European Council | High Seas Treaty: Council gives green light for its conclusion

Today the Council formally adopted a decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ agreement), also known as the High Seas Treaty.

The agreement aims at the protection of the world’s ocean and its stewardship on behalf of present and future generations in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Those areas account for around two-thirds of the ocean’s surface and 95% of its volume.

In particular, the agreement focuses on preserving, restoring and maintaining biological diversity and ecosystems. To achieve that, it puts in place measures for the effective implementation of the agreement and for further international coordination:

• marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits
• the establishment of marine protected areas
• obligations, rules and procedures on environmental impact assessments
• capacity-building and transfer of marine technology

The EU and its member states have been particularly committed to an ambitious and effective procedure to establish marine protected areas. Without marine protected areas on the high seas and the seabed, the objective to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 will never be reached.

This so-called 30×30 goal was agreed under the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity. With the BBNJ agreement in place, this aspiration can become a reality and will be a true game-changer for the health of our ocean.

Next steps

The BBNJ agreement will enter into force 120 days after 60 countries or organisations have deposited their instrument of ratification, approval, acceptance or accession, with already 7 countries having done so.

Background

On 19 March 2018, the Council authorised the Commission to participate, on behalf of the Union, in the negotiations on the BBNJ agreement. Following the successful completion of the negotiations in March 2023 and its adoption by the UN General Assembly in June 2023, the agreement was signed by the EU in September 2023, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

On 12 October 2023, the Commission submitted to the Council a proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the agreement. Following a political agreement reached in the Council on 24 April 2024, the European Parliament gave its consent on the draft decision.

For more information, please contact:

• Peristera Dimopoulou, Press Officer

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