Become a Member of the EU4Ocean Platform

The EU4Ocean Platform is intended as an inclusive network of stakeholders willing to be actively engaged in connecting existing ocean literacy activities in Europe and shaping future actions. It is a membership-based Platform, requiring interested stakeholders to apply through an online application form. This is a fast process, with a short turn-around for approval.

Membership of the EU4Ocean Platform is primarily at an organisation (or a faculty/department of an organisation) or project/initiative level, to demonstrate the applicant’s willingness and capability (e.g., resources to engage in the EU4Ocean Platform activities). Initiatives with no legal entity or individuals are also welcome to apply where they can demonstrate relevant ongoing and future activities relevant to EU4Ocean Platform activities.

Submit your application 
 

Eligibility criteria

Stakeholders applying for EU4Ocean platform membership will be asked to demonstrate their ability and/or willingness to meet the following eligibility criteria:

• be a European stakeholder, or an international one that can demonstrate concrete interactions, collaborations or joint activities with European stakeholders;
• be a representative of at least one key target group of the EU4Ocean Platform, namely science (public and private research with a primary focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and social sciences), policy makers and decision-makers, industry and business, financial institutions, media, civil society e.g. NGOs, philanthropists, art and culture, educational organisations and initiatives;
• be able to explain the benefit and contribution of the particular stakeholder and its sector/domain to the efforts of the EU4Ocean Platform and wider coalition;
• be already actively working in the area of Ocean Literacy, including activities spanning ocean awareness and communication, ocean advocacy, ocean literacy resource design, implementation and sharing, marine and maritime education, careers and skills;
• provide examples of where the organisation’s ocean literacy efforts are directly contributing to develop European capability and best practice in ocean literacy across the ocean literacy knowledge system, including as providers or aggregators of data, information or knowledge underpinning the marine knowledge base and value chain (e.g., universities, research laboratories, maritime networks, technology and innovation platforms);
• demonstrate through existing examples or proposed resources the motivation and capacity of their organisation (or individual) to actively contribute to relevant ocean literacy activities of the EU4Ocean Platform;
• show motivation and willingness to comply with the guiding principles of the EU4Ocean Platform, including an open philosophy to share and co-create ocean literacy activities, resources and tools for the benefit of EU4Ocean and, ultimately, wider society;
• show willingness to share experiences and openness to form new partnerships and jointly implement new joint activities under the label EU4Ocean;
• show willingness to integrate Youth into all ocean literacy activities and offer coaching and mentorship to the Youth through the Youth4Ocean Forum, potentially including mentorship for schools involved in the Network of European Blue Schools.

Stakeholders should strive to provide motivation, explanation and, where possible, concrete evidence, to meet as many eligibility criteria as possible, recognising that stakeholders have a diversity of skills and resources so are not required to meet all eligibility criteria.

It is recognised that each stakeholder will bring specific skill-sets and offer multiple methods and levels of engagement. Some organisations will be willing to play a fully active role from the start, whilst others may need time to develop awareness, capacity and resources in their country or sector. In addition, individuals and organisations with an interest, but no prior experience in ocean literacy, or lack of access to resources, also need to have ways to engage and feel part of the EU4Ocean Platform without initial commitment or active resource contribution.
 

Key roles for EU4Ocean Platform members

• Committing to the EU movement and narrative of EU4Ocean coalition, acting as informal ambassadors to drive connection and momentum that drives societal change;
• Actively participating in the EU4Ocean Platform meetings and activities, including discussions around ocean topics;
• Working proactively and synergistically in a multi-stakeholder environment;
• Bringing expertise and knowledge e.g. in marine and maritime research, policy, conservation, management, education;
• Being open and inclusive, forming new partnerships and co-designing ocean literacy activities, actions and campaigns at multiple geographical scales;
• Offering expertise to mentor and coach other members of the Platform and the Youth, in particular members of the Youth4Ocean Forum  and the Network of European Blue Schools;
• Engaging in relevant events and dissemination, contributing to planning and promoting EU4Ocean activities at sea-basin, national and local levels.

 

Find answers to your questions in the EU4Ocean brochure

What are the benefits of joining the EU4Ocean Platform? What are the key activities organised by the EU4Ocean Coalition that you could contribute to as a Platform member? Read the EU4Ocean Platform brochure to find out the answers to these questions and others!

 

Read the full EU4Ocean Platform Terms of Reference

 

 

Submit your application

Step 1: Create your EU Login

The EU4Ocean Platform is hosted on the official Maritime Forum website of the European Commission. Therefore, you need to have your EU Login and password to participate in the online community.

If you already have an EU Login, skip this step and proceed to step 2. Otherwise:

1. Go to the EU Login sign in page (https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/cas/login) and click on the "Create an account" link on the EU Login main page. Fill in the provided form with your personal details.
   EU Login sign in page 
    
2. You will receive an e-mail from the EU Login automated password service. Follow the instructions to set your password.
    
3. Before you can login with your EU Login to the Maritime Forum website, you need to choose your verification method. Go to EU Login sign in page and login with your chosen password. Once successfully authenticated, move the mouse over the gear at the top right corner to display the menu and select "My Account". Click on "Manage my mobile phone numbers". Click on "Add a mobile phone number". When clicking "Add", an SMS is sent to your mobile device. The SMS contains a code that you need to type in. Click on “Finalise”.

Step 2: Log in with your EU Login

1. Go to the Maritime Forum Login page. Choose “Mobile Phone + SMS” as a verification method and type in the code that will be sent to your mobile phone number.
   Maritime Forum EU Login page 
    
2. After you have logged in to the Maritime Forum website for the first time, your account needs to be activated by a site administrator. This might take up to one or two days in some cases. While the activation of your account is pending, your account will be temporarily blocked, and trying to access the EU4Ocean Platform application form before your account activation will result in the application form page saying "Access denied". Once your account has been activated, you will receive an automatic email, after which you can access the EU4Ocean Platform application form page.

If you have any problems or questions regarding the EU Login process, please take a look at this EU Login Tutorial.
Detailed instructions and step by step guidelines for the EU Login are also available in the website user manual.

If you have not found answers to your question(s), please do not hesitate to contact us at infoeu4ocean-platform [dot] eu (info[at]eu4ocean-platform[dot]eu)

Step 3: Fill out the online application form

Join the EU4Ocean Platform by completing the application form. This page is only accessible if you are logged in with your EU Login and after your account was activated by a site administrator (see "Step 2" above).

EU4Ocean Platform application form 
 

In the application form, you will be asked to upload an intent letter which describes your motivation to become a member of the European Platform and how your organisation could contribute to it. Please find below a template that you can use for this letter.

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the EU4Ocean Platform facilitators at infoeu4ocean-platform [dot] eu (info[at]eu4ocean-platform[dot]eu).