1. DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
The EU and its role in reducing marine litter
Leo de Vrees
European Commission
DG Environment
Marine and Water Industry Unit

2. The Marine Directive (2008) EU’s legal instrument for the protection of our seas
Protected: Overall objective of the Directive to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) of the EU's marine waters by 2020
Sustainable: Ecosystem-based and integrated approach to the management of all human activities which have an impact on the marine environment.
Overarching Goal:
Achieve Good Environmental Status of EU’s Marine Waters by 2020
Protected
Ecosystems
Clean, healthy, productive seas
Sustainable Uses
of Europe’s marine resources
Common
Approaches
Cooperation at the EU and regional level
Common: Regional approach to implementation, and establishment of European Marine Regions

3. Implementation Steps GES 2020 Main elements of a Marine Strategy:
Initial assessment of current environmental status of MS waters by 15 July 2012
Determination of GES by 15 July 2012
Establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators by 15 July 2012
Establishment of a monitoring programme for ongoing assessment and regular updating of targets by 15 July 2014
Development of a programme of measures designed to achieve or maintain GES by 2015
Main elements of a Marine Strategy:
Initial assessment, objectives, targets & indicators
2012
(+ 6 years)
Monitoring Programmes
2014
Programmes of Measures
2015
Implementation of the marine strategy
2016
Six year review of the different elements of the strategy
2018 – 2021
GES
2020

4. GES: Common principles, tailored indicators
Illustration with Descriptor 10 on Marine Litter
Descriptor 10 – Marine litter does not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment
Characteristics of litter in the marine and coastal environment
Impacts of litter on marine life
Indicators:
Trends in amount of litter washed ashore and/or deposited on coastlines
Trends in amount of litter in water column and deposited on sea-floor
Trends in amount, distribution and where possible, composition of micro-particles
Trends in amount and composition of litter ingested by marine animals
Targets (examples):
X% of overall reduction in the volume of litter on coastlines from 2010 levels by 2020.
Less than 10% of northern fulmars (sea bird) having more than 0.1 g plastic particles in their stomach
GES Descriptors
high level, generic across Europe
GES Criteria
will be based on characteristics which define what GES means in each Member State
GES: Indicators & Targets
provide the final level of details. If the targets are met, GES should be achieved

5. Policy context: Legislation and policies related to impacts
Integrated Maritime Policy:
Surveillance; MSP; Knowledge; Fishing litter; Lost Fishing Gear
Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Determine GES art 12 assessment
Setting targets 7th EAP, RIO+20
Monitoring TSG Litter
Measures Pilot studies
Integrated Coastal Zone Management

6. Policy context: Legislation and policies related to impacts (2)
DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Policy context: Legislation and policies related to impacts (2)
Water Management
Bathing Water Directive: visual inspection for pollution and if needed, adequate management measures must be taken
Water Framework Directive: impact on water quality/biological impacts. Possible areas of work:
Monitoring sources: waste water treatment plants, (illegal/non-managed) landfills, recreation zones, cities, drainage systems
Impacts: Physical and chemical
Awareness raising: water managers and inhabitants
Links with source control legislation

7. What is there in the WFD that can help?
Good status = good chemical and good ecological status of surface and groundwaters
For surface waters
good chemical status means meeting the environmental quality standards for the 33 priority substances and eight "other pollutants" (12 mile in sea)
good ecological status refers to good structure and functioning of the aquatic ecosystem, assessed on the basis of "quality elements" - biological, physico-chemical, hydromorphological (1 mile in sea)
No direct reference to "litter"

8. How meeting WFD good chemical status can help (1)
Article 16 WFD requires measures against pollution of water by individual or groups of pollutants presenting a significant risk to or via the aquatic environment
Measures shall be aimed at the progressive reduction of priority substances (PS) and the cessation or phasing out of discharges, emissions and losses of priority hazardous substances (PHS) (PBTs and substances of equivalent concern)
Selection of substances is based on risk assessment (exposure and hazard)
Article 8 WFD requires monitoring of the priority substances and eight "other pollutants"

9. How meeting WFD good chemical status can help (2)
DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
How meeting WFD good chemical status can help (2)
Leaching of substances from (plastic) litter is relevant (e.g. plasticizing DEHP is a priority substance)
REACH Article 61 refers to review of substance authorisations in relevant river basins if WFD environmental objectives are not being met
Therefore if WFD chemical monitoring shows that priority substances or the other pollutants are an issue, e.g. through leaching, action could be taken under REACH
Some priority substances (those that bioaccumulate) are already monitored in biota. This is likely to increase and could provide scope for increased monitoring of the presence of microplastics in biota
DEHP The plasticizing agent Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is

10. How meeting WFD good ecological status can help (3)
Physico-chemical quality elements include river basin specific pollutants, i.e .pollutants discharged into water bodies in significant quantities. Member States must set and meet standards for the relevant substances
Physico-chemical quality elements also include (for lakes, transitional and coastal waters) "transparency", which could potentially be affected by (plastic) litter
Hydromorphological elements include the structure and substrate of the river/lake/water-body bed, which could also be influenced by litter
Article 8 WFD requires monitoring of ecological status.

11. DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Thank you for your attention!