Source: European Parliament
1. The threat posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO) and chemical munitions dumped in EU waters is addressed in the revised EU Maritime Security Strategy[1], which includes actions on mapping, risk assessment and cross-border cooperation. At the 2023 ‘Our Baltic’ Conference, Member States committed to mitigating UXO threats in the Baltic Sea. The Commission encourages Member States to collaborate with regional organisations, research institutes, and private entities to address this issue effectively.
2. Currently, the EU supports three major projects: Muni-risk[2], Mine-sweeper[3] and Munimap[4] — focused on risk analysis, mapping, and technology development for UXO clearance[5]. In June 2024, the Commission launched a EUR 5.6 million pilot project[6] to develop new UXO removal technologies and enhance coordination among authorities, researchers and industry in the Baltic Sea. The lessons learnt from these projects will be transferable to all sea basins around Europe facing similar threats. In total, the EU has invested over EUR 24 million in UXO-related actions.
3. Authorising wind farm projects is the competence of Member States and must be in full compliance with applicable EU law, including the Birds and Habitats Directives[7] and the directive on the Resilience of Critical Entities[8]. The Commission provided guidance to Member States on how to implement wind energy projects in accordance with EU nature legislation[9]. The impact on Natura 2000 sites will have to be duly assessed by Member States.
- [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52023JC0008.
- [2] https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-details/43392145/101173075/EMFAF.
- [3] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101167839.
- [4] https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/munimap/.
- [5] In addition, in June 2024, the Commission launched a EUR 5.6 million pilot project to develop new UXO removal technologies and enhance coordination among authorities, researchers and industry in the Baltic Sea.
- [6] https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/new-pilot-project-call-proposals-reduce-danger-munitions-european-seas-opened-today-2024-06-25_en.
- [7] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A01992L0043-20130701.
- [8] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2022/2557/oj/eng.
- [9] European Commission: Directorate-General for Environment, Guidance document on wind energy developments and EU nature legislation, Publications Office of the European Union, 2020, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2779/457035.