European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen formally presented the European Ocean Pact on Monday, 9 June 2025, during the opening plenary of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France and through a side event. Through the Pact, adopted by the European Commission just days earlier in Brussels, the EU aims to restore marine ecosystems, drive sustainable economic growth at sea, and safeguard the future of Europe’s coastal and island communities.
“Ocean is water, water is life. That is why the European Ocean Pact is so important to us. This comprehensive strategy will protect the ocean and promote a sustainable blue economy. It will not only benefit the planet, but also the people who call the coast their home, and the generations who will steward our oceans tomorrow,” von der Leyen said on the passage of the Pact, underscoring the Pact’s broad ambition and intergenerational focus.
The Ocean Pact consolidates all EU ocean-related policies into a single reference framework and outlines six strategic priorities: restoring ocean health, strengthening the EU’s sustainable blue economy, supporting coastal and outermost regions, advancing ocean research and innovation, enhancing maritime security, and promoting global ocean governance. The plan includes revising key legislation such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, launching an Industrial Maritime Strategy, and proposing the creation of European blue carbon reserves to protect seagrasses and salt marshes as carbon sinks.
To fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the Commission says it will implement a fully digital catch certification system by January 2026. On the diplomatic front, the EU will advocate for swift ratification of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ), the adoption of a global Plastics Treaty, and the creation of large marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean.
Implementation will be reinforced through an Ocean Act proposed by 2027, that will strive to cut redtape around the various priorities, along with the establishment of a high-level Ocean Board and a public dashboard to monitor progress across the bloc. The Pact also includes measures to attract young talent to the sector, including a Blue Generational Renewal Strategy and the launch of an EU Ocean Youth Ambassador Network.
By launching the Pact on the opening day of UNOC3, von der Leyen positioned the EU at the forefront of global ocean governance efforts. With ocean temperatures rising, marine biodiversity in decline, and coastal regions facing mounting climate pressures, the Pact represents the EU’s most comprehensive ocean initiative to date—linking ecological urgency with economic transformation.
