Minister Agio Pereira meets an expert in the Law of the Sea to discuss the development of the legislative framework for the Blue Economy
Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, met today, May 28th, 2026, at the Government Palace in Dili with Professor Vasco Becker-Weinberg, Ph.D., a specialist in the Law of the Sea, as part of work to prepare the legislative framework for implementing the Policy and Action Plan for the Promotion of a Resilient and Sustainable Blue Economy in Timor-Leste (2025–2035). 
The meeting took place following the establishment, at the initiative of Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, of the Blue Economy Working Group, whose mission is to develop the legislative instruments required to implement this strategic policy, particularly in the areas of national maritime spatial planning and management and marine protected areas.
During the meeting, participants discussed the next steps in drafting legislation to supplement Decree-Law No. 15/2026 of April 1st, which lays the groundwork for planning and managing the national maritime space, as well as issues related to environmental protection, combating illegal fishing, maritime governance, and the sustainable use of marine resources.
The discussion covered challenges related to training national human resources, coordinating institutions across public entities, and adapting the legal framework to Timor-Leste’s specific circumstances and strategic priorities.
The Policy and Action Plan for the Promotion of a Resilient and Sustainable Blue Economy in Timor-Leste was approved by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on February 20th, 2026. It sets out the 9th Constitutional Government’s strategic vision for the blue economy sector over the next ten years, under the direct coordination of the Prime Minister and with support from the Office of Land and Maritime Boundary and its Blue Economy Unit.
The policy is structured around four main pillars: research, education, and maritime literacy; marine preservation and conservation; sustainable use of marine resources; and cross-cutting measures to support implementation. Priorities include protecting marine biodiversity, combating illegal fishing, developing nautical tourism and ecotourism, strengthening maritime safety, and modernising port infrastructure.
Vasco Becker-Weinberg is a professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon and president of the Portuguese Institute of the Law of the Sea (IPDM – acronym in Portuguese). He currently serves as deputy and legal coordinator of the Mission Structure for the Extension of the Continental Shelf (EMEPC – acronym in Portuguese). He has also served as a member of the European Parliament, an advisor to the Portuguese Constitutional Court, and Deputy Secretary of State for the Sea in the 19th Portuguese Government.
The Blue Economy Working Group will continue the technical and institutional work required to support the implementation of the policy approved by the Government.
