Unlocking the Potential of the European Oceans Pact

One of Renew Europe’s top priorities this mandate is to bring about an ambitious European Ocean Pact. This seminar will explore Renew Europe’s proposals outlined in a recently adopted position paper, including what we can learn from experts and stakeholders and what Members of Parliament expect from this Pact. The event will take place on 21 May (16:30h) and comes at a timely moment, just ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference in Nice, France, in early June.

In a position paper published 18 March Renew Europe has called for an Ocean Pact that reflects Europe’s commitment to making its oceanic resources cornerstones of climate action and biodiversity, as well as of economic growth and geopolitical stability. Renew Europe believes that the Ocean Pact must be an actionable guide for the EU and its Member states to achieve tangible results towards environmental sustainability while addressing the other two key priorities for this Parliament's mandate: boosting both our economic competitiveness and our defence capabilities.

PROGRAMME

Organised by Members of the European Parliament Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, Ana Vasconcelos, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez

16h30              Introduction by the Members of the European Parliament

16h35              Key-note speaker: Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French Minister for Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forestry, Sea and Fisheries (TBC)

16h45              First panel discussion 

16h50              Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, Chair of the international coalition “Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience” (TBC)

17h10              Questions & Answers

17h30              Second panel discussion 

                        Geneviève Pons, Director General of Europe-Jacques Delors (video message)

                        Esben Sverdrup-Jensen, President of the European Association of Fish Producers Organisations 

                        Philippe Putman, Senior advisor at the European Sea Ports Organisation 

                        Dr Helen Snaith, Head of the Global Data Center at Seabed 2030, flagship programme of the United Nation's Ocean Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (TBC)

18h00              Questions & Answers

18h20              Concluding remarks by the Members of the European Parliament

18h30              End

A cocktail will follow the event.