1. Marine Litter DG ENV C2 direct projects Progress report
20./
GES meeting, Brussels
Contact: M.Papadoyannakis

2. Support for development of the marine litter reduction target
Desk study led by Arcadis, Belgium
Report available:
status/descriptor-10/pdf/final_report.pdf
Analysing the impact of legislative proposals of the circular economy package:
Identifying possible behavioural changes which could be implemented to also contribute to achieving reductions
Follow-up project on a series of provisions such as sea based sources, microplastics in cosmetics (2014 – October 2015)

3. MARELITT Marine litter removal projects in the 4 regional seas
Developing and sharing good practices
Six organisations identified as "hosts“
Capacity building, training, guidance
2014 closing report, including dissemination strategy and toolkit
Update to the project website (

4. Riverine Litter
Identification and Assessment of Riverine Input of (Marine) Litter
Pilot project on 4 European Rivers
Assessing the amount of litter discharged from these rivers into the sea
Identification of largest sources within investigated river basins
Sampling and analysis of micro 0,333 – 5 mm and meso mm litter
Report due 2014

5. MSFD Technical Group on Marine Litter TG ML Progress report
20./
GES meeting, Brussels
JRC G.Hanke

6. TG ML development
Contact points from 18 MS (member review in early 2014)
Meeting Riga, Latvia
Close link with RSCs
Regional coordination need expressed by Marine Directors
Regional Action Plans joint platform

7. Ongoing work
4 thematic reports in preparation, timing changed due to ComDec review process
Each report is the outcome from compilation of scientific results, discussions in the TG ML and provides guidance for the implementation of the MSFD implementation
Sources and pathways report (“likelihood” methodology)
Close to finalization
Sources and pathways report (physical, modelling)
In preparation

8. Ongoing work Harm report (categories and quantification)
Close to finalization
Riverine Litter report (options, harmonization of quantification)
In preparation
Feedback and interaction on regional/national monitoring plans and implementation
Updating and finalization of monitoring protocols, categories
MSFD Commission Decision 2010/477/EU review
GES group:
Consider a mandate beyond 2014 for continued support

9. MSFD Competence Centre – Marine Litter
Providing access to technical and scientific information for the MSFD implementation process (“one-stop-shop”)
Launched on , under development…

10. MSFD Competence Centre – Marine Litter