Geneviève Pons: “We need everyone on board to make this mission a success!”
The think tank Europe Jacques Delors welcomes the implementation plan of Horizon Europe’s “Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters” after two years’ work.
The European Commission has just adopted Horizon Europe’s “Missions” implementation plans. Partly inspired by President Kennedy’s Apollo programme to put a man on the moon, as well as the work of Italian economist Mariana Mazzucato, the “Missions” aim to resolve the major risks facing our society today: fighting cancer, climate change adaptation, protecting our ocean, living in greener cities, and ensuring soil health and food.
Pascal Lamy, Vice President of Europe Jacques Delors, has chaired the Mission board dedicated to the ocean and water cycle for two years. The Board published its Mission proposal in September 2020, entitled Mission Starfish 2030. A bold and holistic vision to restore and protect our ocean and waters inspired by the shape of the starfish, the Mission sets five overarching and interlinked objectives for 2030:
(i) Filling the knowledge and emotional gap,
(ii) Regenerating marine and freshwater ecosystems,
(iii) Zero pollution,
(iv) Decarbonising our ocean and waters
(v) Revamping governance.
Today, the European Commission confirmed the official launch of the five “Missions” and released its corresponding implementation plan.
Reacting to the publication of this implementation plan is Europe Jacques Delors’ Director General and Vice President, Geneviève Pons, Assembly representative to the mission board and chair of the NGOs contact group: “This is the reward after two years of intensive work with both the Mission Board and the Assembly. It is ambitious and can mobilize not only stakeholders but also citizens. We need everyone on board to make this mission a success!”.
According to Pascal Lamy, Chair of the European Commission’s Mission Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters, “Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’ can be a crucial contribution to the success of the One Ocean Summit recently announced by President Macron. In this field, as well as in others covered by the Green Deal, Europe is showing the way forward and can affirm its role as a world leader for the benefit of all!”.
Europe Jacques Delors has been instrumental in securing this successful outcome by supporting Pascal Lamy and Geneviève Pons in their respective roles as Board Chair and Representative of the Mission Assembly. It has also had a leading role in raising awareness around Mission Starfish 2030 and its ambitious objectives.
We believe that the “Mission” will not only open massive economic opportunities to ‘green’ Europe’s blue economy, but also allows Europe to position itself as a global forerunner in the protection of the Earth’s ocean and waters.
