Malta has confirmed it will be among the countries ratifying the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty—also known as the High Seas Treaty—at the third United Nations Ocean Conference taking place this June in Nice, France.
The announcement was made by Hon. Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, during a high-level seminar in Malta entitled “Towards the Third UN Ocean Conference: Policy, Science & Blue Economy – A Common Ambition for Malta and France.”
The event was organised by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, the Embassy of France in Malta and the Maltese French Chamber of Commerce (MFCC) and brought together key figures in policy, science, and the blue economy from both countries to explore pressing marine challenges and shared solutions.
In his keynote address, Minister Borg underlined the need for urgent ocean action.
“It is time to change course. The ocean is a common good for humanity and essential to Europe’s sustainable, secure, and competitive future. There will be no green shift, no Paris goals achieved, and no zero-emission society if we fail to focus on knowledge and science. We must be the generation that chose to act.”
MFCC President Joseph Bugeja highlighted the Mediterranean’s mounting environmental pressures and the need for greater science-policy cooperation.
“Surface temperatures have risen 1.4°C since 1982—almost twice the global ocean average—causing shifts in fish stocks and coral die-offs. In 2024, at least 730 marine litter items per km² were recorded off our coasts, the highest density ever logged by EMODnet. Yet the blue economy already generates €590 billion and supports 4.8 million jobs across the EU, with France and Malta contributing a combined €46 billion. These numbers remind us that prosperity and vulnerability travel the same currents.”
Mr Bugeja also pointed to recent advancements in sustainability and collaboration. Malta’s €25 million Blue Med Sustainable Ports programme began retrofitting shore-power systems to cut berth emissions by 9,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Meanwhile, France adopted its Offshore Wind Roadmap 2035, targeting 18 GW—enough to supply all Mediterranean coastal cities in both nations. A new mutual recognition agreement on green-shipping certification will also streamline compliance for over 1,200 vessels flagged in Valletta or Marseilles.
French Ambassador to Malta H.E. Sandrine Lelong-Motta spoke of the shared maritime heritage between France and Malta and the ocean’s dual role as a source of livelihood and geopolitical concern.
“From tourism to shipping, from fisheries to maritime innovation, the sea offers extraordinary opportunities. Yet we are all acutely aware of its fragility. It is important that we balance exploration with precaution and build a sustainable blue economy driven by innovation, resilience, and the ecological transition.”
The High Seas Treaty addresses a long-standing gap in ocean protection by providing a legal framework for conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. It introduces mechanisms to establish marine protected areas, conduct environmental impact assessments on the high seas, and promote equitable sharing of marine genetic resources – seen as vital to achieving the global target of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
The treaty will enter into force once 60 countries ratify it—a milestone expected ahead of the Nice conference. To date, seven countries have ratified the treaty, with 89 having signed it.
France’s Ambassador for the Oceans, Oliver Poivre d’Arvor, issued a stark warning about the Mediterranean’s rapidly changing climate: “Around 500 million tourists visit the Mediterranean every year. But the region is warming at double the rate of the rest of the world’s oceans. In 15 to 20 years, tourists will stop coming in summer due to extreme heat and shift their holidays to winter.”
He also expressed disappointment that the United States will not be ratifying the treaty, describing it as a missed opportunity for international cooperation.
In his closing remarks, Mr Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, recalled Malta’s historic role in shaping global ocean governance.
“In 1967, just three years after Independence, Malta proposed to the UN that ocean resources beyond national jurisdiction be recognised as the ‘common heritage of mankind.’ That bold initiative laid the groundwork for international ocean law.”
He urged renewed global commitment and said the 2025 Ocean Conference in Nice must become a platform to reinvent the blue economy, tackle illegal fishing, and adapt to rising sea levels.
“Malta is in an advanced stage of ratifying the treaty. This reaffirms our commitment to being an active player in ocean governance,” concluded Mr Cutajar.
