The document discusses the European Union's progress and ongoing efforts to safeguard oceans. It notes some achievements, including a quadrupling of marine protected areas between 2008-2015 such that Europe could meet the 10% global protection target by 2020. It also highlights promising strategies like the EU's plan for a circular plastics economy, which aims to increase recycling and reduce single-use plastics. However, it argues more holistic and integrated policy approaches are still needed. It calls for improved management of protected areas, enforcement of conservation measures, and addressing impacts of EU policies on biodiversity and trade. The EU must also strengthen global ocean governance and support sustainable use of marine resources in other nations.

1. www.ieep.eu @IEEP_eu
Safeguarding oceans: a perspective from
the EU
Céline Charveriat
OECD forum
May 30th, 2018

2. www.ieep.eu @IEEP_eu
Safeguarding oceans: where is the EU at?
Key questions:
• Is Europe in « a safe and just space »
and making its fair contribution to
keeping humanity in a safe and just
space?
Source: Kate Raworth. Doughnut Economics. 2017

3. www.ieep.eu @IEEP_eu
Some worthwhile achievements: Marine Protected
Areas
• Between 2008 and 2015 the spatial coverage
of marine sites designated for protection
under the EU Habitats Directive quadrupled.
• In 2012, it was calculated that the coverage
of marine protected areas equated to 5.9 %
coverage of total European coastal and
marine areas.
• According to the latest research, it appears
Europe could meet the 10 % global target by
2020, as three regions have exceeded 10%
and one is very close (9.9%).

4. www.ieep.eu @IEEP_eu
Some promising developments: EU Strategy for Plastics
in the Circular Economy (2018)
• Recognises the importance and challenges
of plastics
• Foundation for a ‘new plastics economy’
• A few highlights:
‒ By 2030, all plastics packaging in EU
reusable/recyclable
‒ By 2030, recycling of over 50% of plastics
waste
‒ Increase demand for recycled plastics four-
fold
‒ Improved separate collection of plastics
‒ Action on plastics waste prevention – e.g.
reverse logistics for packaging, alternatives to
disposable plastics
‒ Legislation on single-use plastics…

5. www.ieep.eu @IEEP_eu
New EU Directive on single use plastics (SUPs)
• Targets the most found SUPs
• Prevention: ‘significantly reduce’ consumption of SUP food
containers & cups within 6 years
• Prohibit placing on market: cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates,
straws, stirrers & balloon sticks
• Product design: SUP beverage container lids to remain
attached during use
• Labelling: wet wipes, sanitary wear & balloons must bear
clear label regarding environmental impacts of
littering/inappropriate disposal & information on presence of
plastics
• EPR: must be established for food & beverage containers &
packaging, beverage cups, cigarettes/filters, wet wipes,
balloons, very/lightweight plastic bags, fishing gear. Must
cover cost of collection, transport, treatment, marine litter
clean-up & awareness raising
• SUP bottles: annual 90% separate collection rate by 2025

6. www.ieep.eu @IEEP_eu
What next?
• Need for holistic policy approaches and
integration into sector policies, building on
the Marine Strategy Framework directive
(MSFD)
• Improving data&knowledge about marine
species and habitats
• Getting the management right of existing
MPAs and ensuring good enforcement of
conservation measures
• Going beyond MPAs: aiming at good
environmental status of all EU marine
waters by 2020 (as per MSFD’s objective)
• Adopting the SUPs directive and seeing
through implementation of the plastics
strategy and supporting global action in
that field

7. www.ieep.eu @IEEP_eu
What next? The EU as a global actor
• Improve the regulation of EU fishing
fleets outside EU waters
• Step up efforts to assess and address
biodiversity impacts of EU trade
policies
• Strengthen the global governance
framework of the oceans
• Increase funding available to support
sustainable marine resource use in
third countries as part of the new MFF

8. www.ieep.eu @IEEP_eu
References
• Eurostat. 2017. Sustainable development in the European Union – 2017 monitoring report of the
progress towards the SDGs in an EU context. IEEP. Socio-economic benefits of EU MPAs. 2016
• G20Insights. 2017. The Ocean dimension of the 2030 agenda.
• IEEP. 2016.Socio-economic aspects of marine litter as part of GESAMP’s report on sources, fate and
effects of microplastics in the marine environment.
• IEEP. 2018. A sustainable Blue Economy, Adopting the concept of ecosystem services in EU MPAs.
• IEEP. 2017. Single Use Plastics.
• IEEP. 2017. Greening taxes and subsidies in the Pacific.
• Agnesi,all. 2017. Spatial Analysis of Marine Protected Area Networks in Europe’s Seas II.

9. www.ieep.eu @IEEP_eu
Thank you for your attention !
ccharveriat@ieep.eu