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Blue Economy: Upcoming opportunities for ERRIN Members

The Blue Economy agenda is entering a very dynamic phase at the EU level. New funding opportunities under the Mission Ocean and Waters (MOW), policy developments linked to the European Ocean Pact and the future Ocean Act and a calendar full of events will create numerous opportunities for regions and regional stakeholders.

The ERRIN Blue Economy Working Group would like to share the most relevant upcoming opportunities for its members in the coming months.

CO-WATERS: Opportunities for engagement

As part of ERRIN’s involvement in the CO-WATERS project, several targeted opportunities are opening up for Blue Economy Working Group members.

CO-WATERS Sustainable Blue Economy Taskforce: Designing the Mission Ocean & Waters Label (Wednesday 17 and 25 February 2026, 11:00–12:30 CET | Online)

ERRIN and CPMR will co-host two dedicated meetings supporting the design and refinement of the Mission Ocean and Waters (MOW) Label. The Taskforce is aimed at ERRIN members, their respective R&I stakeholders and colleagues working on blue policies and projects. Discussions will focus on economic resilience, pollution pressures, climate risks and spatial conflicts and how they intersect in the context of integrated blue transition strategies.

Together for change: Coalition of cities, regions, islands, and ports for the Mission Ocean & Waters (Wednesday 4 March 2026, 9:00 CET | Charlemagne – Brussels)

Members will also be able to engage in the Coalition of cities, regions, islands and ports for the Mission Ocean & Waters that will be launched on Wednesday 4 March, during the EU Ocean Days. The Coalition offers priority access to tailored services on stakeholder engagement, financing advice and capacity building, technical assistance for applying to the Mission Ocean & Waters Label and participation in thematic collaborative working groups and workshops.

CO-WATERS Needs Assessment Workshop (Wednesday 4 March 2026, 15:00 CET | ERRIN Meeting Room – Brussels)

Stickydot will facilitate this interactive session, allowing ample space for discussion and exchange. All interested territories are encouraged to attend and contribute to shaping the services and tools that CO-WATERS will offer to Europe’s cities, regions, islands and ports. More information will be shared soon.

Blue networking event (Wednesday 4 March 2026, 18:00 CET | Nordic House – Brussels)

Following the official launch of the CO-WATERS Coalition, the Blue Economy Working Group and CO-WATERS will co-host a networking reception during the European Ocean Days. The event is aimed at presenting ERRIN’s work related to the Mission Ocean and Waters and strengthening the Blue Economy community of ERRIN members and their local stakeholders, for which we will join forces with NIVA.

Policy developments

The EU Mission 'Restore our Ocean and Waters' Secretariat would be keen to receive concrete examples of the impact of the Mission in regions and cities that are actively engaged, for instance, by participating in Mission Ocean and Waters projects, being signatories of the Mission Charter or receiving Technical Assistance. These good practices will help illustrate how supported regions are contributing to the Mission's objectives. Examples may include the mobilisation of national or regional funding, multi-level governance work on maritime and freshwater challenges, citizens and stakeholders engagement at the local level or the generation of greater political support at the national or regional level. If you have a success story to share, you can forward it to ana.nava@errin.eu, silvia.ghiretti@errin.eu or ines.moualil@errin.eu. We thank you in advance for your commitment!

On top of that, ERRIN is closely tracking the European Ocean Act public consultation, expected in spring 2026 (call for evidence currently open until 9 February). In parallel, several related policy initiatives will open calls for evidence or consultations (see below). Members contributing to these are invited to share their inputs within the Blue Economy Working Group, with the potential aim of structuring a coherent joint contribution.

Key initiatives include:

  • EU Ocean Observation: Call for evidence open until 27 February
  • Revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Public consultation open until 9 March
  • Ocean and Water Resilience R&I Strategies and EU Strategy on coastal development and resilience: Stakeholder events on 3 March (Ocean), 4 March (Water Resilience) and 6 March 2026 (Coastal), during the EU Ocean Days. Adoption is expected by the end of 2026.
  • EU Maritime Industry Strategy and EU Ports Strategy: Adoption planned for Q4 2025 (delayed, expected soon)

Cascade funding

Several cascade funding calls linked to the Mission Ocean and Waters are currently open or forthcoming, providing concrete opportunities for local and regional actors to test solutions, scale up initiatives and contribute to Mission objectives:

ERRIN members are encouraged to explore these opportunities both as applicants and as facilitators within their regional innovation ecosystems.

External Events

Members may also wish to follow or attend the following external events:

Overall, the coming months will offer numerous entry points for ERRIN members to engage in shaping and implementing Europe’s Blue Economy agenda. The Blue Economy Working Group will continue to act as a platform to connect initiatives, coordinate inputs and support members in navigating this busy landscape.