Today marks the first anniversary of the European Ocean Pact, the EU’s comprehensive strategy to protect marine ecosystems, foster a thriving blue economy and support the well-being of coastal communities.
Adopted on 5 June 2025 during the Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, the European Ocean Pact set out a unified framework for all EU ocean-related policies. One year after, the Pact has already been put to a real test and delivered.
Advancing ocean governance, diplomacy and research
The Ocean Pact’s first year has seen steady progress on its agenda. The EU and its Member States have led the political process and the negotiations of the High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), which entered into force on 17 January 2026. This agreement to protect the high seas across the ocean was a major success of multilateralism and a historic achievement in international law and ocean governance.
Essential components of the governance architecture of the Ocean Pact are also in place: a high-level, stakeholder-led Ocean Board has been established and the prototype of the Ocean Pact dashboard has been tested. It will be fully operational by the end of the year, providing transparent monitoring of the EU’s commitments across the Pact’s six strategic priorities.
President von der Leyen’s pledge of €1 billion for ocean conservation, science and sustainable fishing announced at the UN Ocean Summit is being translated into concrete programmes.
On the diplomatic front, the EU has stepped up its fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in international waters, and has worked to strengthen ocean governance in multilateral forums.
On ocean observation, the recently adopted OceanEye initiative charts EU action in this strategic domain. The initiative sets ambitious goals: by 2035, make the EU the world’s leading provider of ocean intelligence, secure 35% of the market for ocean observation technologies, and provide 35% of the global ocean observing system.
Promoting sustainable economic growth
The Pact's first year also brought tangible progress on boosting the sustainable blue economy. The publication of the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Regulation provided a comprehensive analysis of the CFP's performance and a foundation for future policies.
At EU Ocean Days, the Commission also adopted the EU Ports Strategy and the Industrial Maritime Strategy, setting out a vision for competitive, sustainable, and resilient maritime industries across Europe.
On 10 June, the Commission will also adopt two dedicated strategies for the EU’s islands and coastal communities. These strategies will provide a coordinated European approach to help these areas thrive, unlocking their long-term potential and improving resilience, competitiveness, and quality of life.
Together, these milestones demonstrate the Pact's reach, embedding ocean sustainability at the heart of the EU's economic and industrial agenda.
Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis said:
“The Ocean Pact has positioned the EU as the global leader in ocean protection and in sustainable economic growth. This will allow us to better support the EU countries that are most affected by changes in the ocean, build long-lasting partnerships across the globe, and promote sustainable economic growth in our coastal communities. This will be underpinned by our upcoming islands and coastal communities strategies.”
More information
European Ocean Pact – implementation
Common Fisheries Policy Regulation evaluation
- Publication date
- 5 June 2026
- Author
- Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries