Issue 2/2026, From the European Commission, Issue 2/2026, From the European Commission

New European Ocean Council – objectives, tasks and recruitment of experts

Posted on 26 February 202626 February 2026 by Karol Kucharski

26
Feb

The European Commission has established the High-Level European Ocean Board and announced the recruitment of experts to it. The body was established as part of the European Ocean Pact and aims to advise on marine policy, ecosystem protection and the development of a sustainable blue economy.

European Ocean Council

The most important tasks of the established group are to advise the European Commission on the European Ocean Pact, issue opinions upon request on related issues, and foster dialogue and exchange of experience to ensure consistency between Union policies and private sector initiatives related to ocean affairs. The group will be chaired by the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, and in the event of his unavailability, a senior representative of DG MARE will take over as chairman. Officials from other Commission departments with an interest in the topics covered will be able to attend meetings of the group or its subgroups. Meetings will be held, as a rule, at the Commission’s headquarters or virtually, as the case may be.

Recruitment of experts for the European Ocean Council

The recruitment of members for the European Ocean Council began on February 6 and will run until March 10, 2026. Representatives of civil society or organizations at the EU level with comprehensive competence and expertise in the field of oceans have been invited to join the Council. Members will be a geographical representation of EU countries, ensuring diversity and enriching the group’s knowledge.

Members of the group will be selected by the Director General of the Commission’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE). Applicants for the position must demonstrate relevant competence and experience. Twenty-five members will be elected to the Ocean Council. They must meet the following criteria:

Proven experience in areas related to the ocean, maritime affairs and maritime or coastal policy (including fisheries), particularly at the European and/or international level;
Skills, experience and seniority;
English language skills sufficient for active participation in discussions.

The role of the expert group will be:

Advising the European Commission and contributing to the effective implementation of the European Ocean Pact;
Expressing opinions on specific issues related to the Ocean Pact;
Fostering dialogue between EU policies and private sector initiatives to promote coherence and synergies. In this context, the Council will play a key role in the Ocean Watch Initiative, supporting the development of ocean knowledge, research and innovation, ocean education and the maritime economy.

Selected members will be invited to the first meeting in March 2026 and appointed for a term of up to five years. Meetings will be held annually. Participation is unpaid, but travel and living expenses will be reimbursed.

Details of the call for applications to the European Ocean Council can be found on the European Commission’s website.

European Ocean Pact

The European Ocean Pact, which was launched in June 2025, serves as a unified and coordinated framework for the European Union’s ocean-related policies and activities. It aims to better protect the oceans, promote a thriving blue economy and support the well-being of coastal residents.

The Ocean Pact includes a number of initiatives to be developed and implemented over time. The basis of the governance structure is the establishment of the European Ocean Council.

To achieve the goals of the Ocean Pact, the European Commission is to present an Ocean Act by 2027. The pact will establish a single framework to facilitate the achievement of key goals, while cutting red tape. It will be based on the revised Marine Spatial Planning Directive, which will strengthen cross-sectoral coordination and management of sea basins.