On Monday 29 October, the European Union announced that it would allocate €300 million to projects aimed at combating pollution by plastics, increasing the sustainability of the blue economy and improving marine research and monitoring (see EUROPE 12114).
The EU made 23 new commitments at the 5th edition of the 'Our Ocean' conference, held this year in Bali (Indonesia). Last year, the EU announced €550 million when it organised the 'Our Ocean' conference in Malta.
The EU puts on the table: €100 million for projects to combat pollution by plastics, €82 million for marine and maritime research projects (ecosystem assessment, seafloor mapping), €18.4 million for the European blue economy. In addition, the Earth observation programme 'Copernicus' will receive an additional €12.9 million for maritime security and research into coastal environmental services.
In addition to the launch of the global coalition of aquariums to combat pollution by plastics (see EUROPE 11838), the EU is releasing €9 million to combat marine litter in South East Asia (China, Indonesia, Thailand ...). An additional €7 million will be allocated to protect marine ecosystems in the region.
Two years before the initial deadline, 10% of all EU waters have already been designated as Marine Protected Areas, the Commission notes. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)