A watershed moment: the role of ocean health in advancing the EU’s competitiveness and security

The ocean is no longer a peripheral policy issue. As geopolitical competition, climate change and the clean transition reshape Europe's priorities, healthy oceans are becoming increasingly important to the EU's competitiveness, resilience and security. At the same time, growing demands on the maritime domain are exposing the limitations of fragmented, sector-based governance.

This project examines how EU ocean governance should evolve to reflect this changing reality. It explores reforms to strengthen coordination, implementation and investment across the maritime domain, while identifying practical ways to better manage synergies and trade-offs between competing priorities. Particular emphasis is placed on the European Ocean Act as the EU's key opportunity to build a more integrated, strategic and future-ready framework for governing Europe's seas.

The research will develop timely analysis and practical recommendations, culminating in a flagship discussion paper in September 2026 alongside a series of complementary policy outputs.