The European Union, together with six Member States – Cyprus, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal and Slovenia – officially ratified the High Seas Treatyon 28 May 2025. This UN-backed agreement lays the foundation for the conservation of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction – covering almost two-thirds of the world’s oceans.

With this step, the number of signatory countries has now reached 28, making it the largest simultaneous ratification of such a treaty. The EU calls on other participants to join as soon as possible in order to reach the required quota of 60 ratifications for entry into force – it is expected that this could happen as early as the summer.

The EU also announced the allocation of €40 million to support countries in the African, Caribbean and Pacific region to accelerate the implementation of the Treaty. The overall effort aims to create a network of protected areas to ensure that at least 30% of the oceans are protected by 2030.

“Today, the European Union is taking a historic step towards protecting the oceans and preserving the fragile balance of ecosystems,” said Costas Cadiz, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans.

This agreement paves the way for the introduction of marine reserves in international waters, which significantly changes the approach to protecting the oceans and provides an effective mechanism for preserving the planet’s ecological wealth.

Source: https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-leads-global-efforts-protect-high-seas-biodiversity-landmark-treaty-ratification-2025-05-28_en?utm_source=chatgpt.com