Nice, 9 June 2025
The 2025 UN Ocean Conference, dedicated to advancing Sustainable Development Goal 14 — “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources” — is taking place in Nice, France. The European Union is represented by several high-level officials. Explore their opening speeches and contributions to key side events.
Speech by President von der Leyen at the opening plenary session of the 2025
I salute our distinguished hosts,
Distinguished guests,
Thank you very much for bringing us together here at this stunning coastline, an ocean we have all seen. It inspired painters like Matisse and Chagall and many more. But we all know that the Ocean is so much more than just inspiration; it is life. It feeds us, cools us, and connects us to the world. Together, we have taken many important steps to protect our Ocean. Today, we can celebrate the first results but at the same time, we must step up our efforts. Because the Ocean is still in crisis. Without action, we risk our future.
So, I want to be very concrete. Let me give you three examples where Europe takes action:
First of all, when France hosted the One Ocean Conference in Brittany three years ago, it built global momentum for the High Seas Treaty. And we all know the Treaty is a crucial instrument to protect our Ocean beyond borders. And indeed, we made it – the Treaty was agreed and adopted. And today, we are inches away from the 60 signatures for ratification. So, to bring the High Seas Treaty to life, Europe will contribute EUR 40 million to the Global Ocean programme. So, I ask you all today: Please speed up ratification. Because our Ocean needs us to play its part.
The second announcement from Europe today is the incredible Digital Twin of the Ocean. I announced it three years ago in Brest. Today, we proudly present the first demonstration version. It is an amazing tool that helps us better understand the Ocean, from pollution to navigation, from risks for our coasts to biodiversity, you name it. And we will not stop here. We have heard the call from France and others to invest heavily in Ocean research. So, building on the Digital Twin, we launch a new Ocean Observation Initiative. It will give vital data to everyone who relies on the ocean, and it will help to make Europe a global leader in ocean science, technology and security. I call on all countries here today to join Europe in this mission.
And finally, we will this afternoon present the Ocean Pact of the European Union. It is the first ever pact for the ocean in the European Union. If we all play our part, we can save our ocean. As Jacques Cousteau once said: ‘The sea, the great unifier, is man’s only hope. Now as never before, we are all in the same boat.’ But by working together we can make it happen to have a good future of the ocean. It is in our hands.
Thank you so much.
Source – EU Commission
Speech by President von der Leyen at the EU side event on the Ocean Pact
Dear President Costa,
Dear Commissioner Kadis,
My distinguished guests here,
Having listened to all the speeches this morning, we can truly say that 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 us to fight against global warming.
And it was said this morning several times: The ocean is our ally, and it is our greatest friend when it comes to preserving the health of our planet and of Mother Nature that we live in. And if this is true, then the opposite is also true. 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. And there are new elements: Naval power politics has returned, with hostile fleets and war games on the high seas and shadow fleets. 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.
That is why I am very proud and very grateful that today we can present the first European Ocean Pact. It is our common European vision of ocean governance combined with concrete policy action. Commissioner Kadis will present the details of the Pact, but let me mention some of the most important goals. First: We need to protect ocean health and its resources. I mean, we often speak about the fact that the rainforests are our green lungs. If this is the case, our oceans are our veins and arteries. We cannot live without them. And everything which is flowing through our arteries and our veins, the water, is essential to survive. The Ocean gives us life, so the Pact will protect life in and around the sea. And for me it is important that there are not only nice headlines, this also is important to have a clear idea and vision, but we all know: Only what gets measured gets done. We need targets, figures, goals that we want to reach. We will strive to cut plastic and nutrient pollution by half within five years, this can be reached, we should make this effort. 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. Speaking of an ally, bringing back to life, it is so necessary, it is so crucial because the ocean is storing CO2. So we need to enable the ocean to store even more CO2. This is, as I said, our best ally to better shield our coastal communities from extreme weather events. So, what we have to do is turn a vicious cycle that we are experiencing right now into a virtuous cycle. And actually, it is possible.
At the same time, the European Ocean Pact will promote economic growth for our coastal communities, that is my second point. Our fishermen and fisherwomen 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 has to change. They should again be the custodians of our oceans. 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. Of course, it is absolutely rational to decarbonise our fishing fleets if we want our ally, the Ocean, to store CO2 and not to be impacted by pollution any longer. 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. And we know that this is getting harder and tougher by the day. Not only because of climate change but also because of illegal, unreported and unregulated activities. This is killing our marine ecosystems. We have to do something against it. This is our task. That is why Europe is taking a zero-tolerance approach to illegal practices. We want to stop the criminals moving between neighbouring countries. To achieve this, we will develop regional partnerships in the Mediterranean, in western Africa and the Pacific. In Europe, we will use our digital registration of fish catches to help prevent illegally caught fish from coming into the European Union. And we have a fantastic satellite system to check who is illegally fishing outside the allowed zones. We have Copernicus. We have the proof. We can use it. And with the digital components we have – I just visited the Digital Twin, it is amazing what we can to with that – we can crack down on this illegal fishing that destroys our ecosystems. Together with the support of our Member States and reflecting that – we can build viable blue economies and restore the balance between humanity and the sea.
