Activities of Ulrike RODUST related to 2017/2055(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on international ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans in the context of the 2030 SDGs
Amendments (109)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
Citation 5
- having regard to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 2015 Paris Agreement, which entered into force on 4 November 2016 and its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) aimed at reducing carbon dioxide (CO2)greenhouse gas emissions,
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
- having regard to Article 191 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Citation 1 b (new)
Citation 1 b (new)
- having regard to the UN Ocean Conference held on 5-9 June 2017 in New York,
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges the importance ofWelcomes the Joint Communication entitled ‘"International ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans’ (SWD(2016)0352), but stresses its generic terms, suitable only for describing general guidelines; regrets the lack of attention to the mor"(JOIN (2016) 49 final); recognising the cross-cutting nature of the subject, calls on the Commission and the Member States to further develop the concrete actions needed to accomplish the stated goals at international level;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Citation 1 c (new)
Citation 1 c (new)
- having regard to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 2015 Paris Agreement, which entered into force on 4 November 2016 and its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
- having regard to Article 191 of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union,
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
- having regard to Directive 2012/33/EU of 21 November 2012 amending Council Directive 1999/32/EC as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels and the ongoing impact assessment on the extension of the Sulphur Emission Control Areas within the European Waters,
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Citation 4 b (new)
Citation 4 b (new)
- having regard to Directive 2000/59/EC on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues,
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
- having regard to the proposal of Baltic Sea and North Sea countries to the IMO to introduce designated Nitrogen Emission Control Areas (NECAs),
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
- having regard to the ongoing preparatory process for the UN Ocean Conference to be held fromon 5-9 June 2017 in New York,
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the importance of conserving at least 10% of the Coastal and Marine Areas in accordance with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14.5 and the Convention on Biological Diversity; Notes that Marine Protected Areas have ecological and socioeconomic benefits and represent an important tool for the management of fishing activities; recalls in particular the Ecological and Biological Significant Areas (EBSA) and the need to preserve those important areas for the support of healthy functioning oceans and the many services they provide;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
- having regard to Directive 2012/33/EU of 21 November 2012 amending Council Directive 1999/32/EC as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels and the ongoing impact assessment on the extension of the Sulphur Emission Control Areas within the European Waters,
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Fully endorses the Commission's action plan set out in the 2016 Joint Communication on International Ocean Governance;highlights the urgent need for Commission and Member States to swiftly deliver on these actions and turn the EU's commitment to sustainable development for the oceans into concrete policies at EU and international level;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 b (new)
Citation 11 b (new)
- having regard to the proposal of Baltic Sea and North Sea countries to the IMO to introduce designated Nitrogen Emission Control Areas (NECAs),
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Reiterates the strong maritime dimension of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly, but not limited to, goal 14:Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 c (new)
Citation 11 c (new)
- having regard to Directive 2000/59/EC on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues,
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Stresses the need for strengthened cooperation, policy coherence and coordination among all governments and institutions at all levels, including between and among international organisations, regional and subregional organisations and institutions, arrangements and programmes;notes in this respect the important role of effective and transparent multi-stakeholder partnerships and of the active engagement of governments with global, regional and subregional bodies, the scientific community, the private sector, the donor community, non-governmental organisations, community groups, academic institutions, business and industry and other relevant actors;recognizes the importance of gender equality and the crucial role of women and youth in the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Stresses that improving transparency, public accessibility of information, stakeholder involvement, and the legitimacy of UN organisations, including public accountability of country representatives at international bodies, such as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is a matter of priority in addressing existing shortcomings in the governance framework;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1 d. Stresses the need for capacity building strategies for developing States, in particular the least developed countries, for the protection of the marine environment and the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, in particular regarding the establishment of adequate water treatment and waste- management facilities;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1 e. Notes, furthermore, with regard to international law on air pollution that, under UNCLOS, Member States are not permitted to board and inspect ships in the high seas or during innocent passages, even in cases of solid evidence of infringement;calls, therefore, on the UN parties to enhance the legal framework of UNCLOS with the aim of addressing any existing governance gaps and of establishing robust enforcement mechanisms for international