Check against delivery

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro^*, Serbia^*, Albania^*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina^* and Georgia align themselves with this statement.

We thank the Greek Presidency of the Council for convening this important meeting and the Secretary-General and the briefers for their insights. In tribute to the Greek Presidency, Mr. President, let me recall that the word “oceans” itself comes from the Greek word “Okeanos”. In the Iliad, one of the first pieces of European literature, Homer refers to the ocean as “the river where all things are born.” For centuries, oceans have been vital not only for life itself, but also for global economic development. Europe, with the world’s second-largest coastal territory, relies heavily on seaborne trade and maritime industries for its prosperity. In this context, we welcome the final text of the Third UN Ocean Conference political declaration that the President of the General Assembly has sent to the co-hosts and we look forward to its adoption in Nice in a few weeks.

Mr. President,

The EU is deeply committed to ensuring maritime security worldwide, using its extensive policy tools and resources, and sharing technical expertise to address threats. To enhance maritime domain awareness and response capabilities, the EU, alongside its Member States, is advancing technological initiatives such as unmanned platforms, sensors, and drones.

In October 2023, the EU adopted a Revised Maritime Security Strategy with an accompanying Action Plan to address various maritime security challenges, including hybrid and cyber threats. The overall aim is to strengthen collaboration between stakeholders across all sectors, civilian as well as military, both within the EU and globally.

International law, dear colleagues, – with the UN Charter at its core – must be upheld on land and at sea. The EU and its Member States remain strongly committed to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which sets out the universal and unified legal framework within which all activities in oceans and seas must be carried out. Its provisions reflect customary international law and are thus binding on all States, irrespective of whether they have acceded to the Convention or not.

A recent example of the importance of freedom of navigation followed on the heels of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, blockading the Black Sea, one of the world’s vital shipping corridors for food. In response, the UN’s Black Sea Grain Initiative facilitated the safe export of nearly 33 million tonnes of grains and other foodstuffs from Ukraine, over half of which went to lower and middle income countries. An exceptional example of the UN in action.

Mr. President,

International cooperation is key to the EU’s maritime security efforts. Therefore, the EU has built strong partnerships, including through its support to regional maritime security architectures in Africa. One example is the Yaoundé Architecture, which has been instrumental in improving maritime security in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 2634 (2022).

The EU currently conducts three naval operations. Operation ATALANTA contributes to deterrence, prevention, and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery in the Western Indian Ocean. Operation IRINI implements the arms embargo on Libya in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 2292 (2016). And in the Red Sea region, where Houthi attacks have targeted international merchant and commercial vessels since October 2023, Operation ASPIDES protects shipping in line with UN Security Council resolution 2722 (2024).

The EU also helps enhance maritime security through capacity building, including the EU Safe Seas Africa programme, EU capacity building missions, and other initiatives. The EU also engages in capacity building for maritime domain awareness. One example is the EU-funded Critical Maritime Routes Indo-Pacific (CRIMARIO) project, which provides an information-sharing platform to help coastal countries enhance maritime domain awareness across the region.

Recent incidents of damage to submarine cables have shown the importance of protecting critical maritime infrastructure. Such infrastructure is vital for the functioning of our societies and appropriate preventative action must be taken in accordance with UNCLOS. In February 2025, the European Commission and the High Representative presented an EU Action Plan on Cable Security to improve the protection of submarine cables.

Mr. President, colleagues,

In closing, the EU looks forward to working with international partners on the protection of critical maritime infrastructure and in the wider field of maritime security. If oceans are indeed the river where all things are born, then we must protect them together.

Thank you.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.