Key points
- The 86th IOM Council met at the organisation’s Szczecin headquarters from 18 to 22 May 2026.
- Plenipotentiary Representatives reviewed the Director General’s reports and the 2025 audit of financial and economic activity.
- The Council considered the preliminary 2027 work plan and budget, and the ISA agreement extending IOM’s exploration contract.
- National legislation for deep seabed exploration and mining was also on the agenda; the next Council meets in Szczecin in November 2026.
Szczecin (Poland) The 86th meeting of the IOM Council was held from 18 to 22 May 2026 at the IOM headquarters in Szczecin, Poland. The topics discussed by the Plenipotentiary Representatives of the IOM member states included the activities of the organization, presented in the reports of the Director general of IOM, the Audit Report of financial and economic activities for 2025, the preliminary IOM work plan and budget for 2027, matters related to the Agreement between the ISA and IOM concerning the extension of the exploration contract, as well as consideration of the national legislation for deep seabed exploration and mining. The next meeting of the IOM Council will be held in Szczecin, Poland, in November 2026.