This report is the outcome of the work carried out by the Africa Europe Strategy Group on Ocean Governance since July 2023. The Group is an initiative of the European Commission Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), in partnership with the African Union Commission. The initiative is implemented by the Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF).

The main recommendation of the Strategy Group is the design, institutionalisation and implementation of an Africa-Europe Ocean Partnership. This partnership would consist in 1/ a joint vision for a mutually supportive relationship that will focus on equal benefit sharing through inclusive and equitable processes and 2/ concrete outcomes for the two continents on ocean policy and action, including the blue economy. The partnership should be designed to facilitate more effective cooperation between Africa and Europe on ocean governance and blue economy issues, with a focus on sustainability, restoration, regeneration, and resilience.

The Africa-Europe Ocean Partnership would contribute to advancing a shared vision and Roadmap for an enhanced collaboration, and reinforce the capacities of both Africa and Europe through exchanges and joint understanding of respective development challenges for a strengthened international ocean governance framework and regenerative blue economy.