Community of Practice (CoP)

Background

The EU Blue Economy Observatory (BEO), managed by Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, supports evidence-based policy and decision making for the sustainable development of the EU blue economy. To strengthen the Observatory’s capacity to gather, process and analyse socio-economic data – and to improve the coverage, timeliness and granularity of indicators across established and emerging maritime sectors – the BEO has established a Community of Practice (CoP) of experts and stakeholders. The CoP will provide advice, review methodologies, identify data gaps and priorities for thematic analysis, and facilitate synergies across initiatives. In doing so, the CoP will work closely with and provide advice to the Steering Committee of the BEO; a body made up of representatives of several services and agencies of the European Commission, who contribute to defining priorities, objectives and expectations of the BEO. 

Composition

The CoP was kicked-off online on 2^nd December 2025. Currently it counts 62 members from across 16 different EU Member States and 8 stakeholder categories:

• Academia & research
• Industry
• International organisations
• National Statistical Institutes and regional observatories
• Member State and local authorities
• Non-governmental organisations
• Technology providers
• Other

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Objectives of the Community of Practice

The CoP will: Advise the EU BEO Steering Committee on improvements to the collection, processing and harmonisation of socio-economic data for the EU blue economy. Help identify high-priority thematic and sectoral studies and methodologies to be undertaken by the BEO. Promote synergies and avoid duplication with EU and national initiatives and data providers. Contribute expertise on emerging sectors – such as marine renewable energy, blue biotechnology, etc. for which there are comparatively fewer data available – coastal protection, ocean observation, and other under-documented areas. Support dissemination and stakeholder engagement activities in relation to BEO outputs. Contribute to the development of the forthcoming “EU Ocean Pact dashboard” that will be used to track progress against the objectives of the Ocean Pact.

Scope and expected activities

Members of the CoP will be expected to: 

• Participate in periodic plenary (mostly virtual) meetings.
• Join and actively contribute to sectoral and/or thematic working groups (such as, for instance, Methodologies & sources; Social & economic Indicators; Environmental indicators; Funding & innovation), as relevant to their expertise.
• Review draft methodologies, data inventories and thematic studies, suggestions for reports and analysis proposals, and provide written feedback when requested.
• Share knowledge, good practices, datasets (where permissible), and tools, and facilitate links with relevant national or sectoral initiatives.
• Support outreach and dissemination of BEO work within their networks. 

Participation is voluntary and not remunerated.  

Work will mostly be carried out online with occasional events. 

If you want to read more on why a Community of Practice has emerged as a strong need for the EU Blue Economy Observatory, you can view a concept note.