EU Prepares to Shape Global Ocean Conservation Rules

What the problem is

The United Nations Agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (the BBNJ Agreement) will cover almost two‑thirds of the world’s oceans – about 95 % of its volume.
Before the Agreement can start working, two key bodies must agree on how they will run and pay for their work:

1. The Preparatory Commission – the last meeting of this body will give recommendations on rules of procedure and financial rules.
2. The Conference of Parties (COP) – the first meeting of this body will adopt those rules and decide how the Agreement will be financed.

The EU, as a party to the Agreement, needs a clear position on these rules so that its interests are protected and the Agreement can be implemented smoothly.

How the problem is being solved

The European Commission proposes a Council Decision that tells the EU what stance it will take in the final meeting of the Preparatory Commission and the first COP:

• Support the adoption of rules of procedure that make meetings efficient, cost‑effective, transparent and orderly, and that allow the EU to participate fully.
• Support the adoption of financial rules and the operationalisation of a financial mechanism that is fair, transparent and responsive to each party’s ability to contribute, and that also provides assistance to developing states.

The decision is based on Article 192(1) and Article 218(9) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

What changes as a result of this document

• The EU will have an official, legally binding position on the rules of procedure and financial rules for the BBNJ Agreement.
• The decision allows the EU to make minor technical changes to its position without a new Council decision.
• The decision enters into force on the date it is adopted, giving the EU a clear role in the upcoming meetings of the Preparatory Commission (23 March–3 April 2026) and the first COP (to be held by 17 January 2027).
• The EU’s stance will help shape the Agreement’s budget, the establishment of its secretariat and other institutions, and the transfer of marine technology and capacity‑building to developing countries.

In short, the document gives the EU a concrete, legally grounded role in setting how the BBNJ Agreement will be run and financed, ensuring that the Agreement can be implemented effectively across the world’s oceans.