NGOs target new Commission with launch of ‘Blue Manifesto’

Civil society organisations today set out their demands for future EU marine protection policy, with the launch in the European Parliament building in Brussels of a ‘Blue Manifesto’ aimed at the new EU executive set to take office later this year.

President Ursula von der Leyen has already pledged that her second European Commission will produce a new European Oceans Pact focused on boosting the ‘blue economy’ and ensuring good governance and sustainability, and has created the role of dedicated Fisheries and Oceans Commissioner.

The manifesto was produced by campaign groups Oceana, WWF, Seas at Risk, Surfrider, Birdlife Europe and the legal charity Client Earth and endorsed by some 140 others. In it, they seek to influence the EU political agenda for the next five years, starting with the MEPs who are due to grill commissioner-designate Costas Kadis in a public hearing before voting on his appointment.

The groups call for an overarching ocean policy analogous to the Green Deal of the outgoing first von der Leyen Commission, noting that marine ecosystems are already at tipping point, with destructive practices like bottom trawling ongoing in some 90% of protected areas. As well as new policy measures, they stress the need for effective enforcement of the routinely flouted rules already in place, with a dedicated EU agency to ensure compliance.

“We welcome von der Leyen’s commitment to adopt and Ocean Pact – but a law is only worth the paper it’s written on if it is properly enforced,” said lawyer Anaïs Berthier, head of the Brussels office of ClientEarth, one of two NGOs that yesterday launched a lawsuit against the French government for allowing trawling in Marine Protected Areas in breach of EU law.

Speaking at the launch event, MEP Cristophe Clergeau (France, S&D) said one of the Commission’s executive vice presidents should be made responsible for overseeing the new ocean pact to ensure it receives the necessary support within the EU executive.

In another key demand, the NGOs look to 2027 and the setting of the next seven-year EU budget, urging lawmakers to set up a dedicated Ocean Fund to underpin ecosystem restoration and the transition towards less harmful fisheries practices.

Former environment commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, now an MEP with the Greens, echoed the point that a failure to apply existing law was the main failing in marine protection. “That implementation gap is as huge as the ocean,” the Lithuanian politician said.

While he added that a "crucial element" in closing the gap would be increased funding, Sinkevičius argued that “bold and fresh” ideas such as putting a carbon price on polluters would be needed as pressure on the existing EU budget was already prohibitive.

The NGOs want oil and gas exploration and seabed mining banned in European waters and stricter measures on pollutants such as PFAS. They also call for a strong push from the EU to ensure an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty currently being negotiated at the UN and to be discussed by the European Parliament’s environment committee on Thursday (3 October).