The European Parliament today adopted, with a strong majority, a resolution on international ocean diplomacy that presses for the European Union (EU) and its 27 Member States to respond to unlawful deep-sea mining activities. The vote sends a clear political signal at a time of rising tensions over the governance of the international seabed.
The resolution comes in the context of the United States (US) accelerating efforts to enable deep-sea mining in international waters. Earlier this year, new regulations were adopted to allow companies to bypass the exploration phase, and a company has already made an application under those rules.
This move challenges the established legal framework under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which grants the International Seabed Authority (ISA) the exclusive mandate to regulate mineral-related activities in the seabed beyond national jurisdiction.
Some argue that rapidly adopting a so-called mining code within the ISA could resolve the current tensions by bringing companies back under the ISA framework. The European Parliament has now taken a different position: It calls for a moratorium on deep-sea mining and signals that any unlawful attempts to bypass the ISA should be met with concrete action.
Until now, the European Commission and several EU Member States have publicly criticised the US. With today’s vote, the European Parliament expects them to go further, to “respond with appropriate measures to any attempts to bypass the International Seabed Authority”. This language reflects growing concern among legal experts, who have pointed to obligations under UNCLOS, which holds states responsible for ensuring that activities comply with international rules.
While European Parliament resolutions are not legally binding, they carry significant political weight. This text raises expectations for a coordinated EU response. Formally, the Commission is required to respond to the Parliament’s position. Politically, the resolution strengthens the EU’s stance as a defender of multilateral ocean governance and the rule of law at sea.
Picture Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US)
Posted on: 28 April 2026