And finally, 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 very clear, there is a funding shortfall to support ocean conservation, science and sustainable fishing. So, I am delighted, proud and grateful to announce today that Europe is investing EUR 1 billion in 50 projects around the world. EUR 1 billion in projects for those who make a living from the sea. 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 is very dear to my heart. This morning at the plenary session, I announced Europe’s new Ocean Observation Initiative. This will give us vital data about the ocean – we have this data, but we have to process, accumulate, read, use them, using thousands of sensors from around the world. Thanks to newest technologies and data collection, like our Digital Twin, it will enable us to make very accurate predictions about the ocean. So, we can show what is happening. We can model different scenarios, we can prove how action will impact the oceans – for better or worse. That is a completely new level of scientific approach to the knowledge 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. And Europe believes in the freedom of science which is so precious for all of us.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is an important day for the Ocean. We now have a clear vision on how to protect our seas, our fishermen and fisherwomen and our coastal communities. We now must turn that vision into action. It is good to have a vision, it is good to have it on paper. I want to see it on the ground. I want to see it as true action. It is time to turn the tide and make our Ocean thrive again.
Thank you very much for your support. And thank you very much for your attention.
Source – EU Commission
Speech by Commissioner Kadis at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference Side-event “Celebrating High Seas Action: Accelerating the Race for Ratification & Ambitious Implementation of the BBNJ Agreement”
Excellencies, Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for coming here to our joint event celebrating action to protect biodiversity in the global ocean. Many thanks to the High Seas Alliance for organising and for all the active engagement from all the co-sponsors.
The BBNJ Agreement is now a lot closer to entry into force. It is a milestone achievement for biodiversity in the High seas, for international ocean governance and is a beacon of hope for multilateralism. Many States have rushed to finish their ratification processes. I am very proud of the European Union’s ratification of the BBNJ. I am grateful to all the countries who have ratified to date, including all the parties who are doing so today. I call on all other parties to do so, urgently, as there is no time to lose to protect our ocean.
I am also happy to announce that the EU is relaunching the High Ambition Coalition for BBNJ together with the co-chairs the Seychelles and Palau. I would like to thank them both for their leadership and collaboration. We presented a Declaration of the High Ambition Coalition. 37 countries have already subscribed to this text and joined the Coalition’s relaunch; many more have expressed interest. I hope that all States with high ambitions for the BBNJ Agreement can get behind it.
More than simply keeping the momentum, the Coalition could become a platform for countries with different perspectives, but united in their ambition, to share experiences and seek support for future proposals and ideas.
The BBNJ Agreement will need a collaborative approach to be efficient. New and old partnerships will be needed. The High Ambition Coalition is certainly one that we hope can contribute to this dynamic.
We need to step up our collective efforts to meet the target of the Global Ocean Framework to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030.
Lastly, I would like to announce that the EU is walking the talk on ocean protection. Today, we announce the start of the first tranche of the EU’s Global Ocean Programme. With a budget of 40 million euros, the Global Ocean Programme is the largest programme in the world seeking to support the implementation of the BBNJ and biodiversity in the High Seas and the Area. It recognises the key contribution the High Seas can bring to sustainable development across the Globe.
The first part of this programme, 10 million euros, includes an on-demand Technical Facility, implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which I would like to thank for their excellent work.
The programme will support partner countries in ratifying and implementing the BBNJ Agreement in all its aspects, to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction in the broad sense and to share the benefits of marine genetic resources. It shows the EU’s commitment to build capacity and meet the objectives of the Agreement.
Source – EU Commission
Speech by Commissioner Kadis at the EU side event on the Ocean Pact – 2025 UN Ocean Conference
“Check against delivery”
Your Excellency, President of France,
Madam President of the European Commission,
Mr. President of the European Council,
Excellencies,
Heads of State and Governments,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I’m immensely honoured to be here today with you to present an emblematic initiative of the European Commission, of von der Leyen’s Commission, the European Ocean Pact, an ambitious initiative for the sustainable management and the preservation of our ocean.
But why does the European Union need an Ocean Pact?
The European Union needs an Ocean Pact because the European Union is an ocean union.
It has the world’s largest collective maritime area, with 25 million square kilometres of exclusive economic zones across its member states, outermost regions, and overseas territories.
It has a coastline of 70,000 kilometres, with 40% of the European Union population living within 50 kilometres from the coast.
The European Union blue economy supports approximately 5 million jobs and contributes 250 billion euros in gross value added to the European Union economy.