environmental law;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Recalls that the Marine Strategy Framework Directive aims to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) and, in particular, notes that the properties and quantities of marine litter shall not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment (Descriptor 10); recalls that plastics and microplastics are harmful to fisheries, accounts for around 80% of marine litter and that the EU will launch in 2017 a Strategy on Plastics, in line with Agenda 2030 and circular economy; calls on the Commission, Member States and third countries to strengthen the international framework, for example through the implementation of the G7 Action Plan to Combat Marine Litter;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Stresses the importance of early response to invasive species considering the increased impact and risk they constitute for fisheries and ocean productivity, biodiversity and the role they play in disrupting natural ecosystems; calls on Member States to strengthen their cooperation between each other and with third countries, including through synchronised and cooperative actions, exchange of information, data and best practices;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Welcomes the progress made in Member States regarding the establishment of maritime spatial planning, however, stresses that further efforts are needed for a successful and coherent implement of the Directive 2014/89/EU in order to set an example for an introduction of MSP at a global level;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Reiterates the transnational and international dimension of maritime spatial planning and calls on the Commission to urge Member States to intensify the cooperation with third countries in the process of their maritime spatial planning, in particular in the framework of existing regional institutional cooperation;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Stresses the importance to promote MSP globally not only at a political level but also in the public sphere, in particular with regard to the education and training of future maritime spatial planners;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2 d. Emphasises the importance of land-sea interactions, related processes such as integrated coastal management, and the involvement of stakeholders for a successful implementation of maritime spatial planning in the Member States as well as globally;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas about 4.8 million to 12.7 million1a metric tons of plastic debris such as food packaging and plastic bottles washed offshore in 2010 alone, or about 1.5% to 4.5% of the world's total plastic production, and the cumulative quantity of waste will result in a tenfold increase in the total amount of plastic discarded into the sea by 2020; __________________ 1aPlastic waste inputs from land into the ocean, Jenna R. Jambeck , Roland Geyer, Chris Wilcox, Theodore R. Siegler, Miriam Perryman, Anthony Andrady, Ramani Narayan, Kara Lavender Law; Science 13 Feb 2015 Vol. 347, Issue 6223, pp. 768-771
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas the use of plastics for consumer products has become increasingly widespread, and production has steadily increased since the material was first put into wide use a half century ago, resulting in about 322 million tons of plastic manufactured globally in 2015; whereas growing production, combined with both changes in the way we use plastic and demographic developments, have led to an increase in the amount of plastic debris dumped in our oceans; whereas if this trend continues, according to UNEP, almost 33 billion tonnes of plastic will have accumulated by 2050;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas the most common forms of debris are cigarette filters, plastic bags, fishing equipment such as nets, and all types of packaging; whereas between 60 and 90% of marine debris has been manufactured using one or more plastic polymers, such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), all of which have an extremely long degradation time; whereas as a result, the majority of plastics manufactured today will take decades or even centuries to disappear;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
Bd. whereas plastic waste causes death and disease to marine wildlife through suffocation, entanglement and intoxication; whereas plastic materials broken up by waves and sunlight to form microparticles that are less than 5mm in diameter end up in the stomach of marine life such as mussels, worms and zooplankton, while nanoplastics that are barely half a millimetre in size penetrate the cell membranes and nuclei of small marine animals; whereas plastic debris that is invisible to the naked eye enters the food chain at its very source;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B e (new)
Recital B e (new)
Be. whereas according to the UNEP, the estimated natural capital cost of marine plastic debris is about 8 billion dollars a year 1a and fishing, marine transport, tourism and the leisure industry are just some of the many business sectors affected by marine pollution; __________________ 1aMarine Plastic Debris and Microplastics, UNEP https://wedocs.unep.org/rest/bitstreams/11 700/retrieve
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B f (new)
Recital B f (new)
Bf. whereas until there is an internationally agreed definition of biodegradability (in the marine environment), the adoption of plastic products labelled as "biodegradable" will not bring about a significant decrease, either in the quantity of plastic entering the ocean, or the risk of physical and chemical impacts on the marine environment;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on Member States, regional and local authorities and private bodies to focus on innovation projects, blue technologies and the use of clean energy in order to promote more ecological infrastructure and maritime transport, through EFSI, the Horizon 2020 programme and the CEF; calls on the Commission to develop ocean partnerships with the main stakeholdkey players in this area as a means of boosting cooperation on matters of common interest, such as Blue Growth;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B g (new)
Recital B g (new)
