Opinjoni ta’ prospettiva dwar il-Patt Ewropew għall-Oċeani
Opinion factsheet
F’din il-paġna
- Politika agrikola, marittima u tal-konsumatur
- Sajd u affarijiet marittimi
- it-Tibdil fil-Klima u l-Enerġija
- Tranżizzjoni tal-enerġija
- Impjiegi u politika soċjali
- Ambjent
- Bijodiversità
- Politika tal-ilma
Opinion number:
CDR-0626-2025
Status:
Adottati
Objective
Contribute to the new EU strategy on Oceans and Seas planned by the European Commission under the European Oceans Pact. The new strategy intends to:
i) boost the sustainable blue economy,
ii) ensure good governance and sustainability of our oceans, and
iii) promote a holistic and coherent approach to ocean governance across all sectors.
The following considerations are relevant for the CoR constituency:
No one-size-fits-all solution can be applied to EU policies on Oceans. Careful consideration of local specificities should be embedded into the new legislation
Governance of EU Oceans and beyond require review. A multileyer governance system, in which different levels of governance are integrated, is to be promoted. This include the role of RLA as part of the governance system.
i) boost the sustainable blue economy,
ii) ensure good governance and sustainability of our oceans, and
iii) promote a holistic and coherent approach to ocean governance across all sectors.
The following considerations are relevant for the CoR constituency:
No one-size-fits-all solution can be applied to EU policies on Oceans. Careful consideration of local specificities should be embedded into the new legislation
Governance of EU Oceans and beyond require review. A multileyer governance system, in which different levels of governance are integrated, is to be promoted. This include the role of RLA as part of the governance system.
Impact
Since it was a Outlook Opinion expected before the publication of a European Strategy for Ocean, the expected impact was a contribution to the frmulation of the Communication from the European Commission.
As recognized during a bilateral meeting with Commissione Kadis, in chage of Ocean and fishery, a direct impact of the CoR Opinion on the Communication was actually achieved, by the broad adoption by the Commission, of the main subjects proposed by the CoR for the Communication on the European Ocean Pact.
The impact is measurable to some extent. A comparative analysis of messages taken onboad (or not) by the Commission is available here:
https://eesccor.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/DirectorateB/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7BFC223BCF-2C59-4BDB-975A-5B978681B461%7D&file=Comparative%20analysis%20CoR%20Outlook%20Opinion%20and%20Communication%20from%20the%20Commission.docx&action=default&mobileredirect=true
Additionally, because of the adoption of the Opinion, the CoR was invited to participate to the UNOC3 Conference in Nice as part of the EU Delegation. 8 members of the CoR participated to the Conference.
The Conference offered the opportunity to the CoR for:
1) Advocated for CoR key messages from recent opinions at global and EU levels through differenc channels: public events, bilateral meetings, media, informal positioning with key partners.
2) Ensured visibility of the CoR, through participation of members to official events, bilateral meetings and outreach events organized by external media as well as by the CoR itself;
3) Contribution to the final declaration fo the Conference, through the EU position.
4) Strengthened collaborations at global (UN FAO), EU (Commission, European parliament, European NGOs), and regional levels.
5) The promotion of the Ocean Rise and Resilience Coalition, in collaboration with the Ville de Nice, the Region Sud, Alpes and Cote d'Azur (FR) co-organizers of the UN Conference.
A more detailed analysis of outcomes of the CoR participation to the UNOC3 Conference is available here:
https://eesccor.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/DirectorateB/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B84A9D2CC-94C5-4451-AC2D-025C11E4B0CE%7D&file=Outcomes%20of%20the%20CoR%20participation%20to%20the%20UNOC3.docx&action=default&mobileredirect=true
The European Commission expressed its position on the CoR Opinion. It prepared an analysis to show how the proposal from the CoR were reflected into the Communication prepared by the Commission, enphasizing the following points:
Holistic approach of the pact, including enhanced coherence and synergy amongst different objectives, tools, policies and priorities;
inter-linked elements encompassing ocean environments protection, support to resilient and competitive economies and ensure the wellbeing of local and regional communities in coastal areas;
the aim of achieveing "good environmental status" under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive;
establishement of dedicated financing mechanisms to support a just transition to a low impact, regenerative maritime economy, effective protection and restoration of marine ecosystems and scientific research;
systematic adoption of Maritime Spatial Planning to ensure coherence between environmental, climate, socio-economic wellbeing and sectoral policies. this is achieved by the future adoption of an Eurpean Ocean Act.
the priority given to the deployment of offshore wind energy as a source of competitiveness and security of energy supply in Europe.
The importance given to sustainable coastal tourisms as the single biggest blue economy sector;
the adoption of a four key principles to enable the intertwin between ecosystem preservation, protection of marine biodiversity and marine-related socio-economic activities and food production: i) a source-to-sea approach on tackling pollution; ii) a precautionary principle; iii) a science-based approach to policy decisions; and iv) an ecosystem-based approach;
the central role of the EU in the establisment of a systematic green and blue diplomacy to strenghten ocena governance at EU and international level;
The increased investments on research and innovation to enable a sustainable and thriving blue economy;
Further details of the European Commission position on the CoR opinion are available in
https://eesccor.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/DirectorateB/sptccdr/comm_nat/2.%20NAT%20OPINIONS%202010-2025/NAT%20OPINIONS%20-%202025/NAT-VIII-002%20(previous%20NAT-VII-048)-Ivarsson-European%20Oceans%20Pact-Pierpaolo%20Zrinka/Follow%20Up/Position%20from%20DG%20MARE%20on%20the%20CoR%20Opinion%20on%20European%20Ocean%20Pact.docx?d=wb12fbacba45d4e18beddef3813b6d245&csf=1&web=1&e=muqxpD
As recognized during a bilateral meeting with Commissione Kadis, in chage of Ocean and fishery, a direct impact of the CoR Opinion on the Communication was actually achieved, by the broad adoption by the Commission, of the main subjects proposed by the CoR for the Communication on the European Ocean Pact.
