Progress report for
Protecting and conserving marine biodiversity in the High Seas
Achievement at a glance
The BBNJ Agreement was in the making for more than a decade under the auspices of the United Nations. In March 2023, international negotiations were successfully concluded and on 19 June 2023 the Agreement was adopted by consensus at the 5th BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference in New York.On 20 September 2023 the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, signed the BBNJ Agreement on behalf of the EU.
The BBNJ Agreement has been a priority for the European Union and its Member States, that have led negotiations at global level through the BBNJ High Ambition Coalition. This landmark agreement is a welcome addition to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which provides the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.
Next Steps
Bénédicte CaremierBeneficiaries
The BBNJ Agreement is a global implementing agreement under the UN Law of the Sea Convention with the purpose of conserving and protecting marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. Therefore, the beneficiaries are everyone who benefits from such biodiversity and its associated ecosystem services.