June 9th

A new intergovernmental organization for digital Ocean systems and information services

Mercator International Centre for the Ocean


ABOUT THE EVENT

In 2022, European States launched the intergovernmental transformation of Mercator Ocean International to establish an organization for the development and exploitation of digital Ocean systems and information services. Three years later, the 3rd UN Ocean Conference is a milestone opportunity for States to reaffirm their commitment to creating this intergovernmental organization and celebrate its international Convention now proposed for signature. 

 Co-organized by the governments of France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Norway, Portugal and Spain, this side-event, scheduled on Monday 9 June from 10:30 to 11:45 am (Room 5 - Blue Zone),  will open with an address by UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, Mr. Peter Thomson, followed by welcome remarks from Costa Rica and France representatives and statements by the European Commission. Interventions by European and Mercator international partners, to be concluded by Mr. Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of IOC-UNESCO, will highlight the uses and needs for digital Ocean systems and information services and share interests and expectations for this new intergovernmental organization. The event will further celebrate the international Convention now proposed for signature by the Copernicus Participating States and a joint Declaration of the shared commitment to pursue efforts to enable governments to sign the Convention in 2025.
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AGENDA

This section is being regularly updated 

Part 1. A NEW INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE DIGITAL OCEAN
  • Opening Address - Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Ocean
  • Welcoming words:
    - Franz Tattenbach, Costa Rica Minister of Environment and Energy
    - Philippe Baptiste, France Minister of Higher Education and Research
  • Statements from the European Commission – A European perspective on a new intergovernmental organization for the digital ocean 
    - Timo Pesonen (recorded message), Director-General, Directorate-General Defence Industry and Space. 
    - Delilah Al Khudhairy, Director of Maritime Policy, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries 

  • How digital ocean systems and information services support sustainable blue economies, ocean protection, and ocean-science policy – Pierre Bahurel, Director General, Mercator Ocean International 
Part 2. FOCUSED DIALOGUES
  • Sustainable blue economy 
    - Tbd, Greece 
    - Gustavo Santana Hernández, President, Puertos del Estado, Spain
    - Stuart Minchin, Director General, the Pacific Community 
  • Ocean protection, Safety, and Risk Reduction
    - Rosalia Santoleri, President, Italy Oceanographic Commission, Italy 
    - José Guerreiro, President, Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Portugal 
    - Michelle Heupel, Executive Director, Integrated Marine Observing System, Australia
  • Ocean science-policy
    - Aldo Drago, Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology
    - Nils Gunnar Kvamstø, CEO, Institute of Marine Research, Norway
    - Segen Estefen, Director-General, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Oceânicas, Brazil 
Concluding remarks -International collaboration for digital Ocean systems and information services - Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO 

Part 3. COMMITMENT & CEREMONY
  • Endorsing States’ interventions
    - Stavros Papastavrou, Greece Minister for Environment and Energy
    - Jože Novak    , Slovenia Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning
    - Marianne Sivertsen Næss, Norway Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy
    - Agnès Pannier-Runacher, France Minister of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forestry, Sea, and Fisheries
    - Other interventions TBC
  • Official photo: Endorsing States & high-level speakers
  • Closing words
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SPEAKERS

Other speakers to be announced soon.
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 Discover more about us!

Learn more about Mercator Ocean International

A non-profit organization transforming into an intergovernmental irganization, dedicated to providing digital Ocean systems and science-driven information services about the state of the Ocean. We deliver state of the art operational digital descriptions of marine environments supporting decision-making for major Ocean-related environmental, climate, and societal challenges facing our planet.

Visit the EU Digital Ocean Pavilion

From June 2–13, 2025, explore in Nice or online, the European Digital Ocean Pavilion, implemented by Mercator Ocean International for the European Commission, and discover Europe’s leadership in ocean governance and its commitment to a sustainable blue future through many events, exhibition and demonstration of the next-generation Digital Twin Ocean infrastructure.
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Venue

📍 🗓️ Where and when

🗓️ 9 June 2025 - 10:30 to 11:45 AM CEST
📍UNOC 2025 - Blue Zone, Room 5

🛂 Accreditation & Access

Who can attend ?

The event will be held in the UNOC Blue Zone restricted to accredited persons (Official country delegations, UN agencies and international organizations, Accredited NGOs and partners, Journalists with UN-approved media passes...) 

🧳 Security Procedures

  • Mandatory security screening at all entry points.
  • Only official conference badges will grant access.
  • Early arrival recommended (expect security queues, especially on Day 1).

📄 Documents Needed

  • Passport or National ID Card (matching your registration name)
  • Conference Badge (to be collected at Accreditation Center)
unocnice2025.org
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