May 2026 marked an impactful month for EMODnet, with active participation in multiple ocean observation, marine and maritime events in Cyprus marking the nation’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.
At the “Riding the Wave: Advancing the EU Ocean Pact through Science, Innovation and Cooperation” conference (Ammochostos, 11–12 May), EMODnet’s Head of Secretariat Kate Larkin spoke on a keynote panel, “From Ocean Knowledge to Policy Impact: Implementing the EU Ocean Pact through Science, Data and Innovation”, underlining the importance of EMODnet’s EU digital ocean (data) service to support Member States in transforming in situ ocean observations into actionable data needed to implement EU ocean policy and the wider Ocean Pact. The session highlighted EMODnet’s long-standing experience and achievements in cross-border data cooperation, including for Maritime Spatial Planning, and how EMODnet serves as the foundation for the European Digital Twin Ocean, working closely with the Copernicus Marine Service to deliver a common data lake that brings EMODnet’s in situ offer together with Copernicus earth observation data, on the cloud.
The discussion emphasised key recommendations of the EMODnet community Vision 2035 including:
- Robust, harmonised and accessible marine data services are an essential component of the OceanEye value chain, providing the FAIR, actionable data needed for to bridge the science-policy interface, support policy implementation, underpin research and innovation and boost Blue Economy competitiveness;
- EMODnet provides a crucial and unique in situ ocean observation and data service offer, providing the , operational data backbone for OceanEye and the Ocean Pact. And EMODnet is already delivering at its maximum capacity for its structure as implemented today. Now, EMODnet needs appropriate and incresed investment to meet expanding demand and to fully serve the OceanEye and contribute towards a robust and well governed marine knowledge system, as envisioned in the Ocean Pact;
- Many businesses, from SMEs to large industry already leverage EMODnet to create intermediate and end-user applications – from data analysis online platforms to port authority digital twins, training for offshore operators and more.
Through this engagement, EMODnet reinforced its role as a key enabler of the EU Ocean Pact and the European Digital Twin Ocean.
At the 11th EuroGOOS International Conference in Larnaca, EMODnet contributed to strategic discussions on Europe’s state-of-the-art in situ ocean observation systems, how to optimise and operationalize further data streams from EuroGOOS and Research Infrastructures to EMODnet, and more.During a panel on “Aligning European Ocean Observation and Marine Knowledge for Climate, Biodiversity and Blue Economy Needs”, Kate Larkin highlighted the role of EMODnet’s harmonised in situ data in supporting evidence-based policymaking and implementation of European priorities. The exchange builds on the long-standing collaboration between EMODnet and EuroGOOS whose National members are key data producers and providers to EMODnet.
The second week of ocean-related Cyprus events culminated at European Maritime Day (EMD) 2026 from 21-22 May in Limassol, the EU’s flagship event on maritime policy and the Blue Economy. EMODnet showcased its services and partnerships through a dedicated exhibition booth led by the Secretariat, with its service offer also presented in the data visualisations on the European Digital Twin Ocean (EDITO) stand, co-presented together with Copernicus Marine Service implemented by Mercator Ocean, Seascape Belgium and VLIZ. EMODnet experts from the Central Portal, Bathymetry, Human Activities thematics and more engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, including policymakers, scientists, industry representatives and EU leadership, demonstrating how its open-access data services support innovation, marine policy and sustainable blue growth.
Across all three events, EMODnet emphasised the strength of its expert network, engaging with Cypriot partners including the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), ORION, and the National Cyprus Geological Survey. These exchanges reinforced the importance of coordinated, interoperable data systems across Europe.
Together, the Cyprus events highlighted the central role that EMODnet continues to have in the European marine knowledge landscape, and how EMODnet’s value is not oniyl its digital data services but also its unique expert network of 133 partner organisations across 33 nations (21 Member States).
