Ahead of G7 Environment meeting in Halifax Canada, EU staff show their personal commitment to our ocean - Main contents

To get stuff done, sometimes you have to get your hands dirty. Last weekend proved just that. Hundreds of EU staff, on beaches spanning 6 continents, gave up their precious weekend to personally do something about marine litter.

Over 40 countries around the world saw EU teams link up with local volunteers to pick up plastic and other waste along the shore line. From the banks of the Ottawa river in Canada to the beaches of Fiji, from the Costa Azul in Peru to Enoshima Island in Japan. From Freetown, Sierra Leone to my home country of Malta and Qalet Marku bay.

Many more examples from across six continents can be seen by using the hashtag #EUBeachCleanUp

What gave me such pleasure was that this truly global action was a practical example of just how far the EU 'ocean voice' has developed. I am proud of the fact that we have, through our actions, but also through our polices, shown that the European Union understands the value of our oceans.

Be it our circular economy strategy , our plastics strategy , our work on ocean governance or on how we are developing a sustainable blue economy , the EU has come far.

This week sees the Environment and Ocean Ministers of the G7 meet in Halifax Nova Scotia. The three day meeting will see an entire day dedicated to ocean protection. The EU is proud to be such a strong voice in these discussions. Regrettably I am unable to travel due to health reasons. I will of course be following closely.

As I outlined in a recent interview we run the risk of taking our oceans for granted. Our efforts have helped us achieve global recognition of the problem of plastic pollution. Things are changing and the EU is in the vanguard of that change.

This week also saw progress in the United Nations on our precious marine life that lives beyond national jurisdiction. This biodiversity on - and under the high seas - is fundamental for our planet’s health. We are working towards a legal instrument to ensure global resolve to act sustainably. This first round of discussion agreed by consensus that the IGC will transition towards text-based negotiations.

This autumn we will again build towards a strong global commitment to protect Our Ocean, when we meet for the 5th Our Ocean summit in Bali Indonesia.

Please follow my social media accounts @KarmenuVella and @CommissionerVella for updates of the progress in Halifax.