On Thursday 6 February, the Commissioner for Fisheries and the Oceans, Costas Kadis, sought to reassure the members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment about the ambitious nature of the future ‘European Oceans Pact’, which the European Commission will adopt in the second quarter of 2025.
Responding to Ana Vasconcelos Martins (Renew Europe, Portuguese), Mr Kadis stressed that wide-ranging consultations were underway regarding this pact (see EUROPE 13561/11). The Commission's legal services are involved in this work and “we don’t want this pact to be just a theoretical framework”, he promised. The pact will be accompanied by a roadmap for implementing the proposed measures. “It is not out of the question that there will be legislative measures”, the Commissioner assured. In addition, the section of the ‘Oceans Pact’ devoted to the blue economy will, according to Mr Kadis, aim to “help the most vulnerable small-scale fishers and coastal communities”.
On the subject of seabed mining, Mr Kadis reminded Thomas Bajada (S&D, Maltese) of the Commission’s position, which is set out in the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Ocean Governance Strategy (updated in 2022). “It’s a question of applying the precautionary principle”, insisted the Commissioner. The Commission must not recognise seabed mining exploration projects as strategic projects. As long as there is an impact on the seabed and the environment, the technologies used must first demonstrate that there is no damage to the environment, said Mr Kadis.
On the question of how to get countries to ratify the UN Agreement on Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), also known as the ‘High Seas Treaty’ (see EUROPE 13433/8), the Commissioner told Rasmus Nordqvist (Greens/EFA, Danish) that he would be meeting ministers from Member States and third countries to encourage them to move towards ratification. A letter from the Commission will be sent to Member States and third countries asking them to speed up the ratification process. A budget of €40 million has been earmarked to help third countries apply this treaty. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)