Press Release: World Oceans Day: healthy oceans key to Europe’s future

On World Oceans Day the European Commission recalled the vital role seas and oceans play for Europe. A healthy marine environment is essential to the health of our planet as seas and oceans are important regulators of the climate and are significant reservoirs of biodiversity. The EU is committed to the wise stewardship of seas and oceans, an objective which is at the heart of the EU's 2008 Marine Strategy Directive. The directive contains measures designed to protect and preserve the marine environment with the aim of ensuring that all EU marine waters become environmentally healthy by 2021. World Oceans Day is an initiative of the United Nations and has been celebrated since 1992.