The impact is measurable to some extent. A comparative analysis of messages taken onboad (or not) by the Commission is available here:
https://eesccor.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/DirectorateB/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7BFC223BCF-2C59-4BDB-975A-5B978681B461%7D&file=Comparative%20analysis%20CoR%20Outlook%20Opinion%20and%20Communication%20from%20the%20Commission.docx&action=default&mobileredirect=true
Additionally, because of the adoption of the Opinion, the CoR was invited to participate to the UNOC3 Conference in Nice as part of the EU Delegation. 8 members of the CoR participated to the Conference.
The Conference offered the opportunity to the CoR for:
1) Advocated for CoR key messages from recent opinions at global and EU levels through differenc channels: public events, bilateral meetings, media, informal positioning with key partners.
2) Ensured visibility of the CoR, through participation of members to official events, bilateral meetings and outreach events organized by external media as well as by the CoR itself;
3) Contribution to the final declaration fo the Conference, through the EU position.
4) Strengthened collaborations at global (UN FAO), EU (Commission, European parliament, European NGOs), and regional levels.
5) The promotion of the Ocean Rise and Resilience Coalition, in collaboration with the Ville de Nice, the Region Sud, Alpes and Cote d'Azur (FR) co-organizers of the UN Conference.
A more detailed analysis of outcomes of the CoR participation to the UNOC3 Conference is available here:
https://eesccor.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/DirectorateB/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B84A9D2CC-94C5-4451-AC2D-025C11E4B0CE%7D&file=Outcomes%20of%20the%20CoR%20participation%20to%20the%20UNOC3.docx&action=default&mobileredirect=true
The European Commission expressed its position on the CoR Opinion. It prepared an analysis to show how the proposal from the CoR were reflected into the Communication prepared by the Commission, enphasizing the following points:
Holistic approach of the pact, including enhanced coherence and synergy amongst different objectives, tools, policies and priorities;
inter-linked elements encompassing ocean environments protection, support to resilient and competitive economies and ensure the wellbeing of local and regional communities in coastal areas;
the aim of achieveing "good environmental status" under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive;
establishement of dedicated financing mechanisms to support a just transition to a low impact, regenerative maritime economy, effective protection and restoration of marine ecosystems and scientific research;
systematic adoption of Maritime Spatial Planning to ensure coherence between environmental, climate, socio-economic wellbeing and sectoral policies. this is achieved by the future adoption of an Eurpean Ocean Act.
the priority given to the deployment of offshore wind energy as a source of competitiveness and security of energy supply in Europe.
The importance given to sustainable coastal tourisms as the single biggest blue economy sector;
the adoption of a four key principles to enable the intertwin between ecosystem preservation, protection of marine biodiversity and marine-related socio-economic activities and food production: i) a source-to-sea approach on tackling pollution; ii) a precautionary principle; iii) a science-based approach to policy decisions; and iv) an ecosystem-based approach;
the central role of the EU in the establisment of a systematic green and blue diplomacy to strenghten ocena governance at EU and international level;
The increased investments on research and innovation to enable a sustainable and thriving blue economy;
Further details of the European Commission position on the CoR opinion are available in
https://eesccor.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/DirectorateB/sptccdr/comm_nat/2.%20NAT%20OPINIONS%202010-2025/NAT%20OPINIONS%20-%202025/NAT-VIII-002%20(previous%20NAT-VII-048)-Ivarsson-European%20Oceans%20Pact-Pierpaolo%20Zrinka/Follow%20Up/Position%20from%20DG%20MARE%20on%20the%20CoR%20Opinion%20on%20European%20Ocean%20Pact.docx?d=wb12fbacba45d4e18beddef3813b6d245&csf=1&web=1&e=muqxpD
Essential points
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS (CoR)
- supports a strategic and holistic approach to oceans in order to enhance the coherence of EU policies on oceans and insists that the pact should promote different dimensions of oceans’ sustainability: environmental aspects, sustainable blue economy, good governance and participation from stakeholders;
- calls for regular monitoring and a communication plan regarding the plan’s implementation and the roadmap of commitments that will accompany it. Proposes the establishment of a project group, within the College of Commissioners, to follow up on implementation of the pact;
- highlights that ocean-related policies should be developed in close collaboration with local and regional authorities (LRAs) and citizens to respect local specificities;
- emphasises the need for stronger ocean governance in the EU and at global level, proposing a multi-level governance approach which ensures close involvement of local and regional levels in tailored policy design and implementation;
- recalls the necessity to ensure that mutually beneficial linkages between coastal and internal areas are integrated into all EU policies;
- highlights the funding gap affecting maritime activities and calls for the establishment of an Oceans Fund, for a just transition to a low impact and regenerative maritime economy, effective protection and restoration of marine ecosystems and the promotion of scientific research;
- highlights the necessity of shifting consumption patterns in the EU to depend less on imported products and more on local production;
- emphasises the importance of ensuring that the management of the ocean is underpinned by robust policy coherence and legally binding targets that are monitored and, if necessary, enforced at certain intervals;
- considers that the Oceans Pact should contribute to promoting increased investment in locally based marine research to address knowledge gaps, particularly in biodiversity, ecosystem services and climate impacts, as well as new technological and business opportunities;
- supports the idea that the Oceans Pact should be the first step in the development of a coherent legislative and non-legislative framework for the oceans.