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DRAFT RECOMMENDATION (COM(2023)0580 – C9xxxx/2024 – 2023/0353(NLE))

On the proposal for a 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

ENVI-PR-759989

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.

This is the rapporteur's draft report on the proposal for a Council decision to conclude, on behalf of the EU, the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. The draft resolution gives Parliament's consent to the conclusion of the agreement. The explanatory statement says the treaty promotes High Seas biodiversity conservation, equity and ocean justice, and plugs governance gaps by providing a mechanism for marine protected areas. It says the treaty helps deliver the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 30x30 target and its Environmental Impact Assessment provisions increase transparency. It calls for ambitious financing, strong internal EU coordination, more independent research and effective UN coordination. It says the EU must lead on ratification and that consenting before this Parliament mandate ends sends a strong signal.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the agreement, and calls for the EU to lead on ratification and to ensure ambitious financing, strong internal EU coordination and effective UN coordination.

Key points

  1. Parliament gives its consent to the conclusion of the agreement.
  2. 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 its volume.
  3. The treaty was concluded on 4 March 2023 in New York and adopted by UN Parties on 19 June 2023, after almost 20 years of negotiation.
  4. The treaty promotes High Seas biodiversity conservation, equity and ocean justice through provisions on financing, capacity-building, technology transfer and sharing of marine genetic resources.
  5. It provides a mechanism for identifying, establishing and managing representative networks of marine protected areas without undermining the mandate of competent organisations.
  6. It helps deliver the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 30x30 target to protect at least 30% of the Ocean by 2030.
  7. There is a need for a precautionary approach to emerging industries such as marine geo-engineering and deep-sea mining, for which Parliament has called a moratorium.
  8. The treaty's Environmental Impact Assessment provisions increase transparency and ensure scrutiny of cumulative effects, including climate change and ocean acidification.
  9. The treaty gives developing countries a greater stake through capacity building and marine technology transfer, and promotes fair sharing of monetary and non-monetary benefits from High Seas genetic resources.
  10. Ambitious financing is needed because SDG14 is the most under-funded Sustainable Development Goal; in designating marine protected areas, regions already under partial management should be considered.
  11. Strong internal EU coordination is essential to uphold the treaty across EU policies, and more independent research is needed, not only industry-based.
  12. Effective UN coordination is needed among at least 30 UN bodies with ocean-related provisions to prevent conflicts of interest from impeding implementation.

Who is affected

  • The EU and its member states, which must ratify and uphold the treaty across all policies.
  • Developing countries, which gain research and development capacity and a greater stake in decision-making.
  • 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.
  • Emerging industries such as marine geo-engineering and deep-sea mining, which face calls for a precautionary approach.

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 treaty was concluded in New York.
  • 19 June 2023 — the date the treaty was adopted by UN Parties.
  • 30% of the Ocean by 2030 — the 30x30 target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
  • at least 30 UN bodies — the number with specific provisions related to the Ocean.

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