Towards a Coherent & Cross-Compliant Ocean Governance is a webinar series showcasing insights on how the EU governs its oceans and seas. Marine governance experts will share their findings, recommendations and tools to advance the alignment of conservation and sustainable development targets in marine policies, supporting the achievement of the Green Deal’s goals.
The European Green Deal (and the forthcoming Oceans Pact) set many ambitious goals and targets for the oceans. These need to be implemented and realized within a complex landscape of old and new policies and laws. This webinar sheds light on the diverse set of marine ambitions, the complex regulatory context in which these should be achieved, and the need for more policy coherence to ensure that.
Don’t miss the chance to engage in this interactive exchange on EU marine policy and contribute to actionable solutions for Ocean Governance in Europe.
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Policy coherence refers to the extent to which different policies work in concert, reinforcing each other by fostering synergies and mitigating conflict. The lack of coherence can result in sub-optimal trade-offs or incentives that undermine the objectives of other policies. Policy coherence is crucial for the realization of the various high-level ambitions of the Green Deal. It has also been emphasized strongly in the context of the forthcoming Oceans Pact. This webinar provides a deep dive into the concept of policy coherence and clarifies how it can be assessed in the context of marine policies.
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Science-policy-society interfaces (SPSIs) are interactions between scientists and actors involved in the policy process that allow exchanges, co-evolution, and joint construction of knowledge, therefore enriching decision-making. When optimal, SPSIs ensure sound policy formulation, implementation, and adaptation processes, and can deal with different elements, such as incomplete knowledge, unpredictability, uncertainty, and ambiguity, thus improving coherence and cross-compliance in ocean governance. This webinar, centred on the topic of evidence-based policymaking in the field of marine governance, presents the main conceptual elements of SPSIs functioning, provides examples of current practices, challenges and related recommendations to support effective SPSIs towards reaching EGD objectives.
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The EU’s targets for offshore renewable energy and biodiversity conservation are ambitious, multi-layered, and ultimately interconnected. Offshore wind energy is a key pillar in the EU’s clean energy transition, yet its expansion raises concerns about potential trade-offs with marine biodiversity protection. This webinar will explore governance challenges in aligning offshore wind deployment with conservation objectives. Through expert insights and case study examples, panelists will discuss the current policy landscape, highlight conflicts and synergies, and identify opportunities to enhance coherence between climate and biodiversity goals.
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A source-to-sea approach ensures that upstream activities, such as agriculture and industrial processes, are managed to prevent downstream impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems.
This session provides insights from three national case studies on how the source-to-sea issue is addressed in the policy and regulatory landscape of Europe. The studies specifically focus on mechanisms to to ensure coherence between WFD and MSFD, two directives for achieving good environmental/ecological status – however with different geographical and thematic focus areas.
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The CrossGov Fisheries & Biodiversity Workshop brought together experts to explore the complex relationship between fisheries management and biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean. The event examined the challenges policymakers face in balancing economic growth with environmental protection and highlighted ways to strengthen policy coherence.
Discussions centered on the EU policy framework and insights from key projects on Mediterranean fisheries and biodiversity. Participants explored regional challenges, shared good practices, and worked towards actionable recommendations to support sustainable governance in the region.
Agenda highlights included:
Welcome & Introduction – Opening remarks and an overview of the workshop’s objectives.
Introduction to Fisheries & Biodiversity – Setting the scene with the key dilemmas between economic growth and conservation.
The Mediterranean: Facts, Challenges, Good Practices – A closer look at the state of fisheries and biodiversity, with examples of successful initiatives.
Regional Focus: Northern Adriatic, French Mediterranean & Torre Guaceto MPA – Case studies showcasing regional experiences.
Breakout Groups – Interactive discussions on integrated governance, management tools, and stakeholder engagement.
Sharing Findings & Closing – Exchange of group insights, conclusions, and next steps.
Speakers included:
Jonas Kyrönviita – University of Eastern Finland
Sašo Gorjanc & Laura Bastide – ACTeon Environment Consultancy
Ginevra Capurso – National Research Council of Italy (CNR)
Moses Adjei – Wageningen University
The workshop offered a valuable platform for exchanging knowledge and building recommendations that can guide the future of sustainable fisheries and biodiversity governance in the Mediterranean.
Delivering the European Green Deal – Towards a Coherent and Integrated EU Ocean Policy Framework for Offshore Renewable Wind Energy and Biodiversity
As part of the Key Issues in EU Climate and Sustainability Governance debate series, this roundtable brought together policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to discuss how to deliver on the European Green Deal’s ocean-related objectives. The session focused on the complex governance challenges of integrating offshore wind energy expansion with biodiversity protection, highlighting the importance of policy coherence and institutional integration.
The roundtable presented first results from the Horizon Europe projects CrossGov and PERMAGOV, which explore marine governance complexities under the Green Deal. Diagnostic tools and early findings were discussed to identify institutional barriers and opportunities for more coherent policymaking.
Discussion highlights included:
European Green Deal objectives – Comprehensive targets for oceans, climate neutrality, and biodiversity protection.
Offshore wind energy – Expansion goals and its role in the energy transition and security.
Biodiversity policies – Implementation of the MSFD, Birds, and Habitats Directives.
Nature-friendly deployment – Opportunities to align offshore renewables with biodiversity protection.
Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) – Its role in supporting integration across sectors and regions.
Regional cooperation and stakeholder engagement – Key to effective governance and sustainable outcomes.
Speakers included:
Introduction: Froukje Maria Platjouw (NIVA), Judith van Leeuwen (Wageningen University)
Panel debate: Eloïse Couffon (DG ENER), Antonia Leroy (WWF), Céline Frank (DG MARE), Alice Belin (DG ENV)
Moderator: Thorjørn Larssen (NIVA / EEA)
The debate underscored the need for coherent governance tools, regional cooperation, and inclusive stakeholder engagement to achieve the European Green Deal’s twin goals of accelerating the energy transition and protecting marine biodiversity.
The CrossGov project is funded by the European Union under Grant agreement ID 101060958.
The website content is the sole responsibility of CrossGov project and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
