Broad support for more stringent EU shipping controls

Europe – Local and regional politicians from across Europe have called on the EU to introduce far tighter rules on shipments of waste.

The Committee of the Regions, the EU′s assembly of local and regional authorities, has adopted a report that supports plans to change the existing EU waste shipments regulation. The committee argues for far more stringent shipping inspections, consistent controls across all EU member states and increased powers for public authorities.

Although the current EU waste shipments regulation passed in 1996 offers guidance and control on waste shipments, ′as much as 25%′ is still being illegally sent from the EU to developing countries, thus contravening EU and international laws, according to the committee. ′We simply must do all we can to put a stop to this. Taking concrete steps to renew and reinforce already existing EU regulation is a positive step forward.′

For more information, visit: www.cor.europa.eu