26/03/24 (Agence Europe) – EU Member States risk failing to meet their targets of protecting 30% of the EU’s seas by 2030, warn the NGOs Oceana and Seas At Risk. Having reviewed the commitments made by Member States in terms of marine protection targets, the NGOs regret that EU countries are also a long way from meeting their commitment to strictly protect 10% of Europe’s seas by 2030. The NGO evaluation (https://aeur.eu/f/bie ) focused on seven countries (Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden). Four of them submitted commitments more than a year after the deadline. Only Denmark has described how it will achieve the 30% target. Portugal and Ireland are lagging behind (5% and 9% of their respective waters are designated as marine protected areas). (LC)