Europe's Fisheries and Oceans Commissioner begins series of dialogues on ocean governance

The European Commission is moving ahead with its development of the European Ocean Pact, with the first of a series of high-level Fisheries and Oceans dialogues held this week by EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis.

The Pact, announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her political guidelines for the 2024-2029 term, aims to ensure the long-term health, resilience, and productivity of Europe’s oceans while boosting prosperity in coastal regions.

This week's round-table follows a recent call for evidence on the Pact, which ran until 17 February, inviting contributions from stakeholders, experts, and citizens to shape the initiative.

The meeting, attended by EU Council Presidency Ministers, European Parliament leaders, former Commissioners, and representatives from industry, NGOs, and research institutions, focused on critical challenges in ocean governance.

Discussions covered biodiversity protection, ecosystem-based management, and sustainable economic growth in the blue economy. Participants also examined ways to support the resilience of coastal communities across the EU.

According to the EU Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the discussions "will inform the development of the European Ocean Pact, a key initiative aimed at bringing in more coherence across the various policy fields linked to the ocean."

Discussions are due to continue at the European Ocean Days in Brussels on 5 March 2025, in support of a more cohesive and sustainable approach to managing Europe’s seas.