Brussels: The European Commission on Monday launched two calls for evidence and feedback aimed at helping shape the future European Ocean and Water Research and Innovation Strategy, under the EU Water Resilience Strategy and the European Ocean Pact. In a statement on the initiative, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis stressed that oceans and water know no borders, and that the European Union's ambition to protect them should be equally borderless.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Kadis noted that European research and innovation in the fields of oceans and water remain fragmented. Challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, he emphasized, require unity rather than isolation.
In a statement, the Commission said that the new strategy aims to strengthen Europe's leadership in ocean- and water-related research, innovation, and technology, while enhancing the European Union's competitiveness, resilience, and strategic autonomy.
The first consultation focuses on ocean research and innovation, covering issues such as the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems, ocean observation, and the development of a sustainable blue economy.
The second consultation concerns water resilience and focuses on the management of freshwater systems, water efficiency and reuse, as well as the development of innovative solutions for the sustainable management of water resources.