Portugal is one of the European Union (EU) member states with delays in meeting common but optional marine protection goals, with only 5% of its waters designated as marine protected areas, two environmental groups warned on Tuesday.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Sea at Risk and Oceana announced on Tuesday that of the seven member states analyzed – Portugal, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden – only four had submitted their commitments to the European Commission. regarding the objectives of protecting the marine environment.
An assessment of the commitments made by member states to marine protection goals shows that, in addition to the delay in defining marine protected areas, Portugal and Ireland have also not provided any information on whether new zones or marine areas will be added. protection, which should reach 10% in 2030.
Of the member states assessed, Germany, Denmark, Spain and Sweden have already submitted national proposals for commitments, but only Copenhagen and Stockholm have published them publicly.
Germany and the Netherlands have already reached the target of 30% of marine areas classified as protected, despite not submitting their plans to the community executive.
The two non-governmental organizations are calling on the European Commission to make the targets under consideration mandatory for the next legislature, and for member states to strengthen the political will to comply with these environmental standards.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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