The European Union (EU) commits to prevent and significantly reduce marine litter in EU Member States waters by 2020, including by establishing a Union-wide quantitative reduction headline target for marine litter. The proposal for an EU Plastic Strategy will contribute to this effort and will comprehensively address the problems caused by the leakage of plastic, including microplastics in the marine environment and is to be finalized by the end of 2017. The EU's Circular Economy Strategy will reinforce the implementation of the 3 'R's (reduce, reuse, recycle). The EU is addressing the issue of sea-based sources of marine litter through the implementation of the Port Reception Facilities Directive which aims to reduce the discharges of ship generated waste and cargo residues into the sea and which is currently being reviewed. The EU will provide financial support, notably under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, to promote marine litter clean-up as a complement to prevention measures, in particular through providing support for increasing capacity to collect marine litter and to increase the availability of data on litter concentrations in seas around the EU.
Progress reports
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of The Future We Want
Staff / Technical expertise
Development, implementation and monitoring of policies and legislation, scientific research, data exchange, etc.
Other, please specify
EU financial support for policy implementation, contribution from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, etc.
2020
