On 11 May 2026, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, announced that the European Commission will formally adopt the OceanEye communication on 3 June 2026. Speaking at the conference 'Riding the Wave: Advancing the EU Ocean Pact through Science, Innovation and Cooperation' in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, Kadis also confirmed that the Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy will be presented later this year, and that the Ocean Act—the legislative component of the European Ocean Pact—will be presented by the end of 2026.
Kadis framed the Ocean Pact, launched by the Commission in 2025, as a comprehensive framework bringing together all ocean-related policies, covering ocean health, competitiveness, maritime security, ocean diplomacy, coastal communities, and marine knowledge. He stressed that research and innovation are central to the Pact, noting that 'we know more about the surface of the moon than about our ocean.' The forthcoming Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy aims to close knowledge gaps, integrate science into policymaking, and bolster the blue economy.
The Commissioner highlighted the OceanEye initiative, first announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in March 2026, as Europe's flagship ocean observation programme. Its formal adoption on 3 June marks a key milestone. At the core of OceanEye is the Digital Twin of the Ocean, part of the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters. Kadis described it as a revolutionary system combining real-time data, artificial intelligence, and advanced modelling to simulate ocean conditions, enabling predictions of ocean responses to climate pressures and evidence-based policymaking by 2030.
Kadis also addressed the revision of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, which will be part of the Ocean Act. He called for dynamic, data-driven maritime spatial planning using AI, remote sensing, and the Digital Twin of the Ocean to create real-time marine management systems. This revision aligns with the ongoing update of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to ensure complementarities.
a fixed adoption date for OceanEye (3 June 2026), a commitment to present the Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy later in 2026, and the Ocean Act by end of 2026. Kadis emphasised partnerships across science, industry, coastal communities, and global partners, and called for joint action among policymakers, researchers, industry, civil society, and environmental groups.
The speech pushes for stronger EU-level coordination and investment in ocean observation, digital tools, and integrated maritime planning, moving towards a more centralised, science-driven approach. It balances environmental protection with blue economy competitiveness, but leans towards increased regulation and EU-level oversight through the Ocean Pact and revised directives.
- EU research institutions and ocean data platforms (e.g., Copernicus Marine, EMODnet): Positive, moderate impact. They will receive increased funding and integration into policymaking through the Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy and OceanEye. - Offshore renewable energy, fisheries, and aquaculture industries: Mixed, moderate impact. Dynamic maritime spatial planning could reduce conflicts and provide clearer investment signals, but may impose new data-sharing requirements and adaptive management constraints. - EU coastal communities: Positive, moderate impact. Better ocean observation and spatial planning could improve resilience to climate change and support sustainable livelihoods, but may limit traditional uses in protected areas. - EU environmental NGOs: Positive, moderate impact. Stronger science-based management and marine protection align with conservation goals, though implementation details remain to be seen.
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