The Socialists and Democrats in the transport and tourism committee voted today in favour of the port reception facilities report to tackle sea-based sources of marine litter. The report forms part of the European Strategy on Plastics and the transition to a more circular economy to protect the planet, as well as European citizens and industries. The new rules aim to ensure that household waste from ships is not discharged at sea, but landed in ports and delivered to adequate waste reception facilities.
S&D Group negotiator for the port reception facilities file, Maria Grapini MEP, said:
“The report voted today is balanced and moving in the right direction to achieve the circular economy targets. It introduces a series of measures for ships, ports and member states with the aim to limit and control discharges at sea. In particular, it obliges ships to deliver waste carried on board prior to leaving each port, and for port authorities to bear the cost of operating port reception facilities and treatment of waste from ships. In addition to this, the report will update the existing EU rules, which are no longer in line with the international ones, and ensure that they are interpreted in the same way across the EU. We urge member states and businesses alike to assume their responsibility and fully comply with the requirements in the Directive. Protecting the environment is everyone’s duty.”
