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Food, Farming, Fisheries
Maritime Forum
 

#MakeEUBlue Awards 2026

The EU4Ocean Coalition is organising the fifth edition of the #MakeEUBlue Awards. The awards aim to recognise successful ocean literacy initiatives that show the crucial importance of the ocean in all facets of life. 

Theme
  • EU4Ocean Coalition
A visual with lifeguards gathering on a beach and the #MakeEUBlue Awards 2026 banner

Surfing the wave of the European Ocean Pact 

This year’s theme aligns with the European Ocean Pact’s priorities on skills and career opportunities in the blue economy.  

It puts emphasis on skills development and learning open to all members of society (companies, organisations, academia, youth associations, schools), on innovative strategies that enhance uptake of blue careers (mentoring, coaching, matching market needs with professional profiles), and on professional advancement in the blue economy (long-term development and life-long learning). 

Award categories  

Award winners will be selected by the EU4Ocean Coalition Secretariat and will be announced during the European Maritime Day in Limassol, Cyprus on 21-22 May 2026.  

A total of four categories will be awarded:  

  • #MakeEUBlue Award - Organisations
  • #MakeEUBlue Award - Youth
  • #MakeEUBlue Award - Schools
  • #MakeEUBlue Award - Public Choice Award for the project that gets the most votes on social media. Make sure to tune in to DG MARE’s social media accounts!  

Winners will receive a hand-made trophy, an official award certificate, and a EUR 1 500 financial reward. They will also be invited to participate to the award ceremony held at the European Maritime Day. 

Eligibility 

The competition is open to all members of the EU4Ocean Coalition, including the EU4Ocean Platform, the Youth4Ocean Forum and the Network of European Blue Schools. The requirements to be eligible are the following:  

  • Individuals, organisations or schools based in EU27 that are current members of one of the communities of the EU4Ocean Coalition
  • Having run the project in 2025; ongoing and completed projects can apply, but only results achieved in 2025 will be considered
  • Evidence of measurable outcomes in terms of skill development, career progression, or contributions to ocean literacy  

Selection criteria 

Selection criteria for this year’s edition are the following: 

  1. Skills development and learning: the degree to which the project demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing blue skills and fostering learning, including professional growth in the private sector or academia through workshops, training programmes or practical initiatives.
  2. Innovative approaches to blue careers: the degree to which the project introduces innovative strategies or solutions that enhance blue career opportunities, such as equal opportunities for people with diverse background, innovative coaching methods, new mentorship models, or creative ways to match blue skills with market needs.
  3. Professional advancement: the degree to which the project has achieved significant impacts by meaningfully engaging participants, stakeholders, and national/regional/local communities, with a particular emphasis on measurable outcomes in blue skills acquisition, blue career progression or inception and mentoring relationships.
  4. Sustainability and replication: the degree to which the project exhibits high sustainability and the potential for replication, particularly regarding viable pathways for blue careers, and integration of elements to support long-term professional development and life-long learning. 

Selection process   

The selection will be carried out by the EU4Ocean Coalition Secretariat following the below steps:  

  1. All submissions will be screened to confirm eligibility. Entries that are not eligible will not be further considered in the selection process.   
  2. Eligible submissions will then be evaluated by the EU4Ocean Coalition Secretariat individually according to the 4 selection criteria; evaluation scores will be summarised in a pre-established evaluation grid.   
  3. The three winners – one for each community – will be notified by end of April 2026.  The coordinators of the winning submissions will be contacted by email to inform them of the results of the selection process and to arrange their participation to the awarding ceremony at the European Maritime Day in Cyprus on 21-22 May 2026.
  4. A social media voting will open for the public to select an additional winner from shortlisted eligible submissions. Make sure to follow the social media accounts of DG MARE to participate to the public voting for the #MakeEUBlue Public Choice Award. 

Do you #MakeEUBlue? Apply! 

Please note that the call is now expired. Deadline for submissions was on 6 April 2026, 23:59 CET. Stay tuned for the Public Choice Award!