The European Union has pledged (€3.71B) to safeguard the ocean and advance sustainability through various initiatives this year, according to the EU’s top environmental official, who made the announcement on Tuesday.
The 40 commitments encompass efforts to combat marine pollution, promote sustainable fisheries, and invest in the blue economy— the sustainable utilisation of marine and freshwater resources for economic purposes.
These commitments were unveiled during the annual “Our Ocean” conference, held in Athens this week and attended by approximately 120 countries.
EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevicius, emphasised the collective responsibility towards the ocean, stating, “The ocean is part of who we are, and it is our shared responsibility.”
Included in the commitments are plans to support 14 investments and one reform in sustainable fisheries across Cyprus, Greece, Poland, and Portugal, with a total value of approximately €1.9B. Additionally, €980M from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) will be allocated to Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Italy, and Spain to support four investments and two reforms aimed at combating marine pollution.