The European Union needs an Ocean Pact because the European Union is a leading advocate for ocean health.
And we all know that our ocean is severely threatened by the impacts of the triple planetary crisis: climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and the over-exploitation of marine resources.
These challenges require immediate and urgent action.
The European Union needs an Ocean Pact because the ocean offers immense potential if the policies related to the ocean are implemented in a harmonised, coordinated, and coherent way.
However, we have observed fragmentation in the implementation of these policies, thus reducing their positive impact.
Taking into consideration this background, but also the feedback that we received through an immense and very extensive consultation exercise, we developed the Ocean Pact.
The Ocean Pact is a single reference strategic framework for all the policies that are linked to the ocean, policies that impact and are impacted by the ocean, and secures their implementation in a coherent and coordinated way.
The Ocean Pact is structured in six building blocks. Under each building block, we propose the implementation of a series of initiatives.
The first priority, the first building block, is about protecting and restoring ocean health, with initiatives such as the expansion of marine protected areas and their effective protection.
Protecting ocean health is a prerequisite for the next priorities: boosting sustainable competitiveness of the blue economy with initiatives focusing on fisheries, on aquaculture, on tourism, on ports, and other segments of the blue economy.
Supporting coastal, island, and outermost regions, and strengthening their resilience, especially against the impacts of climate change, is another important priority.
We need to build a robust knowledge framework to support ocean-related policies.
Therefore, we propose a series of initiatives for advancing ocean research, knowledge, skills, and innovation.
We need to protect the invaluable infrastructure that the ocean hosts, which is indispensable for the well-being of European citizens.
That’s why we propose initiatives for enhancing maritime security and defence.
And last but not least, we propose initiatives for strengthening EU ocean diplomacy and international governance, to mirror the sustainable ocean-related policies that the European Union implements to other parts of the world.
So this is the structure of the Ocean Pact.
As our President mentioned before, the Ocean Pact should be implementable in order to be meaningful.
That’s why we propose a strong governance mechanism, which has at its centre the Ocean Act, the act which will facilitate the implementation of the Ocean Pact and its objectives.
We will set up an Ocean Board to guide us for the proper implementation of the Ocean Pact.
And we will track the progress achieved towards the implementation of the Pact’s objectives through a transparent, public Pact dashboard.
So this is, in a few words, the European Ocean Pact.
What I can assure you is that the European Ocean Pact is not a slogan of empty words.
It’s a promise, a commitment to our children and to the next generations.
And from today, we start implementing the Ocean Pact!
Source – EU Commission
Speech by EU Commissioner Šuica at the Summit for a Connected Mediterranean
“Check against delivery”
Dear President Macron,
Dear King Abdullah,
Dear Heads of State or Government,
Thank you for organising this Summit on a more connected Mediterranean. It could not come at a better moment.
My mission as first Commissioner for the Mediterranean is to bring the partnersaround theMare Nostrumcloser together – the people and the economies alike. This is why the focus onconnectivityis fully aligned with my mission at the European Commission.
Let me briefly outline what we are doing already. We are improving energy and data infrastructure with flagship projects such as:
- the ELMED electricity link between our two shores, and
- the MEDUSA digital submarine fibre cable.
In addition, we are supporting
- the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) between Israel, Cyprus, and Greece,
- the Greece-Egypt Interconnector (Gregy), aiming to transport clean energy from Egypt to Greece and Europe, and
- theH2MED project, a green hydrogen corridor linking Portugal, Spain, and France, with a potential extension to North Africa.
Let me also (join you in) reaffirming our strategic vision and practical support for the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
- This involves investment in ports, energy transmission, and digital infrastructure – from India, Saudi-Arabia, The Emirates, Israel and Jordan to Cyprus, Greece and Italy.
- Thank you,dear Emanuel, for your continuous support of Egypt’s accession to IMEC.
Under the Global Gateway, we are also financing key projects across North Africa and the Middle Eastincluding rail modernization, methanol for green shipping, renewable energy systems, and wastewater treatment.
By February 2025, the European Union support reached5.9 billion Euro, in this region.
And this will mobilise up to 27.2 billion Euro in public and private investments in cooperation with International Financial Institutions.
Looking ahead, my top priority is theNew Pact for the Mediterranean– to be presented this fall. We are building it together with our partners from both shores.
It will be based on three areas:
- People,
- the economy, and
- peace, resilience, and security.
We are puttingpeoplefirst – investing in higher education, skills, and jobs, and promoting cultural exchange, sport, and tourism.
A flagship of theeconomicpilar of the Pact is the Trans-Mediterranean Energy and Clean Tech Cooperation Initiative(T-MED).
Our cooperation on renewables will deliver multiple wins:
- faster economic development and more quality jobs thus lowering unemployment rates among young people in the Southern Mediterranean and fighting root causes of migration,
- greater competitiveness,
- faster decarbonisation, and
- more security in energy supply for all sides.
