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The document evaluates the 2013 Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), noting that while the share of stocks exploited at or below Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) rose from 50% in 2014 to 63% in 2022, environmental and socio-economic progress remains uneven. It highlights a disparity in the fishing fleet where small-scale coastal fisheries saw net profits grow by 131.9% between 2013 and 2023, while large-scale and distant water fisheries saw profits fall by 244.5% and 90.6% respectively, despite receiving significantly higher operating subsidies. The authors argue that current failures are due to implementation gaps rather than framework flaws, calling for the prohibition of capacity-enhancing subsidies, the protection of 30% of EU seas via a proposed European Ocean Act, and a shift toward low-impact, decarbonised fishing gear.

The report finds that while Poland has significant geological storage potential (estimated at 15 Gt) and industrial demand in hard-to-abate sectors like cement, the CCS sector remains pre-commercial due to regulatory uncertainty and a lack of revenue support. It identifies regulatory certainty and revenue adequacy as the most critical barriers to final investment decisions (FID). To address these, the report proposes a three-phase roadmap: establishing regulatory and financing foundations by 2027, initiating pre-commercial value chains by 2030, and expanding infrastructure for market scale-up thereafter. Key recommendations include adopting a national CCS strategy, implementing Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfDs), and creating a digital 'one-stop shop' for permitting to align with Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) requirements.

ClientEarth responds to the European Commission's Call for Evidence regarding a potential Fisheries Omnibus on Multiannual Plans (MAPs). The organisation argues that the priority should be the effective implementation and enforcement of existing tools rather than the deletion or weakening of key safeguards, such as the provisions on most vulnerable stocks (MVS) in the Western Mediterranean MAP and the 5% rule in the Northern MAPs. It asserts that failing to rebuild depleted stocks perpetuates 'choke risks' and that the only sustainable solution is to prioritise the recovery of stocks below sustainable levels. The document also suggests that the upcoming EU Ocean Act and the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) should be used to strengthen coherence in ocean policies and redirect harmful subsidies toward climate and biodiversity targets.

The briefing advocates for the adoption of Sustainable Ocean Plans (SOPs) as a central mechanism within the EU Ocean Act to replace siloed marine governance with an integrated framework. It suggests that SOPs can align fisheries, offshore energy, and conservation efforts across EU member states, citing the success of 29 countries globally and the potential for better sea-basin coordination in the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean Sea.

ClientEarth argues that the proposed Ocean Act must move from 'paper commitments to real practice' by becoming a legally binding Regulation rather than a Directive. The organization advocates for the achievement of 'Good Environmental Status' (GES) under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) as the overarching objective, which would prioritize environmental thresholds over socio-economic goals. Key recommendations include establishing a legally binding target for 30% of EU seas as effectively managed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2030, banning bottom trawling in MPAs, and phasing out harmful fisheries subsidies. ClientEarth also proposes 'Ocean Mainstreaming' to integrate marine protection across all EU sectoral policies and calls for stronger enforcement mechanisms, including access to justice and infringement proceedings, to close the existing implementation gap.

A coalition of organizations, led by ClientEarth, calls on Commissioner Kadis to ensure that the renewal of the Specific Grant Agreement and Framework Partnership Agreement with ICES results in scientific advice that is recovery-focused, precautionary, and ecosystem-based. The authors argue that current advice is not designed to rebuild populations or safeguard wider ocean health, citing declines in stocks like mackerel and Northern Shelf cod. They propose five key actions, including extending rebuilding advice beyond the Baltic Sea, setting 2026 fishing limits below ICES headline advice by default, and increasing stakeholder consultation.

The research investigates the 'soft securitization' of offshore wind energy in Sweden, finding a disconnect between the European Union's framing of wind energy as a security imperative and Sweden's technical planning approach, while noting that national defence actors exert significant non-transparent influence over outcomes.

The report argues that interconnectors are critical for European energy security, having prevented three major blackouts in the last five years and providing a lifeline to Ukraine and Moldova during Russian aggression. It highlights that 55% of Europe's power system remains at risk due to limited import options, with Spain, Ireland, and Finland being particularly exposed. The document also details the vulnerability of infrastructure to sabotage, citing nine incidents in the Baltic Sea, and calls for accelerated deployment of new capacity and strengthened security measures to protect the grid from hybrid warfare.

The statement argues that current scientific advice for fishing limits is insufficient for ecosystem recovery and that the EU has failed its legal obligations to end overfishing and achieve Good Environmental Status. It calls for catch limits to be set significantly below maximum scientific advice, particularly for forage fish and mixed fisheries, to safeguard marine biodiversity and resilience against climate change.

