UN Member States need to sign (or accede), and ratify the High Seas Treaty, in most cases after taking necessary steps through their own domestic legal processes. The 60th country to ratify will start a 120-day countdown, after which the Agreement will enter into force and the Treaty will become law. The global community will then be able to ramp up international action to protect our shared ocean, mitigate climate breakdown and safeguard the lives and livelihoods of billions of people worldwide.
On 15 May 2024 the ratification bill was presented and agreed on by the Council of Ministers.
On 29 May 2024 the National Assembly unanimously agreed to adopt the ratification bill.
On 5 November 2024 the Senate approved ratification of the High Seas Treaty unanimously, marking the finalisation of its national ratification process.
France will deposit their ratification at the UN at a later date – still TBD.
