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)

17h00 Arkadiusz Marchewka, Secretary of State, Ministry of Infrastructure - Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union (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.