The Ocean Pact recognises that protecting the ocean is not solely an environmental challenge: it is a political, economic, financial and social imperative. Delivering on that mandate requires predictable and aligned investment. As a collaborative initiative acknowledged under the Pact, the Partnership is convening key actors to address how the next MFF can support national and regional priorities, strengthen ocean knowledge and innovation, and create the enabling conditions for a sustainable blue economy.

The workshop will explore three main areas:

• Blue National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs): engaging Member States and regions on how to embed ocean priorities in their planning for the next MFF.
• Ocean R&I funding: discussing the positioning of future ocean research within Horizon Europe’s successor and the European Competitiveness Fund.
• Community mobilisation: identifying conclusions to circulate across ocean governance, research and investment communities.

The speaker line-up will include representatives from the European Parliament, the European Commission's DG MARE, regional networks and NGOs. It will also feature a quiz to test participants' knowledge on the topic. An interactive debate will close the session, focusing on how different communities can mobilise around blue investment.