Atlantic Cooperation

All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance

On 13 July 2017, Brazil, South Africa and the EU signed a trilateral agreement to strengthen cooperation in research and innovation in marine science in the South Atlantic: the Belém Declaration. This cooperation builds on the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance (AORA) signed in Galway between Canada, the European Union and the United States, which launched the Atlantic Cooperation in May 2013. Since 2018, another three countries have joined the Alliance through bilateral agreements with the EU, including Argentina, Cabo Verde, and Morocco. The AANChOR Project supports the work of the Alliance.

In order to promote substantive cooperation in the Atlantic region at the scientific level, the EU has funded over 40 projects in the last 5 years, including the following ongoing projects with active German participation ARICE, EuroSea, iAtlantic, MissionAtlantic, and Triatlas.

Current focal points of work in the Alliance

All-Atlantic Ocean Capacity Development and Training Platform

This Pilot Platform offers a unique opportunity for Atlantic countries to jointly co-design a sustainable multidisciplinary All-Atlantic technical and scientific training and capacity building programme. The aim is to bring existing (but somewhat fragmented) Atlantic, national, and international training and capacity building initiatives in the area of the blue economy and marine sustainability science with a focus on the key common areas of interest identified in the Belém Statement to a higher level of cooperation and coordination through the creation of All-Atlantic training networks, including an Academic Network, a Floating University Network, and a Technical Training Network.

All-Atlantic Youth Ambassadors Programme

All-Atlantic Ocean Youth Ambassadors are dedicated young professionals from all walks of life with diverse backgrounds who are committed to sustainable development and the protection of the Atlantic Ocean. They are currently either involved in training or education programmes or are in the early stages of their careers.

The German Youth Ambassador is Fiona Elaine Strasser.