International Ocean Governance: the EU’s Contribution to Safe, Secure, Clean and Sustainably Managed Oceans

The European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy have today adopted a Joint Communication, proposing actions for safe, secure, clean and sustainably managed oceans. The global ocean economy is estimated at 1.3 trillion euros. Climate change, poverty and food security are some of the global challenges that can be effectively addressed if oceans are better protected and managed sustainably. As a strong global actor, the European Union is setting an agenda for better ocean governance based on a cross-sectoral, rule-based international approach.
On 24 June 2022, the European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented the EU’s renewed agenda for international ocean governance, proposing actions for protected, clean and sustainably managed oceans. With this policy, the EU confirms its active role in international ocean governance and strengthens its commitment to implementing the United Nations 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 14 on life below water. The new agenda contributes significantly to the implementation of the blue dimension of the European Green Deal. Ahead of the 2nd United Nations Ocean Conference (27 June – 1 July 2022, Lisbon) and the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) (5-17 December 2022 in Montreal) and in conjunction with the Commission’s proposal for legally binding targets for ecosystem restoration, including at sea, the EU demonstrates its strong commitment to the oceans.
The new Joint Communication of 24 June 2022 builds on the 2016 communication, taking into account key trends such as the worsening impacts of climate change and the dangerous decline in biodiversity. It also takes into account the changing geopolitical conditions, such as Russia’s attack on Ukraine, which has caused instability and insecurity and resulted in the freezing of certain initiatives.
As a leading global actor, the EU is developing an updated agenda for better ocean governance through an international, cross-sectoral and rule-based approach, aiming to further consolidate its leadership role in ocean governance. Building on and updating the commitments set out in the 2016 Joint Communication, the EU commits to:
a) strengthen the international ocean governance framework at global, regional and bilateral levels;
b) implement ocean sustainability by 2030 by adopting a coordinated and complementary approach to common challenges and cumulative impacts;
c) continue to make the oceans a safe and secure space, as competition in international waters increases and challenges to multilateral cooperation multiply;
d) develop international ocean knowledge to ensure that decision-making is informed and leads to actions for the protection and sustainable management of the oceans.