As the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, prepares to publish the mission letters to the newly-designated European Commissioners, a group of NGOs (Birdlife Europe, ClientEarth, Oceana, Seas at Risk, WWF) called, on Wednesday 28 August, for the adoption of measures to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect biodiversity, improve citizen health, and ensure the sustainability of our economy at sea”.
The NGOs have drafted a mission letter for the next European Commissioner for the Oceans, advocating an ‘Ocean Deal’, a legally binding overarching framework to manage all EU maritime activities (fisheries, maritime transport, offshore wind energy), as well as a European fund for the oceans (see EUROPE 13392/16).
The NGOs are also calling for new legislation on ocean resilience and coastal adaptation “to better prepare the EU for climate-related challenges”. Finally, new legislation to restrict the import and trade of aquatic products that harm endangered species is called for.
Link to the mission letter written by the NGOs: https://aeur.eu/f/d8l (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)