The European Ocean Days is a week-long event with a series of dynamic and interconnected sessions relevant to maritime topics. Each day features distinct sessions focused on various key ocean-related themes, allowing participants to engage deeply with sustainable blue economy, considering fisheries science outcomes, showcasing Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters actions, blue investments, and dialogues with key stakeholders, including youth.
The European Ocean Days provides a unique platform to exchange of ideas across diverse blue communities, discuss about the challenges ahead, explore innovative solutions, and pave the way for concrete actions that address the interconnected ocean issues. This year, the Ocean Days are a key component of the preparation of the European Ocean Pact, a reference framework for all EU ocean-related policies.
Join us for:
- Young Voices for the Ocean, with first Youth Policy Dialogue with the Commissioner on Monday 3rd of March 2025
- Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters Forum on Tuesday 4th of March 2025 alongside with Mission-related events during the week.
- Fisheries and Oceans Dialogues: Help Design the European Ocean Pact on Wednesday 5th of March 2025 (morning & afternoon)
- EIT Water Info Day on Wednesday 5th of March 2025 (morning)
- BlueInvest Day on Wednesday 5th (afternoon) and Thursday 6th of March 2025
- Marine Knowledge for the Ocean Pact on Friday 7th of March (morning)
- Fisheries and Ocean Science Seminar on Friday 7th of March (afternoon)
What to expect:
A week of unity, dialogues, and forward-looking vision for our ocean.
Day 1 – Setting the stage with Young Voices for the Ocean (Venue: Sparks)
The European Ocean Days opens with an empowering and inspiring session that sets the tone for the week opening with an interactive dialogue between young ocean advocates and the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. Acknowledging that the future of our ocean lies significantly in the hands of the next generation, it is essential to hear and reflect on the perspectives of young people as part of the policy design process. Throughout the day, various panels will be organised with the aim to foster youth participation discussion as a way to ensure that the opinion, views and needs of young people and youth organisations are taken into account when defining the European Ocean Pact.
Connecting Mission Projects for Ocean, Seas, and Inland Waters (morning)
This clustering and networking event will bring together projects funded under the Mission Ocean and Waters and other relevant EU projects contributing the Mission objectives, including from relevant Partnerships.
Waves of Collaboration – Matchmaking for the Mission to Restore Ocean and Waters by 2030 (afternoon)
The Mission matchmaking event will promote collaboration and connect different Mission stakeholders and communities including Charter actions, projects, research and innovation, businesses and investors.
Day 2 - Progress in Action: Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters Forum (Venue: Charlemagne)
The third Annual Forum of the Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” aims to take stock of the Mission’s progress and major achievements, to mobilise relevant actors around key Mission deliverables and to discuss the needs and strategic steps for reaching the 2030 Mission targets. The event will showcase innovative and concrete solutions developed under the Mission, contributing towards its objectives, discuss how key stakeholders, such as regions, local authorities and the private sectors are involved in implementing the Mission and how different streams of finance are being mobilised to support the scaling and deployment of solutions for reaching the Mission objectives. The event will be an opportunity to discuss the strategic focus of the Mission in the years to come and the necessary steps for the scaling, replication and deployment of innovative solutions developed by the Mission. Moreover, it will be a platform to explore how the Mission can actively contribute to future EU priorities, including the European Ocean Pact. A series of Mission-related events will take place throughout the week.
Day 3 – Immersing in Fisheries and Oceans Dialogues (Venue: Charlemagne/morning & afternoon; Sparks/morning & afternoon)
At the heart of the Ocean Days lies the Fisheries and Oceans Dialogues: Help Design the European Ocean Pact (taking place at Charlemagne), which will bring together a diverse range of stakeholders from the fisheries, aquaculture, marine renewable energy, and other maritime and blue economy sectors. This session aims at gathering diverse perspectives to foster collaborative discussions, share insights and develop actionable strategies to help design the European Ocean Pact, which will likely pursue three strategic and equally important goals: (i) ensuring a healthy and productive ocean, (ii) boosting the EU’s sustainable blue economy, and (iii) a robust Marine Knowledge Framework, all underpinned by global ocean governance, ocean diplomacy, and with a focus on enhancing resilience for coastal communities and cities.
In parallel at Sparks, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is organising an Info Day to present the Call for Proposals for its newest Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) to drive innovation in Europe’s water, marine and maritime sectors and ecosystems. Aimed at potential applicants - including businesses, research entities and universities - along with multiplier and non-governmental organisations, policy-makers and media active in the sector - this half-day, hybrid event will offer an excellent opportunity to get prepared for the Call for Proposals and to learn more about the EIT’s approach to creating sustainable innovation ecosystems. A significant part of the Info Day will be dedicated to presenting the Call modalities, in particular its scope, the application and evaluation process and timeline, as well as best practices from existing KICs. The event will also offer inspiring discussions with members of the EIT Community and a chance for networking.
In the afternoon, BlueInvest Day (organised across two days and taking place at Sparks) will showcase the best of innovation, investment, and sustainability in the Blue Economy. Participants would be able to follow targeted breakout sessions, such as sector specific workshops and a networking sessions.
