​​​​During the NAT meeting on 30 March, NAT members discussed the draft opinion of Cllr Tony Buchanan, 1st Vice-Chair of NAT commission on the future of our oceans. Cllr Buchanan welcomed the Joint Communication on Ocean Governance, adopted on 10 November 2016 by the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. He will assure that the European Committee of Regions provides overall support for the proposed actions for safe, secure, clean and sustainably managed oceans. He also agreed with the aim to ensure that the EU is a strong global player that is able to set out an agenda for better ocean governance based on a cross-sectoral, rules-based international approach.

"I insist on the leading role of the European Union in maritime governance that aims to provide Europe's coasts and seas with the most comprehensive policy and regulatory system in the world, one which recognises the role of local and regional authorities, of coastal communities and of economic and social actors to ensure that the economic, environmental, climatic and social factors are properly addressed in a comprehensive and multi-level governance fashion" – he said. The European Commission endorsed that being successful in this journey requires the participation of regions and cities.