EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters

Mission Charter - Restore our Ocean and Waters

The European Commission is calling on a wide range of stakeholders, including public or private organisations, national/regional/local authorities (including cities and ports), philanthropists and investors, enterprises and businesses, civil society, research and academia to adhere to the Mission Charter by submitting actions for achieving the Mission objectives.

Any actions at European, transnational, national, regional/local level, promoted by public or private funds (including crowd funding), contributing to the Mission objectives are welcome! Actions include Mission Ocean and Waters related policies, programmes, initiatives and projects to support:

• Research and innovation;
• Evidence-based knowledge and data and/or access provision to knowledge and data, in line with FAIR principles for the Mission Ocean and Waters Knowledge System;
• Upscaling, deployment and replication of solutions;
• Citizen engagement, citizens-science, youth-led initiatives, communities of practice, ocean and water literacy, outreach, awareness raising and participatory approaches;
• Education and training.

What is in it for me?

By adhering to the Mission Charter, you send a clear signal on the importance to protect our ocean and waters and to take concrete actions. You will be involved in major Mission fora and events. In this way, the mission will be multiplying the opportunities for networking, exchanges of experiences, collaboration and increasing visibility.

You will have access to services and tools the Mission Ocean and Waters will deploy through the European Digital Twin Ocean, the Mission Implementation Platform and other coordination actions at basin level. You will have also access to tools to empower citizens to take action for the restoration of the ocean and waters. The submitted actions will be monitored through the coordination actions.

How to join?

You adhere to this Charter by submitting relevant actions through this dedicated online platform, which will remain open throughout the duration of this Mission.

EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters 1st Annual Forum

EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters 1st Annual Forum  was held on 17 February 2023 in Belgium, Brussels. The aim of the event was to take stock of the first year of implementation of the Mission, showcasing the first portfolio of projects and actions to achieve the Mission’s objectives. During the event; focus was given to the commitments to implement the Mission and illustrate concrete measures and actions to protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, boost coastal resilience, eliminate pollution, and make the blue economy climate-neutral and circular, as well as recommend further necessary initiatives.

Many key stakeholders from various sectors was brought together to;

• generate broad buy-in for the Mission, gathering the first communities of actors and boosting further adhesions to the Mission Charter;
• mobilise actions and measures to contribute to 2030 targets, across the four lighthouses;
• showcase concrete examples of programmes and initiatives from Member States, regions, cities, and other stakeholders, and give visibility to the first projects portfolio supported by EU programmes.