European Commission launches Ocean Pact to protect marine ecosystems, cut pollution; plan aims to restore 20% of Europe's marine ecosystems by 2030

“Check against delivery”

Dear President Macron,

Dear President Costa,

Dear Commissioner Kadis,

Distinguished Guests,

Europe is a continent of the sea. We have a particularly close connection to the Ocean, with an extraordinary 70,000 kilometres of coastline. Every fifth European lives at the coast, and so much of our way of life depends on the water that surrounds us. The Ocean gives us sustainable food and an endless supply of clean energy. It connects us to the world, carrying three-quarters of European trade. It moderates our climate and helps in our fight against global warming. The Ocean is our greatest ally, whether you live here in Europe, or anywhere in the world.

But if we neglect the Ocean, if we treat it without respect, it will turn against us. And the vast ocean forces that helped our civilisation to grow will start to threaten us. We can already see the first impacts: Ever more violent storms ravage our coasts. Our coastal communities struggle to make a living from the sea. Meanwhile, naval power politics has returned, with hostile fleets and war games on the high seas. On all these fronts, Europe must think like a maritime continent and behave like a maritime power. We must make sure that the Ocean remains our ally – now and in the future.

That is why today we present the first European Ocean Pact, a European vision of ocean governance combined with concrete policy actions. Commissioner Kadis will present the details of the Pact, but let me mention some of the most important goals. First: Protect ocean health and its resources. The Ocean gives us life, so the Pact will protect life in and around the sea. We will strive to cut plastic and nutrient pollution by half within five years. We will restore natural habitats and shelter our coasts more effectively from the impact of climate change. Our goal is to bring 20% of Europe's marine ecosystems back to life by 2030, in order to store even more carbon dioxide and better shield our coastal communities from extreme weather, as the risks are growing significantly. So we must step up to our action and protect the Ocean which gives life to us, and to our coastal communities.

At the same time, the European Ocean Pact will promote economic growth for our precious coastal communities, that is my second point. Our fishers work tirelessly to feed us, day and night, in all conditions. Yet extreme weather and unfair competition are pushing too many of them out of business. This needs to change. No young European who grows up beside the sea should be forced to leave their home. So we will channel grants to community resilience projects, and support small-scale fisheries as a priority. We will work with Member States to ensure fair and transparent access to fishing opportunities. And make it easier to renew small fishing vessels, especially in more remote regions.

In addition, the Ocean Pact will help our fishing fleets to modernise and decarbonise. We will foster a skilled next-generation workforce, and level the playing field with our international competitors. The Pact will also help coastal communities to build new business models that benefit both nature and people. All of this will help us to produce at least half of our marine food right here in Europe, because fishers and coastal communities are part of the global struggle to conserve fish stocks. But this is getting harder and harder. Not only because of climate change but also because of illegal, unreported and unregulated activities. This is a threat not just to nature but to the coastal communities and their blue economies. That is why Europe is taking a zero-tolerance approach to illegal practices. So to stop the criminals moving between neighbouring countries, we will develop regional partnerships in the Mediterranean, in western Africa and the Pacific. In Europe, we will use digital registration of fish catches to help prevent illegally caught fish from coming into the EU. Together with the support of our Member States – we can build viable blue economies, stamp out reckless behaviour and restore the balance between humanity and the sea.

Colleagues,

We have only one ocean, and one planet. So as a maritime power, we Europeans must look beyond our own shores. Which brings me to my third and final point.

We want to build a strong global alliance for the Ocean, because the fight to promote and protect our Ocean is a global challenge. As the declaration from this Conference makes clear, there is a funding shortfall to support ocean conservation, science and sustainable fishing. So I am delighted to announce today that Europe is investing EUR 1 billion in 50 projects around the world. We will invest in those who make a living from the sea, and we will invest in scientists and conservationists who seek to protect it. We will help to promote sustainable fishing in Tanzania, regenerate mangrove forests and their natural supply chains in Guyana and protect the coral and seagrass which sustain 20% of global fish stocks. Knowledge is one of the most powerful tools for ocean conservation, so one-third of the EUR 1 billion in funding announced today is targeted for research and scientific projects. This morning at the plenary session, I announced Europe's new Ocean Observation Initiative. This will give us vital data about the ocean, using thousands of sensors from around the world. Thanks to newest technologies and data collection, it will enable us to make very accurate predictions about the ocean. And we will share our research with our partners, because Europe believes that knowledge on the state of our planet should be shared and made available to the world.

Colleagues,

This is an important day for the Ocean. We now have a clear vision on how to protect our seas, our fishers and our coastal communities. But now we must turn that vision into action. So let us now renew this timeless bond with our greatest ally and make a pledge here today: It is time to turn the tide. Let us accelerate our actions and make our Ocean thrive again.

Thank you.