Mission Ocean and Waters Forum and related events

1. 3 Mar 2025, 10:00 - 17:00 (CET)

   Monday 3 March

   Mission Ocean and Waters projects meeting

   10:00 – 13:00 Charlemagne, Room GASP, MANS and JENK

   Agenda

   This clustering and networking event will bring together projects funded under the Mission Ocean and Waters and other relevant EU projects contributing the Mission objectives, including from relevant Partnerships.

    

   Waves of Collaboration – Matchmaking for the Mission to Restore Ocean and Waters by 2030

   14:00 – 17:00 Charlemagne, Room GASP, MANS and JENK

   Agenda

   The Mission matchmaking event will promote collaboration and connect different Mission stakeholders and communities including Charter actions, projects, research and innovation, businesses and investors.

    

   Setting the stage with Young Voices for the Ocean

   Sparks

   The European Ocean Days opens with an empowering and inspiring session that sets the tone for the week opening with an interactive dialogue between young ocean advocates and the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. Acknowledging that the future of our ocean lies significantly in the hands of the next generation, it is essential to hear and reflect on the perspectives of young people as part of the policy design process.

   Throughout the day, various panels will be organised with the aim to foster youth participation discussion as a way to ensure that the opinion, views and needs of young people and youth organisations are taken into account when defining the Ocean Pact.

2. 4 Mar 2025, 09:15 - 18:00 (CET)

   Tuesday 4 March

   Progress in Action: Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters Forum

   9:15 - 18:00 Charlemagne, Room GASP

   Agenda   Watch recording

   The third Annual Forum of the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters aims to take stock of the Mission’s progress and major achievements, to mobilise governments and relevant actors around key Mission deliverables and to discuss the needs and strategic steps for reaching the 2030 Mission targets.

   The event will showcase the mobilisation with innovative and concrete solutions developed under the Mission, contributing towards its objectives, discuss how key stakeholders, such as regions, local authorities, the private sectors and citizens at large are involved in implementing the Mission and how different streams of finance are being mobilised to support the scaling and deployment of solutions for reaching the Mission objectives. The event will be an opportunity to discuss the strategic focus of the Mission in the years to come and the necessary steps for the scaling, replication and deployment of innovative solutions developed by the Mission. Moreover, it will be a platform to explore how the Mission can actively contribute to future EU priorities, including the Ocean Pact.

3. 5 Mar 2025, 09:00 - 18:00 (CET)

   Wednesday 5 March

   Fisheries and Ocean Dialogues

   9:00 - 13:00 Charlemagne, Room GASP

   Agenda Watch recording

   The Dialogues will bring together a diverse range of stakeholders from the fisheries, aquaculture, maritime and blue economy sectors. The event aims to foster collaborative discussions, share insights, and develop actionable strategies in preparation of the Ocean Pact. The dialogues will cover the three main objectives of the Ocean Pact, namely

   1. pursuing a healthy and productive ocean by implementing relevant EU legislation and championing the EU’s international ocean governance agenda
   2. boosting a competitive, resilient, and sustainable EU blue economy, including fisheries, and
   3. consolidate, simplify, and extend the EU’s marine knowledge framework

    

   Meeting with Mission communities - regions, cities, ports and islands

   14:30 - 17:45 Charlemagne, Room GASP

   Agenda   Watch recording

   The event will bring representatives from key Mission communities such as regions, cities, ports and islands showcasing local initiatives, targeted support from the Mission, and discuss how to strengthen cooperation to empower actors to implement actions on the ground for restoring the ocean and waters.

    

   Fisheries and Ocean Dialogues

   14:45 - 18:00 Charlemagne, Room JENK

   Agenda Watch recording

   The Fisheries and Ocean Dialogues continues in the afteroon with two panel sessions on the international fisheries and ocean governance. The aim is to discuss and shape the EU’s fisheries external action, combining a set of EU policies and instruments to strengthen environmental, economic and social sustainability of external fisheries. In terms of international ocean governance, the focus will be on the main priorities of the EU’s international ocean governance policy and in particular, its priorities for the upcoming Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, and the international dimension of the European Ocean Pact in the context of a strategic approach to EU ocean diplomacy.

