The European Commission has launched the EU Oceans Pact to promote a holistic and integrated approach to ocean governance across all sectors and policies- internal and external. To shape this Pact, the Commission launched a call for evidence from stakeholders (deadline 17 February 2025), and HSA submitted the below submission with relation to the High Seas Treaty:
The High Seas Alliance strongly welcomes the EU Oceans Pact initiative to promote integrated ocean governance within the EU across all sectors and policies. As a coalition supporting High Seas conservation, the Alliance believes this initiative can greatly support the EU’s swift and effective implementation of the UNCLOS Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).
The BBNJ Agreement provides new tools to advance ocean protection through its mutually reinforcing four pillars: the equitable sharing of marine genetic resources (MGRs), area-based management tools including MPAs, rules for environmental impact assessments, and capacity-building and technology transfer.
Given the High Seas cover two-thirds of the ocean, stronger policy alignment and cohesion across sectors and relevant EU agencies and frameworks are essential to accelerate BBNJ implementation, as a key tool for meeting global commitments, such as establishing a global network of large-scale fully and highly protected High Seas MPAs.
Effective implementation requires coordinated efforts by the EU and its Member States to balance competing interests and ensure policy coherence. A unified ocean policy framework with BBNJ at its core is crucial, including a systematic review of how existing and new policies align with the Agreement’s objectives.
Recommendations
- Greater Coordination on BBNJ: Lack of effective coordination will create challenges in aligning sector-specific plans with the BBNJ Agreement, addressing cumulative impacts in decision-making, and supporting consistent implementation of its objectives. The EU Oceans Pact should therefore commit to establishing a coordinating body across services and DGs on BBNJ issues under the Inter-Service Group to ensure sector-specific policies and plans align with the BBNJ Agreement. This dedicated taskforce should monitor progress, recommend adjustments, and address inconsistencies as needed. It could also develop or review policies to support the Agreement’s objectives and provide harmonized regulations and guidelines under EU competence to aid Member States in implementing BBNJ obligations. Additionally, the body could, upon request, advise Member States on improving national coordination to align their sector-specific plans with BBNJ objectives that fall under their competences.
- Monitoring and Stakeholder Engagement: Regular monitoring and stakeholder feedback will ensure effective implementation and flag inconsistencies. The Oceans Pact should support the establishment of a formal process for regular dialogue and accountability to promote transparency. This could include an annual consultation process and publication of a stakeholder summary to assist follow-up. Providing an easy-to-access, user-friendly, dedicated platform for cross-sector collaboration will foster cooperation among governments, industry, academia, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and civil society to address shared challenges and balance interests.
- International Leadership: Setting high biodiversity standards through its domestic policies and external actions will demonstrate the EU leading by example internationally. The Oceans Pact should drive the EU’s global ocean governance agenda by pairing political will with structural capacity for effective BBNJ implementation. This includes ensuring the Oceans Pact supports the EU External Action Service and Member States prioritizing diplomacy and proactive promotion of BBNJ objectives in their engagement in international fora and regional bodies. Additionally, the EU Oceans Pact should commit to sustaining and expanding initiatives such as the Global Ocean Programme that supports developing countries in ratifying and implementing the BBNJ Treaty. Such initiatives are critical for long-term ocean health, and underscore the importance of multilateral efforts.