The European Commission has launched its EU Ocean Pact after a long period of preparatory discussions. The Ocean Pact was launched it in conjunction with the UN Ocean Conference currently taking place in Nice, France, and the communication states that an 'Ocean Act' will be proposed by 2027.
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Published 2025-06-11.
The EU Ocean Pact is a strategy that sets out what the Commission wants to achieve on ocean issues. Formally, it is a communication, i.e. not a formal legislative proposal but a document setting out the Commission's intentions.
The Pact has been developed over a long period of time with several opportunities for stakeholders to provide input, most recently by participating in Ocean Week in early March when many gathered in Brussels for a series of seminars and workshops where marine issues were discussed. The Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre participated but has also submitted written comments.
The Pact aims to support six priorities:
protecting and restoring ocean health,
boosting sustainable competitiveness of the blue economy,
supporting coastal, island communities and outermost regions,
advancing ocean research, knowledge, skills and innovation,
enhancing maritime security and defence as a prerequisite,
strengthening EU ocean diplomacy and international rules-based governance.
The Ocean Pact communication also states that: "Based on a consultation of the relevant stakeholders, the Commission will propose by 2027 an 'Ocean Act' that will build on a revision of the MSP Directive. It will aim at strengthening and modernising maritime spatial planning as a strategic tool that will serve the priorities of the Ocean Pact and their implementation, notably through increased cross-sectoral coordination at national level and through a better organised sea basin approach."
The fact that the Commission intends to propose a legislative revision came as a surprise to many stakeholders, as the Commission repeatedly emphasised during the preparations that it would only be a strategy and not a legislative proposal.
It remains to be seen when and if the legislative proposal will come and what will eventually be decided. The Baltic Sea Centre will continue to follow the issues.
