On June 3rd, the European Commission adopted the OceanEye initiative, which strengthens the role of the EU in ocean observation. Its goal is for the Union to be the world’s leading provider of information about the oceans.
This action will be undertaken through a 35% contribution to the global ocean observation system by 2035 and securing 35% of the market related to ocean observation technologies.
The ocean covers 70% of the Earth’s surface, but we have only explored 5%. Ocean observation is essential for its protection and restoration, as well as for climate forecasting, blue economy activities such as fishing and aquaculture, marine renewable energies, and maritime transport, not to mention maritime security and defense.
The EU’s approach – both at the Union level and globally – that will allow these objectives to be translated into tangible results is based on four pillars: better governance that facilitates a more unified European approach; global leadership through international alliances and partnerships; the digital replica of the European ocean, innovation, and growth in the sector; and societal engagement and skills development. Ensuring funding will be one of the determining factors that will allow for long-term ocean observation.
In the words of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen: “Thanks to OceanEye, Europe will be a benchmark in the knowledge and protection of our ocean and in how to sustainably harness its potential. It is about using science and good governance to better understand our ocean and ensure our future well-being. We urge member states and global partners to join in and, together with the EU, contribute to the global ocean observation system and make the OceanEye initiative a reality.”
A better governance that facilitates a unified European approach
Ocean observation in the EU is fragmented. OceanEye aims to address these deficiencies through a structured governance approach that improves coordination among member states, research bodies, and industry, and also strengthens the EU’s contribution to the global ocean observation system. A structured governance will facilitate the alignment of investments and priorities, make EU ocean observation more strategic, reduce inefficiencies and redundancies in data collection, and address existing gaps. Details will be established by the end of the year in the legislative proposal for an Ocean Law.
The initiative envisions a European digital ocean system that includes existing European services, such as the Copernicus Marine Environmental Monitoring Service, the European Marine Observation and Data Network or “EMODnet,” the Water Information System for Europe or “WISE Marine,” and WISE Freshwater, so that there is a single entry point to access high-quality information about the oceans and marine knowledge. The system will also include the digital replica of the European ocean, which is expected to be fully operational by 2030 and will allow for real-time observations and predictive modeling for policymakers and industry.
Global leadership through international partnerships
The EU will launch an International Alliance that strengthens the global ocean observation system and addresses critical gaps resulting from insufficient observation of certain regions in the southern hemisphere, the Arctic, deep-sea areas, and coastal zones, to name a few.
According to the current Horizon Europe program, the Commission will allocate 50 million euros to strengthen the EU’s contribution to the global ocean observation system, and will provide an additional 12 million euros to resilient global ocean information systems.
The digital replica of the European ocean, innovation, and growth in the sector
Having a solid industrial and innovation base in ocean observation is a fundamental economic and geopolitical option and a strategic imperative for the EU.
The Digital Replica of the European ocean – a virtual representation of the ocean that provides continuous access to marine information – will be publicly accessible to European citizens and the rest of the world.
OceanEye will also support the development and application of new technologies, such as sensors, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence, and will expedite their transition from the research domain to the market.
Finally, OceanEye also aims to promote the establishment of public-private partnerships, improve access to funding for startups, and align research with market needs. An additional 30 million euros will be allocated, according to the current Horizon Europe program, to support key innovative projects through a European Innovation Council specialized in ocean observation technologies.
Engaging citizens and promoting skills development
OceanEye will make ocean observation – and, in general, the challenges and opportunities they present – more visible and relevant to society, linking them with culture, education, and skills development.
To this end, the Commission will launch a Laboratory of oceans, coastal and island communities of the New European Bauhaus to explore creative ways to present information about the ocean and to raise public awareness through public installations, museum exhibitions, and collaborations with artists and designers.
In addition, a specific OceanEye badge will be created to clearly identify all infrastructure that is part of the initiative.
Ensuring funding for long-term ocean observation
To achieve the objectives set by OceanEye, considerable investments and significant funding will be needed for in-situ monitoring, digital tools, and research. At the EU level, the Commission is mobilizing available resources and existing instruments to support the OceanEye initiative.
In total, it will allocate 92 million euros from the Horizon Europe program to launch OceanEye:
– 50 million euros to strengthen the EU’s contribution to the global ocean observation system;
– 12 million euros for resilient global ocean information systems to improve information exchange and accessibility;
– 30 million euros aimed at boosting innovation through the European Innovation Council.
At the national and international level, the Commission urges member states, third countries, and other partners – such as philanthropic organizations and the private sector – to join the international alliance by intensifying their support for ocean observation and ensuring stable funding to improve long-term observation series.
This support may consist of mobilizing financial resources, facilitating access to observation capabilities (such as observation vessels, sensors, drones, and underwater cables), investing in digital and observation infrastructures (or facilitating access to them), allocating human and technical resources to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) or the Global Ocean Observation System (GOOS), and providing relevant information.
OceanEye is one of the outcomes of the European Ocean Pact, adopted by the Commission in June 2025. It is the Commission’s comprehensive strategy to better protect the oceans, foster a prosperous blue economy, and contribute to the well-being of people living in coastal areas. The Pact brings together EU policies related to the ocean into a single framework and addresses the significant threats facing our ocean and our coastal communities, islands, and outermost regions.
The blue economy (i.e., economic activities carried out at sea) is essential for the EU, which has 70,000 km of coastline. Furthermore, 40% of Europeans live in coastal communities and islands. Ocean-related sectors and the blue economy account for five million jobs in the EU and represent a gross added value of 250 billion euros.
