Co-hosted by:

Ricardo Serrão Santos MEP

Chair of the “Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services” Working Group

Alain Cadec MEP

Chair of the “Fisheries, Aquaculture & Integrated Maritime Policy” Working Group

Adopted in 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a comprehensive, universal and inclusive sustainable development framework. The SDG 14 aims to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”. The UN high-level Conference on SDG 14, one of the most important events this year on oceans, together with the Our Ocean Conference organised by the EU in October in Malta, will be held in New York, June 5-9, with the overarching theme'Our oceans, our future: partnering for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14'.

The Conference shall adopt a "Call for Action" - a concise, focused, intergovernmentally agreed declaration by consensus. Following the preparatory meeting held in February a zero draft of the Call for Action was produced and two consultations with parties and stakeholders have taken place. Although significant progress has been made, there are still some issues remaining to be agreed specifically with regard to WTO and UNCLOS. The conference will also adopt reports of the 7 Partnership dialogues to be held and a list of voluntary commitments set out by a range of actors for the implementation of SDG 14.

The European Parliament Fisheries Committee recently adopted a Resolution on the Conference further highlighting its importance and the implementation of SDG 14. This event aims to provide an update by the Commission and the Presidency on their ongoing work and an exchange of views with key stakeholders focusing on the remaining issues to be negotiated.