An EU Manifesto for a litter-free Europe: A call to action
13 September 2024
On Friday, 13 September, the Clean Europe Network Secretariat, following approval from the Board, sent letter-manifesto (see attachment) to the Director General for the Environment of the European Commission, Ms. Florika Fink-Hooijer, and Deputy Director General, Mr. Patrick Child. The letter, signed by the President of the association, Johanna Ragnartz, and Secretary General, Eamonn Bates, outlines the Network’s vision for a litter-free Europe. The timing of the letter is seen as ideal, given that the new Commission is currently being formed, with its upcoming mandate expected to focus on the implementation of existing environmental legislation and supporting Member States in this effort.
The Clean Europe Network is not a lobbying organisation as such and does not promote specific interests. However, the association does advocate for more and better litter prevention (including via policy and legislation), ideally through an integrated litter prevention approach as clearly explained in the Clean Europe Strategy. So far, the key elements of the EU litter prevention policy have not been implemented by the vast majority of EU member states, and where they have, only partially or in an unsatisfactory manner. This is unacceptable, years after these obligations were due to be implemented.
Therefore, the Network, through its EU Manifesto reiterates its longstanding call for proper implementation of the EU Waste Laws (e.g. Waste Framework Directive, Single-Use Plastics Directive, Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive) by the 27 EU Member States, local authorities and producers. In the letter-manifesto there are concrete proposals on how all relevant legislations can be properly implemented regarding their litter provisions and how all stakeholders can respect their legal obligations.
There is enormous political openness to tackling the litter challenge. For this reason, we sincerely hope that the new Commission will take on board the ideas in our attached EU Manifesto and demonstrate that it is committed to ensuring that the policy elements established in EU law are respected by all concerned when it comes to litter and the prevention of littering.
The Clean Europe Network is not a lobbying organisation as such and does not promote specific interests. However, the association does advocate for more and better litter prevention (including via policy and legislation), ideally through an integrated litter prevention approach as clearly explained in the Clean Europe Strategy. So far, the key elements of the EU litter prevention policy have not been implemented by the vast majority of EU member states, and where they have, only partially or in an unsatisfactory manner. This is unacceptable, years after these obligations were due to be implemented.
Therefore, the Network, through its EU Manifesto reiterates its longstanding call for proper implementation of the EU Waste Laws (e.g. Waste Framework Directive, Single-Use Plastics Directive, Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive) by the 27 EU Member States, local authorities and producers. In the letter-manifesto there are concrete proposals on how all relevant legislations can be properly implemented regarding their litter provisions and how all stakeholders can respect their legal obligations.
There is enormous political openness to tackling the litter challenge. For this reason, we sincerely hope that the new Commission will take on board the ideas in our attached EU Manifesto and demonstrate that it is committed to ensuring that the policy elements established in EU law are respected by all concerned when it comes to litter and the prevention of littering.
