On 25 September 2025, and on the sides of the Macro-Regional and Sea Basins Strategies Days, a networking Event for the National Hubs of the Sea Basin Strategies’ Assistance Mechanism took place in Brussels.
The gathering provided a dedicated space for exchange, reflection and forward-looking discussion in support of the implementation of the EU’s Sea Basins’ Strategies and the Ocean Pact in the years to come.
The meeting opened with presentations on two major EU policy developments, notably the recently launched European Ocean Pact and the future EU budget perspectives for the blue economy.
- The Ocean Pact sets out the EU’s long-term vision for the ocean. It brings together EU ocean-related policies into a single framework, with six strategic objectives: ensuring a healthy ocean, supporting a competitive and sustainable blue economy, strengthening coastal communities and islands, improving maritime security, advancing ocean knowledge and literacy, and enhancing international ocean diplomacy.
- The plans for a new 2028–2034 EU budget are meant toincrease flexibility for Member States and expand support for sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and maritime sectors. It foresees stronger investment in ocean observation, research and innovation, blue economy initiatives, and international ocean governance.
Exchange with National Hubs
The National Hubs play a pivotal role in translating the sea basin strategies into practice at the national level, working closely with the European Commission, National administrations and coordinators, implementing agencies, and regional stakeholders.
During the meeting, participants from the National Hubs, Sea Basins’ coordinators, the Assistance Mechanism (AM) team, and representatives from DG MARE and CINEA exchanged views on how to strengthen cooperation in the future.
The event offered an open environment to discuss challenges and opportunities, and to reaffirm the shared commitment to advancing the EU’s Sea Basins Strategies.
Showcasing success stories: photo exhibition
On the occasion of the Macro-Regional and Sea Basins Strategies Days, a photo exhibition was organised, highlighting concrete examples of projects and initiatives supported by the Sea Basins Assistance Mechanism.
The exhibition featured projects from across the Atlantic, Black Sea and WestMED, such as:
- Aquawind project (Atlantic) – pioneering multi-use technology by combining offshore renewable energy generation with finfish aquaculture, opening new opportunities for sustainable food and energy production.
- Black Sea CONNECT (Black Sea) – strengthening research and innovation cooperation and creating the Black Sea Young Ambassadors Programme.
- 2B-BLUE (WestMED) – fostering a stronger blue biotechnology community through demonstration sites, public–private cooperation, and knowledge-sharing.
- EU4EMBLAS – improving protection of the Black Sea environment, through environmental monitoring, capacity building, assessment of environmental status in line with EU MSFD/WFD and public awareness raising on the Black Sea environmental issues.
These and other examples showcased how the Sea Basin Strategies’ Assistance Mechanism is actively supporting innovative projects, strengthening cooperation across countries and regions, and encouraging knowledge-sharing.
From renewable energy in ports and multi-use offshore platforms, to skills development, blue biotechnology, and youth engagement, these initiatives demonstrate how innovation, sustainability and collaboration are driving progress in all sea basins. They highlight how the Ocean Pact’s objectives – protecting a healthy ocean, building resilient coastal communities, and advancing a competitive and sustainable blue economy – are being translated into tangible results on the ground.
The Networking Event for National Hubs reaffirmed the pivotal role of the Hubs in advancing the EU’s sea basin strategies. It also highlighted the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation to address challenges and to build collective ownership of the EU’s vision for a sustainable blue economy.