Manifesto for a European Ocean Pact

The Manifesto for a European Ocean Pact proposes a ground-breaking initiative aimed at catalysing a transformative approach to ocean governance and sustainable economic development within the European Union. As a collaborative effort, initiated by Europe Jacques Delors and the Oceano Azul Foundation, this manifesto endeavours to drive forward a comprehensive agenda that recognises the intrinsic link between the well-being of our societies, the competitiveness of our economies and the health of our ocean and waters. A group of high-level stakeholders with deep knowledge and experience of the ocean and the European Union (EU) have nurtured its content and driven forward a robust commitment to the ocean within the next European legislature.

This manifesto advocates for a holistic approach that integrates economic prosperity and competitiveness, environmental regeneration and social equity. 

It seeks to galvanise concerted political momentum towards transformative change, ensuring a healthy, resilient and prosperous future not only for the ocean and inland waters, but for the whole of the EU, which depends upon it. Indeed, Europe, as the most maritime continent of all, owes a great deal of its historical progress and success to its maritime geography and sailing prowess. Today, the ocean, as the biggest life support system of our threatened planet, is even more important to the Union. But considering the EU's governance framework, and the frequent absence of the ocean among its key political and economic priorities, it is clear that the Union still lacks a proper understanding of its real dependence on the ocean and the hydrosphere which encompasses coastal and inland waters as well as the cryosphere and the atmosphere’s water. This is a shortcoming that ought to be addressed at a time when we have the window of opportunity to ramp up our efforts to fix the planet’s problems. The upcoming European election and the new mandate are the proper occasion for doing just that.