Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure and an honour to address you at the opening of the “Circular Gaia Symposium”, organised by the “Institute of Circular Economy and Climate of the European Public Law Organisation” and by “Circular Gaia”.
Allow me to begin by warmly thanking the organisers and all supporting partners for their vision in bringing together such a distinguished gathering. I also extend my congratulations for establishing this symposium as a high-level forum for circular diplomacy, uniting climate, energy, and environmental action across regions that are of key importance to Europe and to the rest of the world.
I regret not being able to join you in person today at the Zappeion Megaron, this historic monument at the heart of Athens. Nevertheless, I am glad to share with you how our ocean and blue economy policies connect with the broader objectives of circularity, resilience, and climate action.
Central to this mission is the “European Ocean Pact”, one of the key priorities of my mandate, which we delivered last June. The “Ocean Pact” is the first ever holistic EU strategy for the preservation and sustainable management of our ocean. It integrates EU ocean policies into a horizontal framework. It establishes a unified vision for the ocean and its governance, harnessing the potential of our blue economy, and overcoming past fragmentation. Implementation will require coordinated efforts among governments, industries, scientists, and communities, mainstreaming sustainable practices globally.
A core element is the ocean–climate nexus. Our oceans absorb 30% of anthropogenic carbon emissions, playing a critical role in climate regulation. Yet rising temperatures, biodiversity loss, and acidification threaten this capacity. The EU remains fully committed to its climate objectives and to encouraging global partners to reduce emissions. Biodiversity protection is equally crucial. The “Ocean Pact” supports Member States in restoring coastal and marine habitats and in reaching our targets of protecting 30% of our sea, including 10% under strict protection.
Coastal communities are at the heart of the “Ocean Pact”. They are essential to a sustainable blue economy, yet they face the combined challenges of climate change and limited diversification. The European Commission is committed to supporting adaptation strategies and fostering business models that benefit both people and nature, including European blue carbon reserves.
Across coastal communities, our Pact recognises the pressures from expanding maritime activities, which transcend borders, and calls for enhanced regional cooperation. In this direction, the EU has developed regional frameworks to promote sustainable blue economies across sea basins. In the Mediterranean, for example, we support the “Union for the Mediterranean” and the “Western Mediterranean Initiative”. In this context, the “Ocean Pact” extends support to the development of a blue economy strategy in the Eastern Mediterranean as well.
In line with our regional strategies, the circular economy is central to our transformation, turning waste into resources. The EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” supports projects that advance a carbon-neutral blue economy. Between 2021 and 2023, our energy transition efforts within blue sectors received a boost with €28 million invested to reduce CO2 emissions in fisheries, tested across 16 demonstration and pilot sites in nine European countries. These projects reflect our broader commitment to the energy transition in EU fisheries and aquaculture.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The discussions of this symposium are particularly timely. In the light of the outcomes of COP29 and with a view to COP30 in Belem, Brazil, our collective efforts to advance circular economy patterns and sustainable financing will be instrumental in shaping the global response to climate change. Initiatives like the “Ocean Pact” reflect our shared determination to redefine the relationship between economies and the marine environment.
Let us seize this opportunity to lead by example, accelerating the transition towards climate neutrality and resilience in our seas and coastal areas. I am convinced that your exchanges will greatly contribute to strengthening our joint vision of a circular economy and a resilient, sustainable ocean that secures prosperity for future generations.
I thank you once again and I wish you a very successful and inspiring conference. I am looking forward to receiving the conclusions and recommendations that Circular Gaia will draw.
