Today, 3 June, the European Commission will formally adopt the OceanEye, marking a significant milestone in Europe’s commitment to ocean stewardship and marine knowledge. The adoption will be webstreamed live at 16:15 via the European Commission’s audiovisual platform.

Announced by President von der Leyen in March 2025, OceanEye is Europe’s flagship ocean observation initiative, born out of the recognition that ocean observation is the foundation of all marine knowledge, research, and innovation. The initiative sits at the heart of the European Ocean Pact, the Commission’s overarching policy framework bringing together ocean health, competitiveness, maritime security, ocean diplomacy, and coastal and island communities under a single vision.

At the core of OceanEye is the Digital Twin of the Ocean, part of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters.” This system combines real-time data, artificial intelligence, and advanced modelling to simulate ocean conditions. By 2030, it is expected to enable policymakers to predict how the ocean responds to climate pressures, test policies before implementation, and make evidence-based decisions with greater speed and precision.

The adoption was announced by Commissioner Kadis at the Conference “Riding the Wave: Advancing the EU Ocean Pact through Science, Innovation and Cooperation”, held under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In his opening remarks, the Commissioner underlined the urgency of closing knowledge gaps, noting that “ocean observation is the base of all marine knowledge and ocean research and innovation.”

The OceanEye communication also paves the way for the upcoming Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy, which the Commission is set to present later in 2026, with the aim of integrating science into policymaking and strengthening the blue economy across Europe and beyond.