EU ocean mission
EU Mission: Restore Our Ocean and Waters
Healthy oceans, rivers, and lakes are essential to life and Europe is taking bold steps to protect
them.
The EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” aims to clean, heal, and protect our
waters by 2030. This
means tackling pollution, restoring natural habitats, and helping communities adapt to climate change.
It is part of a broader European effort to build a greener, healthier future for everyone.
Why it matters
Oceans and waters sustain complex ecosystems, support countless species, and regulate the
planet’s climate. Yet pollution, habitat loss, and rising temperatures are putting them under
serious threat.
The Mission’s goal is straightforward: work together to restore clean, healthy, and thriving
water
systems
across Europe.
The Mission’s three core objectives
To achieve this goal, the EU Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters" focuses on:
- Protecting and restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems and
biodiversity
Restoring nature and biodiversity in rivers, lakes, and seas through science, policy, and local action. - Preventing and eliminating pollution of our ocean, seas, and
waters
Reducing plastic and chemical pollution across all types of water bodies. - Making the blue economy carbon-neutral and circular
Supporting innovation, clean technologies, and sustainable industries that depend on healthy waters.
How it works
The Mission brings together scientists, public authorities, communities, and businesses to develop and scale up solutions that protect and restore our waters. It supports cooperation across Europe by focusing on four major sea and river basins:
- Atlantic-Arctic
- Mediterranean Sea
- Baltic–North Sea
- Danube–Black Sea.
These areas are called lighthouses, and they serve as sites to pilot, demonstrate, develop, and deploy Mission activities across EU waters.
The CO-WATERS project directly supports this Mission by working with waterfront cities, regions, and islands to translate these objectives into local action. Through tailored support, peer-learning, advisory services, and capacity-building activities, CO-WATERS empowers local actors to restore water systems, reduce pollution, and implement sustainable blue economy practices, helping Europe achieve the Mission’s 2030 targets.
Want to learn more about the Mission?
- Visit the EU Mission Portal
Learn what’s happening across Europe and how to get involved - Join the Mission Charter
Pledge your support and become part of the Mission community