04 Mar 2025
Third annual Forum reviews progress of EU Mission 'Ocean and Waters'
On 4 March 2025, the third Mission Ocean and Waters Forum took place in Brussels. Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva and Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costa Kadis welcomed communities engaged in this EU Mission, along with representatives from nearly 100 Horizon Europe projects.
The Forum and connected events took place during the European Ocean Days (3-7 March 2025), bringing together 1,800 stakeholders including policymakers, regional authorities, cities, islands, ports and rivers, fisheries and conservation communities to review progress and to set the future direction of the Mission. Youth, researchers, innovators, and the European Blue Parks community also showcased the most promising solutions to restore our ocean and waters.
The Forum presented the progress and major achievements of the Mission across its four lighthouses: the Atlantic and Arctic, Baltic and North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and the Danube. It showcased innovative solutions to restore our ocean and waters, to reduce their pollution and promote a circular and carbon-neutral blue economy. The Forum also featured an exhibition of 17 Horizon Europe-funded Mission projects.
Discussions focused on the Mission’s strategic direction and the next steps for deploying, replicating, and scaling innovative solutions to benefit local communities. The event highlighted the increasing involvement of citizens, public authorities, researchers, NGOs, businesses, and policymakers, demonstrating a strong, collective commitment to achieving the Mission’s objectives. The two Commissioners highlighted the need to focus on a Mission deployment agenda until 2030, and to intensify efforts to embed the Mission in future EU Ocean and Waters policies.
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