OceanEye: EU strategy for ocean observation
“In Europe, the ocean is central to our lives: it feeds us, it fuels us, it protects our nature, and it connects us to the rest of the world.” This was said by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the opening speech of Ocean Days in March, where West Norway Brussels Office (VNB) participated. During the speech, she also highlighted the work on OceanEye, a major European initiative on ocean observation. The initiative is part of the EU Ocean Pact , which was presented last year.
On June 3, the OceanEye strategy was presented by EU Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis. It is a European ocean observation initiative that will ensure better and more efficient ocean mapping.
Speaking at Ocean Days in March, von der Leyen said that the foundation of Europe's success is research, and therefore stressed the importance of more and better ocean data. The ocean covers 70 percent of the Earth's surface, but only five percent of it has been explored and mapped. The initiative came two weeks after the US National Science Foundation announced that it would close its ocean observation network , following the Trump administration's dismissal of the US foundation's entire board.
OceanEye consists of four pillars:
1. Better ocean observation and better data sharing and use by establishing an EU governance framework
Ocean observation in Europe today is too fragmented. There are already many ocean sensors around the continent, such as data sensors to protect communities against floods, but in many places this is not yet fully developed. A digital European ocean system will therefore be created that will build on and bring together existing European services such as Copernicus Marine Service, EMODnet, WISE Marine and WISE Freshwater.
2. International dimension
The Commission will ensure global leadership in ocean observation through the establishment of an international alliance. The Commission will also seek new strategic partnerships in this area.
3. Focus on developing innovative markets and sectors
Investing in innovation and industry in ocean observation is a geopolitical and strategic choice. Therefore, OceanEye will support the development of new technologies, autonomous systems and AI, including through the “European Digital Twin Ocean”. An additional €30 million under the current Horizon Europe programme will support key innovations related to ocean observation technologies.
Dual-use security-by-design technology will also be an important component. To enhance situational awareness in the maritime domain, particularly in the areas of maritime security, military mobility and the climate-defense nexus, robust and reliable technologies are needed. By integrating cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and interoperability into system design, the EU can position itself as a global provider of secure and responsible solutions for maritime situational awareness.
4. Focus on promoting engagement and connection to the ocean through strategic partnerships, education and skills, culture and social responsibility
Ocean observation drives innovation and jobs. By highlighting career paths and strengthening the link between education and business, the Commission will support the development of a skilled workforce that can maintain Europe's leading position in the blue and digital economies. This will be done, inter alia, through a blue generational renewal strategy to be presented in 2027. Particular emphasis will be placed on interdisciplinary skills that bridge science, digital technologies, engineering and communication. The OceanEye initiative will also strengthen ocean knowledge by building on the EU4Ocean coalition, which has been helping to increase Europeans' knowledge of the ocean since 2020, as well as other scientific and education-related networks such as the Network of European Blue Schools, the Youth4Ocean Forum, the European Atlas of the Seas and the Education
Furthermore, OceanEye will make ocean observation more visible and relevant to society through public installations, museum exhibitions and artistic collaborations through a new "European Bauhaus Ocean, Coastal and Island Communities Lab".
Financing
Achieving all the objectives of the OceanEye strategy requires significant resources. The annual funding needs to achieve the level of ambition are estimated to be three to four times higher than the current level of investment. In 2026 and 2027, the Commission will mobilise available resources and existing instruments to support the OceanEye initiative, such as Horizon Europe and the European Innovation Council (EIC). For the next EU programming period, starting in 2028, the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) is highlighted as a relevant tool.
Member States are also encouraged to expand national ocean observation programmes, promote public procurement of ocean observation services and align national budgets for marine research with EU priorities to ensure stable funding.
EU Ocean Pact
OceanEye is linked to both the EU Ocean Pact and the Maritime Industrial Strategy launched earlier this year. The Ocean Pact is a framework for the EU's overall ocean policy, and one of the most central measures is a separate "Ocean Act" that the Commission will present later this year. This legal act will establish a comprehensive framework to facilitate the implementation of the main objectives of the Ocean Pact, while reducing bureaucracy. The Ocean Act will, among other things, build on a revised Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, which will strengthen cross-sectoral coordination and the management of marine areas.
Meaning for West Norway
OceanEye is relevant for Norway as the initiative is linked to EU-funded programmes such as Horizon Europe and Copernicus as well as the maritime industry strategy and the upcoming "Ocean Act". The Institute of Marine Research, which is a member of West Norway Brussels Office , actively contributes to European ocean data and observation systems, including through the Copernicus Marine Service and EMODnet.
Norway is also specifically mentioned in the strategy, along with the United Kingdom, Canada and India. The common denominator is that the EU has entered into security and defense partnerships with these countries. In an era characterized by increasingly complex hybrid threats, cooperation on ocean observation is gaining increasing importance in strengthening joint efforts for maritime security.
Going forward, it will be particularly important to follow the Ocean Act. VNB will keep its members updated on this and other important initiatives within the maritime and marine sector.