Check against delivery

Madam/Mister President,

On behalf of the European Union and its Member States, I would like to start by commending the UN Secretary-General and the Secretariat for their reports.

The European Union and its Member States reiterate their commitment and the responsibility of all Parties to promote and fully apply the provisions of the Convention and its implementing agreements. 

We call on all States to continue to maintain the integrity and universality of the Convention, to respect all its provisions, and to condemn any attempt to restrict, undermine, or disregard this unique instrument. 

We also recall, especially in view of current situations across the globe, that all maritime claims should be made and peacefully resolved in accordance with UNCLOS. We encourage further participation from all States and remain hopeful that we will achieve the goal of universal participation.

We underline that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in oceans and seas must be carried out. It is rightly considered as the Constitution of the oceans, establishing a legal order for the ocean and seas with due regard for the sovereignty of all States. 

Its provisions generally reflect customary international law and are thus binding on all States. Its scope not only extends to the establishment of maritime areas and the rights and obligations that flow from them, reflecting a balance between coastal States and other States, but also takes into account the needs of landlocked States and island States. 

Madam/Mister President,

As mentioned in the report of the UN Secretary-General, enhanced cooperation and coordination at the global, regional and subregional levels is essential to identify synergies and opportunities for collaboration in tackling the triple planetary crisis and achieving the 2030 Agenda, in particular Goal 14. 

We must do more together to address challenges such as climate change and sea level rise, ocean warming, acidification, marine pollution, the over exploitation or unsustainable exploitation of fish stocks and marine diversity decline, including Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUU). 

We have a little less than 5 years to reach the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, and particularly its Sustainable Development Goal 14 “Life Below Water”. We need to step up our efforts now. 

To do so, we need to ensure that everyone is onboard and equipped with the necessary tools to address the challenges. The promotion of capacity-building and the voluntary transfer of marine technology are crucial to this end, and there is now a momentum in view of the recent Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and Law of the Sea.

We have consistently emphasised the importance of and supported capacity building and the voluntary transfer of marine technology as essential components for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, particularly in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

We believe in the importance of promoting capacity-building and the voluntary transfer of marine technology as an integral part 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 (BBNJ Agreement). 

This provision aims to support the implementation of the Agreement in all its dimensions in a balanced way with a view to achieve its objectives of and contribute to sustainable development.

Cooperation should enable cross-sectoral capacity-building and contribute to improve coordination within ministries, amongst sectors and stakeholders nationally, regionally and globally. Coordinated approaches should improve ocean governance both within and beyond areas of national jurisdiction.

We feel that it is also pertinent to point out that as the challenges that humanity and the ocean are facing become ever more apparent, so does the importance of adequate marine scientific research including ocean observation, to support decision-making. 

The global community must strengthen its efforts to achieve the necessary objectives and limit further delays or irreversible damage. For this reason, we strongly support the work and objectives of the UN Decade for Ocean Science.

In this context, we are working on bringing capacity-building, the transfer of marine technology and marine science, research, and observation together. For example, the EU Digital Twin of the Ocean (EU DTO), which currently depends primarily on the Copernicus Marine Service and the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet), represents the latest on-going evolution in operational oceanography and ocean socio-ecological systems. 

A digital twin of the ocean is a virtual representation of the ocean and its systems, using historical and real-time data and models to represent the past and present, and to simulate future “what if” scenarios. 

The Copernicus Marine Service is a reference of ocean science collaboration. This fifteen-years pan-European network of experts provides reliable, science-backed, and updated information on the global ocean and European regional seas. 

Through the daily use of its ocean data by thousands of users, the Copernicus Marine Service demonstrates that ocean observations and modelling are key for deploying applications and solutions. The Service is providing already multiple capacity building opportunities on the use of their resources globally.  

In addition, we strongly believe that the vital interconnection between the ocean and the climate system demands our immediate attention and collective action. The significance of the ocean-climate nexus lies in the ocean’s capacity to mitigate the impacts of climate change. However, this capacity is finite and is increasingly threatened by human activities. 

Working on the ocean-climate nexus is essential to achieving long-term climate resilience and sustainability. This requires integrated approaches that recognise the ocean's role in the climate system. 

Strengthening scientific research and data sharing, enhancing marine conservation and sustainable management, and promoting policy coherence between climate and ocean governance are critical steps in this endeavour.

Once again, international cooperation is paramount. We must engage all stakeholders, including governments, international organisations, scientific communities, and civil society, to foster innovative solutions and leverage the best available science. 

Collaborative efforts such as those promoted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and UNCLOS are instrumental in addressing these interconnected challenges.

Investing in nature-based solutions, such as the restoration of coastal ecosystems, can enhance resilience and provide substantial climate mitigation benefits. Additionally, advancing sustainable ocean economies presents an opportunity to align economic development with environmental stewardship, ensuring that future generations inherit a healthy and resilient planet.

Finally, we would like to commend the Costa Rican and French Governments for successfully co-hosting the UN Ocean Conference and we have already started working on the commitments that were announced during this event.

Madam/Mister President,

Protecting life in deep waters is a political priority for the European Union. To halt biodiversity loss, the EU has adopted the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, an ambitious and long-term plan to protect nature and reverse the degradation of ecosystems, including marine ones. 

The adoption of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement is together with the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework a game changer for the oceans. These two historic achievements will be able to support each other, notably when it comes to meeting the target of protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030, which is a priority of the EU

The ratification of the BBNJ Agreement by the EU and some Member States is a milestone towards an effective conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, including deep sea ecosystems. We would like to congratulate those States that have already ratified the Agreement and urge others to do so too, as we reiterate the universal character of the Agreement.

The EU and its Member States believe that the implementation of the BBNJ is an opportunity to enhance international cooperation. If properly implemented, the Agreement can act as a catalyst between relevant instruments, frameworks and bodies like the CBD, RFMOs, or regional seas convention. To this end, the EU is committed to ensure that appropriate cooperation and coordination processes are established. 

To realise the full potential of the BBNJ Agreement, collective action and political commitment are imperative. We must mobilise resources, share knowledge, and build capacities to implement effective conservation measures. 

By doing so, we can protect the ocean's biodiversity, enhance its role as a carbon sink, and support the sustainable development goals, particularly those related to life below water.

In conclusion, the European Union and its Member States want to highlight once again their commitment to UNCLOS and its implementing agreements which provide the legal framework within which all activities in the ocean and seas must be carried out as highlighted in the report of the Secretary-General.

UNCLOS plays an integral role in the maintenance of peace, justice and progress for all peoples of the world.

Thank you, Madam/Mister President.