EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” Annual Forum

Draft Programme of 2nd Mission Forum
5 March 2024, SPARKS, Brussels
Professional Moderator: Katrina Sichel
08:30 – 09:00 Registration and welcome coffee
09:00 – 10:00 Welcome & Opening remarks
Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth (tbc)
Maria da Graça Carvahlo, Member of the European Parliament
Sophie Mirgaux, Belgium’s Special Envoy for the Ocean at the Belgian Government (tbc)
10:00 – 10:15 Artistic show (or sli.do if not confirmed)
10:15 -11:00 Synergies of Mission Ocean and Waters across EU programmes and beyond
Keynote speakers
Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General, DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Joanna Drake, Deputy Director-General, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
Panellists
Thomas Wobben, Director for Legislative Works, European Committee of the Regions (tbc)
Hristo Stoykov, Director for Advisory Services, European Investment Bank (tbc)
Ragna Fidjestol, Managing Director of the Financial Mechanism Office, European Economic
Area and Norway Grants.

11:30 – 12:15 Restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems
Panel discussion with speakers responsible for implementing solutions in the Mission’s lighthouses from Charter actions (with Q&A through Slido)
“MOSAiC data evaluation” [DE], Charter action representative (tbc)
Manuel F. Sousa, “REMAR I, II and III, CLIMABILITY” [ES], Charter action
Ulla Rosenström, “Baltic Seagrass project” [FI], Charter action
Alexandre Belly, “Artificial habitats with ecological connectivity” [FR], Charter action
“Protect and restore freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity” [SK], Charter action representative (tbc)
“Restore4Life”, Mission project representative (tbc)
12:15 – 12:30 Marine Protected Areas awards by Kęstutis Sadauskas, Deputy Director-General, DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission and Mission Manager, Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” and Joanna Drake, Deputy Director-General, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
12:30 – 13:15 Preventing and eliminating pollution
Panel with speakers responsible for implementing zero pollution solutions in the Mission’s lighthouses from the Charter actions (with Q&A through Slido)
Francesca Portincasa, “Good wastewater management for environmental protection” [IT], Charter action
Roger Preston, “TRESOILPower2X Waste Plastic To Hydrogen/Ammonia” [RO], Charter action, “Groyne construction” [LV], Charter action representative (tbc) “Upgrade national wastewater treatment infrastructure” [IE], Charter action representative (tbc)
Piia Leskinen, “EMPEREST project” [PL], Charter action “INSPIRE”, Mission project representative (tbc)

13:15 – 14:30 Lunch break
14:30 – 15:15 Climate neutrality and circularity in the blue economy
Panel with speakers responsible for implementing climate-neutral and circular solutions from the
Mission’s lighthouse representatives from Charter actions (with Q&A through Slido)
Philip Easthill, “Implementing a circular economy for end-of-life boats” [BE], Charter action
“Living Ports project” [ES], Charter action representative (tbc)
“ZERO carbon transport and energy systems in Danube region [RO], Charter action representative
(tbc)
“Save the Sea, Connect the Region and Increase Prosperity” [DK], Charter action representative (tbc)
“SeaTecHub” [CY], Charter action representative (tbc)
Angela Schultz-Zehden, “AlgaeProBANOS”, Mission project
15:15 –16:00 EU Digital Ocean and Waters Knowledge System
Panel with speakers from Charter actions (with Q&A through Slido)
“Ocean Hackathon” [FR], Charter action representative
“Data-driven co-creation/PlastOpol” [NO], Charter action representative (tbc)
Vanessa Sarah Salvo, “Minka Citizen Observatory” [ES], Charter action representative (tbc)
“Norwegian Ocean Technology Center” [NO], Charter action representative (tbc)
16:00 – 16:30 Coffee break
16:30 – 17:00 Communities in action for the Mission Panel discussion with key actors on the necessary steps for the implementation and deployment of solutions for the Mission and then presentation by the Mission Manager on the next strategic steps in the implementation of the Mission.
Paloma ABA GARROTE, CINEA Director, PREP4BLUE representative

lueMissionBanos representative
BlueMissionAA representative
Ecodalli representative
Kęstutis Sadauskas, Deputy Director-General, DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission and Mission Manager, Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”
17:00 – 17:30 The moment of truth
Quiz to hear live feedback from all stakeholders on the Mission and the next Forum.
17:30 – 18:00 Closing
Pascal Lamy, Chair of the Mission Board, Mission “Restore our Ocean & Waters”
John Bell, Deputy Mission Manager and Director of Healthy Planet, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission

Networking reception: 18:00