On 5 June 2025, the European Commission adopted the European Ocean Pact, an initiative aimed at reinforcing the EU’s commitment to protecting marine ecosystems, supporting the blue economy, and enhancing ocean governance.
The Pact provides a coherent framework to align existing EU ocean policies and foster collaboration among Member States, coastal communities, industry, and researchers.
A Coordinated Approach to Ocean Policy
The European Ocean Pact sets out six key priorities to ensure the sustainability and resilience of Europe’s maritime sector:
Restoring Ocean Health – Strengthening efforts to restore marine and coastal ecosystems, expand marine protected areas, and improve ocean resilience.
Boosting the Blue Economy – Supporting sustainable fisheries, promoting innovation in maritime industries, and launching a Blue Generational Renewal Strategy to attract young professionals.
Supporting Coastal and Island Communities – Developing tailored strategies to enhance the resilience and economic sustainability of coastal regions.
Enhancing Maritime Security – Strengthening coast guard cooperation, improving maritime surveillance, and reinforcing border security.
Advancing Ocean Research and Innovation – Establishing an EU Ocean Observation Initiative to improve data collection and knowledge-sharing.
Strengthening Ocean Diplomacy – Expanding EU efforts in international ocean governance and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
Areas of action
To support Member States to restore degraded coastal and marine habitats, the European Ocean Pact proposes to:
Evaluate and revise the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive
Encourage Member States to establish and manage marine protected areas
Create European blue carbon reserves
What’s Next
The European Ocean Pact will serve as a foundation for future EU ocean policies, with an Ocean Act planned by 2027 to ensure the implementation of its priorities. A dedicated EU Ocean Pact dashboard will track progress and measure impact.
This milestone reinforces the EU’s commitment to a thriving, sustainable, and secure maritime future.
For more details, visit the European Commission’s official announcement.