The 2025 edition of EU Ocean Days in Brussels has once again served as a major milestone in shaping the future of Europe’s blue economy. Over the course of multiple days during March 3-7, 2025, the CoastalPro team, namely the project coordinator, Odysseas Spyroglou, and the Institute for Sustainable – EPLO (ISD/EPLO), Marina-Argyri Deligianni and Christina Deligianni, met with policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders and discussed the progress of coastal and coastal tourism initiatives, emphasizing sustainable development, investment, and governance.
Among the key highlights have been the EU Ocean Pact, the European Blue Forum, BlueInvest, and Mission Ocean’s advancements, demonstrating the European Commission’s commitment to ocean restoration, sustainable economic growth, and resilience against climate challenges, putting citizens first. CoastalPro played an active role from day one of the European Ocean Days, participating in most events aimed at accelerating sustainable solutions in tourism and fostering collaboration. Most of the discussions the team had centered on:
- Scaling up sustainable coastal tourism practices
- Strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration
- Ensuring accessibility to local communities and citizens
The team also attended the inaugural event on the EU Ocean Pact, an initiative driven by the Oceano Azul Foundation and Europe Jacques Delors, hosted by POLITICO Europe.Of particular significance was the contribution of Spyros Kouvelis, Director of ISD/EPLO and Mission Ocean Board Member, to the EU Ocean Pact. As noted by Commissioner Costas Kadis, the Pact is currently in the consultation phase, featuring seven strategic pillars linked to EU competitiveness and sustainable growth.
The CoastalPro project has recently become a signatory of the Mission Ocean Charter through the Institute for Sustainable Development – EPLO initiative on ocean literacy. With many partnerships forged and discussions for affiliation opportunities during the European Ocean Week, CoastalPro is poised to bridge the gap between advanced policy and actionable implementation in tourism, a blue economy sector that is becoming all the more important, ensuring that coastal regions and communities are not only protected but also thrive economically and environmentally through sustainable coastal tourism practices.
Key Takeaways from the Week
🌊 Day 1: Collaborative Action for Water & Ocean Solutions
Our partner Christina Deligianni (EPLO/ISD) participated in discussions on EU-funded water restoration initiatives, showcasing best practices for collaboration and community engagement. The day also featured the launch of the #EUOceanPact, a major policy initiative to enhance ocean governance.
💡 Day 2: Scaling Blue Economy Innovations
The Mission Ocean & Waters Forum gathered 1,800 experts, highlighting Horizon Europe funding and new strategies for marine sustainability, ecosystem resilience, and blue investments. Policymakers reinforced the need for an OceanUnion approach, integrating governance, research, and industry cooperation.
📈 Day 3: BlueInvest & Economic Growth in the Sector
The focus shifted to startups and investors, emphasizing impact-driven innovation. Sessions included networking with entrepreneurs and key investors in the field, discussing the financial and policy landscape for blue economy businesses.
💰 Day 4: The Growth of Blue Investments
The second part of #BlueInvestDay by #DGMare focused on impact-driven investments in the blue economy. With almost 300 ocean investors now engaged, discussions centered on the sector’s rapid growth and new opportunities. Highlights included:
- Engagement with #OceanFunds and #ImpactInvestors, with support from PwC Luxembourg and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
- Showcasing two Greek start-ups: SciDrones P.C. Spinoff, led by Kostas Topouzelis, and Nature4Nature Technologies, founded by Dr. Antonis Livieratos.
- The continued promotion of the #BlueChampions initiative in Greece, with an upcoming announcement on the Blue Economy ecosystem.
🌍 Day 5: Marine Knowledge & Ocean Data for the Future
The event concluded with in-depth discussions on marine data and automation, with experts from OECD, CINEA, and the European Commission highlighting the role of sustained marine data flows in reducing industry costs, supporting the AI economy, and stabilizing financial risks in ocean-related industries.
What’s Next?
CoastalPro and EPLO/ISD will continue to work on blue careers development, policy engagement, and sustainable tourism training. Stay tuned for more updates and future collaborations!
📢 Join the conversation! Follow our journey in our website and social media.
#CoastalPro #BlueEconomy #EUOceanDays2025 #SustainableTourism #BlueCareers #BlueInvest
