Spain’s 2026 Presidency of the EU Atlantic Strategy: Building synergies for a sustainable ocean
Dear Atlantic Strategy community,
In 2026, Spain will be holding the Presidency of the EU Atlantic Strategy, assuming this responsibility with a deep sense of commitment for developing a sustainable future within the Atlantic Area.
Since 2011, the Atlantic Maritime Strategy (AMS) has addressed various challenges and opportunities, playing an important role in protecting marine resources and boosting the sustainable blue economy in the Atlantic Area.
2025 was a landmark for ocean governance thanks to the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, and to the EU adoption of the Ocean Pact, a comprehensive strategy to better protect the ocean, promote a thriving blue economy and support the well-being of people living in coastal areas. This Pact will be complemented by an Ocean Act by the end of 2026, which will help ensure the implementation of the Pact's priorities. Additionally, the revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the revision of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, both which play a pivotal role in the European Ocean Pact, are currently in progress. On the other hand, in October 2025, the European Union also adopted the Mediterranean Pact, a strategic framework proposed to strengthen cooperation with southern Mediterranean partners and build a more integrated, stable, and prosperous Common Mediterranean Space.
In light of the above, the Atlantic presidency will primarily focus on creating synergies between Sea Basin Strategies, but also between the various maritime sectors and stakeholder generations. In this regard, it is important to highlight that Spain will also hold the co-presidency of the WestMED Initiative for a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Western Mediterranean along 2026, which will provide an unique opportunity to promote interconnected activities throughout 2026, creating spaces and networking opportunities to foster synergies.
The specific objectives for the Spanish presidency in 2026 within the Atlantic Strategy are:
- Establish the debate on the review of the current Atlantic Action Plan 2.0, bringing in the importance of maritime sectors such as fishing and tourism which may not have been completely considered up to now.
- Develop and move forward with the Atlantic Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) community of practice, following the initiative launched at the end of the Irish Presidency.
- Initiate discussions for the launch of a Marine Observation and Data Collection community of practice, in parallel with the WestMED Initiative. This is a new development, closely linked to the proposals of the EU Ocean Pact, which will be included in the Ocean Act planned by the end of 2026.
The Spanish Presidency is delighted to embrace this opportunity, which will enable closer ties and collaboration between the two Sea Basin Strategies in an international context where sustainable maritime issues are becoming increasingly relevant.
The Spanish Presidency