Bg. whereas nutrient pollution (eutrophication) coming from diverse sources, including agricultural run-off and sewage and wastewater discharges, overloads marine environments with high concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorous, and other nutrients, which can produce large algal blooms, the decomposition of which after they die consumes oxygen while creating hypoxic, or oxygen depleted, "dead zones" where fish and other marine life cannot thrive; whereas an estimated 500 dead zones now exist in the world and many more areas suffer the adverse effects of high nutrient pollution;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B h (new)
Recital B h (new)
Bh. whereas due to their extreme reliance on underwater sounds for basic life functions, like searching for food and mates and the absence of any mechanism to safeguard them against it, marine life is threatened by industrial noise from shipping, seismic exploration, and naval sonar used for routine training exercises, which can result in hearing damage, masking animals' communication and navigation signals, as well as physiological and reproductive problems;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B i (new)
Recital B i (new)
Bi. whereas the loss of marine biodiversity is weakening the ocean ecosystem and its ability to withstand disturbances, adapt to climate change and play its role as a global ecological and climate regulator; whereas climate change due to human activity has a direct impact on marine species by altering their abundance, diversity and distribution and affecting their feeding, development and breeding, as well as the relationships between species;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Stresses the threat of marine litter to the oceans and its crucial importance to achieve good environmental status for marine waters and therefore urges the Commission to intensify its efforts to combat marine litter in Europe and globally by addressing land-based sources through reducing drastically the amount of litter produced and increasing the level of recyclability as well as by addressing sea-based sources through tackling the problem of illegal dumping of waste such as fishing gear, the increasing amount of disposed wastewater outside the territorial waters and supporting financially the collection of marine litter as well as the improvement of waste management systems in ports and harbours;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. States that the discharge of garbage from ships is a serious element of the problem of marine debris;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas maritime transport has an impact on the global climate and on air quality, as a result both of CO2 emissions and other non-CO2 emissions, such as nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, methane, particulate matter and black carbon;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. States that the major obstacle to the implementation of MARPOL has been the lack of, or insufficient, reception facilities in many ports worldwide;takes note that inadequate port reception facilities are a particularly acute problem especially for small island developing States, whose ports are frequently visited by cruise ships of a capacity larger than their facilities can handle;therefore calls on the Member States to support developing Countries and particularly Small Island Development States to better implement the MARPOL convention and thereby protect the environment and livelihoods of people in harbour areas;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas prospecting, drilling, and the transport of oil and gas reserves located under the sea floor in many parts of the world can seriously damage sensitive marine areas and disturb marine species; whereas in many cases, oil and gas exploration and drilling is permitted in or near Marine Protected Areas (MPAs);
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Stresses that action by both the Member States and the Commission to tackle the illegal export and dumping of plastic waste need to be stepped up, including stricter enforcement of EU shipment regulations, as well as stricter monitoring and inspection schemes at ports and at all waste treatment facilities, targeting suspected illegal transfers and combating the export of waste for reuse, and to ensure that exports only go to facilities that fulfil the requirements of environmentally sound management, as laid down in Article 49 of the Waste Shipment Regulation;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas Article 191 TFEU commits the Union to a high level of protection in its environmental policy including through the application of the precautionary principle, and the polluter- pays principle;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6 d. States that the exchange of ballast water is a possible route to avoid the introduction of invasive alien species;stresses that while the IMO Ballast Water Convention, which is intended to control and manage this problem, will soon enter into force, its successful implementation will depend on more widespread ratification;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
Dc. whereas the risks posed by the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in Arctic maritime transports are multiple: in the event of spills, the highly dense fuel emulsifies, sinks and can be transported extremely long distances if it gets trapped in ice; spilled HFO poses enormous risks to the food security of Arctic indigenous communities, whose subsistence depends on fishing and hunting; combustion of HFO produces sulphur oxides and heavy metals, as well as large amounts of black carbon, which, when deposited on Arctic ice, stimulates the absorption of heat into the ice mass, accelerating the melting process and the effects of climate change; whereas the transport and use of HFO is prohibited by the IMO in the waters surrounding the Antarctic;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Paragraph 6 e (new)
6 e. Underlines that maritime transport has an impact on the global climate and on air quality, as a result both of CO2 emissions and non-CO2 emissions, such as nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, methane, particulate matter and black carbon;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)
Recital D d (new)
Dd. whereas nitrogen oxide emissions especially in port cities and coastal areas are generated to a large extent by shipping and are a major concern for public health and environmental protection in Europe; whereas overall nitrogen oxide emissions from shipping in the EU remain largely unregulated and, if left unabated, are estimated to surpass land-based nitrogen oxide emissions already in 20201 1a; __________________ 1aEuropean Environmental Agency 2013: The impact of international shipping on European air quality and climate forcing.
