EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 05 June 2025
Commission adopts European Ocean Pact for a healthy ocean, a competitive blue economy and thriving coastal communities
Today, the European Commission adopted a European Ocean Pact, a comprehensive strategy to better protect the ocean, promote a thriving blue economy and support the well-being of people living in coastal areas. The Pact brings together EU ocean policies under one single reference framework, addressing the significant threats facing our ocean, our coastal communities, islands and outermost regions.
One ocean, one strategy
The European Ocean Pact focuses on six priorities:
Protecting and restoring ocean health
The Commission will support Member States restoring degraded coastal and marine habitats. Key actions include encouraging Member States to establish and manage marine protected areas and revise the Maritime Strategy Framework Directive and the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive.
Boosting the competitiveness of the EU sustainable blue economy
The ocean is crucial for sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, tourism and energy. The Commission plans to boost the EU's maritime industry with a new Industrial Maritime Strategy and an EU Ports Strategy. It will also evaluate and possibly revise the Common Fisheries Policy. To ensure thriving EU fisheries and aquaculture, the Commission will present a long-term vision for these sectors in 2026. The Commission will also foster access to young professionals in marine research, ocean tech, and sustainable fisheries by introducing a Blue Generational Renewal Strategy.
Supporting coastal, island communities and outermost regions
Coastal communities are the driving force behind a sustainable and competitive blue economy. They provide Europeans with healthy and sustainable food, and with clean and affordable marine renewable energy. Ensuring the future of these communities is therefore crucial. The Commission will present a dedicated strategy for the development and resilience of EU coastal communities and consult stakeholders on a new strategy for islands as well as an updated outermost regions strategy. In addition, the Commission will make a proposal on the creation of European blue carbon reserves.
Advancing ocean research, knowledge, skills and innovation
The Ocean Pact proposes an ambitious EU Ocean Observation Initiative to improve our knowledge of the ocean. It will be underpinned by an Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy and feed the European Digital Twin of the Ocean. It will maintain the EU as a global ocean leader in ocean science, technology and data. To raise awareness on the importance of the ocean, the Commission will establish an EU Ocean Youth Ambassador Network to engage young advocates in ocean sustainability across the EU and globally.
Enhancing maritime security and defence
The Commission will strengthen EU coast guard and naval cooperation and maritime border security. There will be a coordinated strategy to remove unexploded ordnance from European waters, starting in the Baltic and North Seas. Investment will be made in a pioneering European drone fleet, leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced sensors for real-time monitoring of maritime activities, strengthening the EU's maritime surveillance capabilities.
Strengthening EU Ocean diplomacy and international ocean governance
The Commission will step up its fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing through the mandatory implementation of IT CATCH, the digitalisation of the IUU catch certification scheme, as of January 2026. The Commission will also strengthen European ocean diplomacy to promote the EU's ocean goals and interests on the international stage. The Commission will focus on priorities such as the swift worldwide ratification and implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, an ambitious Plastics Treaty and the designation of three vast marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean.
Implementation and monitoring
To achieve the Ocean Pact's targets, the Commission will present an Ocean Act by 2027. This Pact will establish a single framework to facilitate the implementation of the Pact's key objectives, while cutting red tape.
It will be based on a revised Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, which will enhance cross-sectoral coordination and sea basin management.
The Commission will also set up a high-level Ocean Board, bringing together representatives from various ocean-related sectors, to guide the Ocean Pact's implementation, and launch an EU Ocean Pact dashboard, providing a public, transparent and centralised platform to track progress towards its objectives.
Next steps
The European Ocean Pact will be presented at the upcoming United Nations Ocean Conference on 9 June, by President von der Leyen.
Background
The European Ocean Pact was introduced in the political guidelines of the von der Leyen II Commission and called for in the Conclusions of the European Council of 20 March 2025.
For More Information
Questions and answers on the European Ocean Pact
Communication: The European Ocean Pact
Factsheet
Web page on the European Ocean Pact
Quote(s)
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.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
The ocean is the foundation of life and our ally for a better future. With 40% of Europeans living within 50 km of the sea, our coastal communities are the backbone of our society and economy. The Ocean Pact will empower coastal communities, islands and outermost regions to unlock the full potential of our ocean and create a more prosperous future for all.
Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms
The European Ocean Pact is not a message in a bottle - it's a concrete plan for action. We will work tirelessly to implement its priorities and ensure that the new governance approach to our ocean policies guide our work in the years to come, promoting healthy fisheries, a competitive blue economy, thriving coastal communities, and are mirrored in our engagement at the international level. By advancing our ocean knowledge and strengthening maritime security, we will protect our waters and communities.
Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans
New import surveillance tool to help EU prevent harmful trade diversion
The European Commission has set up a new surveillance tool to help protect the EU against sudden and potentially disruptive surges in imports. This system aims to prevent harmful trade diversion, which occurs when a significant amount of goods that cannot enter other markets due to high tariffs and other restrictions are redirected into the EU. By providing fact-based information building on customs data, the surveillance tool will enable the Commission to swifty identify any such import surges and take early and effective action to protect the EU market from adverse impacts.
To further strengthen this initiative, the Commission is inviting EU manufacturers, industry associations and Member States to review the import trends available on the tool website and provide further market intelligence and data on the industry's economic situation. This will further assist the Commission in identifying specific products that may be at risk due to significant import increases.
Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Šefčovič said: “Recent turbulence in the global trading system has increased the risk of harmful trade diversion - products diverted from high tariff markets could find their way to Europe, which is why the Commission is taking strong action. We are the world's most open market, which is a huge source of prosperity for our people and companies, and we won't let illegal and unilateral trade measures harm this key strength. With this new import surveillance tool we are boosting our capacity to protect our own interests and stop surges in imports diverted to our market”.
