The European Parliament and the
Council of the European Union have reached a provisional political agreement on
the ambitious new measures proposed by the Commission to tackle marine litter
at its source, targeting the 10 plastic products most often found on our
beaches as well as abandoned fishing gear.
Today's agreement is based on
the Single-use plastics proposal presented in May by the
Commission as part of the world's first comprehensive Plastics Strategy, adopted earlier this year, to protect
citizens and the environment from plastic pollution whilst fostering growth and
innovation. The new rules contribute to a broader effort of turning Europe into
a more sustainable, circular economy, reflected in the Circular Economy Action Plan adopted in December 2015.
They will place Europe's businesses and consumers ahead as a world leader in
producing and using sustainable alternatives that avoid marine litter and
oceans pollution, tackling a problem with global implications.
First Vice-President Frans Timmermans,
responsible for sustainable development said: "I warmly welcome
today's ambitious agreement reached on our Commission proposal to reduce single
use plastics. This agreement truly helps protect our people and our planet.
Europeans are conscious that plastic waste is an enormous problem and the EU as
a whole has shown true courage in addressing it, making us the global leader in
tackling plastic marine litter. Equally important is, that with the solutions
agreed upon today, we are also driving a new circular business model and
showing the way forward to putting our economy on a more sustainable path."
Vice-President Jyrki Katainen,
responsible for jobs, growth, investment and competitiveness, added: "Tackling
the plastics problem is a must. At the same time it brings new opportunities
for innovation, competitiveness and job creation. We will discuss those
thoroughly with industry within the Circular Plastics Alliance. With the
agreement reached today we are showing that Europe is doing a smart economic
and environmental choice and is advancing towards a new truly circular plastics
economy."
Commissioner for environment,
maritime affairs and fisheries, Karmenu Vella said: "When we
have a situation where one year you can bring your fish home in a plastic bag,
and the next year you are bringing that bag home in a fish, we have to work
hard and work fast. So I am happy that with the agreement of today between
Parliament and Council. We have taken a big stride towards reducing the amount
of single-use plastic items in our economy, our ocean and ultimately our
bodies."
Different measures for different products
The new EU directive on
Single-Use Plastics will be the most ambitious legal instrument at global level
addressing marine litter. It envisages different measures to apply to different
product categories. Where alternatives are easily available and affordable,
single-use plastic products will be banned from the market, such as plastic
cotton buds, cutlery, plates, straws, drink stirrers, sticks for balloons,
products made of oxo-degradable plastic and food and beverage containers made
of expanded polystyrene For other products, the focus is on limiting their use
through a national reduction in consumption; on design and labelling requirements;
and waste management/clean-up obligations for producers.
Next Steps
The provisional agreement reached
today must now be formally approved by the European Parliament and the Council.
Following its approval, the new Directive will be published in the EU's
Official Journal and the Member States will have to transpose it after two
years.
