EPB Delegation Attended Digital Ocean Week and Copernicus General Assembly in Brussels

EPB Executive Secretary Dr. Maria Grigoratou and Executive Committee Member Dragomir Mateev attended Digital Ocean Week and the 9th Copernicus Marine General Assembly in Brussels, Belgium, from 8–12 June 2026.

Digital Ocean Week opened on World Oceans Day and brought together key European ocean stakeholders to explore the role of digital ocean capabilities in supporting EU ocean ambitions. The programme included the 9th Copernicus Marine General Assembly, the AI Ocean Forum, and a series of high-level events focused on ocean observation, digital infrastructure, and evidence-based ocean policymaking.

Dr. Grigoratou attended the Digital Ocean Week Opening Event on 8 June, where discussions highlighted the contributions of the Copernicus Marine Service, EMODnet, and the European Digital Twin Ocean (EDITO) to the development of a coherent European digital ocean ecosystem. The programme also addressed future priorities for ocean observation systems, digital services, the Ocean Eye, and the implementation of the EU Ocean Pact.

On 9 June, Dr. Grigoratou and Mr. Mateev attended the 9th Copernicus Marine General Assembly, which brought together the Copernicus Marine community to review recent achievements, future service developments, and strategic priorities. The first day focused on the evolution of Copernicus Marine services, user uptake, European and international collaborations, and advances in ocean and polar monitoring.

Of particular interest to the EPB delegation was the session on Arctic Ocean observations, which provided updates on Copernicus “white ocean” variables and modelling developments within the European Digital Twin Ocean (EDITO). Although the session focused on the Arctic, presenters also highlighted recent developments in Copernicus services for Antarctica. These updates demonstrated the growing capability of Copernicus Marine to provide services for both polar regions, reinforcing its role as a European service supporting observations and forecasting across the Arctic and Antarctic.

During the events, Dr. Grigoratou and Mr. Mateev met with colleagues from the European Commission, EMODnet, and Mercator Ocean International, the organisation responsible for implementing the Copernicus Marine Service and EDITO. These exchanges provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing developments in polar observations, forecasting capabilities, and digital ocean services relevant to both polar regions.

Representatives from Mercator Ocean International also briefed the EPB delegation on the evolution of the Mercator International Centre for the Ocean, an Intergovernmental Organization dedicated to digital ocean systems and information services.

The events provided a valuable opportunity for the EPB delegation to follow the latest developments in European ocean and polar services and to strengthen connections with organisations working to advance ocean observation, forecasting, and digital infrastructure for the benefit of the polar regions. 

From left to right: Dragomir Mateev (Executive Committee Member of the EPB), Maria Grigoratou (Executive Secretary, EPB), and Pierre Bahurel, (Director General of Mercator Ocean international) at the Digital Ocean Week, Brussels, June 8-12, 2026.