More information on the new import surveillance tool is available in a press release online.
(For more information: Olof Gill – Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Ana Apse-Paese – Tel.: +32 2 298 73 48)
Commission announces €175 million to support recovery in Syria
Yesterday, Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica announced a new support package for Syria and met with the transitional government. Following the lifting of the EU's economic sanctions against Syria, the European Commission is proposing €175 million for the social and economic recovery of the country. The new funding will support Syria's public institutions; underpin bottom-up and community-driven actions in the areas of energy, education, health, livelihoods and agriculture; increase access to finance for the most vulnerable populations; promote transitional justice, accountability, and human rights.
Furthermore, the Commission is actively pursuing the integration of Syria into several key initiatives with its Mediterranean partner countries, including the Erasmus+ programme and the forthcoming New Pact for the Mediterranean, aiming to strengthen cooperation and collaboration in the region.
More information is available in a press release online.
(For more information: Guillaume Mercier – Tel.: +32 2 298 56 91; Luca Dilda – Tel.: +32 2 295 21 53)
Commission considers revision of State aid rules for better access to affordable housing
The European Commission is seeking feedback on a revision of the service of general economic interest (‘SGEI') State aid rules to address the issue of housing affordability. Significant investments are needed to bridge the investment gap for affordable housing. State aid measures can contribute to incentivising the necessary investments. The targeted revision of the SGEI rules aims to address this need and thus contribute to incentivise further investments in affordable housing. The revision also aims to simplify, update and clarify certain concepts in the rules.
Any interested citizen, business, public authority or association can contribute by replying to the call for evidence and/or to the general public consultation questionnaire that were published today. It is possible to contribute until 31 July 2025. The call for evidence and the public consultation are both available in all of the 24 official EU languages via the ‘Have your Say' portal.
Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera, in charge of competition policy, said: “Across Europe, too many families and young people are being priced out of a decent home. That's not just a housing issue — it's a social emergency. Today's revision of the State aid rules is one of the tools we're using to help Member States act faster and smarter on affordable housing. And above all, we want these rules to work in real life — which is why the voices of cities, regions, and citizens are essential in shaping them.”
A press release is available online.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier - Tel.: +32 2 29 91099; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774)
Commissioners Dombrovskis and Zaharieva in Bulgaria to deepen dialogue on economic reforms and innovation
This week, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Valdis Dombrovskis and Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva will visit Bulgaria following the European Commission's conclusion that Bulgaria is ready to adopt the euro as of 1 January 2026. This conclusion is based on the 2025 Convergence Report and a parallel assessment by the European Central Bank. The Report finds that Bulgaria fulfils the four nominal convergence criteria which are intended to ensure that a country is ready to adopt the euro and that its economy is sufficiently prepared to do so.
During their joint programme in Sofia, the Commissioners will meet with Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov and Minister of Finance Temenuzhka Petkova, as well as the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nataliya Kiselova. They will also participate in discussions with the banking sector and the Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank Dimitar Radev.
The visit demonstrates the Commission's strong and continued support for Bulgaria's economic development, regulatory reforms and innovation ecosystem.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Thomas Regnier - Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Thérèse Lerebours – Tel.: +32 2 296 33 03; Nika Blazevic – Tel.: +32 2 299 27 17)
Commissioner Lahbib in Geneva to reaffirm EU commitment on disaster risk reduction
Today, Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, will attend the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, organised in Geneva by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Swiss government. The commissioner will reaffirm the EU's commitment to the global efforts to reduce the impact of disasters and to increase resilience, as climate change triggers more frequent and extreme weather events.
At a ministerial roundtable on school safety, she will stress the importance of including disaster preparedness education in schools, as well as the EU's support for global efforts to make schools more resilient to disasters.
The Commissioner will also take part in discussions with the G20 working group on disaster risk reduction and with partners from Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, taking stock of existing cooperation agreements on disaster risk management.
Commissioner Lahbib is also meeting key United Nations partners, including Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and representatives from the IFRC, to discuss the ongoing humanitarian reset and UN 80 reform process.
A leading humanitarian donor, the EU dedicates around €80 million annually to disaster preparedness efforts globally.
(For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Daniel Puglisi - Tel.: +32 2 296 91 40)
Commissioner McGrath in Moldova to discuss justice and rule of law
Today and tomorrow, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, will be in Chișinău, Moldova, to discuss cooperation in areas of democracy, justice, and the rule of law with the Moldovan authorities and stakeholders.
Commissioner McGrath will meet the Moldovan Prime Minister, Dorin Recean, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Development and Digitalisation, Doina Nistor, Minister of Justice, Veronica Mihailov-Moraru, and the Chair of the Legal Committee of the Parliament, Veronica Roșca. The discussions will focus on justice and anti-corruption reforms, rule of law and democracy. The Commissioner will hold a press conference with Moldova's Justice Minister on Friday at +/-10:30 CEST, livestreamed on EBS.
Commissioner McGrath will also visit the Vetting Commissions for judges and for prosecutors, independent bodies in charge of checking the financial and ethical integrity of judges and prosecutors in key functions. Additionally, he will meet with representatives of the Superior Councils of Magistracy and of Prosecutors and of the Supreme Court of Justice of Moldova.
This afternoon, Commissioner McGrath will visit the Single Consumer Call Centre to exchange on the state of play regarding consumer protection in the country. The Call Centre was inaugurated in January 2025 with financial support from the European Union. Later, the Commissioner will meet with civil society organisations for a roundtable discussion on rule of law and the role of civil society in Moldova.
(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Cristina Torres Castillo — Tel.: + 32 2 299 06 79)