2027, THE EU’S DEFINING YEAR FOR THE OCEAN

Moving An Ambitious Ocean Act Forward

Wednesday 30 September 2026 - 18.00 - 20.00
European Parliament, spinelli 3g2, Brussels

Hosted by MEP Christophe Clergeau, SEArica Chair Organised with the support of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions

Since the publication of the Ocean Pact in June 2025, the European Union has moved forward with key strategies and announcements for its Ocean Policy. The announcement of the Ocean Eye, the publication of the Maritime Industrial Strategy, EU Ports Strategy, Strategies for Islands, for Coastal Communities, and for Outermost Regions, Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ocean R&I Strategy, and the proposed new financial architecture for the 2028-2034 MFF have all contributed to making 2026 a keystone year. The European Ocean Act can now finalise this ambition. Its expected publication in December 2026 will mark the end of this first phase of implementing the Pact and the start of legislative work on what has been framed as the cornerstone legislation for the future of EU ocean action.

This SEArica high-level Event within the context of the Ocean Week 2026 will serve as a major moment for discussing the way forward, as we seek to make 2027 a defining year for finalising and implementing the ambitions and objectives of the Ocean Pact.

The SEArica Members of the European Parliament invite you to join them for this major event of the SEArica Intergroup 2024-2029 as we move toward the Ocean Act.

Draft Agenda:

Welcome by:

· Christophe Clergeau, Member of the European Parliament, SEArica Chair

· Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans

· Davide Strangis, Secretary General, Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR)

Session I. RULING THE WAVES: TOWARDS A RENEWED EUROPEAN OCEAN GOVERNANCE

Moderated by Christophe Clergeau, MEP, SEArica Chair

· Isabelle Le Callennec, MEP, SEArica Vice-Chair

· Isabella Lövin, MEP, SEArica Vice-Chair

· Ana Vasconcelos, MEP, SEArica Vice-Chair

· Monica Verbeek, Executive Director, Seas At Risk - Representative from the Blue NGOs

· [Speaker TBC] Regional representative involved in sea-basin governance

· Rémi Gruet, CEO, Ocean Energy Europe

Session II. DESIGNING THE EUROPEAN OCEAN ACT: DEFINING ITS SCOPE AND AMBITION

Moderated by Paolo Do Nascimento Cabral, MEP, SEArica Vice-Chair or Member:

· Tonino Picula, MEP, SEArica Vice-Chair

· André Franqueira Rodrigues, MEP, SEArica Vice-Chair

· Emma Fourreau, MEP, SEArica Vice-Chair

· Jeannette Baljeu, MEP, SEArica Member

· Sabrina REPP, MEP, SEArica Vice-Chair

· Frank Schweikert, Director, German Ocean Foundation (Deutsche Meeresstiftung)

Conclusive remarks by:

· Christophe Clergeau, MEP, SEArica Chair