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Ordinary legislative procedure First reading

Conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction

A proposed EU law. Parliament and the Council must agree on the same text: Parliament adopts its position, then negotiates with the Council.

Where it stands: Parliament adopted its position on 13 November 2025. Negotiations with the Council on a common text are under way.

  1. ✓ Referred to committee 7 July 2025
  2. ✓ Committee work Report adopted 20 October 2025
  3. ✓ Tabled for plenary 22 October 2025
  4. ✓ Plenary vote Adopted 13 November 2025
  5. 5 Negotiations with the Council Talks opened 13 November 2025
  6. 6 Published as law
How a file moves through Parliament

A file is referred to one lead committee (others may give an opinion). Its rapporteur writes a draft report, committee members table amendments, and the committee votes to adopt the report. The report is then tabled for all MEPs; political groups can table further amendments, which are voted on before the final vote in plenary. For a law, Parliament’s adopted text is its first-reading position; Parliament and the Council then negotiate a common text (trilogues) which both must approve before it is published as law.

Who is working on it

Lead committee
ENVI — Environment, Climate and Food Safety
Rapporteur
Michal WIEZIK Renew
Shadow rapporteurs
Jessica POLFJÄRD PPEThomas BAJADA S&DAnne-Sophie FRIGOUT PfENora JUNCO GARCÍA ECRRasmus NORDQVIST Verts/ALELi ANDERSSON The LeftMarc JONGEN ESN
For opinion
PECH — Fisheries · rapporteur Emma FOURREAU The Left

The rapporteur drafts and negotiates the text for the lead committee; each other political group names a shadow rapporteur to follow the file.

The text, version by version

Adopted by Parliament · latest Adopted text TA10-0263/2025 13 November 2025 ✦ Parliament's amended version of the proposed directive on conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction sets rules on marine genetic resources, environmental assessments, area-based management tools and emergency measures.⇄ what changed Tabled for plenary Report A10-0205/2025 22 October 2025 ✦ Parliament's amended version of the proposed directive on conserving marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction sets rules for marine genetic resources, environmental assessments, area-based management tools, and emergency measures.⇄ what changed Committee draft Draft report (ENVI) 15 July 2025 ✦ This draft report proposes amendments to the proposed Directive on conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, aligning it closely with the BBNJ Agreement.

Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament: Adds a recital on the Ocean Pact and adjusts the contribution amount to EUR 40 million. Adds a recital enabling member states to submit emergency measure proposals directly to the Secretariat. The other change is formal: removing the consultation of the Committee of the Regions. see the changes →

Committee draft → Tabled for plenary: The directive now covers activities in national jurisdiction affecting high seas, with assessments required before authorisation. Adds provisions on access to justice, including standing for NGOs and review procedures. Introduces new procedures for submitting proposals for area-based management tools and emergency measures, including direct submission. Adds measures to encourage third countries and requires biannual reports to Parliament. Other changes are formal or wording: updated recitals, definitions, and minor rephrasing. see the changes →

Committee opinions: Draft opinion (PECH),Opinion (PECH)

Newest version first. Open a version to read it in full. “What changed” shows the differences paragraph by paragraph; ✦ lines are AI-written from the texts themselves.

Timeline

  1. Negotiations with the Council
  2. 13 November 2025 Parliament opened negotiations with the Council

    After its vote Parliament sent the file back to committee, so that its negotiators can seek a compromise text with the Council (in “trilogues”).

  3. Plenary stage
  4. 13 November 2025 Plenary vote
    Sitting of 13 November 2025 📄 Adopted text TA10-0263/2025📄 Report A10-0205/2025
    Adopted Adopted by a large majority
    For 454 Against 172 Abstained 19

    Final vote at 11:06 · 70% of votes cast in favour · every MEP’s position →

    How the vote unfolded · 2 ballots

    adopted rejected lapsed square = amendment circle = part of the text decisive vote Solid = roll call (click for every MEP’s vote); faded = no individual positions

    Show all 2 ballots in voting order
    1. Final vote 11:06 A10-0205/2025 – Michal Wiezik – Commission proposal and amendments
    Adopted
    2. Referral back to committee Request for referral back (Rule 60(4))
    — no individual positions recorded
    Adopted
  5. 12 November 2025 Debated in plenary

    MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.

    Sitting of 12 November 2025 📄 Council / Commission text C10-0074/2025📄 Report A10-0205/2025
  6. 12 November 2025 60 amendments tabled for the plenary vote

    Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.

    📄 Amendments 1–60
  7. 22 October 2025 Report tabled for plenary

    This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.

    📄 Report A10-0205/2025
  8. Committee stage
  9. 20 October 2025 Committee vote: report adopted

    ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.

  10. 16 October 2025 PECH (Fisheries) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

    📄 Opinion (PECH)
  11. 9 September 2025 Amendments tabled in committee

    Members of ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) proposed changes to the draft.

    📄 Amendments in committee (ENVI)
  12. 4 August 2025 Draft opinion from PECH (Fisheries)

    An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

    📄 Draft opinion (PECH)
  13. 15 July 2025 Draft report published

    The rapporteur’s first text in ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.

    📄 Draft report (ENVI)
  14. 7 July 2025 Referred to the ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) committee

    The lead committee prepares the report; PECH (Fisheries) gives an opinion.