Mission Ocean and Waters: Empowering Local Changemakers – ports, islands, cities and regions (afternoon)
The event will bring representatives from key Mission communities such as regions, cities, ports and islands showcasing local initiatives, targeted support from the Mission, and discuss how to strengthen cooperation to empower actors to implement actions on the ground for restoring the ocean and waters.
Day 4 - Investing in a Blue Future (Venue: Sparks)
As the week progresses, Day 4 centers on the economic pillar of ocean sustainability. The spotlight of BlueInvest Day lies on both successful and high-potential investment initiatives, emphasising their impact on sustainability and their transformative potential. By providing a dynamic platform for existing and potential members of the BlueInvest Community to converge, it aims to catalyse investment and innovation initiatives within the Blue Economy, promoting sustainability and transformative impact across industries. Participants would be able to deep dive into the main conference with keynote speeches, panels, pitch session and high-level networking opportunities.
Towards a Water Resilience Strategy for the European Union (full day)
The event will discuss the innovative solutions offered by the Mission and research and innovation from source-to-sea. It will showcase research and innovation solutions to for restoring rivers, lakes and coastal waters and strengthen water resilience of communities across Europe.
4th EU Blue Parks Community Workshop (afternoon)
This event will bring together the European Blue Parks Community (EU Member State authorities, MPA managers, practitioners, researchers and stakeholders) to collaborate on marine protection and restoration while contributing to the effective management of marine protected areas. The community directly supports the Mission Ocean and Waters overarching objective to ‘protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity’, particularly in protecting 30% and strictly protecting 10% of EU sea areas by 2030.
Roundtable with Universities (afternoon)
This meeting will gather Universities and research and education communities that are engaged in the Mission to share best practices and discuss opportunities to develop transdisciplinary EU curricula and exchanges on ocean and waters education and skills.
Day 5: Knowledge is Power (Venue: Sparks)
Preparation for the European Ocean Pact demands a robust foundation of knowledge, and Day 5 focuses on this crucial need by gathering Europe’s marine data and observation as well as fisheries experts to discuss the latest advancements and challenges. The morning session Marine Knowledge for the Ocean Pact will be devoted to showcase the crucial role of all the components of its value chain: ocean observation, data, research, models and forecasting, assessments and scenario analysis, delivery of this outputs in different forms, including applications under the European Digital Twin Ocean, as well as citizen science. In the afternoon, the Fisheries and Ocean Science Seminar provides a platform for dialogue on the current and future science challenges, as well as a networking opportunity for all stakeholders, who have an opportunity to reflect on the state of the scientific advice and research on fisheries, and the challenges ahead. Sessions on Day 5 will cover a range of important topics relevant for the EU priorities, particularly the European Ocean Pact.
An ocean-themed art exhibition will be showcased throughout the week, highlighting the beauty and importance of our ocean, and how we impact the ocean and how the ocean impacts us, through the creative lens of talented artists. From flows of water bodies to ecosystems in the ocean, from responses to pollution issues to valorisations of ancestral knowledge systems. The exhibition will be accessible to participants throughout the week, providing an inspiring and reflective space. This initiative underscores the collaborative efforts between DG MARE and the Art and Science project of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), combining science, policy, and art to engage and captivate the public while reinforcing the message of ocean conservation and sustainability. The artworks on show were produced following two years of collaboration and co-creation between artists, scientists and policymakers and first showcased at the NaturArchy exhibition. Probing issues of deep ecology, sustainability and the decolonisation of nature, the show took place at iMAL, Art Center for Digital Cultures & Technology, in Brussels between May and September 2024.
The exhibition during the European Ocean Days consists of four artworks:
Ocean Connections by Kristin Bergaust - in collaboration with Guillermo Garcia Sanchez and Evangelos Voukouvalas
A multiscreen spatial installation examining the flow of water bodies, its connection to pollution, ecosystems and more-than-human life.
Invisible Seeds by Gala Berger - in collaboration with Irene Guerrero Fernandez and Shipibo Konibo artists Metsa Rama, Nélida Mahua, Lourdes Mahua, Lucy Silvano, Yoxan Ana, Zaida Silvano
Investigating circularity in ancestral agriculture, sustainability of food systems, and the protection of the environment.
Haunted Waters by Nonhuman Nonsense - in collaboration with Caterina Cacciatori
A Haunted Waters Bar to appreciate the spirits inhabiting waters from around the world - hunt down stories of contaminants, local myths and water science.
Plastic Magnitudes by JD Whitman - in collaboration with Andrea Valsesia, Dora Mehn, Jessica Ponti, Marisa Sarria Pereira De Passos and Danijela Brkovic
An immersive sculptural installation made from community collected plastics. This work is about micro and nanoplastics and food safety. It translates complex scientific ideas in visually stimulating images, sparking positive conversations surrounding environmental concerns and a circular economy.
Practical Information
Where:
Sparks Meeting: 60 Rue Ravenstein - 1000 Brussels
Charlemagne:170 Rue de la Loi, Brussels
Language: English