Source: European Parliament
1. According to the European Maritime Transport Environmental report[1], which is cross-referred by the 2nd Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report[2], Sulphur oxides (SOx) emissions in the EU have dropped by about 70% since 2014, largely due to the introduction of SOx Emission Control Areas (ECAs) in Northern EU[3]. The new Mediterranean SOx ECA, set to take effect on 1 May 2025, will deliver further reductions together with the one upcoming in the North-East Atlantic Ocean[4]. Meanwhile, also in line the 4th Clean Air Outlook[5], Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions rose by an average of 10% between 2015 and 2023: NOx increased by 33% and 8% in the Atlantic and Mediterranean basins and decreased by 17%, 7% and 6% in the North, Black and Baltic Seas, respectively. NOx ECAs in Northern EU have proved useful in controlling NOx and their extension to EU waters could prevent to surpass NOx from land sources by 2030[6].
This is why, to protect public health and the environment, the Commission and the Mediterranean States are working on cost and benefits analysis (CBA) for a NOx ECA under the Barcelona Convention[7].
2. The parties to the Barcelona Convention will note the ongoing CBAs at their 24th Conference in December 2025; they will decide on the Med NOx ECA at later sessions. The Commission has been consistently stressing the urgency of regulating and enforcing NOx from ships in the Mediterranean. However, decisions in the region are complex given the high number of States and stakeholders involved and their socioeconomic differences[8].
In line with the EU’s Zero Pollution[9], and One Health[10] ambitions, the Commission will continue engaging at all levels to further reduce NOx from ships.
- [1] https://emsa.europa.eu/emter-2025/full-report.html
- [2] https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/zero-pollution-monitoring-and-outlook-report
- [3] The request of the North East Atlantic ECA designation (controlling both SOx and Nitrogen oxides (NOx)) by the EU and non-EU littoral States for both SOx and NOx will be discussed at IMO this year; it will likely enter into force in 2027. Non-EU States are: United Kingdom, Iceland, Faroe Islands and Greenland.
- [4] ECAs for both SOx and NOx have also been established in the North and the Baltic Sea IMO under Annex VI to MARPOL Convention in early 2000 and 2021 respectively. NOx control applies to new builds.
- [5] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/air/clean-air-outlook_en
- [6] https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/eprint/15729/1/RR-18-002.pdf
- [7] https://www.unep.org/unepmap/who-we-are/barcelona-convention-and-protocols
- [8] For example, the decision to control SOx in the Mediterranean region took about 10 years and required massive engagement from the EU at all levels, led by the Commission.
- [9] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/zero-pollution-action-plan_en
- [10] https://health.ec.europa.eu/one-health_en