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 f (new)
Paragraph 6 f (new)
6 f. Notes that the Third IMO Greenhouse Gas Study of 2014 states that, depending on future economic and energy developments, maritime CO2 emissions are projected to increase by 50 % to 250 % in the period up to 2050, while Parliament's 2015 study entitled 'Emission Reduction Targets for International Aviation and Shipping' states that if an IMO action plan to combat climate change were further postponed, the share of maritime CO2 emissions within global GHG emissions might rise substantially to 17 % for maritime transport by 2050;stresses therefore that shipping would alone consume a large share of the remaining green house budget to limit the temperature increase to well below 2 degree Celsius;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 g (new)
Paragraph 6 g (new)
6 g. Reiterates that, in accordance with the Paris Agreement, all sectors of the economy are required to contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions;urges the adoption by the IMO of a clear emissions target and near-term immediate abatement measures by 2018 to reduce international maritime CO2 emissions at global level in line with the goals set by the Paris Agreement;notes, furthermore, that in the absence of a comparable system operating under the IMO, CO2 emissions emitted in Union ports and during voyages to and from Union ports of call, shall be accounted for through the EU Emissions Trading Scheme or a comparable robust pricing mechanism, to be operational from 2023;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D f (new)
Recital D f (new)
Df. whereas shore side electricity (SSE) involves connecting ships to the port electricity network while they are at berth; whereas in vast majority of locations, the energy mix used to produce SSE results in fewer emissions than burning fuel on the ships themselves 1a; whereas current legislation such as the Sulphur Directive (EU) 2016/802 clearly recognises the use of SSE as an alternative to the requirement of using low-sulphur marine fuel, while the Directive 2014/94/EU on the Deployment of an Alternative Fuel Infrastructure requires Member States to ensure that SSE supply shall be installed as a priority in ports of the TEN-T Core Network, and in other ports, by 31 December 2025. __________________ 1aWinkel, R., Weddige, U., Johnson,d., Hoen, V., & Papaefthimiou, S. (2015), Shore Side Electricity in Europe: Potential and environmental benefits, Energy Policy, DOI http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti cle/pii/S0301421515300240
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 h (new)
Paragraph 6 h (new)
6 h. Notes that nitrogen oxide emissions especially in port cities and coastal areas are generated to a large extent by shipping and are a major concern for public health and environmental protection in Europe;regrets that overall nitrogen oxide emissions from shipping in the EU remain largely unregulated and, if left unabated, are estimated to surpass land- based nitrogen oxide emissions already in 2020;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 i (new)
Paragraph 6 i (new)
6 i. Calls on the respective bodies to ensure a level playing field internationally with regards to sulphur- and nitrogen oxide-emissions, by adapting the respective limit values to the lowest existing limit values;calls on the Commission to explore and propose measures to significantly reduce the nitrogen oxide emissions from the existing fleet, including an impact assessment of a possible introduction of a nitrogen oxide levy and fund system to reach considerable reductions fast and effectively;
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 j (new)
Paragraph 6 j (new)
6 j. Calls on the Commission to draw up, by 2020 at the latest, a proposal addressing the use and installation of land-generated electricity by ships at berth in EU ports to reduce emissions within the harbour areas, taking into account the pollutants such as sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), black carbon and particulate matter (PM) emitted by ships using their auxiliary engines to generate electrical power for communications, lighting, ventilation and other on-board equipment when anchored in ports;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 k (new)
Paragraph 6 k (new)
6 k. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to assess and to promote the application of speed restrictions to ships on IMO level in order to reduce emissions, taking into account the Energy Efficiency Desing Index (EEDI) and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) and the fact that speed limits in the road and rail sector is commonplace;underlines that the internal and external economic benefit of lower ship speeds outweigh the costs;notes that slow steaming is comparatively easy to monitor and to enforce, imposing a low administrative burden on stakeholders;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 l (new)
Paragraph 6 l (new)
6 l. Reiterates its 2017 call from the Artic resolution1a for the Commission and the Member States to take all necessary measures to play an active role in facilitating the ban on the use and carriage as ship fuel of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in fuel tanks of vessels navigating the Arctic seas through the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) as it is currently regulated for the waters surrounding Antarctica; invites the Commission to include the environmental, health and climate risks of the use of HFO in its position on International Ocean Governance; calls on the Commission, in the absence of adequate international measures, to put forward proposals on rules for vessels calling at EU ports prior to journeys through Arctic waters, with a view to of prohibiting the use and carriage (as fuel in bunker tanks) of HFO; _________________ 1a 2016/2228(INI)
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 m (new)
Paragraph 6 m (new)
