The European Commission seeks feedback on EU ocean policy ahead of European Ocean Act consultation and planned legislative adoption in 2026
Consultation Launched To Shape European Ocean Act
The European Commission has launched a call for evidence to inform the development of a European Ocean Act, which is planned for adoption in 2026.
The consultation will remain open until 9 February 2026, with the Commission inviting contributions from stakeholders, experts and citizens across the European Union. Submissions are intended to influence the scope and priorities of the proposed legislation at an early stage.
The European Ocean Act is identified as a central deliverable of the European Ocean Pact, the Commission’s broader framework for coordinating ocean-related policy across the Union. According to the Commission, the act is intended to improve coherence in maritime governance and address long-standing fragmentation between economic, environmental, climate and social objectives linked to ocean use.
The Commission says the act is designed to act as a single reference framework for EU-level targets relating to the protection and sustainable use of ocean resources and marine services. This would cover a wide range of activities, including shipping, energy, fisheries management, conservation and marine data collection.
Scope And Policy Objectives
The proposed legislation is expected to build on the ongoing revision of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, with the stated aim of ensuring more coherent and effective use of maritime space and ocean resources across Member States.
The Commission has also indicated that the Ocean Act will seek to structure governance and coordination of the European Ocean Observation System, which underpins marine data collection used for policy, scientific assessment and management decisions.
In addition, the act is intended to simplify reporting obligations and reduce administrative burdens associated with existing EU ocean policies, an issue frequently raised by both public authorities and industry stakeholders.
Legislative Timetable And Next Steps
An open public consultation is expected to be published in spring 2026, forming the next formal stage in the policy development process.
The preparation of the European Ocean Act is being coordinated with parallel revisions of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, with the Commission aiming to align measures across the three initiatives.
The Commission Work Programme for 2026 indicates that the legislative proposal for the European Ocean Act is expected to be adopted towards the end of that year.
