The European Commission has launched a call for evidence to shape the European Ocean Act, planned for adoption in 2026.
The call will run until 9 February 2026, with the Commission seeking a wide range of contributions from stakeholders, experts, and citizens.
The Ocean Act is one of the main deliverables of the European Ocean Pact.
Its objective is to improve the coherence and effective implementation of maritime governance in the EU, serving as a single point of reference for all economic, climate, environmental, and social targets adopted at the Union level to protect and sustainably use ocean resources and services.
The act will
- build on the revision of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (Directive 2014/89/EU), to ensure a more coherent and effective use of the maritime space and the ocean resources;
- structure the governance and coordination of the European Ocean Observation System;
- simplify reporting obligations and reduce administrative burden in EU ocean policies.
Next steps
The open public consultation will be published in spring 2026.
The preparation of the European Ocean Act will take a coordinated approach to the revision of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and the revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, aligning the measures proposed under the two initiatives.
The legislative proposal for the Ocean Act is expected to be adopted at the end of 2026, as announced in the Commission Work Programme for 2026.