The step-by-step roadmap to a healthy ocean
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- 2024
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The European Commission publishes an "Ocean Deal" communication, outlining a policy roadmap to achieve healthy, clean and resilient marine ecosystems by 2030. This plan ensures a coherent and balanced framework for reaching the EU's climate, zero pollution, and biodiversity goals, while also guaranteeing a just and socially fair transition.
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The European Commission establishes an Ocean Commissioner.
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The European Parliament establishes a forum for all matters related to maritime activities and marine ecosystems, such as an inter-group or a gathering of MEPs from relevant Committees, including Fisheries, Environment, and Transport and Tourism.
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Each Presidency of the Council of the EU holds a joint ocean meeting attended by Environment, Climate, Energy, Fisheries and Transport ministries, with stakeholder representation at all meetings.
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From 2024 onwards, the Council of the EU establishes sustainable, ecosystem-based and precautionary limits on fishing opportunities in line with the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the best available scientific advice in an era of climate change.
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To tackle Ocean pollution and finalise the work of the 2019-2024 mandate, the European Parliament and Council of the EU adopt the regulations on preventing plastic pellets losses, Packaging and Packaging Waste, the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, and the revised list of surface and groundwater pollutants.
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The European Commission advocates for an ambitious Global Plastic Treaty that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics, including single-use plastics, microplastics and fishing gear, as well as hazardous chemical additives and upstream measures focusing on plastic production and reduction.
- 2025
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From 2025 onwards, the European Commission increases resources for compliance and enforcement units to address potential marine-related legislation violations and enhances the capacity of units dealing with international negotiations on the ocean.
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The European Commission establishes an EU Ocean and Seas Agency or a cooperation mechanism between Agencies and ocean-related monitoring systems that streamlines ocean data and knowledge collection, ensures open access, and issues regular reports on the environmental and climate status of the ocean.
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The European Commission strengthens the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) by tightening the link with the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD), establishing legally binding targets and thresholds, introducing criteria for a non-deterioration principle, reinforcing cross-border cooperation, enforcing nature restoration and marine protection measures as well as climate adaptation and resilience targets and measures, and ensuring strong enforcement provisions.
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The European Commission presents an action plan for a just transition to a well-being blue economy that respects ecological limits, promotes sufficiency principles over pure economic growth, enables a transition towards low-impact and regenerative activities, supports sustainable livelihoods, fosters social justice, health and well-being, and supports workers and communities affected by the transition.
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At UNOC 2025, the European Commission pledges its commitment to the Ocean Deal and Ocean Fund and confirms its strong engagement for international ocean governance, including by presenting a plan for the rapid implementation of the BBNJ High Seas Treaty and a long-term vision for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.
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The European Commission adopts a proposal for the Multi-annual Financial Framework for 2028-2034 that transforms the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund into a much more substantial Ocean Fund, removes environmentally harmful subsidies, earmarks funding for the ocean in other related budget programmes, and ensures sufficient funding for related EU Agencies such as the Ocean Agency, European Environment Agency and European Fisheries Control Agency. For adoption by the European Parliament and Council in 2027.
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The European Commission proposes new legislation on ocean resilience and coastal adaptation emphasising nature-based solutions for better preparedness for climate-related challenges and including an EU-wide and evidence-based monitoring system on carbon sequestration in marine ecosystems (“blue carbon”). For adoption by the European Parliament and Council in 2027.
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The European Commission proposes new legislation to restrict the import and trade of aquatic food products that cause harm to endangered species and bycatch of sensitive species. For adoption by the European Parliament and Council in 2027.
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The European Commission proposes new legislation with binding 2030 targets for the effective management of at least 30% of EU seas, including at least 10% under strict protection, with a clear definition of “effective” (e.g. banning harmful activities) and “strict protection”. For adoption by the European Parliament and Council in 2027.
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The European Commission proposes new legislation to ban destructive activities in all EU Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) including, but not limited to, bottom trawling. For adoption by the European Parliament and Council in 2027.
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In line with the EU Deep Sea Access Regulation, the European Commission adopts a delegated act to include seamounts in the list of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) and a revised Implementing Regulation to protect deep sea VMEs in EU waters between 400m and 800m depth.
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The European Commission proposes a revised Energy Taxation Directive to phase out fuel tax exemption in fisheries and redirect funds to finance a just and fair transition in the fisheries sector. For adoption by the European Parliament and Council in 2027.
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The European Commission adopts delegated and implementing acts to strengthen the EU fisheries control system, including digital traceability of all seafood products, engine power monitoring, and Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) of vessels at high risk of violating EU fisheries rules.
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The European Commission introduces a legislative framework for the traceability and labelling of all seafood products in the EU to prevent sourcing from Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and ensure environmentally and socially responsible practices. For adoption by the European Parliament and Council in 2027.
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The European Commission proposes a revised Bathing Water Directive with high standards for safe access and high environmental and health criteria, including additional parameters for monitoring water quality and obligations to address identified pollution at its source. For adoption by the European Parliament and Council in 2027.
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Taking an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, particularly in the context of climate change, the European Commission seeks scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) for setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) that guarantee food supply for thriving predator populations.
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The European Commission ensures full public transparency on the allocation of fisheries opportunities either by publishing annual EU-level reports or by creating a new database with precise catch and effort data in a usable form per Member State.
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The European Commission proposes a ban on deep-sea mining in European seas and advocates for the adoption of a moratorium within the International Seabed Authority and other international ocean governance bodies.