6 m. Calls on the European Commission and the EU member states to work actively towards rapid finalisation of the protracted IMO work plan on reducing black carbon (BC) emissions from ships sailing in the Arctic with the view of slowing down rapid temperature increases and the accelerated melting of polar ice in the region;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the EU should play a leading role in discussions and negotiations in international fora with a view to ensuring that all parties concerned accept their responsibilities, in terms of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases or pollutants, and face the growing challenges of sustainable resource management;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas transparency in international organisations is a key feature to ensure democratic accountability and inclusiveness;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Urges the Commission to strengthen the maritime cooperation and capacity building in the framework of its external policy framework such as development cooperation and trade agreements, in particular Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements, to build capacities to tackle the impacts of climate change, marine litter as well as for a better ocean governance and a sustainable blue growth;
Amendment 71 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Calls to intensify efforts to increase ocean literacy in Europe and globally through a closer cooperation and exchange between researchers, stakeholders, decision-makers and the public with a strong focus on educational programmes on the importance of oceans and seas as well as information about careers in the blue economy;
Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Calls in accordance with the UN Our Ocean, Our Future:Call for Action for thorough assessments on the state of the ocean, based on science and traditional knowledge systems;
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8 d. Emphasises the importance to include coastal local authorities and outermost regions in the process to bring international ocean governance closer to EU citizens;
Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 e (new)
Paragraph 8 e (new)
8 e. Stresses that ocean governance should build on the best available knowledge and therefore calls for increased research and innovation to govern the ocean and its resources in a way which ensures the conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems, including the sustainability of the exploitation of its resources.
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recalls the integrated and indivisible character of all the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the interlinkages and synergies between them, and reiterates the critical importance of all EU actions being guided by the 2030 Agenda, including the principles reaffirmed therein;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that, in order to implement the actions listed in the Joint Communication successfully,Calls on the Commission tought to have set clear deadlines, put forward legislative proposals, where appropriate, and set up mechanisms to support coordination at EU level in order to successfully implement the actions listed in the Joint Communication;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Welcomes and fully endorses the "Our ocean, our future: Call for Action" adopted by the UN Ocean Conference in June 2017, in support of the implementation of SDG 14 to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development; notes with great satisfaction the 1,328 voluntary commitments by governments, other intergovernmental and civil society organisations, the private sector, academic and research institutions and the scientific community towards ocean conservation and raised awareness about the importance of the ocean to human survival;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that improving transparency, public access to information, stakeholder involvement, and the legitimacy of UN organisations, including public accountability of country representatives at international bodies, such as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is a matter of priority in addressing existing governance shortcomings;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the Member States to take a proactive and progressive role within international bodies to put forward transparency reforms and increase the overall environmental ambition of actions undertaken;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses the need for strengthened cooperation, policy coherence and coordination among all governments and institutions at all levels, including between and among international organisations, regional and subregional organisations and institutions, arrangements and programmes; notes in this respect the important role of effective and transparent multi-stakeholder partnerships, and the active engagement of governments with global, regional and subregional bodies, the scientific community, the private sector, the donor community, non-governmental organisations, community groups, academic institutions and other relevant actors;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Underlines the need to develop comprehensive strategies to raise awareness of the natural and cultural significance of the oceans;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses that Arctic marine ecosystems are crucial for the preservation of global biodiversity; notes that the reduction of Arctic sea ice and other environmental changes in the Arctic, combined with the limited scientific knowledge about marine resources in this area, necessitates a precautionary approach aiming to establish appropriate international measures to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of resources in the Arctic high seas;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses that the Union's precautionary principle has to be applied in case of any potential future deep sea mining exploration; is alarmed by the Commission's insistence on deep-sea mining being one of the Union's priority sectors for blue growth given the scientific evidence of its significant and irreversible environmental risks; is concerned, whether further promotion of deep-sea mining will adversely affect the actions required under SDG 12 on a transition to sustainable consumption and production;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Urges the Commission to call on Member States to carefully evaluate deep- sea mining exploration licenses in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction and on Member States' continental shelf; recalls Member States' legal obligation to fulfil the requirements of the Directive on environmental impact assessments 1a; __________________ 1a Directive 2011/92/EU
