The meeting brought together EOOS Resource Forum members, EOOS members, stakeholders from the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet), and the Blue Economy Partnership.
The 4th EOOS Resource Forum, chaired by Thorsten Kiefer, Executive Director of JPI Oceans, focused on national and regional studies analysing the ocean observing and monitoring landscape and on developing a shared vision for EOOS as an efficient system and a governance structure that can carry this vision.
First results were presented by Kate Larkin, EMODnet director, of a regional study aiming to enhance knowledge on the coordination of ocean observing within regional communities. Discussions underscored the importance of fostering stronger regional collaboration to streamline ocean observation processes.
JPI Oceans’ Jella Kandziora and Paul Trautendorfer presented progress on two National Charts on Ocean Observing and Monitoring, developed for the EOOS Resource Forum. The charts of Germany and Greece are accessible and published on the EOOS Resource Forum website. They provide dynamic overviews of top-down responsibilities and data flows, illustrating governance structures from ministerial levels to operators and data storage providers. Several enhancements were proposed, including:
- Adding financial flow tracking from ministries to their agencies and research institutions;
- Incorporating a traffic light system to indicate vulnerabilities in the observing and monitoring setup;
- Including existing marine research infrastructures and their role in ocean observing;
- Enabling upstream traceability of Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) and Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) descriptors to the responsible ministries and implementing institutions.
As context for this session, DG MARE provided updates on their Ocean Observation Initiative, highlighting two key developments: the establishment of a Member States Expert Group on Ocean Observation and the creation of a digital platform to centralise Ocean Observation Campaign Plans. These initiatives aim to address the fragmented nature of the current ocean observing landscape and improve coordination across stakeholders.
A significant challenge discussed was the need to engage a broader and more diverse set of stakeholders. While discussions often involve familiar participants, other key actors remain underrepresented. The Ocean Pact was identified as a potential mechanism to foster greater inclusivity. This initiative will address multiple dimensions, including the blue economy, environmental protection, marine knowledge, research, innovation, and investment. Participants agreed to argue jointly that coordinated and sustained ocean observing should be an element of the Ocean Pact.
Inga Lips, Chair of the EOOS Steering Group, presented an overview of the current EOOS structure and the strategy published in 2023. She emphasised the need to clarify EOOS’ purpose and questioned whether the existing governance setup could adequately support its implementation. Participants discussed an array of options for EOOS’ potential roles. Future functions that received good support included:
- To act as a coordination office to optimise ocean observing efficiency;
- To develop a composite European observing system built on national observing systems, with a governance and shared services;
- To provide an implementation framework for recommendations from the community and policies.
The Forum acknowledged that while EOOS already exists as a framework, it lacks sufficient coordination and connectivity to constitute an efficient system. Existing obstacles for progress were identified to be the absence of a clear mandate for EOOS and adequate funding for ocean observing.
In conclusion, the meeting emphasised the need for the European Union to recognise and support EOOS more effectively. Such recognition is essential to secure Member States' commitment, address EOOS’ funding challenges, and ensure its long-term sustainability. The key outcomes of this meeting include plans to provide a coordinated input to the Ocean Pact, to align regional and national studies to maximise synergies, and to further develop the design and array of the National Charts. Progress will be reviewed at the next EOOS Resource Forum meeting in autumn 2025.