Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001184/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Nicolás González Casares (S&D)
During a recent clean-up organised by environmental associations in Galicia, more than half of the waste collected at Doniños beach – a Natura 2000-protected site – was sanitary waste. Having confirmed that no incident had occurred at the Ferrol water purification station, this waste most likely came from a discharge of blackwater from a cruise ship or similar vessel.
The MARPOL Convention (Annex IV) allows untreated blackwater to be discharged into the sea as long as this is done at least 12 nautical miles away from the coast. Resolution 28, adopted at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille in 2021 calls for legislation to be updated to stop the pollution of oceans caused by the discharging of wastewater by ships.
In view of the above:
- 1.What actions has the Commission taken to reinforce international legislation on this issue?
- 2.Is the Commission pushing for an update to Annex IV to introduce provisions on the keeping of records and measures aimed at confirming the proper functioning of wastewater treatment plants across their entire life cycle, as called for by resolution WCC-2020-Res-028?
Submitted: 20.3.2025