On Wednesday 3 June, the European Commission adopted a communication launching OceanEye, an initiative designed to boost ocean observation, structure European capacities in this strategic field and consolidate the Union’s maritime industrial and technological base (see EUROPE 13878/35).
OceanEye aims to make ocean observation an essential infrastructure, on a par with meteorology and space observation. This initiative is a central pillar of the European Ocean Pact and of the future EU Industrial Maritime Strategy.
By 2035, the Union intends to provide 35% of the global ocean observing system, to secure 35% of the market for ocean observation technologies, and to become the world’s leading provider of ocean intelligence.
While the ocean covers 70% of the Earth’s surface, less than 5% has been explored and mapped. For the Commission, ocean observation is no longer an optional capability, but a condition for European security, prosperity and resilience.
The protection of critical offshore and subsea infrastructures, maritime surveillance and defence are becoming strategic priorities, including as part of EU Security and Defence Partnerships with third countries such as the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada and India.
According to estimates cited by the Commission, every euro invested in ocean observing systems generates a return of between €5 and €6 in economic and societal benefits. The public investments in global in situ ocean observation is estimated at between €0.85 billion and €1.3 billion per year, a level still insufficient to cover the needs of global system.
The global ocean observation market is estimated at between €10 billion and €20 billion per year, with annual growth of between 5% and 10%, and feeds a much broader economic ecosystem valued at up to €90 billion.
The OceanEye initiative aims to strengthen and better coordinate national and European in situ ocean observation efforts and to establish a European digital ocean system.
The Union already has major assets in the Copernicus programme, notably its marine service, the EMODnet network for marine data, as well as the WISE Marine and WISE Freshwater platforms.
However, the Commission notes that ocean observation remains fragmented, insufficiently coordinated and dependent on short-term research funding.
OceanEye is based on four strategic pillars. The first concerns European governance. Commission proposes establishing a governance framework for ocean observation, which will be set out in the future Ocean Act, due by end 2026. This framework will seek to better align public policy needs with observation and knowledge-production capacities, in conjunction with the Member States, European agencies, the research community and users.
Concerning the international dimension, the Commission will propose the launch of an international alliance to strengthen the Global Ocean Observing System, in close cooperation with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. The EU plans in particular to contribute €50 million under Horizon Europe to strengthen global in situ observation capacities.
The third pillar aims to make digital infrastructures operational. The Commission intends to make the ‘European Digital Twin Ocean’ a fully operational public service by 2030. This mechanism will make it possible to simulate climate, environmental or economic scenarios before decisions are taken.
Lastly, OceanEye will incorporate an educational, cultural and civic dimension in order to strengthen ocean literacy and support skills (EU4Ocean, New European Bauhaus).
Achieving OceanEye objectives will require substantial investment, with significant financial needs for in situ observation, digital tools and research.
At EU level, the Commission is mobilising available resources and existing instruments to support the OceanEye initiative. In total, the Commission will invest €92 million under Horizon Europe to launch OceanEye, broken down as follows: €50 million to strengthen EU contribution to the Global Ocean Observing System – GOOS), €12 million to support resilient global ocean data systems in order to improve data sharing and accessibility, and €30 million to stimulate innovation through the European Innovation Council.
Costas Kadis, the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, said ocean observation is “key for protecting and restoring ocean health, for enabling a prosperous blue economy, as well as for strengthening the resilience and preparedness of coastal communities. It also contributes to maritime security, safety and defence”. In conclusion, he said that OceanEye seeks to bring together existing European marine knowledge services within an operational European digital ocean system, fed by both in situ and satellite observations.
To see the communication: https://aeur.eu/f/m5o (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)