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RECOMMENDATION (07577/24 – C90135/2024 – 2023/0353(NLE))

On the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction

A-9-2024-0177

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Silvia Modig

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's committee report asks Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. The explanatory statement says the agreement, concluded on 4 March 2023 and adopted by UN Parties on 19 June 2023, strengthens governance of the High Seas, which cover around 64% of the Ocean surface and about 95% of its volume. It finds the agreement promotes biodiversity conservation, equity and ocean justice through provisions on financing, capacity-building, technology transfer and sharing of marine genetic resources, and recognises Indigenous Peoples and local communities. It says the agreement provides rules and processes for marine protected areas in the High Seas, helping deliver the 30x30 target to protect at least 30% of the Ocean by 2030, and includes environmental impact assessment provisions. It calls for ambitious financing, strong internal EU coordination, more independent research and effective UN coordination, and says the EU must lead on ratification before this Parliament mandate ends.

Committee position. The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety recommends that Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the agreement, and calls for the EU to lead on ratification before this Parliament mandate ends.

Key points

  1. Parliament gives its consent to the conclusion of the agreement.
  2. The agreement was concluded on 4 March 2023 in New York and adopted by UN Parties on 19 June 2023, after almost 20 years of negotiation.
  3. The High Seas lie beyond national jurisdictions, after 200 nautical miles from the baseline, and make up around 64% of the Ocean surface and about 95% of the Ocean's volume.
  4. The agreement promotes High Seas biodiversity conservation, equity and ocean justice through provisions on financing, capacity-building, technology transfer and equitable access to and sharing of marine genetic resources.
  5. It recognises the interests and contribution of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
  6. It provides a mechanism for identifying, establishing and managing representative networks of marine protected areas without undermining the mandate of competent organisations.
  7. It helps deliver the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 30x30 target to protect at least 30% of the Ocean by 2030.
  8. It is imperative to enhance management of human activities such as overfishing and shipping, and to take a precautionary approach to marine geo-engineering and deep-sea mining, for which Parliament has called a moratorium.
  9. New environmental impact assessment provisions increase transparency and provide a framework for evaluating current and forthcoming activities, including cumulative effects, climate change and ocean acidification.
  10. The agreement gives developing countries a greater stake through capacity building and marine technology transfer, and promotes fair sharing of monetary and non-monetary benefits, including through a special fund.
  11. Ambitious financing is needed for the 30x30 goal, and in designating marine protected areas regions already under partial management, such as Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems and Areas of Particular Environmental Interest, should be considered.
  12. Strong internal EU coordination, more independent research and effective UN coordination among at least 30 UN bodies with ocean provisions are needed to uphold the agreement and avoid conflicts of interest.

Who is affected

  • The EU and its member states, which must ratify and uphold the agreement in all EU policies.
  • Developing countries, which gain a greater stake in decision-making and implementation through capacity building and technology transfer.
  • Indigenous Peoples and local communities, whose interests and contribution are recognised.
  • Coastal communities in Europe and worldwide, which deal with the fallout from the collapse of ocean systems.
  • Sectors such as fishing, shipping, marine geo-engineering and deep-sea mining, whose activities in the High Seas are subject to enhanced management and assessment.

Figures and deadlines

  • 200 nautical miles from the baseline — the limit beyond which the High Seas begin.
  • 64% of the Ocean surface — the share of the High Seas.
  • 95% of the Ocean's volume — the share of the High Seas.
  • 4 March 2023 — the date the agreement was concluded in New York.
  • 19 June 2023 — the date the agreement was adopted by UN Parties.
  • 30% of the Ocean by 2030 — the 30x30 target to protect at least this share.
  • one million species — threatened with extinction according to the IPBES Global Assessment Report.
  • 40% of the marine environment — manifests severe impacts of degradation.

Legal basis: Article 192(1) and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.