June 10, 2025

The following is a press release:

Regions and cities unite in Nice to strengthen coastal adaptation and shape inclusive global ocean governance.

The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference takes place in Nice, France, from 7 to 13 June, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. The delegation of the European Committee of the regions (CoR) is joining forces with other EU institutions, key decision-makers and elected officials from coastal cities and regions around the world to defend a resilient global ocean governance.

Recognising the ocean’s essential role in sustaining life, regulating the climate, supporting livelihoods, and underpinning global food security and trade, the Conference brings together national and local governments, international institutions, scientists, civil society, and the private sector with the aim of supporting further and urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

The Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience Summit on 7 June officially launched the Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience Coalition, an ambitious global initiative joining forces of coastal cities and regions to confront sea-level rise and other climate change-related impacts. The Coalition aims to rally in 1,000 cities and regions representing 1 billion people to build collective resilience and to develop shared strategies for adaptation. The CoR’s participation ensures that the voice of Europe’s coastal regions is central to this urgent, worldwide response.

The Conference will conclude with the adoption of the Nice Ocean Action Plan. In this political declaration, the CoR is advocating for a stronger role for local and regional authorities (LRAs) in global ocean governance. The CoR delegation calls for a shift from multilateral to multilevel governance, ensuring that LRAs are fully involved in shaping ocean-related policies to reflect local needs. Given their responsibilities across biodiversity, tourism, infrastructure, fisheries, and climate adaptation, the meaningful inclusion of LRAs is essential for more effective, resilient, and inclusive ocean governance.

Quotes

Mätta Ivarsson (SE/Greens), member of the County Council, Skåne Region and rapporteur of an opinion on the European Ocean Pact: “Oceans are key to a liveable future— they regulate our climate, sustain biodiversity, and support millions of livelihoods. But they are under growing threat from pollution, overexploitation, and climate change. At the Ocean Conference in Nice, we call for clear commitments and actionable outcomes that enable all levels of governance to turn the tide. Local and regional authorities, who are on the frontlines, must be recognised as essential partners and entrusted with both the responsibility and the means to help restore marine ecosystems, promote sustainable blue economies, and build coastal resilience.”

Nadia Pellefigue (FR/PES), Vice-President of the Occitanie region and rapporteur on the contribution to UNFCCC COP30: “The ocean is not only a victim of climate change, it is also one of our greatest allies in fighting it. As we look ahead to COP30, we must strengthen multilevel governance to ensure that local and regional authorities play their full part in protecting marine ecosystems, promoting blue innovation, and delivering climate resilience. The time for action is now — and it must be inclusive.”

Highlights

7 June: Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit and launch of the Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience Coalition. The CoR shared a call to join the Coalition to relevant CoR members to fight against coastal erosion, the impacts of sea level rise, extreme weather events, degradation of ecosystems and water and soil salinization.

9 June: Presentation of the EU Ocean Pact. Members of the CoR attended a series of sessions held in “The Whale” at the Nice exhibition hall, focused on the EU Ocean Pact. The Pact had been presented earlier that day by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General of DG MARE.

10 June: Day of the Mediterranean. CoR members attended a special event convened by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, the Varda Group, and the Union for the Mediterranean, addressing the role of local authorities in preserving the Mediterranean. ARLEM and CoR representatives Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis (FR/EA), President of the Assembly of Corse, and Josko Klisovic (HR/PES), member of the Assembly of the City of Zagreb, joined this high-level session with the participation of European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Cóstas Kadis, and European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica.

12 June: Bilateral meeting with Commissioner Kadis. The CoR delegation will exchange views with the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans to assess the EU-level follow-up to the Nice Conference, focusing on the role of LRAs in implementing the Ocean Pact and strengthening ocean governance and water resilience.

13 June: Adoption of the Nice Ocean Action Plan.

Members of the CoR delegation at the UNOC

Thibaut Guignard (FR/EPP), Mayor of Ploeuc-l’Hermitage and head of LEADER France

André Viola (FR/PES), departmental councilor of Aude and rapporteur of the opinion on "resilient water management to fight climate crisis within an EU Blue Deal"

Nadia Pellefigue (FR/PES), Vice-President of the Occitanie region and rapporteur on the contribution to UNFCCC COP30

Mätta Ivarsson (SE/Greens), member of the County Council, Skåne Region and rapporteur of an opinion on the European Ocean Pact

Jesús Gamallo Aller (ES/EPP), Director General for external relations and relations with the European Union at the Government of Galicia and rapporteur of an opinion on the Common Fisheries Policy

Mirja Vehkaperä (FI/Renew), member of the Oulu City Council

Lorenzo Galligani (IT/ECR), member of Pistoia City Council

Adam Banaszak (PL/EA), councilor of Inowrocław County

The delegation was welcomed by Magali Altounian (FR/Renew) as Deputy Mayor of Nice.

Background

Photos from the event.

EU at 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference

Contact

Hélène Dressen

Tel: +32 471502795

Helene.dressen@cor.europa.eu