[Reuters]
French President Emmanuel Macron drew a strong connection between marine conservation and national sovereignty during his remarks at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice on Monday, calling on European Union partners to stand firm against threats to the territorial integrity of Greece and Cyprus.
“If we want to safeguard 30 percent of protected marine areas, if we want to combat illegal fishing, if we want to support our science, we must protect the Exclusive Economic Zones,” Macron said. “We must be unwavering when the territorial sovereignty of our allies is threatened – and I am referring to our Greek or Cypriot friends.”
His comments come in the context of the global “30×30” goal, an agreement reached by nearly 200 countries in 2022 to protect 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030.
Macron added that ocean protection must be integrated into broader European security and defense strategies. “In the efforts for security and defense made by all Europeans, with the support of the European Commission, the agreement on the oceans should be included,” he stated.
The UNOC, co-chaired by France and Costa Rica, runs through June 13, bringing together world leaders, policymakers, and environmental advocates to address critical issues related to ocean sustainability and marine biodiversity.