Europe possesses an immense heritage of aquatic resources, ranging from large river basins to open seas and oceans. However, cumulative anthropogenic activities, climate change, habitat fragmentation, and intensive exploitation have drastically reduced the biological resilience of these ecosystems.

Objective 1 of the European Mission aims to reverse this degradation trend through a systemic and large-scale approach. Protecting biodiversity does not only mean preserving individual endangered species, but also restoring fundamental ecological functions, such as nutrient cycling, climate regulation, and the self-purification capacity of water bodies. The restoration of ecological connectivity between rivers, wetlands, and coastal environments is essential to ensure the survival of fish fauna and the stability of neighboring terrestrial ecosystems.

This massive effort requires a combination of public investments, advanced research, governance innovation, and strict legal protection of the most vulnerable areas. The integration of ecological corridors allows species to migrate and adapt to global temperature variations, creating a resilient network that unites the entire continent. To materialize this vision, the Mission has established stringent quantitative and qualitative milestones that will guide Member States’ policies up to 2030, promoting the regeneration of critical habitats such as Posidonia meadows, salt marshes, and seabeds damaged by bottom trawling.