The European Affairs Programme at the Egmont Institute hosted an exclusive lunch presentation on the European Ocean Pact. The session was led by Mr. Stefaan De Rynck, Principal Adviser to the Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at DG MARE and a key figure of the Pact’s strategic development. Mr. Miguel Roncero, Officer for International Relations on Arctic and Ocean Governance at DG MARE, also participated, sharing his expert insights.

As outlined in her political guidelines for the 2024–2029 term, President Ursula von der Leyen introduced the European Oceans Pact as a key initiative to advance sustainable ocean governance. The Pact seeks to unify various ocean-related EU policies and strengthen the ‘blue economy,’ with a focus on preserving the health of the EU’s oceans and seas, ensuring the competitiveness of its fisheries and aquaculture sectors, and supporting coastal communities. It will be formally presented by the European Commission at the third UN Ocean Conference in June 2025.

For our network of Friends of the Arctic, the European Ocean Pact presented a valuable opportunity to gain deeper insight into how the Commission plans to address the unique challenges of the Arctic Ocean.

The Arctic Ocean, at the frontier of environmental change, geopolitical interest, and scientific research, represents a unique maritime challenge. Of particular relevance is the Pact’s commitment to promoting a comprehensive agenda for marine knowledge, research, innovation, and investment—an approach that aligns closely with the interests and expertise of our network’s members.

This presentation provided an exclusive opportunity to explore how the European Ocean Pact will influence EU engagement in the Arctic and potentially strengthen the EU’s strategic presence and partnerships in the region.

Agenda – 15 May 2025

11:45 – 12:00: Arrival of participants

12:00 – 12:10: Introductory remarks by Mr. Jean-Louis De Brouwer, Director of the European Affairs Programme at the Egmont Institute

12:10 – 12:30: Presentation by Mr. Stefaan De Rynck, Principal Adviser to the Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at DG MARE

12:30 – 12:50: Presentation by Mr. Miguel Roncero, Officer for International Relations on Arctic and Ocean Governance at DG MARE

12:50 – 13:50: Q&A

13:50 – 14:00: Concluding remarks

(Photo credit: willian-justen-de-vasconcellos-unsplash)