European Commission launches Ocean Board and invites experts to apply

The European Commission is setting up a high-level European Ocean Board to guide the roll-out of its European Ocean Pact, and is calling for experts to apply to join.

Up to 25 members will be appointed to the group, intended to play a central role in shaping how the EU coordinates its ocean-related policies in the coming years. The Board will advise on the implementation of the Ocean Pact and issue opinions on specific policy questions, and will also act as a forum linking EU institutions with industry and civil society, focusing on "coherence and synergy" between public policy and private-sector initiatives.

The Commission is seeking candidates with experience in ocean governance, the maritime economy, fisheries and coastal policy, particularly at European or international level.

Among its early priorities, the Board is set to contribute to work on a new ocean observation initiative and to support efforts in research and innovation, ocean literacy and the development of the blue economy.

Members will meet for the first time in March 2026, and serve terms of up to five years, with meetings planned annually. The positions are unpaid, although travel and subsistence costs will be covered.

Adopted in June 2025, just before the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, the European Ocean Pact aims to bring greater coherence to the EU’s ocean policy.

"This comprehensive strategy will protect the ocean and promote a sustainable blue economy," said European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, announcing the adoption of the Ocean Pact on 5 June. "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."