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support an international memorandum on commercial deep-sea mining exploitation licences until the effects of deep-sea mining on the marine environment, biodiversity and human activities at sea have been studied and researched sufficiently and all possible risks are understood;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. WelcomeAwaits the forthcoming strategy on plastic by the Commission as well as theany other measures aimed at combating marine litter and, including the recently announced Action Plan, aimed at combating marine litter; calls for high ambition in the Strategy on Plastics in a Circular Economy in order to adequately tackle the problem of marine litter at source, and urges the Commission to present concrete legislative actions in this area, in particular concerning Ecodesign for plastics and microplastics; expresses its deep concern about the scale of the issue;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recalls its position for an ambitious circular economy package with EU marine litter reduction objectives of 30 % and 50 % in 2025 and 2030 respectively and increased recycling targets for plastic packaging; calls on the Member States to uphold the same level of ambition for marine litter reduction;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that the EU should lead a global initiative to monitor and significantly reduce marine litter in the oceans; notes that Member States committed to the goals of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which stipulates that the properties and quantities of marine litter shall not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment (Descriptor 10) 1a __________________ 1a Directive 2008/56/EC
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Urges the European Commission and Member States to prioritise reduction in marine litter sources through measures such as market-based instruments and regulatory frameworks, including through: - A drastic reduction or ban on the consumption of single-use plastic products; - The promotion of measures to reduce plastic material use and other incentives to stimulate a behavioural change towards more sustainable production and consumption patterns; - The promotion of eco-friendly and recyclable materials in industrial production; - A phase-out of non-recoverable plastic materials that potentially accumulate in marine environments (e.g., microplastics in personal care products); - The promotion of extended producer responsibility programmes and life-cycle assessments;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Stresses the importance of a life- cycle approach to plastic products, including the consideration of the degradation of different polymers and the rate of fragmentation (in the marine environment) by internalizing the environmental and social costs of products (cost internalisation), enhancing the process of closing the loop in product and process development and manufacturing, as well as in life cycle chains of plastic products, improving the lifespan of products, promoting green public and private procurement, promoting among others green engineering principles and frameworks, eco-design and eco-labelling, and strengthening the ability of private actors, including small and medium-sized enterprises, to shift to more environmentally friendly production processes;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)
Paragraph 13 d (new)
13d. Calls on the Commission and Member States to promote cost-effective activities and instruments, as well as cooperation at all levels with regard to risk-based and environmentally sound clean-up activities for marine litter in rivers and coastal and marine areas, according to national circumstances; In this regard, urges the Commission and Member States to facilitate financing, public-private partnerships, and capacity- building, and to develop and utilize international criteria for collective removal actions, clean-up and restoration, including, with regard to quantities, population, sensitivity of ecosystem and feasibility;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 f (new)
Paragraph 13 f (new)
13f. Calls on the Commission to work in international fora to develop a clear sustainability framework for biodegradable plastics in all natural environments, including definitions and standards;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 h (new)
Paragraph 13 h (new)
13h. Calls on the Member States to strengthen education and awareness- raising measures on marine litter, the use of plastics and the impact of individual consumer behaviour on the environment by introducing elements into educational curricula at all levels, providing educational and outreach materials targeted at specific interest groups and range of ages to promote behavioural change, as well as organising large-scale information campaigns for citizens;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 i (new)
Paragraph 13 i (new)
