The European ocean policy landscape is evolving fast, and 2026 has been no different, with the launch of OceanEye (Ocean Observation Initiative) in June 2026 and the upcoming launch of the Ocean Act (with an updated European Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, MSPD, as a core), and upcoming revisions to the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), European Open Data Directive, and continued development of the European Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy, Water Resilience Strategy and a digital strategy for the Water sector.
EMODnet is Europe's service for in situ marine data, central to the OceanEye value chain and a core component of the European Digital Ocean System. EMODnet is powered by Europe's leading network of experts in marine data management, information and services.
Building on the EMODnet community Vision 2035, in 2026, EMODnet (coordinated and led by the Secretariat) responded to multiple EC consultations (including calls for evidence) related to ocean observation, marine and coastal data, marine knowledge and the wider water sector. Specifically, in Q1-Q2 2026, EMODnet prepared input to:
- EC Ocean Act Call for Evidence (9 Feb 2026): (see a dedicated article on EMODnet for the European Ocean Pact here) note: check the title of that article and correct to Ocean Pact (not Oceans Pact)
- European Ocean Observation Initiative Call for Evidence (13 Feb 2026) EMODnet response
- EC MSFD Call for Evidence (5 March 2026) EMODnet response
- Green Data for All (30 March 2026): EMODnet response.
- EU Arctic Policy Call for Evidence (16 March 2026): EMODnet response
- Water sector – accelerating digitalisation for better management and sustainability (24 June 2026) EMODnet response
- European Ocean Act (MSP) consultation (general link; URL to the EMODnet response will be added once the consultation has closed).
- Upcoming European consultations where EMODnet is preparing a response include two calls for evidence on the future ocean and water research and innovation strategy