    

   Blue Invest Day

   Sparks, afternoon

   In the afternoon, Blue Invest Day (organised across two days and taking place at Sparks) will showcase the best of innovation, investment, and sustainability in the Blue Economy. Participants would be able to follow targeted breakout sessions, such as sector specific workshops and a networking session.

4. 6 Mar 2025, 09:00 - 18:00 (CET)

   Thursday 6 March

   Towards a Water Resilience Strategy for the EU (incl. high-level stakeholder consultations)

   9:00 - 18:00 Charlemagne, Room GASP

   Agenda   Watch recording

   The event is part of the consultation process for the development of the European Water Resilience Strategy. Commissioner Roswall will be present to welcome participants and give an opening statement. The event will include sessions on the main aspects of the water resilience agenda, including governance and implementation, industry, research and innovation, and the international dimension. Participating stakeholders will be asked to give their contribution and engage in active discussions on the spot.

   The event will also discuss the innovative solutions offered by the Mission and research and innovation from source-to-sea. It will showcase research and innovation solutions to for restoring rivers, lakes and coastal waters and strengthen water resilience of communities across Europe.

    

   4th EU Blue Parks community workshop

   14:30 - 18:15 Charlemagne, Room JENK

   Agenda   Watch recording

   This event will bring together the European Blue Parks Community (EU Member State authorities, MPA managers, practitioners, researchers and stakeholders) to collaborate on marine protection and restoration while contributing to the effective management of marine protected areas. The community directly supports the Mission Ocean and Waters overarching objective to ‘protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity’, particularly in protecting 30% and strictly protecting 10% of EU sea areas by 2030.

    

   Mission Ocean and Waters Roundtable with Universities

   14:30 - 16:30 Charlemagne, Room MANS

   Agenda   Watch recording

   This meeting will gather Universities and research and education communities that are engaged in the Mission to share best practices and discuss opportunities to develop transdisciplinary EU curricula and exchanges on ocean and waters education and skills.

    

   Investing in a Blue Future

   Sparks

   The spotlight of BlueInvest lies on both successful and high-potential investment initiatives, emphasising their impact on sustainability and their transformative potential. By providing a dynamic platform for existing and potential members of the BlueInvest Community to converge, it aims to catalyse investment and innovation initiatives within the Blue Economy, promoting sustainability and transformative impact across industries. Participants would be able to deep dive into the main conference with keynote speeches, panels, pitch session and high-level networking opportunities.

5. 7 Mar 2025, 09:00 - 17:00 (CET)

   Friday 7 March

   Knowledge is Power

   Sparks

   Preparation for the Ocean Pact demands a robust foundation of knowledge, and Day 5 focuses on this crucial need by gathering Europe’s marine data and observation as well as fisheries experts to discuss the latest advancements and challenges. 

   The morning session Marine Knowledge for the Ocean Pact will be devoted to showcase the crucial role of all the components of its value chain: ocean observation, data, research, models and forecasting, assessments and scenario analysis, delivery of this outputs in different forms, including applications under the European Digital Twin Ocean, as well as citizen science.

   In the afternoon, the Fisheries and Ocean Science Seminar provides a platform for dialogue on the current and future science challenges, as well as a networking opportunity for all stakeholders, who have an opportunity to reflect on the state of the scientific advice and research on fisheries, and the challenges ahead. This in turn feeds into DG MARE’s internal reflections to shape future policies or adjust current ones, of further relevance ahead of the next Commission mandate. Sessions on Day 5 will cover a range of important topics relevant for the political priorities of the new Commission and particularly the Ocean Pact.

Practical information