DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry Towards a circular economy: A zero waste and 30% less marine litter programme for Europe MSCG meeting, November 2014

Towards a circular economy for Europe: policy context Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth Resource Efficiency Flagship Initiative + its mid-term review COM on taking stock of the Europe 2020 Strategy: pressure on resources and environmental concerns identified as one of the long-term trends affecting growth Public consultation http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/public-consultation/index_en.htm 7th Environment Action Programme thematic objective to turn the EU into a resource-efficient, green and competitive low-carbon economy 2

Circular Economy Communication An enabling framework: Design, Innovation, Investment, Business and Consumer Action Waste Policy and Targets Review Resource Efficiency Target Specific Waste Challenges, incl. Marine Litter European Resource Efficiency Platform Recommendations Waste legislative proposals Green employment Initiative Analysis of Impacts Green Action Plan for SMEs Sustainable buildings COM Waste Impact Assessment Progress Report on the Roadmap to a resource efficient Europe Sustainable food Waste Fitness Check

Setting a marine litter reduction target The 7th EAP calls for a Union-wide quantitative headline reduction target supported by source-based measures Full implementation of the proposed measures in the revised EU waste legislation package could deliver marine litter reductions of 13 % by 2020 and 27 % by 2030 Setting a dedicated reduction target for 2020 would give a clear signal to Member States currently developing their MSFD Programme of Measures Furthermore, it would provide an impetus for the development and implementation of marine litter action plans within the four Regional Sea Conventions

Setting a marine litter reduction target On such basis, the Commission proposed an aspirational target of : reducing marine litter by 30 % by 2020 for the ten most common types of litter found on beaches (list adapted to each of the four marine regions in the EU) as well as for fishing gear found at sea

Setting a marine litter reduction target Other EU-level measures, incorporating inter alia the results of the ongoing evaluation of the Port Reception Facilities Directive, will also contribute to the achievement of the target. A second stage of the reduction target will be developed in due time, based on further analysis of the reduction potential from other land- and sea-based sources, Such revised target will contribute to fulfilling the commitment made at Rio+20 to achieve significant marine litter reductions by 2025.

Possible next steps Closer definition of the baseline in the EU marine regions Creating/exploiting synergies with existing/future regional plans against marine litter Discuss possibilities for monitoring of and reporting on progress towards achievement of the aspirational target Consider this target in the ongoing revision of the GES Decision

Possible next steps Filling knowledge gaps and elaborating options for tackling also other sources (e.g. wastewater effluents, acquaculture, storm overflows) or forms (e.g. microplastics) of marine litter Strengthen and communicate the organic link of marine litter with the resource efficiency agenda Coming up with a revised target by 2025

Thank you for your attention! http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/index_en.htm