We are also strengthening cooperation on security — from disaster preparedness to fighting smuggling — while opening more legal pathwaysfor labour migration.
Finally, on peace, let me briefly mention Syria. I visited last week with a message of hope and determination. I was deeply moved by the resilience of the Syrian people. We must stand by them — with step-by-step support for recovery, together with the transition government and international partners. In a time of global uncertainty, stronger connectivity is our bridge — not only between shores, but between people, ideas, and values.
Let us walk that bridge together, with equal partnership, shared values, and mutual respect.
Thank you.
Source – EU Commission
Speech by President António Costa at the General Debate of the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference
The ocean is the blue heart of our planet. It is essential in the fight against climate change and in bringing together people from different continents, who share a common heritage of humanity.
And that is why we are gathered here today. The diagnosis is well known, we have heard the planet’s clear warnings, and we know that the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss is becoming increasingly severe.
Now is no longer the time for diagnosis. It is time to act — and the European Union is taking action.
In March, the European Council agreed on a common European initiative aimed at promoting ocean health and governance.
First, we must act at the European level. Through the European Ocean Pact presented by the Commission, which will ensure a transversal and science-based approach: from environmental protection to the blue economy, from research to security.
Next, we must act at the international level. By firmly supporting the High Seas Treaty, which the European Union has already ratified, and to which at least nine Member States have pledged contributions to enable it to enter into force by the end of the year.
And finally, we must act at the multilateral level. By supporting the United Nations — because only through multilateralism can we address the global challenges facing humanity. We are here to affirm our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, to the realization of the Pact for the Future, and to the “UN 80” reform initiative.
Together, we must advance the great causes of humanity in our century — for the climate, for the ocean, and for the planet. That is to say, to save humanity.
e-translated by ChatGPT, prompted by Insight EU.
This English translation is provided for informational purposes only. In the event of any discrepancies or legal interpretations, the original French version shall prevail and is the only legally binding text.
Source of the French original text: Discours du président António Costa lors du débat général de la Conférence des Nations unies sur l’Océan de 2025
Statement by President António Costa at the side event on the Ocean Pact during the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference
Less than three months ago, the European Council adopted highly ambitious conclusions on the oceans. For the first time, the 27 Heads of State and Government adopted a strategy for what is undeniably a strategic asset, with an approach that is equally strategic — in short, a comprehensive approach. One that serves the purposes of protection, security, and economic sustainability.
And today, the European Union is living up to its commitments.
First of all, I would like to thank the President of the European Commission, dear Ursula, and Commissioner Kostas Kadis for having proposed the European Ocean Pact. It will enhance environmental protection, strengthen our competitiveness in the blue economy sectors, empower coastal communities, and boost maritime safety and defence — all at once.
This clearly shows that for the European Union, the health of the oceans is not only vital for a sustainable future. It is equally vital for a secure and competitive one. This calls for nothing less than a comprehensive and strategic approach to governance.
Secondly, the European Union is also fulfilling its commitments concerning the High Seas Treaty. We played a decisive role in its conclusion. And today, thanks to our essential contribution, we are very close to it entering into force — hopefully by the end of the year.
In the past two weeks alone, seven EU Member States and the EU itself have taken further steps toward ratification, joining Spain and France, along with many other partners around the world. This sends a strong signal of support for increased global action and ambition — making the EU a spearhead of international cooperation in ocean governance.
Finally, for Europe, the oceans are now a scientific mission — one that will unlock vast opportunities, foster innovation, boost competitiveness, and lead to greater economic resilience. I welcome the European Commission’s announcement of the Ocean Observation Initiative, as well as France’s launch of its “Mission Neptune.” Others have prioritised the Moon or Mars. But as you said this morning, Mr President [Macron], we can indeed place Neptune before Mars. And Europe is making the ocean its mission — with a science-based approach.
The European Union has the ambition and the capacity to become a global scientific hub for ocean knowledge, climate action, and digital maritime security. That is why a moratorium on deep-sea mining is essential.
That is also why we must promote such a science-based approach globally — grounded in multilateral dialogue between public and private sectors alike.
For the European Union, this is self-evident: the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss demands swift decisions and mobilisation on an even more global scale.
The degradation of ocean health and the risks it entails give urgency to our commitments and make multilateralism more crucial than ever.
We are fully aware that there is no time to lose. We will stand for unity. We will protect the ocean as a common good of humankind — for better global governance and for the future of our planet.
e-translated by ChatGPT, prompted by Insight EU
This English translation is provided for informational purposes only. In the event of any discrepancies or legal interpretations, the original French version shall prevail and is the only legally binding text.
Source of the French original text: Déclaration du président AntónioCostalors de l’événement parallèle du Pacte pour l’Océan de la Conférence des Nations unies sur l’Océan de 2025