The Commission has initiated a public consultation to shape the European Ocean Act, a significant legislative proposal under the European Ocean Pact, anticipated for adoption in 2026. This Act aims to enhance ocean governance within the EU, serving as a comprehensive reference for all economic, climate, environmental, and social objectives related to the protection and sustainable use of ocean resources. The consultation will be open until July 16, 2026, allowing stakeholders, public authorities, experts, citizens, and coastal communities to provide their insights through a structured questionnaire, ensuring the Act addresses real-world needs.
The European Ocean Act is designed to support six key priorities of the European Ocean Pact, including ocean health, the competitiveness of the sustainable blue economy, and international ocean governance. It aims to streamline EU ocean governance by reducing bureaucracy and improving the efficiency of regulations. Additionally, the Act will consolidate ocean-related targets for easier identification and modernize maritime spatial planning to enhance coordination across sectors at the national level.
The Commission plans to adopt the legislative proposal by the end of 2026, as outlined in the Commission Work Programme 2026. Efforts are being made to align this initiative with the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to promote policy coherence. For more information, stakeholders can access the public consultation on the European Ocean Act via the Commission’s website.