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The European Commission assesses whether designation of suitable and acceleration areas for offshore renewable energy and permitting regimes fully comply with REDIII requirements, the Habitats and Birds Directives, the MSFD and other nature protection laws, and ensures that such projects are not developed within Natura 2000 sites or other MPAs and takes corrective actions when needed.
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The European Commission publishes an implementing act on auction design criteria for offshore renewable energy auctions under the Net Zero Industry Act requiring Member States to introduce mandatory non-price criteria on biodiversity, social aspects and circularity, and conduct annual assessments of those criteria.
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The European Commission proposes a ban on all new offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction, and a strategy to phase out offshore oil and gas drilling. For adoption by EP and Council in 2027.
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To reduce chemical pollution in our seas, the European Commission proposes revisions to the REACH Regulation and Cosmetic Products Regulation that accelerate the ban on harmful substances. For adoption by the European Parliament and Council in 2027.
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On the topic of bycatch of sensitive species and mobile bottom fishing in MPAs, the European Commission oversees implementation of the Marine Action Plan, taking emergency measures if Member States miss deadlines to adopt national measures or submit joint recommendations, and initiating enforcement actions if environmental obligations are not met.
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The European Commission sets guidelines for Member States to effectively implement threshold values for all descriptors of Good Environmental Status under the MSFD by 2030, including for example underwater noise pollution.
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Instead of reopening the CFP Basic Regulation, the European Commission revises the Multi-Annual Plans of Fisheries Management to include legally binding measures for an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, strengthened provisions to safeguard fish populations, and clear and binding deadlines for the Joint Recommendation process.
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The European Commission proposes legislation on unintentionally released microplastics in the environment, notably from textiles, geotextiles, paints, tyres, detergents, construction materials and the shipping industry. For adoption by the European Parliament and Council in 2027.
- 2026
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As requested by citizens in the European Citizens Initiative, the European Commission proposes legislation addressing the international shark fin trade.
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The European Commission enforces a ban on Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to prevent further ocean pollution under the REACH Regulation.
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The European Commission ensures marine geo-engineering technologies and practices are excluded from the Carbon Dioxide Removal Certification Framework and 2040 EU Climate Target, enforces the moratorium on geo-engineering under the Convention of Biological Diversity and supports efforts to regulate additional marine geo-engineering technologies under the London Convention and Protocol, proposes a ban in European seas, and refrains from funding research on marine geo-engineering.
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The European Commission prohibits carbon storage in the water column and at the seabed, halting Carbon Capture and Storage in sub-seabed geological formations until there is proof of no environmental harm.
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The European Commission adopts delegated acts establishing ecodesign requirements for textiles, furniture, tyres, and paints, including a zero-emission target for microplastics, in accordance with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation.
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To reduce the risk of IUU fish entering the EU market, the European Commission encourages swift implementation of the mandatory IT CATCH system, taking action against Member States that fail to implement the new requirements.
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The European Commission proposes a revised Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive, expanding the scope and introducing additional measures to reduce SUP production and consumption. For adoption by the European Parliament and Council in 2028.
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To prevent profits from illegal fishing flowing back to the EU and allow more equitable access to marine resources, the European Commission publicly discloses ownership of fishing vessels by EU citizens, both within the EU and worldwide.
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The European Commission fully monitors National Restoration Plan implementation by Member States, evaluating effectiveness and using its enforcement powers to ensure the goals of the Nature Restoration Law will be achieved in time.
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As a continuation of its Circular Economy Action Plan, the European Commission proposes a Sustainable Resource Management Directive with binding science-based resource reduction targets for land- and sea-based sectors. For adoption by the European Parliament and Council in 2028.
- 2027
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The European Commission revises the State aid rules for the fishery and aquaculture sectors to align with the new Ocean Fund and to remove all environmentally harmful subsidies.
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The European Commission proposes a revised MSPD that requires ecosystem-based planning aligned with MSFD targets and thresholds, introduces nature-based climate adaptation and resilience measures, incorporates the EU’s protection and restoration targets, ensures coherence with energy, climate, fisheries, sustainable finance and other relevant policies, promotes responsible multi-use, and strengthens the link with land-use planning and coastal management for effective adaptation to climate change. For adoption by the European Parliament and Council in 2028.
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The European Commission includes sector-specific guidance on seafood under the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.
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The European Commission advocates for the inclusion of underwater noise reduction in an International Maritime Organization (IMO) Regulation.
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The European Commission proposes an ambitious revision of the Fuel EU Maritime Regulation to reduce ship CO2 emissions including via energy efficiency and wind propulsion measures, include black carbon emission factors, and require all ships listed under the EU MRV Maritime Regulation to use distillates or other cleaner fuels when operating in/near the Arctic. For adoption by the European Parliament and Council in 2029.
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The European Commission adopts new Strategic Guidelines for the aquaculture sector, setting clear guidelines for Member States to reduce the amount of wild-caught fish used as feed by diversifying the feed supply chain and shifting production to non-fed and low-trophic aquaculture.
- 2028
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The European Commission introduces mandatory ship speed reduction measures and rerouting away from critical habitats to reduce GHG emissions, underwater noise pollution, and ship strikes on marine life and sensitive species.
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The European Commission proposes an EU Strategy for a healthy ocean extending to 2040 that focuses on the regeneration of European seas while charting a path for the EU’s implementation of the new SDGs.
- 2029
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To prevent seafood linked to human rights or environmental abuse circulating in the EU, the European Commission imposes robust due diligence requirements for seafood trade, and investigates – and where necessary, bans – products linked to forced labour.