European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Remarks by Commissioner Kadis and Commissioner Zaharieva on the OceanEye initiative Brussels, 3 June 2026 Commissioner Kadis Ladies and gentlemen, let me welcome you to the presentation of the Ocean Eye Communication, a flagship initiative for President von der Leyen and this Commission. Last year, we announced in the European Ocean Pact that we would propose a ne...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Remarks by Commissioner Kadis and Commissioner Zaharieva on the OceanEye initiative Brussels, 3 June 2026 Commissioner Kadis Ladies and gentlemen, let me welcome you to the presentation of the Ocean Eye Communication, a flagship initiative for President von der Leyen and this Commission. Last year, we announced in the European Ocean Pact that we would propose a new initiative to make the EU a leader in ocean observation. To position the EU at the forefront of ocean observation is not a goal per se, it is a necessity, especially now that extremely worrying signals are coming from the other side of the Atlantic about dismantling Ocean Monitoring System. Three months ago, at the opening of the European Ocean Days, here in Brussels, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted her ambitions for the OceanEye Initiative, our window on the ocean. And here we are today, with a clear vision and concrete proposals to transform how we observe and understand our Ocean. Although the ocean covers 70% of the earth's surface, until today, only 5% of it has been mapped and explored. As I used to say many times : we know more about the surface of the moon than about our ocean. Ocean observation is necessary for multiple reasons: To protect and restore ocean health, to boost the competitiveness of our blue economy, to strengthen the resilience and preparedness of coastal communities – especially to deal with extreme weather phenomenons and, to contribute to maritime security, safety and defence. However, right now, our knowledge of the ocean is fragmented, underfunded, and at risk of collapsing just when we need it most. That's why OceanEye aims to organise, coordinate, and support marine knowledge - covering ocean observations, marine data, and digital applications – to create a unified and efficient system. OceanEye is based on 4 main pillars of actions: A more structured EU governance International cooperation with partners around the world Operational and industrial applications, increasing our competitiveness and using ocean observation also to establish a stronger connection between the people and the ocean. Regarding the Ocean Observation System in Europe, we aim to move away from the current fragmentation. We will improve our coordination and move towards a more strategic approach to ocean observing in Europe. We also aim to develop a robust, integrated, and multidisciplinary European Marine Knowledge value chain—turning data into action, and science into solutions for all. The new governance framework supporting these aims will be established in the European Ocean Act that we will propose by the end of this year. We also aim for the European Ocean Observation System to contribute efficiently to the Global Ocean Observation System (GOOS). We want to help make GOOS more structured, effective, and equitably funded, while securing continuous data collection and access. For this purpose, we will setup an International Alliance to support GOOS. And we will establish a strategic partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, which is the intergovernmental body that coordinates GOOS. Our aim is to unite EU Member States and international partners, including interested parties from the private sector and philanthropies, to jointly commit to reinforce their own contributions to GOOS. Regarding the industrial dimension, we aim to strengthen the competitive European industrial ecosystem for ocean observation technologies and user-centred services. Each Euro invested in ocean observing systems indeed generates a return of €5 to €6 in economic and societal benefits. We also aim to ensure a stronger connection between the Ocean and people and to develop an educational, cultural and outreach dimension, bridging science, art, education and society. We should not forget that for our policies to be more effective they need to be implemented by citizens that demonstrate awareness and a sense of responsibility for the ocean. To that extent, we will amongst others launch the New European Bauhaus Ocean, Coastal and Island Communities Lab. Meeting the ambition of OceanEye will require sustained investment in research and innovation, in operational infrastructures and in high-performance digital capacities. Before I conclude, I would like to thank President von der Leyen for her support and leadership on this initiative. I would like to thank President Von der Leyen for her support and leadership on this initiative. I would also like to thank my colleague, Commissioner Zaharieva, for the excellent collaboration on this initiative. She will now present how the strategic vision of OceanEye will be translated into a tangible investment in European resilience, technological autonomy and sovereignty, and industrial leadership. Thank you for your attention. *** Commissioner Zaharieva Thank you dear Costas, to you and your team for the excellent cooperation what we have on this file and our President for her vision and support for our ocean. Oceans sustain immense biodiversity, generate enormous economic value, and link us to the world digitally and commercially. Better understanding the ocean is critical not only for science, but for a wide range of social and economic domains, from climate and weather to maritime security, technological sovereignty and so on and so forth. Ocean observation is a market worth between €10- €20 billion per year, growing by 5 to 10 % annually and serving a broader business ecosystem that is valued at up to €90 billion. Investing in ocean knowledge is a matter of strategic importance for the European Union, for scientists, for innovative companies and startups, and for policy-making. This is why research and innovation are a core dimension of OceanEye. Let me briefly outline what this means. First, we are building on our achievements. With the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters – which is backed by €475 million of Horizon Europe – last year we launched the first prototype Digital Twin Ocean, delivering on the vision outlined by the President at the One Ocean Summit in 2021. This model shows in practice how science can inform policy, by testing risks, exploring scenarios and guiding both public and industrial decisions. With OceanEye we now give the Ocean Digital Twin the longer-term perspective so that companies and public authorities alike can provide more and better data and innovation-driven services. We are better linking it with our Copernicus Programme and further developing its high-performance computing capabilities. Second, we want to drive the next generation of Ocean technologies: From autonomous underwater robotics and AI data services, to satellite sensing and deep-sea monitoring infrastructure. Horizon Europe already invests around 100 million in support of ocean observation across the whole innovation chain. We start by securing the current in-situ observation capacities with a dedicated support of €50 million from Horizon Europe, coupled with another €12 million for data systems. We are also committing €30 million for a dedicated European Innovation Council challenge on ocean observation. Looking ahead, the next Horizon Europe programme will work in synergy and complementarity with the European Competitiveness Fund to ensure a seamless innovation-to-investment journey also for Ocean Observation technologies, in line with the proposed Moonshot ambition and the governance and objectives of the respective instruments. To be clear, with the moonshot of observation, our goal is the European Union to provide 35% of the global ocean intelligence. And I think ocean observation is precisely the area where this model can deliver and prove its effectiveness – the seamless innovation to investment journey. Third, OceanEye adopts a strategic perspective. The ocean is surely an environmental and an economic asset, but it is also a security one. We must protect Europe from threats like sabotage and foreign interference, while also making our continent the leading global power of secure and responsible ocean intelligence solutions, in the spirit of our Choose Europe approach. This is why we will embed dual-use and security-by-design considerations from the outset of technology development. So, to conclude: With OceanEye, we set the ambition for the EU to become the world's leading provider of ocean intelligence. Thank you. SPEECH/26/1253 Press contacts: Maciej BERESTECKI (+32 2 29 66483) Anna WARTBERGER (+32 2 29 82054) General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email
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