Brussels, June 5, 2025 — The European Commission today adopted the European Ocean Pact, a comprehensive strategy to protect ocean health, boost the sustainable blue economy, and improve the lives of people in coastal, island, and outermost regions. This Pact unites existing EU ocean policies into a single framework, tackling growing environmental threats while supporting economic development at sea.
The Pact outlines six key areas of action. First, it aims to restore damaged marine and coastal ecosystems. The Commission will support EU countries in managing marine protected areas and updating the Maritime Strategy Framework and Spatial Planning Directives. Second, it promotes a more competitive and sustainable blue economy, including sectors like fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, tourism, and energy. Plans include a new Industrial Maritime Strategy, an EU Ports Strategy, and a review of the Common Fisheries Policy. A long-term plan for fisheries and aquaculture will be presented in 2026, along with a “Blue Generational Renewal Strategy” to bring young talent into ocean-related fields.
The Pact also strengthens support for local communities that rely on the sea. The Commission will create strategies for the resilience of coastal areas, new policies for islands and outermost regions, and propose the development of European blue carbon reserves. To improve ocean knowledge and technology, the Commission will launch an Ocean Observation Initiative, backed by a new research and innovation strategy and the European Digital Twin of the Ocean. An EU Ocean Youth Ambassador Network will engage young people in promoting ocean sustainability across Europe and beyond.
In maritime security, the Pact aims to enhance cooperation among EU coast guards and naval forces, improve border safety, and launch operations to remove unexploded weapons from European waters, starting with the Baltic and North Seas. A new European drone fleet using artificial intelligence and advanced sensors will also help monitor maritime activities in real time. On the global stage, the EU will intensify efforts against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, making the IT CATCH digital system mandatory from January 2026. It will push for key international agreements, such as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement and an ambitious global Plastics Treaty, as well as for the protection of large marine areas in the Southern Ocean.
To make the Pact effective, the Commission will propose an Ocean Act by 2027, creating a streamlined framework to implement its goals while reducing administrative burden. This will build on an updated Maritime Spatial Planning Directive for better sea basin management. A high-level Ocean Board will guide progress, and a public EU Ocean Pact dashboard will track results transparently.
The Pact will be formally presented by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the United Nations Ocean Conference on June 9. Its launch follows the commitments made in the political agenda of the von der Leyen Commission and the European Council conclusions of March 20, 2025.
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