Dates: 21-22 April 2026
Venue: Online
The Board elected Sharon Tatman (Deltares, the Netherlands) as an EMB vice-Chair for an initial term of three years. The Board discussed the ongoing operations of EMB, and heard about EMB's engagement in activities relating to the EU Ocean Pact, including its membership of the EU Ocean Board and responses to related EU consultations.
The Board also received an update on the EMB Ambassadors Programme and were introduced to the new EMB Ambassadors for 2026-2028.
In terms of science activities, the Board received updates on the ongoing working group on Biomolecular Approaches as well as the membership of the new working group on Submarine Cables. The Board approved the Terms of Reference for a new working group on Coastal and Arctic Digital Twins of the Ocean, and selected a topic for a new EMB working group.
An update was also given regarding EMB's engagement in ongoing or recently finished H2020 / Horizon Europe projects BRIDGE-BS, RHE-mediation, BAMBOO and SURIMI, as well as the recently finished EMODnet tender and the DG MARE/CINEA tender Towards IPOS.
The Board received an update on EMB's support of the UN Ocean Decade as an Implementing Partner, as well as EMB's support of the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and waters. They also heard from the outgoing and newly selected EMBracing the Ocean artists-in-residence.
An open session was hosted by the EMB Secretariat and focussed on the EU Ocean Pact's Research and Innovation Strategy. The session was opened and moderated by Sheil Heymans (EMB Executive Director), and featured interventions from James Morrison (Director for Healthy Planet, DG RTD) and Delilah Al Khudhairy (Director for Maritime Policy and Blue Economy, DG MARE). The Board Members, as well as Ambassadors and members of the EMB ECOP network also had an opportunity to engage in discussions relating to the development of this Strategy, with input being made directly available to the European Commission as part of their stakeholder consultation process for the Ocean Pact Research and Innovation Strategy.
