The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has made a call to create an International Alliance aimed at strengthening and expanding ocean observation and monitoring worldwide. The new Alliance will support OceanEye, the European initiative for ocean observation, with the goal of strengthening global cooperation and improving systems for monitoring the state of the sea.
Von der Leyen also announced a contribution of 50 million euros from the Horizon Europe program for the 2026-2027 period, funds that will be allocated to the new International Alliance.
OceanEye was first presented by the President of the Commission, along with the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, during the United Nations Ocean Conference 2025. The initiative builds on the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EDITO) project and the Copernicus marine program, aiming to lay the foundations for a sovereign and cutting-edge technological infrastructure for European ocean observation, in service of international marine protection and monitoring efforts.
During the opening ceremony of the European Ocean Days, Von der Leyen stated that OceanEye is a key initiative to strengthen the European Union's leadership in ocean observation and fully leverage the potential of the ocean. As she highlighted, the project will enhance scientific knowledge, boost the competitiveness of the blue economy, strengthen maritime security, and protect the health of the oceans. She also emphasized that, together with international partners, the EU will work to establish a sustainable and resilient Global Ocean Observation System.
Ocean observation is fundamental for collecting data that allows understanding the state of the sea, anticipating and mitigating the effects of climate change, improving the competitiveness of maritime economic activities, and contributing to security in the naval sector. OceanEye, as an essential element of the European Ocean Pact adopted in June 2025, will support EU ocean technology and innovation and position the bloc at the forefront of international efforts to establish a sustained global ocean observation system.
The announced International Alliance will bring together EU member states and international partners through funding commitments and a coordinated action framework. It will ensure secure access to open and free ocean data for both the Union and its partners, and will support the capabilities of the Global Ocean Observation System in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.
The Commission plans to formally adopt OceanEye by late 2026, after incorporating contributions received during the public consultation process regarding the initiative. Additionally, an event for financial commitments will be organized in September to gather contributions aimed at the International Alliance. The goal is for the European Ocean Observation System to be fully operational by 2030.
OceanEye is part of the European Oceans Pact and, in addition to the International Alliance and the promotion of research and innovation, will include educational, cultural, and outreach dimensions to bring the ocean and its observation closer to citizens.
The blue economy is strategic for the European Union. With 70,000 kilometers of coastline and 40% of the population living in coastal and island communities, ocean-related sectors generate around five million jobs in the EU and contribute 250 billion euros in gross added value, enhancing European competitiveness, maritime and food security, energy independence, and adaptation and mitigation of climate change.