The European Commission has adopted a new program for the EU regarding international governance of the oceans

On June 24, a new program for the EU regarding international governance of the oceans has been presented by the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

As a major global actor, the EU aims to confirm its commitment to actively participate in international ocean governance and to strengthen the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goal n°14 on marine life.

The new communication follows on from the 2016 communication and considers key developments, such as the increasing effects of climate change and the dangerous decline in biodiversity. It also takes into account changing geopolitical conditions, such as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Through this document, the EU asserts its commitment to the protection of the oceans ahead of the 2nd UN Conference on the Oceans (27 June-1 July 2022, Lisbon) and the UN Conference on Biodiversity (COP15) (5-17 December 2022, Montreal). The Commission has just adopted its proposal for legally binding targets to restore ecosystems, including at sea.

The EU is particularly committed to the following objectives:

• strengthening the international ocean governance framework at global, regional and bilateral levels;
• halting the loss of marine biodiversity by concluding an ambitious UN treaty on the high seas as soon as possible and achieving the target of 30% marine protected areas by 2030;
• protecting the seabed by banning deep sea mining;
• and fighting climate change.

For more information: here