin of the Ocean, as well as for the experimentation of participatory approaches, such as citizen science campaigns across Europe.

These approaches help to mobilise communities, by empowering stakeholders, public and private organisations, national, regional and local actors, to actively participate in shaping the future of marine and freshwater ecosystems.

As the Mission moves towards its second phase, it is essential to ensure that the knowledge, tools, and technical solutions are effectively transferred, replicated and scaled up in the EU.

The Mission is already an essential element of the European Ocean Pact. It is also a solid basis to develop the upcoming EU Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy.

Through the European Ocean Pact, the EU brings together in a single and coherent framework all its ocean policies for the first time.

The Ocean Pact focuses on a healthy ocean, on boosting the sustainable blue economy and on the good governance of our ocean, in all dimensions.

We need coordinated efforts to adopt sustainable practices and policies that promote long-term ocean health and sustainable economic development.

The EU Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy will provide the scientific evidence, technological developments and innovative solutions to achieve the objectives of the Ocean Pact.

Its implementation will enhance ocean knowledge and address critical technologies tied to environmental protection, sustainable economic growth and competitiveness, societal resilience and prosperity.

It will also improve coordination and governance, overcoming the fragmentation in the ocean Research and Innovation landscape.

Dear friends of the ocean,

I would like to conclude by thanking the organisers and the Danish Presidency for providing such a great platform for fostering dialogue on what is next for the Mission.

The Mission has now an immense potential to coordinate concrete actions and deploy and scale up targetted solutions to address our Oceans more pressing issues.

The issues and forward-looking questions that you will discuss these two days in Nyborg are crucial.

I wish you many inspiring and productive discussions.