13i. Underlines the need to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous leakage into the oceans, thus reducing human-induced eutrophication through fundamental changes in the European agricultural model, by, inter alia, restrictions in the use of fertilizers, optimizing nutrient use to crop requirements, cautious planning in the use of fertilizers and establishment of more sustainable agricultural forms, as well as through reductions in atmospheric sources of nitrogen, better cleaning of sewage and waste water, and better control of diffuse urban nutrient sources, such as run-off from streets and storm sewers, and address the pressure on the marine ecosystems with the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 j (new)
Paragraph 13 j (new)
13j. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take all measures to facilitate the adoption of international regulations to limit noise from industrial activities such as shipping and seismic surveys, in particular in biologically sensitive habitats through, for example, an annex for noise pollution to MARPOL, similar to the newly added annex on air pollution;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 k (new)
Paragraph 13 k (new)
13k. Notes that the obligations taken under the Paris Agreement make it unreasonable and counterproductive to exploit new fossil fuel sources, especially when situated in ecologically vulnerable areas;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 l (new)
Paragraph 13 l (new)
13l. Stresses that all waters are vulnerable to the offshore drilling of fossil fuels; emphasises that the use of fossil fuels will further contribute to and accelerate the climate change that is threatening our planet; is of the view that the EU must cooperate with international partners in order to achieve a just transition away from offshore drilling and thus contribute to the goal of a low- carbon economy;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 m (new)
Paragraph 13 m (new)
13m. Underlines that any new licence for oil or gas exploration should follow strict precautionary regulatory standards in the field of environmental protection and safety for oil or gas exploration, prospection and production, and include binding commitments as regards the decommissioning of exploration infrastructure which in general has a limited life-span;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 n (new)
Paragraph 13 n (new)
13n. Stresses that no oil and gas exploration and drilling should be permitted in or near Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and vulnerable areas of high conservation value;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 o (new)
Paragraph 13 o (new)
13o. Highlights the major potential of energy produced from the flow of waves and tides or the thermal and salinity gradients of oceans and seas; notes that in the long-term, ocean energy has the potential to become one of the most competitive and cost-effective forms of energy generation;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 p (new)
Paragraph 13 p (new)
13p. Calls on the Commission to reduce marine litter from shipping by considering to promote higher special fee cost recovery systems for waste in all European ports in the framework of the revision of the Directive 2000/59/EC, as has already been adopted in the Baltic area as a method to incentivise waste delivery;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Stresses the need for sustainable fisheries management practices, including through restoring fish stocks at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics, through the implementation of management measures, monitoring, control and enforcement, based on the best available scientific advice, by supporting the consumption of fish sourced from sustainably managed fisheries, and through precautionary and ecosystem approaches as appropriate, as well as by strengthening cooperation and coordination, including through, as appropriate, regional fisheries management organizations, bodies and arrangements;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Notes that the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), in order to protect marine resources and avoid overexploitation, should ensure that fishing mortality rates are set at levels allowing fish stocks to recover and to remain above levels capable of sustaining the maximum sustainable yield (MSY);
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Urges the European Commission to accelerate further work and strengthen cooperation and coordination on the development of interoperable catch documentation schemes and traceability of fish products;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15d. Emphasises the need to end destructive fishing practices and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, addressing their root causes and holding actors and beneficiaries accountable by taking appropriate actions, so as to deprive them from benefitting of such activities, and effectively implementing flag State obligations as well as relevant port State obligations;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 e (new)
Paragraph 15 e (new)
15e. Notes that the EU regulation to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has made advancements, but that implementation in all Member States should be improved, and that more coordination with third countries is needed, to ensure that no illegal fish enter the EU market; calls on the EU to continue its international efforts to persuade other market states to take similar measures to close markets to IUU- caught fish;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 f (new)
Paragraph 15 f (new)
