Source: European Parliament
Despite the temporary setback in negotiations, the EU remains steadfast in achieving its internal targets concerning plastic pollution reduction and the transition to a circular economy.
It will be important to progress with the implementation of existing EU legislation, including those related to single-use plastics[1], packaging waste[2], plastic pellets[3] and quality of the marine environment[4].
These measures already deliver results, such as reduction of beach litter abundance by almost 30% at the EU level[5]. Strengthening the implementation both of the EU legislation and pollution-related Multilateral Environmental Agreements[6] is critical, as well as bilateral cooperation to reduce plastic pollution.
The EU’s position is clear on the need for a global agreement that addresses the full lifecycle, to effectively tackle the crisis of plastic pollution.
A majority of the United Nations’ Member States, businesses and civil society are aligned in their commitment to finalise a global binding treaty for a clean, competitive, circular economy and public health and well-being. The Commission will continue active engagement with all the stakeholders with this objective .
The Commission remains committed to the achievement of climate neutrality by 2050 and ‘Zero pollution’ 2030 reduction targets, such as for plastic litter at sea (by 50%) and for microplastics released into the environment (by 30%)[7], inter alia, through the above-mentioned legislation and overall EU environmental and climate policies.
- [1] Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, OJ L 155, 12.6.2019, p. 1-19.
- [2] Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC, OJ L, 2025/40, 22.1.2025.
- [3] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-regulation-preventing-pellet-losses_en.
- [4] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-evaluates-sea-protection-and-bathing-water-quality-laws-2025-03-06_en.
- [5] https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC138907.
- [6] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/international-cooperation/multilateral-environmental-agreements-meas_en.
- [7] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/zero-pollution-action-plan/zero-pollution-targets_en.