This strategy responds to a requirement by the European Commission to all European Partnerships under Horizon Europe to reflect in advance on their exit or transition pathways. Notably, “phasing-out” does not imply the end of cooperation or activities; instead, it refers to how a Partnership may evolve, transform, or be sustained under different funding scenarios, while ensuring that the value created continues to benefit Europe’s research and innovation, policy, and society as a whole.

A strategic exercise in an evolving policy landscape

The development of the phasing-out strategy provided an opportunity for Member States and Associated Countries to reflect on the Partnership’s long-term role, particularly in light of the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and Framework Programme 10 (FP10).

The strategy acknowledges the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership’s foundations in initiatives such as JPI Oceans, BONUS, MarTERA and BlueBio, and reflects on the added value the Partnership has created through coordination, alignment of national programmes, trust-based collaboration, and a shared Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) that integrates at pan-European level sea-basins R&I needs and is implemented across 32 countries.

At the same time, it considers a rapidly evolving EU policy environment, marked by the emergence of initiatives such as the European Ocean Pact and the forthcoming Ocean Act, Vision 2040, and Ocean Observation Initiative. The strategy confirms that the Partnership is well aligned with EU priorities, particularly where digital innovation, nature-based solutions, and cross-sectoral approaches are required to support a sustainable and competitive blue economy. Over its lifetime, the Partnership has demonstrated its capacity to respond to new challenges and reduce fragmentation across national and sectoral boundaries. The document highlights this coordination role and relational capital (the networks, governance structures, and shared vision developed over time) as invaluable assets.

Four possible pathways for the future

The phasing-out strategy was prepared in accordance with European Commission guidance and informed by a broad consultation process. This included:

• input from Member States and Associated Countries,
• an analysis of a dedicated survey among Partnership beneficiaries,
• discussions within the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership governance bodies,
• exchanges with other European Partnerships,
• and dialogue with Commission services on the future design of partnerships under FP10.

From an initial set of nine ideas, the process resulted in four credible scenarios, each outlining a possible pathway with or without EU funding: 

• Blue Economy Joint Programmes: intergovernmental initiative with funding by Member States and Regions that align national programmes to implement the SRIA through joint activities.
• Several Joint Blue Partnerships: implementation of the Partnership SRIA continues through different partnerships/programmes according to the different thematic (intervention areas), with blended public-private funding
• Co-programmed Blue Economy Partnership joined by Member States, the private sector and the European Commission, positioned under FP10 – Pillar II – COMPETITIVENESS
• Ocean Observation Moonshot under FP10: Full deployment of the Partnership’s activities related to observation as support to the Ocean Eye and the EU needs for ocean knowledge, data, and digital ocean intelligence.

Rather than promoting a single preferred option, the strategy states that these scenarios are not mutually exclusive and can be combined or adapted as opportunities arise.

It should be noted that, although validated by the European Commission, the document is explicitly presented as a living document to be formally approved by the Partnership’s General Assembly in September 2026 and revisited as FP10 discussions progress.

Preserving the Partnership’s legacy

Among all scenarios, one thing stands out as crucial: the importance of preserving what has been built over time, including a shared SRIA, established coordination mechanisms, longstanding networks, and the ability to align efforts around common blue economy objectives, as well as R&I solutions. The need for simplification is also acknowledged, both to reduce administrative burden and to ensure that future models remain effective.

While future decisions will depend on political priorities, available funding, and final FP10 design as negotiated with the Member States, this exercise reveals a clear consensus on one point: Europe will continue to need robust mechanisms for coordinating ocean and blue economy research and innovation. The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership’s experience provides a solid foundation to build on and has demonstrated the added value of an integrated programme that implements the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda through multiple tools and actions. The challenge now is to ensure the fulfilment of all objectives and the achievement of results through to the very end—the last Joint Call to be launched in September 2028—while preparing for the transition.