opinions
The EU and the Geopolitics of the Oceans
Published
This is an op-ed written by an external contributor. All views expressed are the writer's own.
Geopolitics concerns how geography and nature determines states´ policies. The EU is an international organization of 27 states with a combined landmass of some 4 million km2 and 450 million people. In geopolitical perspective, the EU is a superpower. But is this also the case in the oceans?
The EU maritime geography
22 EU member states are maritime powers, with seas in the Baltic, the North Sea, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, as well as in the Atlantic. France in particular also has vast maritime areas overseas. The combined size of the EU member states´ maritime areas in Europe is some five million km2.
In comparison, Norway with 5 million people has more than 2 million km2 seas, most of which is in the Arctic.
The seas of the EU member states are very diverse in terms of their natural properties such as ecosystems and climate, industrial activities such as petroleum production and aquaculture, and political dynamics such as relationships to third countries.
While the Baltic Sea is virtually an EU lake with Russia as the only non-EU littoral state, the EU is in minority of the 22 coastal states in the Mediterranean.
The EU also plays a significant role in international oceans governance
The EU member state activities are, however, not limited to these seas – the EU is a global actor in the marine realm with activities in many other states´ maritime zones and in international waters.
The EU as such also plays a significant role in international oceans governance, as seen for example in the negotiation of the annual UN General Assembly resolutions on oceans and the law of the sea.
EU ocean policy
Ocean policy addresses questions relating to goals, rights and obligations concerning the management of ocean areas and resources. The EU is a major actor in this respect globally, as well as at regional levels of governance, inside and outside the member states´ waters.
Globally the EU is a party to many global treaties, notably the Law of the Sea Convention and its implementing treaties. The EU has been a major force in the development of the legal framework for the law of the sea, such as the new treaty on conservation and use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ).
Being a globally significant actor in oceans governance is an explicit goal of the EU maritime policy.
At the regional level of governance, the EU policies and legal frameworks govern the member states´ management of their ocean spaces and the natural resources and activities there. In fisheries, membership means that the competence to manage fisheries activities is mostly left with the EU.
In practice this means that the EU Commission is the executive management authority and that major decisions on quotas, etc. are decided by the Council of Ministers. In other areas such as marine spatial planning, marine strategy, and ensuring good water quality management, competence is shared between the EU and its member states.
The EU establishes the goals and standards while the actual implementation of regulations is left to the member states.
EU legal frameworks pertaining to management of oceans and ocean activities are comprehensive, encompassing approximately all areas in the member state’s waters. This is important to Norway as well, as some legal frameworks apply also in the European Economic Area. These legal and policy frameworks are subject to continual development.
On-going initiatives
At any one time there are a number of on-going initiatives affecting the EU ocean policy. Important issues under consideration now include the EU Arctic Policy, the implementation of the European Ocean Pact (EOP) launched in 2025, and further development of the EU research programs.
The EU Arctic Policy was first adopted in 2008 and then revised in 2021. Among the priorities then were a prohibition on petroleum-related activities in the Arctic. “The Arctic” was, however, not defined and therefore the area of application not specific.
The development of the new Arctic Policy must take these factors into consideration.
Since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the ensuing sanctions imposed by the EU itself, EU countries have increased their dependence on oil and gas from the High North in Norway. The recent warfare in the Persian Gulf has exacerbated this situation.
The development of the new Arctic Policy now underway must take these factors into consideration.
The EOP is a non-binding strategy aiming to bring together the EU´s policies and actions relating to oceans. It consists of a number of initiatives relating to ocean management, notably the revision of the marine spatial planning directive from 2014 and is not considered EEA relevant.
The member states’ implementation of this directive is variable in a number of respects, including the balancing of interests relating to economic activities and conservation measures. An important issue going forwards is the need to reconcile different interests and improved planning is therefore essential.
The revised directive will be addressed in a coming legislative proposal, the “Oceans Act” in 2027. Norway has a long-standing tradition for such planning in its ocean plans and municipal coastal zone planning.
Another EOP initiative is the “Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture”. A strategic framework for addressing the challenges relating to sustainability, employment, infrastructure and competitiveness.
The framework seeks to enhance seafood production in the EU member states, as the EU currently has to import the bulk of the seafood consumed there. There is also an initiative to enhance the viability of coastal communities through the upcoming “EU Strategy for Coastal Communities”.
In addition, to support its own, as well as global efforts, the EU Commission has launched the “Ocean Eye” initiative to strengthen monitoring capabilities contributing to understanding the state of oceans, also linked to blue economy and maritime security.
EUs specific efforts towards ocean related research includes the EU framework program for research and innovation, “Horizon Europe”, which addresses a number of major societal challenges. A directed effort at research linked to ocean management is the “Mission Restore our Oceans and Waters”.
Additionally, the EOP is underpinned by a one billion euro budget of which one third is designated for research and innovation. This constitutes a significant investment in our common knowledge base on the oceans which is valuable also to the research communities in Norway.
From 2028 onwards the next iteration of Horizon Europe will commence, with a budget of two thousand billion Euros. To Norwegian research communities participation here enables several benefits beyond research funding.
Perhaps most important are the opportunities this provides for cooperation with leading international research institutions, which will benefit also Norwegian R&I as a whole. The EU puts a strong emphasis on the role of science in ocean management – a crucial element also in Norwegian ocean policy.
Norwegian participation in the EU programs therefore enables Norwegian expertise to contribute to policy developments in the EU – to the benefit of Norway and Norwegian waters as well.
