On Thursday 5 March, the Europe Jacques Delors think tank and the Oceano Azul Foundation called on the European Commission to focus on an overlooked strategic asset: the ocean.
The think tank and the Foundation presented their vision for a transformative ‘Ocean Act’, aimed at creating a genuine European Ocean Union and strengthening the governance, protection and sustainable management of maritime territories in the face of climate and geopolitical challenges.
The document (https://aeur.eu/f/l1w ) recommends European legislation incorporating the six priorities of the Ocean Act (ocean health, blue economy, security and defence, maritime diplomacy, etc.) and the creation of a European Ocean Agency to coordinate the implementation of maritime policies across Member States.
The authors also advocate a European policy for a regenerative blue economy, with clear targets for replacing unsustainable maritime sectors with innovative and sustainable blue industries, and the establishment of an Executive Vice-President for Ocean Affairs within the Commission to strengthen political and strategic leadership.
Other requests include harmonising maritime directives and strengthening ocean observation to better anticipate the impacts of climate change and geopolitical crises. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)