A research analysis by World Weather Attribution finds that human-induced climate change made a July 2025 heatwave in Norway, Sweden, and Finland approximately 2°C hotter and at least ten times more likely than in a preindustrial climate. The event caused significant strain on healthcare systems, disrupted reindeer grazing and Sámi livelihoods, and led to increased drowning deaths and wildfires. The report highlights that current winter-focused building designs in the Nordic region are inadequate for rising temperatures and that similar heatwaves are now twice as likely as they were during the previous major event in 2018 due to a global warming increase from 1.1°C to 1.3°C.

A coalition of 15 NGOs calls on EU fisheries ministers to align 2026 Baltic fishing opportunities with the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to ensure fish populations remain above biomass levels capable of producing the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and to protect ecosystem health.

The document argues that current fishing opportunities are often set above scientific advice, perpetuating overfishing in the Baltic, Northeast Atlantic, and Mediterranean. It recommends setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) well below the 'headline' scientific advice from ICES and STECF to account for ecosystem dynamics and climate change. The authors highlight shortcomings in current scientific advice, noting it lacks concrete recovery timeframes and ecological objectives. Key proposals include implementing a quantitative precautionary approach to TAC-setting, increasing transparency in negotiations, and fully enforcing the Landing Obligation.

The document argues that both the EU and UK consistently set Total Allowable Catches (TACs) above scientific advice, failing to meet legal deadlines for sustainable fishing. It highlights a systemic failure to prioritise the recovery of depleted stocks, often citing 'choke' risks in mixed fisheries as a justification. The briefing calls for a shift toward ecosystem-based management and a quota allocation system that rewards low-impact fishing practices over historical catch data.

The briefing identifies three primary shortcomings in the ICES scientific advice used by the EU and UK: a lack of focus on rebuilding stocks above sustainable levels (BMSY), insufficient precaution to prevent stocks from falling below biological limits (Blim), and a failure to integrate ecosystem health objectives such as food web integrity. It calls for a formal roadmap to address these flaws and recommends that fishery managers apply additional precaution by setting catch levels below the ICES 'headline' advice until recovery-focused and ecosystem-based advice is available.

The document advocates for a shift from single-stock fisheries management to an ecosystem-based approach in the EU and UK. It argues that current scientific advice from ICES and STECF often fails to account for the needs of predators and the impacts of climate change. The authors recommend setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) below headline scientific advice to rebuild fish populations well above sustainable levels (BMSY) and to safeguard the food web, particularly for forage fish like sandeel, sprat, and herring.

The document highlights widespread non-compliance with the landing obligation (LO) in the EU and UK, noting that illegal discarding remains 'prolific' and undermines stock assessments. It argues that setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) based on catch advice while illegal discarding continues allows for unsustainable fishing levels. To remedy this, the authors recommend the swift roll-out of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM), setting TACs lower than ICES maximum catch advice in the absence of robust controls, and making quota 'top-ups' conditional on demonstrated vessel compliance. The briefing also suggests using precautionary multipliers in catch accounting to incentivise selectivity and promoting quota redistribution to avoid raising overall TACs.

The document argues that EU and UK fisheries management has failed to rebuild depleted fish stocks, often exceeding scientific advice to avoid short-term economic disruptions. It highlights the risk of 'phantom recoveries' where stock assessments overestimate productivity. To break the cycle of overfishing and 'choke' risks in mixed fisheries, the authors recommend setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) strictly in line with scientific advice, implementing rigorous rebuilding plans with remote electronic monitoring, and reducing TACs for healthy stocks to protect depleted bycatch species.

The Baltic Sea is transitioning into a 'built seascape' characterized by an increase in human-made infrastructure such as offshore wind farms and subsea cables. While these developments support renewable energy and digital connectivity, they introduce vulnerabilities to sabotage and cyberattacks, necessitating new governance and security strategies to manage dual-use technologies and environmental impacts.

ClientEarth proposes a 'Simple Plan' centered on the rigorous application of existing EU laws to restore marine biodiversity and support a just transition for small-scale fishers. The document argues that revising the CFP Regulation is unnecessary and would cause delays, whereas full enforcement of current tools—such as Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and the Landing Obligation (LO)—could provide immediate environmental and economic benefits. Key recommendations include the creation of an EU Ocean Fund, increasing the use of infringement proceedings against Member States, and phasing out bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2030.

ClientEarth urges the European Commission to use the European Oceans Pact to move beyond 'paper parks' and policy silos. The organization calls for a systemic approach to enforcement of the Common Fisheries Policy and Habitats Directive, the creation of an EU Ocean Fund to replace the EMFAF, and the phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies in the maritime sector. It advocates for legally binding targets to protect 30% of EU seas by 2030 and a ban on destructive activities like bottom trawling in all Marine Protected Areas.