15f. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to act decisively to prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from newly introducing such subsidies, including through accelerating work to complete negotiations at the World Trade Organization on this issue, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of those negotiations;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to provide funding opportunities for the establishment of marine protected areas and the exchange of best practices as a contribution to the achievement of the global target of 10 % of marine and coastal areas to be designated as Marine Protected Areas by 2020 as set out in SDG 14.5; notes that Marine Protected Areas have ecological and socioeconomic benefits and represent an important tool for the management of fishing activities; recalls, in particular, the importance of ecologically and biologically significant areas (EBSAs) and the need to preserve these for the support of healthy, functioning oceans and the many services they provide;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Cregrets that currently less than 3 % of the world's ocean are designated as fully protected marine reserves; deplores the lack of ambition and progress made by Member States in the designation and sound management of Marine Protected Areas under EU environmental legislation (in particular the Birds and Habitats Directives) 1a; calls on the Member States to step up their efforts to implement a holistic approach to the design, management and evaluation of Marine Protected Areas, in order to reach their full potential for protecting marine biodiversity; calls on the Member States to increase the number of designated Marine Protected Areas; __________________ 1aDirective 2009/147/EC and Council Directive 92/43/EEC
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the Member States to support Least Developed Countries and particularly Small Island Development States to better implement the MARPOL convention and thereby protect the environment and livelihoods of people in harbour areas;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that even the Third IMO Greenhouse Gas Study of 2014 states that, depending on future economic and energy developments, maritime CO2 emissions are projected to increase by 50 % to 250 % in the period up to 2050, while Parliament’s 2015 study entitled ‘Emission Reduction Targets for International Aviation and Shipping’ states that if an IMO action plan to combat climate change were further postponed, the share of maritime CO2 emissions within global GHG emissions might rise substantially to 17 % for maritime transport by 2050; stresses therefore that shipping would alone consume a large share of the remaining green house budget to limit the temperature increase to well below 2 degree Celsius;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on the Commission to come up, by 2020 at the latest, with a proposal addressing the use and installation of land-generated electricity by ships at berth in EU ports to reduce emissions within the harbour areas;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Calls on the respective bodies to level the playing field EU-wide with regards to sulphur- and nitrogen oxide- emissions, by adapting the respective limit values to the lowest existing limit values;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
20c. Calls on the Commission to explore and propose measures to significantly reduce the nitrogen oxide emissions from the existing fleet, including an impact assessment of a possible introduction of a nitrogen oxide levy and fund system to reach considerable reductions fast and effectively;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 d (new)
Paragraph 20 d (new)
20d. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to propose legal and technical measures to further reduce particulate matter and black carbon emissions;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses the importance of developing innovative services for public and private actors such as knowledge hubs and networks in order to obtain a good knowledge of the environmental status of marine waters, to enhance the sharing of scientific data, best practices and know- how, and to fully implement the actions of the Marine Knowledge 2020 roadmap 1a; welcomes, in this context, the full operability of the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service and the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO); __________________ 1a SWD(2014)149 final
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls for greater public and private financing of scientific research in order to gain better understanding of our oceans; notes that 95 % of this realm still remain unexplored;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Stresses the need to dedicate greater resources to marine scientific research, such as interdisciplinary research and sustained ocean and coastal observation, as well as the collection and sharing of data and knowledge, including traditional ones, in order to increase our knowledge of the ocean, to better understand the relationship between climate and the health and productivity of the ocean, to strengthen the development of coordinated early warning systems on extreme weather events and phenomena, and to promote decision-making based on the best available science, to encourage scientific and technological innovation, as well as to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21c. Stresses that promoting further investments in marine science together with third countries, such as in the Galway Declaration from 2013, as well as investments in common research projects in developing countries and establishing international networks where results and information can be shared, is of utmost importance for the development of better and more sustainable fishing and marine ecosystem management and for tackling common challenges with regard to the oceans;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 d (new)
Paragraph 21 d (new)
21d. Welcomes the Commission's commitment to propose an alignment of EMODnet with other international marine data collection efforts by 2018; recalls the importance of the Union's commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and particularly SDGs 14.A and 14.A.1 as well as to the G7 Tsukuba Communiqué in this context; urges the Commission and the Member States to remind international partners of their commitments to promote accessible, interoperable and open science; calls on the Commission to report regularly to the European Parliament on the progress made towards truly global ocean observation platforms;