15 Jan 2026
Commission seeks input for new European Ocean Observation Initiative
On 15 January 2026, the European Commission launched a Call for Evidence for a new European Ocean Observation Initiative, aiming to strengthen Europe’s capacity to understand, monitor and protect the ocean.
Ocean observation is the backbone of marine knowledge, supporting areas such as climate action, biodiversity protection, maritime safety, sustainable fisheries and the blue economy. Building on the commitments of the Ocean Pact, the proposed initiative introduces an objective-driven approach designed to respond directly to societal needs.
The initiative spans the entire marine knowledge value chain – from data collection at sea to the delivery of tailored information services – and aims to:
- Ensure the long-term sustainability and ambition of Europe’s ocean observing systems
- Strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy in ocean observation and marine data
- Better integrate existing EU marine services and infrastructures
- Foster international cooperation and secure access to international ocean data
- Promote co-design with stakeholders so that observation efforts match real-world needs
- Support Member States in building and reinforcing their national observation capacities.
The Call for Evidence invites feedback from Member States, scientists, industry, NGOs and other stakeholders. Their input will help shape the design and implementation of the European Ocean Observation Initiative, which is expected to play a central role in delivering the EU’s environmental, climate and maritime policies in the coming years. The call will be closed on 27 February 2026.
The Call for Evidence can be found here: